Hi,
My vet recently prescribed trying Potassium Gluconate for my 15-year old cat, Jasmine, who is both hyperthyroid and also CRF. She indicated that it often gives the geriatric cats a boost in appetite as well as generally how they carry themselves and the ability to jump, etc. We tried it for 2 weeks.
At my appointment tonight she asked me if I have noticed any change. I really can't say that I did. Jasmine did not pick up any additional weight, behaves about the same, and really hasn't eaten any more or less. So now she said that if there has not been a noticeable change, that we may as well not refill the prescription. However, she also pointed out that following the cessation of potassium supplementation if there is any evidence of a decline, that we will need to resume. I'm pretty certain that Jasmine's potassium levels were normal to begin with but, as I indicated, she just thought it might help her.
Does anyone here have any experience with CRF cats and the use of a potassium supplement? If so, have you seen the 'noticeable improvement' that my vet is referring to? Just wondering, since all that is part and parcel of living with a CRF cat (BUN, Creatinine, sub-Q fluids) is new to me since this past summer. I've gotten quite familiar with it all real quick though.
On a related topic, how many out there give sub-Q fluids at home rather than at the vet? I take Jasmine in every week (one treatment per week). Her BUN has improved since being on fluids. The technician is encouraging me to consider doing this myself and has shown me all the gear that I would need, etc. I'm just not sure that I want to pursue this myself yet. The one thing that is nice about having them do it is that their set-up has the little bulb that they squeeze to increase the air pressure / flow rate, whereas she indicated that what I would get from them for home usage would not have that feature.
Thanks for any input.
Regards,
Keith
My vet recently prescribed trying Potassium Gluconate for my 15-year old cat, Jasmine, who is both hyperthyroid and also CRF. She indicated that it often gives the geriatric cats a boost in appetite as well as generally how they carry themselves and the ability to jump, etc. We tried it for 2 weeks.
At my appointment tonight she asked me if I have noticed any change. I really can't say that I did. Jasmine did not pick up any additional weight, behaves about the same, and really hasn't eaten any more or less. So now she said that if there has not been a noticeable change, that we may as well not refill the prescription. However, she also pointed out that following the cessation of potassium supplementation if there is any evidence of a decline, that we will need to resume. I'm pretty certain that Jasmine's potassium levels were normal to begin with but, as I indicated, she just thought it might help her.
Does anyone here have any experience with CRF cats and the use of a potassium supplement? If so, have you seen the 'noticeable improvement' that my vet is referring to? Just wondering, since all that is part and parcel of living with a CRF cat (BUN, Creatinine, sub-Q fluids) is new to me since this past summer. I've gotten quite familiar with it all real quick though.
On a related topic, how many out there give sub-Q fluids at home rather than at the vet? I take Jasmine in every week (one treatment per week). Her BUN has improved since being on fluids. The technician is encouraging me to consider doing this myself and has shown me all the gear that I would need, etc. I'm just not sure that I want to pursue this myself yet. The one thing that is nice about having them do it is that their set-up has the little bulb that they squeeze to increase the air pressure / flow rate, whereas she indicated that what I would get from them for home usage would not have that feature.
Thanks for any input.
Regards,
Keith
