My 12 year old cat has kidney failure and a mass in her colon. We are treating her dehydration with lactated ringers, as she seems comfortable. However, she is eating very little food and not drinking. Our vet says that would be humane to put her down. Any thoughts?
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Kidney failure
- Thread starter jerseyd1
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I don't know anything about renal failure in cats, but I think there are folks on TCS who have gone through this...hopefully, they'll see your post. (Have you tried searching for past threads?)
We'll keep our fingers crossed for your kitty.
We'll keep our fingers crossed for your kitty.
It's a horrid disease. If your kitty is still happy, feed her anything she wants. The subqs will help her for a while. Talk to her and see if she's ready to go. You will know. Look into her eyes. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. There is no good end, but there might be good days and weeks.
Yes, she will let you know. If she is not in pain hug her and love her while you have the chance. Hugs to all of you.
Have you gotten a second opinion? Is the mass something that your vet just felt, or were additional tests (x-rays, biopsies, etc) done as well?
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I would also suggest a second opinion.......
Is there a Veterinary school close enough to allow you to get to? These facilities have specialists on staff as well as the latest in diagnostic equipment.
Failing that, is there a "cat only" Vet clinic nearby?
Without prejudice, many pet parents have found that "older" vets are also more apt to PTS rather than treat cats with kidney failure.
Is there a Veterinary school close enough to allow you to get to? These facilities have specialists on staff as well as the latest in diagnostic equipment.
Failing that, is there a "cat only" Vet clinic nearby?
Without prejudice, many pet parents have found that "older" vets are also more apt to PTS rather than treat cats with kidney failure.
I'm sorry to hear your kitty has kidney issues and ?mass or ?ibd/thickend intestines?? It would help if you posted what the values were...there is quite a range of values, a kitty in early crf (chronic renal failure) may live for years. As others have posted, a second opinion would be a good idea.
For a lot more information on what the test results mean, how to treat, various related issues that go along with crf (such as increased stomach acid leading to reduced appetite due in part to nausea), please go to:
http://www.felinecrf.org
There is a thread I began on this, which I will go find and bump up (wish they would make it a sticky), on crf and folks experiences in treating it.
For a lot more information on what the test results mean, how to treat, various related issues that go along with crf (such as increased stomach acid leading to reduced appetite due in part to nausea), please go to:
http://www.felinecrf.org
There is a thread I began on this, which I will go find and bump up (wish they would make it a sticky), on crf and folks experiences in treating it.
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Great idea......considering the "times we are living in".....
Why not approach the mods and have it made a "sticky"?
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I am sure it will be discuss
We lost our 12 year old Siamese cat named Mouse in January to this. We had to put her down, because we did not want to let her suffer. She was in pain. And now shes not, so I"m at peace knowing that. Just do what you think is best for her.
I am sorry you have to go thru this. I've had elderly cats, and I did everything I could to keep them going, but, in hind site, I think I just prolonged their suffering because I could not bear to let them go, and I had to put them down anyway, after I subq'd them and force fed them etc. I cry thinking about it. You know they hated all that stuff. You know how much cats hate going to vet etc.
then on the other side of the coin, I have a friend who just lets the cat die at home, preferably in her arms. But basically, the cat is just dehydrating because it isn't eating, wetting itself and laying around until it dies, which doesn't sound all that great to me, but this is the way she does it. she calls this a peaceful death, at home in her arms. I never said this to her, but that seems kind of cruel to me as well, but she feels good about it, and who can really say what is the right thing to do.
There is no easy way, if euthanasia is going to be the end result, sooner is probably better than later, but it is hard to give up those few precious days left.
then on the other side of the coin, I have a friend who just lets the cat die at home, preferably in her arms. But basically, the cat is just dehydrating because it isn't eating, wetting itself and laying around until it dies, which doesn't sound all that great to me, but this is the way she does it. she calls this a peaceful death, at home in her arms. I never said this to her, but that seems kind of cruel to me as well, but she feels good about it, and who can really say what is the right thing to do.
There is no easy way, if euthanasia is going to be the end result, sooner is probably better than later, but it is hard to give up those few precious days left.
The truth is that only you and your cat will know when it is time. There are folks on this board who had cats live with crf for years, and trust me, for example, neither Jennifer nor I were torturing our cats who we each treated for approximately 4 years.
I think the best thing I've learned from the support list I am on for folks with crf kitties is that you treat the animal, not the numbers. There are unfortunately, many vets who seem unaware of how much can be done to treat crf, how many folks (on the list I am on) whose cats live up to 10 years with crf.
