CRF - Chronic Renal Failure:links and experiences with

It doesn't hurt to check out places close to home! The closest Costco to me is Ann Arbor...close to a 2 hour drive away. I found that the outpatient pharmacy of the local hospital can get 1000 ml bags of Lactated Ringers for me for $24/case. My IV admin sets are $2 each. I buy my Terumo needles from http://www.dairypharm.com for 100/$4.67 (no prescription needed.) There's a supply page that has been set up by one of the members of the Feline-CRF-Support Yahoo!Group that compares prices, etc. It's a great resource page for anyone who needs to save money when buying CRF supplies. http://members.verizon.net/~vze2r6qt...es/compare.htm

I purchase my Aluminum Hydroxide Gel Powder (phosphorus binder) from Goolricks Pharmacy (on the supply page), and I also get Cleo's Calcitriol compounded at Island Pharmacy (also on the supply page.)

Sadie's tummy is upset from the need to remove her recalled wet food.
She had been vomiting when she got sick from the recalled food.
She is going in for a sub Q this morning on an out pt. basis.
Her vet wants to get her BUN down within normal limits.
This should be temporary just until she is fully hydrated...a few days.
I could learn how to do it, but I will wait and let the tech do it today.

She is really tired of going to the vet.
Please send hydration vibes to sweet Sadie.

Originally Posted by xocats

Sadie's tummy is upset from the need to remove her recalled wet food.
She had been vomiting when she got sick from the recalled food.
She is going in for a sub Q this morning on an out pt. basis.
Her vet wants to get her BUN down within normal limits.
This should be temporary just until she is fully hydrated...a few days.
I could learn how to do it, but I will wait and let the tech do it today.

She is really tired of going to the vet.

Please send hydration vibes to sweet Sadie.

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Hope she feels better after today's sub-q...it's truly not as intimidating as it looks...maybe ask the tech to show you how today? In case she needs more fluids say next week?

Honest...it would take Patrick and I no more than a few minutes from start to finish of giving the fluids (and yes, Terumo ultra-thin wall needles really do make a difference re what to buy IF you need to buy supplies...see the supply page on the support list group's web page, under files I believe)

I have done sub-Q fluids on Cleo for at least 5 years, and I did fluids on my parents' cat, Sam, for about 4 years. They're not as difficult to do as it looks. I found a really great resource link that explains step-by-step (with pictures) how to do fluids. I highly recommend it to anyone who is learing how to do fluids. Once the vet or vet tech walks you through the steps, this link really helps keep it all in perspective!

http://www.weirdstuffwemake.com/weir.../catjuice.html

I have wondered how in the world one could give SubQs at home.
That site is a wonderful resource for anyone who cannot imagine doing it themselves.

Sadie had her 1st SubQ session this morning.
I am letting the vets tech do it because we are hoping that the 5 sessions that she is scheduled for will flush any remaining toxins from the recalled pet food out of her system and also re-hydrate her.
Her next one is Thursday then Monday Wed & Fri.
The following Monday she will have her labs re-done.
The treatment goal at this time is to try and get her creatinine and BUN down within normal ranges.
If not then we will have to assume she has permanent kidney damage.

No one really knows how the toxin, if she was exposed, will effect her long term but at least the vets are taking it seriously now.

Dexter will go in for his second round of labs Friday.
He was concentrating his urine on the 17th but his creatinine was above normal.
It's time to address that and see were he is with this.

All vibes and prayer will be greatly appreciated.

Sadie & Dexter (LOVE that name!) are definitely in my prayers! You are such a wonderful kitty meowmy for taking such good care of them.

Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

Sadie & Dexter (LOVE that name!) are definitely in my prayers! You are such a wonderful kitty meowmy for taking such good care of them.

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Thank you

Lei, your sweeties and their loving meowmy are certainly in my thoughts and prayers and Super Pete is sending some extra special purrs and snuggles to the lovely Sadie.

Originally Posted by eilcon

Lei, your sweeties and their loving meowmy are certainly in my thoughts and prayers and Super Pete is sending some extra special purrs and snuggles to the lovely Sadie.

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Sadie asked that I thank her Super Pete for the purrs & snuggles.
She goes in tomorrow for more subQ and Dexter has blood and UA labs on Fri.
Thanks Eileen.

I guess i will be throwing myself in here after tomorrow, I don't know anything about CRF really other then I was told today that this is what Cammie has I am so devastated and Heart broken, She is only about 10 years old.
The Vet is waiting for the Urine tests to come back tomorrow, Her levels were very elevated and I have no idea what that all means I wrote them down, They are keeping her tonight to flush her out,
My biggest thing is that I can't stand to see them go downhill I am so blaming myself for some reason I just noticed that she wasn't feeling good on Friday.
I didn't really want to leave her there I know shes scared. They told me that the prognosis is not good I'm so lost, I guess i will have to come back when I get all the information, because about a minute into the conversation I didn't hear it all
I lost a Cat about 7 years ago to it also and was totally unprepared and unknowing of anything about the disease. I don't even feel like this minute I can get through all this. I know things are going to go wrong at some point and I need to learn to prepare for all of it because I have 7 more. I just can't even beleive what is happening. Sometimes I wish I didn't Love them so much

You must be terrified.

