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Mackerel has Acute Renal Failure

post #1 of 121
1/31/11 at 1:54am
Thread Starter 
Hey Guys,

So after this horrific weekend, it turns out that Mackerel has Acute Renal Failure. No idea what caused it or anything, the blasted vet is too busy to speak to me (I had to get these test results from the receptionist!) and I have no idea what to do or what's going to happen and I really need to have some information.

I literally don't have any information except what the receptionist told me, and I quote: "Ok, the vet looked at the test results earlier and said that it looks like Little Mackerel is in acute renal failure."

The information I'm getting on the internet is basically saying... it doesn't look good. :-(
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post #2 of 121
1/31/11 at 3:08am
Oh I am so sorry to hear this.

I don't know much about it but I think you should call the vet back and find out the options. I can't understand these vets sometimes. He is working for you and you have every right to get all the information. IMO that is mal practice, not providing info.

Mackerel is in my prayers.
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post #3 of 121
1/31/11 at 3:45am
My vet clinic would fire a receptionist for giving information like that to a client. Receptionists are not there to read lab work results.

There is actually a lot can be done for Mackerel if treatment is fast. She should be on sub q fluids already.

I'd be looking for another vet, frankly. Today.
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post #4 of 121
1/31/11 at 4:03am
Thread Starter 
I still haven't had the promised call from my vet and when I called (again) to try and speak to them they're now closed.

I called the 24 hour vet hospital on the other side of town but they said they can't do anything until they confirm the ARF diagnosis (which they wont be able to do until they get blood back from the lab, and would take longer than getting them from my vet tomorrow morning.), but that she should be on IV fluids if the diagnosis is correct. The vet hospital says that what I can do at home is to assist her in drinking with the syringe that I've been using for feeding- 20ml every 4 hours.

I'm so angry that my vet has failed me so badly. Apparently the reason I didn't get a call is because the guy I saw on Saturday (not my normal vet) isn't in at work today. Really not good enough, I think, especially if there's something that might help, like IV fluids, and that's time sensitive, like this seems to be.
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post #5 of 121
1/31/11 at 4:50am
When will vets (and all other service people) realize that they can signficantly INCREASE their income by giving better service?!? It doesn't COST to make your customers happy! It PAYS!!!
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post #6 of 121
1/31/11 at 6:08am
I'm so sorry to hear about Mackerel. I've had several kitties in the past with chronic renal failure, but haven't had any experience with ARF. I do agree with otto---sub q fluids are a must. You can do these at home, after you've been shown how. I also agree with the statement about looking for a different vet. IMO, you and Mackerel have been treated poorly and unprofessionally.

Sending loads of for your fur-baby.
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post #7 of 121
1/31/11 at 6:24am
Thread Starter 
I've spoken to a friend's girlfriend who's told me some options I have and what her practice could do about it and I'm feeling muuuuuuuuuch better about it all. :-) I'll grab the test results from my current vet and then take them to her practice for treatment. They're going to put Mack on a drip for 24 hour, flush her system with the IV and some meds, and she's said that hopefully Mack will be a much happier, healthier cat by Thursday and on the mend.
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post #8 of 121
1/31/11 at 7:47am
Oh wow, I am so glad to hear that! I'd leave the other vet in the dust.

Prayers for your girl and you.
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post #9 of 121
1/31/11 at 7:51am
I am so sorry to hear this and the way your vet's office has treated you. Sheesh! I'd have been sitting on their doorstep this morning demanding an answer!

There is a lot that can be done to help Mackeral. First of all, read the CRF sticky at the top of the health forum and join the CRF Yahoo group. If the link isn't posted in the sticky, I'll post it when I get home from work this evening.

Depending on how severe her numbers are, there's much that can be done and there is hope that your girl will live for several more years, but you'll have to be diligent with her care and watch her for signs of crashing (deteriorating health). The biggest change is dietary and she probably will need to be on some kind of special food. Callie was on SD k/d. You can learn to administer fluids at home, if you decide to go that route, and there's lots of places where you can buy supplies for less that what the vet's office will charge you. All of that info is on the Yahoo group.

I think the best thing you can do is get a second opinion and have a urinalysis and a urine culture done to get a full picture of what you're dealing with and what stage of CRF she's in. Acute doesn't necessarily mean the end, just dire situation that may be turned around if she gets proper treatment.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info/help/support.
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post #10 of 121
1/31/11 at 8:07am
Thread Starter 
I thought there was a difference between ARF and CRF? Thanks for the advice, Steph.
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post #11 of 121
1/31/11 at 8:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jalindal View Post
I've spoken to a friend's girlfriend who's told me some options I have and what her practice could do about it and I'm feeling muuuuuuuuuch better about it all. :-) I'll grab the test results from my current vet and then take them to her practice for treatment. They're going to put Mack on a drip for 24 hour, flush her system with the IV and some meds, and she's said that hopefully Mack will be a much happier, healthier cat by Thursday and on the mend.
Hi Jalindal, I'm glad you've been able to get some immediate intervention for Mackerel.

I'm sure you will want to get a handle on ARF and how it differs from CRF, and you'll now have some time to do just that. Here's some reading for you - it comes from a very well-respected site: http://www.felinecrf.org/acute_renal_failure.htm
One heads-up for you: most of the time, recovery from ARF will require SEVERAL DAYS of IV treatment, NOT JUST 24 hours.