Then, there are the kitties who it is truly their time shortly after diagnosis..nothing is working well, they do not have that will to live, they are not bouncing back, they are suffering.
Only you will know when it is at that point.
Giving sub-q fluids is no big deal for many cats...it is for some. With my Patrick, he'd settle on his cat bed, we'd be done in less than 5 minutes, he'd get a treat and life would go on happily (he was a very happy with life cat).
What is difficult for anyone whose kitty has crf, is knowing your cat has an chronic, incurable condition. Cherish every day, no matter their number.
Fwiw, Frankie Jean, a rescue from over a year ago, was diagnosed with early crf. She surely has no clue...and we are blessed that with treatment (calcitriol) her numbers are currently normal, she is concentrating her urine again. We've never had to do more than change her diet, encourage water drinking (loves a raised water bowl) and give her calcitriol. I can not fathom having pts her just because she had that diagnosis...it would not have made sense especially as my gut still argues the diagnosis with her is wrong.
I think the best thing I've learned from the support list I am on for folks with crf kitties is that you treat the animal, not the numbers. There are unfortunately, many vets who seem unaware of how much can be done to treat crf, how many folks (on the list I am on) whose cats live up to 10 years with crf.
Then, there are the kitties who it is truly their time shortly after diagnosis..nothing is working well, they do not have that will to live, they are not bouncing back, they are suffering.
Only you will know when it is at that point.
Giving sub-q fluids is no big deal for many cats...it is for some. With my Patrick, he'd settle on his cat bed, we'd be done in less than 5 minutes, he'd get a treat and life would go on happily (he was a very happy with life cat).
What is difficult for anyone whose kitty has crf, is knowing your cat has an chronic, incurable condition. Cherish every day, no matter their number.
Fwiw, Frankie Jean, a rescue from over a year ago, was diagnosed with early crf. She surely has no clue...and we are blessed that with treatment (calcitriol) her numbers are currently normal, she is concentrating her urine again. We've never had to do more than change her diet, encourage water drinking (loves a raised water bowl) and give her calcitriol. I can not fathom having pts her just because she had that diagnosis...it would not have made sense especially as my gut still argues the diagnosis with her is wrong.
I am so sorry you are going through this! I don't have any experience with this but it sounds like asking a 2nd opinion can't hurt.
I am sorry to hear you are going through this, and would re-iterate another persons questions about the mass - if it were just CRF, then see if your cat will tolerate any treatment that will help, but it depends what this mass is, and what impact it is having -it could be the mass that is causing the main issue, in which case your vet could be right,sadly. Good luck,
Duchess had just turned 15 and was diagnosed months before that. I gave her fluids at home starting at once a week and going up to 3 times a week. She also took medication for her kidneys and for appetite. We just fed her whatever she would eat.
She was still doing ok, however, in a period of two days, it all turned around. We really did not have time to adjust. She could no longer get up and just lost her vision.
We wanted her here with us so we let her die with the people she loved. It was what my mom wanted and she was never alone. Someone was constantly with her the whole time. It is always hard to lose a love one and I don't think there is only one right way to do things. I think that should be left up to the individual person.
I think you should get a second opinion. If she is still acting pretty normal, she could still have anywhere from months to years. We can't judge or predict how much time a pet will have. Just have to take it day to day and treat them as best you can. I'm sorry to hear that the disagnoses is CRF in one so young still. Just appreciate each day you have with her.
She was still doing ok, however, in a period of two days, it all turned around. We really did not have time to adjust. She could no longer get up and just lost her vision.
We wanted her here with us so we let her die with the people she loved. It was what my mom wanted and she was never alone. Someone was constantly with her the whole time. It is always hard to lose a love one and I don't think there is only one right way to do things. I think that should be left up to the individual person.
I think you should get a second opinion. If she is still acting pretty normal, she could still have anywhere from months to years. We can't judge or predict how much time a pet will have. Just have to take it day to day and treat them as best you can. I'm sorry to hear that the disagnoses is CRF in one so young still. Just appreciate each day you have with her.
My Cleo was diagnosed when my vet did pre-op blood work for her spay surgery at 6 months old. She celebrated her 7th birthday yesterday. With treatment, she is going strong....positively thriving! If your kitty is acting fairly normal, I would really suggest finding a vet that will institute treatment. Cleo is living proof that cats CAN live a good quality and long life with a diagnosis of renal failure.
~~Hugs~~
Pookie & the girls
~~Hugs~~
Pookie & the girls
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WOW /....
What a great mom you must be
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Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. Gracie is at peace now.
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I am so very sorry for your loss of Gracie.
