Possible FD Cat with Kidney Failure. Questions?

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Jenn & Baxter

Jenn & Baxter

Member Since 2011
Hi friends...I know it been awhile. I hope everyone & their sugar kitties are doing well.
Baxter was DX FD Nov. 2011, ProZinc, sliding scale. SS not updated. PS upper to mid 200's & nadir in the upper 100's.

Over the weekend we went to the vet for a possible UTI. He really wasn't showing symptoms like in past UTI. The symptoms where drinking lots of water & the penis area staying wet. No squatting to urinate or straining. BG #'s have been what's normal for Baxters #'s. No weight loss really. He weighs 10.1, last year 10.5.

While at the vet I had complete blood work done. Some of the numbers aren't so good...he has some lows & highs.
The vet begin to tell me Baxter was in the early stages of kidney failure....everything after that became muffled to me. I couldn't think of any questions to really ask. He wants to see Baxter back in 3 weeks for another blood test.
The vet did recommend me switching to Science Diet K/D...but I am not a Science Diet supporter.

I was hoping maybe someone who has been through this experience could answer some questions.
1. When a cat is anemic does that mean they have kidney failure? Or could a cat be anemic & not have kidney failure?

2. Do I need to switch food? Baxter is fed Merrick Before Grain Turkey can with water added.

3. I purchased Pet Tinic (vitamin supplement) from the vet. When I got home I read the ingredients..the first is corn syrup (isn't that a form of sugar?) how can that be good for a diabetic cat?
What kind of iron & B12 supplements do I need to get? And where? The vet won't give me B12 shots. His back legs are weak.

4. Are his high & low numbers bad?

5. Is it possible due to UTI it will appear in blood work that its possible kidney failure when it's really a infection?

Here are his high & low numbers as it reads on the print out: I do have all his numbers if need be.

ProCyte DX
RBC 5.34M/ul 6.54-12.20 LOW
HCT 24.0% 30.3-52.3 LOW
HGB 8.2% g/dL 9.8-16.2 LOW
LYM 0.61 K/ul 0.92-6.88 LOW

Catalyst DX
GLU 219 mg/dL 71-159 HIGH
BUN 125 mg/dL 16-36 HIGH
CREA 5.3 mg/dL 0.8-2.4 HIGH

Any suggestions or information is greatly appreciated,
Jenn & Baxter
 
The blood values are not good, especially the low HCT, high creatinine and high BUN.
Do you have a value and range for phosphorous?
A value and range for potassium?
Do you have a value for total protein? I am asking because if relatively high that means he is likely dehydrated which would artificially race the HCT.
Did the ven say anything about subQ fluids?
 
PHOS-6.5 mg/dl 3.1-7.5
K-3.8 mmol/L 3.5-5.8
I don't see the protein value on the results. Do you know the code?
The vet did not talk to me about SubQ fluids.
He told me to do the antibiotics & then to re-test him & possible Xray on the kidneys in 3 weeks. I was thinking he could be really bad in 3 weeks.
 
You really want the phosphorus to be on the low side of normal
Mabe a UTI is causing some of the problem and the values may improve with the antibiotics.
Sometimes total protein is TP.
Is he eating OK? Frequently a high BUN and creatinine causes a poor appetite.
I would take to the vet about about subQ fluids
 
PHOS-6.5 mg/dl 3.1-7.5
K-3.8 mmol/L 3.5-5.8
TP-7.9 g/gl 5.7-8.9
Guess its helpful when you can read the codes... :-D
He is eating well. No change in his appetite. If anything he is eating a little more. Always begs about 1hr-30 mins before eating times.
 
Jenn, it's good to "see" you again, but I am sorry to hear that Baxter is having issues. No advice here on kidney issues - just best of luck!
 
Dr. Lisa Pierson has a good list of foods sorted by Phosphorous content -- so now you need to choose foods that are low carb AND low phosphorous.

BG turkey is pretty good, but i have a hard time finding it in the stores

What the diet change meant for us (with 3 elderly kitties showing signs of renal problems) --

FF Classic has some moderately high phos values, so we stopped feeding FF.

We now feed Wellness Turkey, BG Turkey, Pinnacle Chicken & Ocean Whitefish and Stella & Chewy's Chicken.

Most recent bloodwork from the vet shows the kidney values have stabilized now with the diet change.
 
Thank you for the replies.

Sue I will come over to PZI & post.

I have visited the CRF website & been reading.

I will check into some other foods. Since FD DX I have fed Merrick Before Grain Turkey. I don't feed Baxter fish.

What about supplements for the anemia? I purchased Pet Tinic from the vet is it ok to use or is there something better?
 
Using distilled water, rather than tap water, will slightly reduce some of the mineral solute and lowering the workload a smidge for the kidneys. Shake well to aerate.
 
Hey Jennifer -

Glad to see some others have popped in with wisdom. I know you've had your nose buried in the CRF site - hopefully the infection is messing with Baxter's numbers and it's not anything more than that ... or maybe...
cat(2)_steam
...she's back!!!

Hugs to Baxter from Grayson!
 
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