CRF cat, near the end...?

No I did not order any fluids.
I saw the fluids she takes on there also.
I have to get prescription from the vet to order.

You should see if your vet will write a prescription for fluids and IV administration sets. I have my fluids and IV admin sets ordered through the hospital outpatient pharmacy. I think the last time I purchased them (a couple of months ago) the case of fluids was 12/$32, and 12 IV admin sets @ $2/set. If you go through the local hospital, you can bypass expensive shipping costs. Check around though, sometimes the larger national pharmacy chains (Walgreens, Rite Aid, even Costco) can order them for you without a shipping charge.

I am going to do that.
The owner of the place Coco goes said she would do anything to help me get it cheaper.
She will fax a order also.
I can check those places.
Our Costco card is expired but I can renew it.
I ordered stuff from thriving pets also.

Jack is doing quite well lately. I was out of town for a week and a half and got back about a week ago, in the first hour I was home Jack jumped into my arms 5 times he played a bunch of fetch, and was just spazzing out in general.

Right after I left about 2.5 weeks ago our vet got some free epoetin that she passed along to us, it has been a few week since his last blood test, but his red blood cell count was low, when I got home he had been on the epo for a little over a week, it seem like it is really helping out. I'll certainly have to talk it over with our vet, but I hope that once we have his RBC count "up" we can back the epo off to every 4 or 5 days instead of every 3. I was told the epo is quite expensive, but have not gotten a price yet.

I am glad Jack feels better.
We hav to get a new bag of fluids and the iv set up from the vet today.
Its 40 per bad and 40 for the set up..

My parent's cat, Samson, was diagnosed non-regenerative anemia, secondary to CRF, with a critically low hemoglobin of 3.8. My parents could not afford transfusions, which were quoted at $800-$1500 each, Central Line placement, and minimuf of two days' stay at the e-vet. They decided to try Epogen shots, and hope for the best. Samson got 3 shots/week, for three weeks. After three weeks, his hemoglobin had risen to 14.4 (low normal), and he was maintained for nearly a year, with one shot/week. He was dignosed in January of 2006. At that time, I remember that we used 2000 Units/mL strength Epogen, and it cost approximately $60 for two 1ml vials. The initial dosage for cats is 100 Units/kg, three times a week, for 3 weeks. For Sam, who was 8 pounds (3.6 kg), that was 360 units of 2000 Units/mL - which was .18 mL. Those 2 bottles lasted quite a while, especially after we went to one shot a week. I honestly can't say enough good things about Epogen. I know it saved Samson's life, and gave my parents nearly a year of quality time with him, before he quit responding to it.

Jack is not doing well, we're going to the vet today for a blood panel, I think we might have the vet make a house call tomorrow...

His last blood panel was 2.5 weeks ago, bun was over 140 (their machine does not read over 140) and cre was 5.5, RBC has been good with epo, and we have his blood acidity where it should be and he's been getting 100ml a day of sub-qs, phos binder and pepcid, he is eating ok, but also throwing up a lot...


:sobbing :

I am so sorry Jack is worse. I lost my Furrari to CRF in January. Many of us on TCS have been in your place and we truely understand how hard it is.

for you and Jack.

Originally Posted by mews2much


Has he lost weight?

Click to expand...

Yes, a lot, down to maybe 7 or 7.5 pounds, he used to be 15, but all muscle, he was pretty much the arnold schwartzenegger of cats. Now he looks like he is made of sticks...

About a year ago, 3 months ago he was still about 11.

Just got back from the vet, blood numbers were terrible, BUN 177 and Cre 9.5, and I had given him sub-q fluids not long before I went to the vets which lower the numbers.

The vet is thinking that we can expect another week before he fully hits the wall, and she gave me some anti nausea shots for him so hopefully that will keep his food/mice down.



He used to jump up to this beam off the steps on the left, he can't anymore, but I put him up there so he could relive the magic, he was stoked.

I am very worried about this cat also. No one wants to lose a best friend to suffering like he must be at

sorry about Jack. sweet picture on the beam. I know how much you love him. It is never easy whether they are 1, 8, 12 or 20. It's amazing how much we can love our little fur kids. special vibes for you and Jack

All in all he has done pretty well, he was diagnosed in november and his kidneys were bad then so we've gotten quite a bit of extra time really.

I know the end in fairly close now, and it is inevitable. I do feel lucky to have been able to spend 11 years with such a cool cat

Pic from this afternoon,

Originally Posted by jackbombay

They can take quite a bit f the sub-q fluids as it isn't absorbed really quick, IV fluids they can get too much of because its right into their blood. I'm not sure of ml per kg numbers, but Jack is 10 pounds and the vet said it would be fine to give him 300ml every other day for sure, 200ml every other day seems to be fine for now. If his next blod test is worse than his last we'll consider upping the ml's then.

Click to expand...

300 mils at one time is WAY too much! Use smaller needles - Terumo 21 gauge needles. THEY are smaller ultra thin and MUCH sharper. THEN do him every day and in a different place each time.

PLEASE read this site: http://felinecrf.org/index.htm

This lady has dealt with 3 CRF cats and has her own CRF group.

ALWAYS ask the group for information and even when the Vet says it is OK ASK the group first. THEY are so knowledgeable at times they know MORE than the vet

MY own Precious girl has CRF but NOW has developed a heart murmur so I don't think she will be with my much longer. I use the CRF Support group and the CRF Info group and refer to that website CONSTANTLY. I also warm the fluids to a bath water temp as my Missy loves warm fluids. I also let them run down the IV line until they are warm on my inside of my wrist or elbow before I put them in her.

Good luck!