Quick question....
did Cammie have any exposure to any recalled food?

Originally Posted by halfpint

I guess i will be throwing myself in here after tomorrow, I don't know anything about CRF really other then I was told today that this is what Cammie has I am so devastated and Heart broken, She is only about 10 years old.
The Vet is waiting for the Urine tests to come back tomorrow, Her levels were very elevated and I have no idea what that all means I wrote them down, They are keeping her tonight to flush her out,
My biggest thing is that I can't stand to see them go downhill I am so blaming myself for some reason I just noticed that she wasn't feeling good on Friday.
I didn't really want to leave her there I know shes scared. They told me that the prognosis is not good I'm so lost, I guess i will have to come back when I get all the information, because about a minute into the conversation I didn't hear it all

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I know how overwhelming this must be, and that your heart is aching. I would not want to give false hope but there may be hope. Please go to the site I listed at the top of this thread, go to the success stories. I know from the support list I am on, that high numbers in crf do not mean automatically mean it's over. Go read over the site, and know that you are so not alone. I've dealt with this and am still with several of my kitties, as are others here on the forum. We will help you as much as we can.

Take a deeep breathe..Here is a BIG Chronic Renal failure is present in about 10 % of cats by age ten ... It can be managed ... ACUTE renal failure is what is happening with those exposed to recall exposed cats and dogs... ( though I beleive some other problems arent being addreessed from the recall vicums)...

One other thing from a CRF novice....
Pat & Alix plus Sharky are great support.

Although I do not understand much of what I read on the suggested links...
they gave me an overview about labs and much more.
At the very least, they will give you the vocabulary you need to discuss issues with your vet.

Cammie & you will be in my prayers.

Originally Posted by xocats

One other thing from a CRF novice....
Pat & Alix plus Sharky are great support.

Although I do not understand much of what I read on the suggested links...
they gave me an overview about labs and much more.
At the very least, they will give you the vocabulary you need to discuss issues with your vet.

Cammie & you will be in my prayers.

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I've got packing peanuts up to my elbows here, but please post any questions you have, and we can try to answer them. I think it would help anyone dealing with this if we discussed it. There is no bad question, just the unasked ones

No she did not have any of those products, she has never been sick I am just so devasted.
I have seen what so many of the folks here have gone through with this disease and I don't want her to suffer, I have cryed so much I can't even see

Originally Posted by halfpint

No she did not have any of those products, she has never been sick I am just so devasted.
I have seen what so many of the folks here have gone through with this disease and I don't want her to suffer, I have cryed so much I can't even see

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Does she eat dry food??? if so what ??

I was giving them Purina one till I saw that yesterday.. She hadn't eaten in a few days really maybe sense Friday evening

The best advice if possible is to take her off dry all together

as I know how hard this is

Thanks for that information and I will read it for sure I have only slept maybe 5 or 6 hours in 3 days I am just a mess, I dread thinking that I have 7 more to worry about and I know I need to stock up on info, maybe if anyone has time can you look at these numbers, I know were not vets here but I know it will take me awhile to understand what they really mean, the confusion and disappointment have blended together right now.. Thanks Everyone


Maybe someone knows how bad these values are I know there high but not what that means in the way of bad
Bun 98
creatinine 10.2
phosphorus 9.8
and the last one was way high and I am not sure what it was I went deaf about then, she did say it should be about 300 if I am not mistaken, and hers was 1621
The red & white count were fine
she's waiting on the urine to see if there are crystals or stones I guess

I have no idea what to even ask her, I want to be able to take good care of her as long as she can eat and drink and potty I want to do all I can, but I will not keep her around to satisfy myself I have done that and I can't stand to see them suffer.
I also want to know and I will ask her is it painful I can't stand that thought
I hope I can figure out what to ask her, like do you think she will do OK if I take the right kind of care and I know it depends on how bad it is, but she already did say the prognosis does not look good and by that I don't know what she meant short term long term.. I give everyone who has a very ill animal so much credit its a hard job, I know what a job as I have had many animals including 22 horses.
I am trying to think positive but some of it doesn't sound positive that I heard from her. Thanks Everyone I will be Glad when DH comes home after 2 months it's hard dealing alone. I'm such a baby
to Add she said they would probably give her some pepsid for the acid I assume that is why her throat was hurting
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