CRF - Chronic Renal Failure:links and experiences with

Coco had her renal panel yesterday and the vet never called today.
They had said they would.
They called yesterday with the urinetest results only.
I think her numbers are going to be worst.

I did the sub q's for the first time today but she cried when I put the needle in. I did ask about phosphous binders and they will order that on monday.
Here are all the blood test numbers.
Bun 80 (15.0-32.0 mg/dl
Creatine 5.0 (0.8-1.8 mg/dl
Phosphorus 8.0 (2.6-6.0 mg/dl
Calcium 14.6 (8.8-11.5 mg/d/l
Total Protien 6.8 (6.0-8.0 g/dl
Albumin 2.9 (2.3-3.5 g/dl
Globulin 3.9 (2.8-4.8 g/dl
Urine Test
Specific Gravity =1.008 low (ref 1.015-1050)
ph =6.0 (5.5-7.0) Normal
Wbc/hpf =>100 high (0-3)
Rbc/hpf=4-10 high (0-3)
Bacteria 4+(cocci and rods appearance)
verified by wrights stain

Are they treating her for the bacteria in the urine? Was this a cystocentesis sample, or a voided one? If by cysto, that's icky urine!!

They push on her bladder to get her urine.
Her test is neg now.
That was her last test before she was on baytril.
The vet wants to keep her on baytril because every 2 months the e coli is back.

Anemia and erytropoetin treatments

Well Zoe's latest bloodwork came back today. Her Bun is hanging aroun 40 and here creatinine as creeped back up to 3.0, despite 100ml fluids daily.

Her specific gravity is at 1.010

The new and more worrisome aspect is she is now anemic. HCT is 21.3. Zoe's vet doesn't want to start the erythropoetin treatment until we hit 18 due to the risks.

I am wondering how much is too much when trying to extend the life of a CRF kitty? I do NOT want Zoe to suffer because I can't bear to live without her.

Are the epo treatments worth trying even if they only give them 4-5 months if antibodies occur?

Or should I consider this the end of the line for Zoe? She looks so good, eats well, and even plays still.

However she doens't like the other kitties sleeping too close anymore and often sleeps under the bed.

Anyone else here have to deal with the Anemia aspect? How did it go? I would love to hear your stories.

We used procrit and winstrol with stripe and it did help.
Stripe had blood transfusions also.
Do not give up.How long hasshe had crf?
Her numbers are better then Cocos.
Stripes were real bad and she last from nov 1998- 2000.

If, as you've said, Zoe looks good, eats well, and is even playing, I would definitely consider using the erythropoietin treatments.

My parent's CRF kitty, Samson, was on Epogen for life threatening non-regenerative anemia. We brought his hemoglobin up from a critical low of 3.5 to a near normal 12.2 within 4 weeks on Epogen (erythropoietin.) We gave him nearly a full year of good quality life with the Epogen shots.

After seeing how well Samson did with the Epogen, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for Cleo or Maggie (assuming that all of their other symptoms of CRF were reasonably controlled.)

I'd be happy to discuss Sam's treatment in more detail, if you'd like to PM. (I don't want to hi-jack the thread.) It was probably the single best thing that I was able to do for my parents and Samson. It gave them valuable time together, during which, my parents were able to mentally prepare for the inevitable.

I am doing sub q's three times a week.
Yesterday I did not get the needle in right the first time and it leaked out.
How much fluids do all of you give.
I have been doing 150.
I am using the 18 gauge needle.
Today will are going to order this.
http://www.thrivingpets.com/products...mStockId=749C2 and Miralax.
Is there anything else she should be taking for Crf?

Originally Posted by mews2much

I am doing sub q's three times a week.
Yesterday I did not get the needle in right the first time and it leaked out.
How much fluids do all of you give.
I have been doing 150.
I am using the 18 gauge needle.
Today will are going to order this.
http://www.thrivingpets.com/products...mStockId=749C2 and Miralax.
Is there anything else she should be taking for Crf?

Click to expand...

Cleo gets 100ml, two to three times a week. Maggie isn't on sub-Q fluids yet.

