Knowing when it is time

My apologies to all - this was posted in the wrong spot.

Hello all.

I've been here several times over the last couple of years asking questions about my dear Zoey.

She has been a sickly cat since we brought her home from the shelter 3.5 years ago. She is approxiametly 4 years old and was just diagnosed with renal failure. With her bloodwork - the vet approximates that she has lost over 90% of her kidney already.

We decided to treat her with antibiotics and special diet. Today she has eaten less than 1/4 cup of food and effectively thrown 100% of it back up.

Part of me ins't ready to call this done cause I don't want to lose here - but I do know with renal failure that when they start vomiting [she hasn't ever vomited before really] that its not a good sign. Am I horrible to euthenize her now? She absolutely hates going to the vet and I'm thinking that going in for fluid treatments / more blood work / etc would just stress her out even more. I'm thinking the most humane thing for my little girl is to put her down - but how do you ever know if it is the right time?

Hello all.

I've been here several times over the last couple of years asking questions about my dear Zoey.

She has been a sickly cat since we brought her home from the shelter 3.5 years ago - severe upper respitory issues [chronic], anal sac impactions [every 6- 9 months].

She is approxiametly 4 years old and was just diagnosed with renal failure. With her bloodwork - the vet approximates that she has lost over 90% of her kidney already.

We decided to treat her with antibiotics and special diet. Today she has eaten less than 1/4 cup of food and effectively thrown 100% of it back up.

Part of me ins't ready to call this done cause I don't want to lose here - but I do know with renal failure that when they start vomiting [she hasn't ever vomited before really] that its not a good sign. Am I horrible to euthenize her now? She absolutely hates going to the vet and I'm thinking that going in for fluid treatments / more blood work / etc would just stress her out even more. I'm thinking the most humane thing for my little girl is to put her down - but how do you ever know if it is the right time?

There's lots of other options to try before you make the final decision. Many times, the renal failure causes an acid stomach, which causes kitty to vomit. Have you tried giving her 1/4 of a 10 mg pepcid? This might help. Or you could ask your vet for a prescription for Reglan syrup. 1/4 to 1/2 cc about a half hour before feeding could make a world of difference for her. My parents' CRF cat, Samson, was on both Pepcid and Reglan for the last two or three years of his 6 or 7 year battle with CRF.


Good luck to you and Zoey. I will keep you in my prayers.

Pookie & the girls

I would do whatever I could do first to give her a good quality of life, then I say follow your heart, you are her Mom, you will know, she will tell you.
Many prayers for you and Zoey

It sounds like Zoey means a lot to you.

Dealing with renal failure does not necessarily mean frequent Vet visits, once she is stabilized. Many people give the fluids at home, not IV but 'under the skin'.

She must eat and she must drink...now. You could learn how to feed her (if need be with very muchy food through a syringe at first) and then induce her to eat on her own. It will take time and work.

It will also take a Vet who is willing to work with you. Older Vets are often more likely to 'give up' on these cats - the younger ones more apt to be as agressive (I did not say invasive) as you are willing to be.

There is a marvellous website here * which will provide almost everything you need to know, and the people who have it also run an internet group where you can get almost "instant" help with issues which may arise. People on the group often appear to be more knowledgeable than some Vets.

* The site: http://felinecrf.org/

Your cat is very young...many like this can go on to live a happy life.

Am I a bad momma if I decide to put her down rather than subject her [and me] to endless manipulation of diet, force feedings, etc? I know that once we get her stabilized [if we get her stabilized] she can live for months or years.

To be honest - I don't have the time [I work full time and am in school working on my masters] so am not at home as much as I would like to be [probably need to be].

I hate to think about losing her - but also know that it is not fair to her to keep her locked in the bathroom out of fear of her vomiting / uninating all over the house while I'm gone - and I gone 12 - 16 hours a day at least 4 days a week.

I really like the suggestion of giving her meds to ease her stomach until she is stabilized - but since I'm gone so long each day I have to leave her food out for her to self feed [no more than 5/8 a cup per day]. I won't be able to know when she would eat so wouldn't be able to give her meds at the appropriate times to keep her little tummy neutrilized.

I almost didnt chime in as I just lost my CRF girl...

I sent you a PM
HUGE

Your little girl is beautiful!!

Sorry to hear the diagnosis, but PLEASE get some more information before you decide to put her down. The meds to neutralize her tummy are usually just once a day and MANY people, myself included manage CRF cats with great ease.

Please check out the following websites....
http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm
http://www.felinecrf.com/index.htm

And here is a yahoo group where you can post her bloodwork #'s and the members will be able to give you a better idea of what they mean...
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/F...t/messages?o=1

Hearing this diagnosis can be overwhelming and I know it feels like you only have one option now, but PLEASE at least take a moment to research this and be sure. Then if you need to put her down, you will be at peace with your decision, and have the support of others who are going through/have been through the same thing.

I'm sorry I don't know anything about what you're going through, I hope you can figure something out for your poor girl