You might want to talk to your vet about Calcitriol. The vet would need to draw an ionized Calcium and PTH to send to Michigan State University. Cleo has been on it for 6 years. It has helped enormously with her appetite and energy level.

Here's some links that you can read and print off for your vet:
http://members.verizon.net/~vze2r6qt...iol/index.html

I use Franck's Compounding Pharmacy, in Ocala Florida, to buy Cleo's Calcitriol.
https://secure.francks.com/
They use Dr. Nagode's Calcitriol protocol for dosage and formulation. I have been extremely happy with their service and quality!

Thanks,
I will ask the vet.
I will do what ever I have to for coco.
I got her Royal Canin Kidney to try today and she seems to like it.
Then n/f and k/d are very thick.
Do you know what happened to the k/d because it used to be thin?
Thanks for the links.

Originally Posted by mews2much

We used procrit and winstrol with stripe and it did help.
Stripe had blood transfusions also.
Do not give up.How long hasshe had crf?
Her numbers are better then Cocos.
Stripes were real bad and she last from nov 1998- 2000.

Click to expand...

Hi Mews,

I am so sorry about Coco's downturn. I think Zoe's numbers look so good because we started her on Calcitriol as soon as she was diagnosed. She had horrible numbers and didn't respond to 3 days IV fluids April of 2008 when first diagnosed. I changed vets, started Calcitriol and she gets 100ml of fluids everyday.

Even though she is on a protein only homemade diet her BUN is still less than 50. I credit it all to calcitriol and daily fluids.

Her Anemia is new, she will get retested in two weeks. I am glad to heart that the procrit and winstrol helped Stripe. Gives me hope for Zoe.

Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

If, as you've said, Zoe looks good, eats well, and is even playing, I would definitely consider using the erythropoietin treatments.

My parent's CRF kitty, Samson, was on Epogen for life threatening non-regenerative anemia. We brought his hemoglobin up from a critical low of 3.5 to a near normal 12.2 within 4 weeks on Epogen (erythropoietin.) We gave him nearly a full year of good quality life with the Epogen shots.

After seeing how well Samson did with the Epogen, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for Cleo or Maggie (assuming that all of their other symptoms of CRF were reasonably controlled.)

I'd be happy to discuss Sam's treatment in more detail, if you'd like to PM. (I don't want to hi-jack the thread.) It was probably the single best thing that I was able to do for my parents and Samson. It gave them valuable time together, during which, my parents were able to mentally prepare for the inevitable.

Click to expand...

Hi Pookie,

thank you so much for the info on Samson. I will PM you in the near future to get full details. On top of all else I am in the process of moving. Will be a good thing one it is done, but boy I am not sure I am going to make it till then, LOL.

Again I am delighted to hear such good results. The reading I was doing sounded so depressing. I know Zoe doesn't have lots of time left. Her urine is isotonic and both vets think she has less than 5% of her kidney function left. As I said to mews, I know it is the calictriol and daily fluids that have kept her so well this long. When first dx'ed they though maybe 3 months.

Originally Posted by mews2much

I am doing sub q's three times a week.
Yesterday I did not get the needle in right the first time and it leaked out.
How much fluids do all of you give.
I have been doing 150.
I am using the 18 gauge needle.
Today will are going to order this.
http://www.thrivingpets.com/products...mStockId=749C2 and Miralax.
Is there anything else she should be taking for Crf?

Click to expand...

Hi Again Mews,

I agree with Pookie about the calcitriol. I swear it is what has kept Zoe's numbers in control. Her appetite is great (never had needed a stimulant) and she plays! He weight is back up the pound she originally lost.

She does get a little constipated, so I am going to look into the Miralax for her too.

I get my Calictriol from Thriving pets. Ian there has really done a good job for me. Plus they are closer so everything arrives within a couple of days.

I get the terumo 20 gauge UTW (ultra thin walled needles) and all my fluids from them as well.

Also if Coco is good about her fluid you might want to see about giving 100mls, everyday. We tried all sorts of different schedules with Zoe and even on an every other day schedule her Creatinine would go up to 3.5.

I sure hope you get Coco stablized soon.

Thanks,
I ordered the meds today.
I plan on asking the vet about calcitriol.
The vet did not say when she gets tested again.
I emailed Ian and he said to get the miralax for the constipation because coco has the high calcium instead of the other constipation meds.
I hope Zoe feels better.

I just got off the phone with my vet, and he faxed over Dusty's lab results done yesterday. I took her to the vet for her annual exam and shots, but also told the vet that I've noticed an increase in her water consumption/unination for the past several months, hence the lab work. She's only 5-6 yrs. old. She's our baby, and I can't bear the thought of losing her.

BUN 61
Creatinine 2.9
RBC 5.5
HGB 8.4
HCT 24

We have her scheduled for ultrasound and urine culture on Thursday. Is this appropriate? I was on the phone with the vet for about 30 min. and it's all so confusing. Any support/advice would be appreciated.

ETA: Forgot to mention she only weighs 6.4 lbs, which is about average for her for the past 3-4 years. We've had her since she was about 2 (a stray), and it seems like the first vet visit she was around 8 lbs, but the second year she lost weight and vomited (hair balls I thought). Also my husband was working out of state that year, so I assumed she missed him and that was causing her weight loss.

I hope you have gotten some other replies via PM before now.

I am not a CRF expert by any means, but it does look like Dust has some type of kidney issues going on. Her BUN and Creat are high, based on generic normal range. Your lab will have their own normal range so you need to make sure to look at Dusty's numbers in relation to those.

She also looks to be a little anemic, again check vs your own labs normal ranges.

Ultrasound will show the size of the kidneys and whether there are any masses. UA is alway good, will show if a bladder infection that has the potential of having become a kidney infection as well.

Do you have these results yet?

If you haven't already heard from member Pookie-poo, try sending her a PM. Her Cleo started with CRF when she was 5 and is still going strong years later.

Make sure you read through the beginning pages of this thread. Lots of important links there.

Know that I am sending lots of your way, even if I don't post back quickly. I am moving in two days and going to be out of touch for awhile.

Hi,
I agree with the above message re the values seeming to indicate possible early kidney issues, and that reading over the sticky thread i began on crf, would be very helpful (just take it in small bites, all the information can be overwhelming).

If your girl has a bladder infection, it may be impacting the values...key to find out (and they may have already) is her urine specific gravity as that will show how well her kidneys are concentrating urine.

I hope you get some firm answers next week, if it is early crf, there are many of us who have dealt with this in the past, and those who are currently dealing with it.

Wishing your kitty all the best,

The ultrasound showed normal kidneys - no shrinkage, no stones, no cysts, nothing!

The urine culture was negative.

Vet recommends/prescribes calcitriol and B complex with iron

He has recommended a compounding pharmacy nearby. Does anyone know how expensive these items are?

He is also putting her on K/D Feline diet. Since she is addicted to Fancy Feast and Innova dry Evo, I don't know how well she will accept new food. Any suggestions with this?

I haven't bought any of this yet, awaiting some answers from all you wonderful and helpful friends!

Coco is not on the stuff your cat is being put on so I do not know the prces.
She is on k/d and she refuses to eat can k/d.
So I use Royal Canin Lp for th wet.
she likes k/d dry though.
I pay 73 for her bp meds to be compounded.
It is sent to Road Runner in Arizonia.
I order some things from Thriving Pets.
http://www.thrivingpets.com/products...h+For+Products
They are cheaper then the vets.
Here are the vitamin b products.
http://www.thrivingpets.com/products...e=B%20Vitamins

and here is the Calcitriol.
http://www.thrivingpets.com/products...ase=Calcitriol

Hi mews2much! I see you are in Central CA. I am in Fresno/Clovis. Are you close?

The compounding pharmacy the vet recommended is Medical-Dental Pharmacy on E. Nees in Fresno. ARe you familiar with it?

I will check out the links you provided.

Thanks for your reply!

PS, Do you want a 16 yr. old white kitty who recently lost its owner? I'm looking for a home for her. Not the same as my sick kitty.