There's one more section of that website I always recommend in these situations, and here is the key piece from that section:
Quote:
Often these vets do not even offer any IV (intravenous fluids) treatment for high number cats, or if they do, they only offer one day, tell the person their cat's numbers have not improved after that short stint, and recommend euthanasia. In some cases people are told even before their cat is placed on IV that if s/he does not respond within 24 hours, they have to opt for euthanasia...if your cat has high bloodwork levels, then one day on IV fluids is simply not long enough to decide whether a cat is going to turn the corner or not!.
Here's that whole section http://www.felinecrf.org/just_diagno...ia_recommended

I'll be thinking of you both.
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post #12 of 121
1/31/11 at 9:11am
I may be wrong in this, as my cats have had CRF as opposed to ARF. I seem to remember a vet telling me that acute basically means a flare-up of a disease, while chronic is a long lasting condition. I'm glad you're getting a new vet to take care of Mackerel. Go online and educate yourself about ARF, and don't be afraid to ask the vet any question that pops into your head, no matter how silly you may think it sounds.

With my CRF kitties, twice daily IV fluids were standard, usually 100cc each time. A change in diet was recommended, but of course they each refused to eat the rx food.

You and Mackerel are in my prayers.
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post #13 of 121
1/31/11 at 9:16am
Here is some information specifically on ARF... I wonder now if the "mass" the vet felt was not her kidneys.... http://www.petplace.com/cats/acute-r...ats/page1.aspx
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post #14 of 121
1/31/11 at 9:41am
And just so you know, if you have to administer subcutaneous fluids at home, it's really pretty easy, once you get the hang of it, and much less expensive and stressful than taking the cat in every day. Make sure they know you are willing to learn and have a lot of teachers here.
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post #15 of 121
1/31/11 at 9:59am
Please don't anyone confuse ARF with CRF. ARF is NOT a flare up of CRF, although CRF can lead to ARF if untreated for a long time. There may be different types of treatments for ARF and sub-q's may not be enough.

Unfortunately, there can be a number of causes for ARF, and the prognosis can be different depending on what caused it in the first place. It can be genetically based, triggered by ingestion of poisons, or sometimes the final stages of non-treated CRF.

I lost a cat to ARF. After ruling out all of the other triggers, we realized that what she had was genetically based. Home administration of fluids was not enough for her - she was in ICU for a week before she crossed.

I do not want to scare you, but ARF is one of those diseases where you need immediate attention. Get to a qualified vet that has the time to spend with you trying to identify the cause, so that you can start the appropriate treatment for her. Prepare yourself for round the clock care until her numbers stabilize.
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post #16 of 121
1/31/11 at 10:51am
I'm just sending vibes because I know nothing about either. But how shocking of the original vet - that's just wrong!

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post #17 of 121
1/31/11 at 3:34pm
Because of the apparent importance in distinguishing between acute renal failure and chronic renal failure, I looked up ARF.

Info you might find useful (and thankful you're being aggressive in treating this!):

http://www.petplace.com/cats/acute-r...ats/page1.aspx

Quote:
The recent recognition of kidney failure is not necessarily the same as acute renal failure, since some animals with chronic kidney failure tolerate it for some time before symptoms are apparent.

<snip>

The symptoms of ARF, although often severe, are not specific. Even with intensive management, ARF is a very serious disorder and often is fatal.

<snip>

# ARF is a life-threatening serious condition that requires hospitalization and intensive treatment. Treatment consists of identification and correction of life-threatening problems while searching for the underlying cause of ARF. Treatment for ARF may include one or more of the following:

# Induce vomiting
# Intravenous fluids
# Drugs that encourage urine production
# Management of blood electrolyte abnormalities
# Monitor urinary output
# Control of vomiting
# Management of anemia
# Peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis
# Treatment with 4-methylpyrazole (Antizol®) or ethanol
I hope the new vet is able to determine the cause, and the course of IV fluids and treatment decisions will pull Mackerel through this.
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post #18 of 121
1/31/11 at 3:53pm
You have already received all the information you need to proceed in the care for Mackeral. I can only add that acute renal failure can sometimes be turned around if immediate care is sought. It is caused by some shock to the cat's system as already stated. It is more crucial at the moment than chronic renal failure because it must be treated very quickly in order to bring the cat out of it. If your cat has acute renal failure and comes out of it, he will be fine, with no further treatment needed. In chronic renal failure it is the beginning of treatements that usually can go on for a while before the cat's kidneys fail. I lost my soulmate cat, Max, to acute renal failure. My cat was diagnosed on Friday and pts on Monday. He was on an IV all weekend. Your cat and you will be in my prayers. I truly hope he can see a vet quickly and overcome. I would never darken the door at that vet's office again, only long enough to get my cat's medical records and leave.
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post #19 of 121
1/31/11 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the links guys, I want to read as much as I can to help Mackerel and these are mostly ones I didn't see last night in my research.

I'm wondering whether this might not be a case of CRF after all- in particular I saw an article last night saying that (simply) some of the symptoms of ARF are:

vomiting
difficulty urinating

while some of the symptoms of CRF are:

loss of appetite
weight loss
loss of interest in grooming

And those are the reasons that I took her to the vet in the first place. As far as I've been reading there's no way to distinguish between CRF and ARF in blood tests? I'm not sure why the vet told me that it was ARF given that he barely took the time to take a history of Mackerel when he was drawing the blood and that seems to be the only way to differentiate between the two. Hmm.

I can't wait to get to the new vet. The earliest I've been able to make an appointment to go and pick up the records (they refuse to release them to me without seeing the old vet.) is 10:30am.

Blueeyedgirl - your story really worries me. :-( Mackerel had the blood drawn from the bloodtest on Saturday, so it's now been three days.
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post #20 of 121
2/1/11 at 12:04am
Thread Starter 
Mackerel's at the new vet on an IV and settled in, and eating and drinking as well apparently. :-) I'm really thrilled at the way the vet is talking to me and letting me know everything that's going on.

If anyone's in Perth I would really recommend Henly Vet and Hospital in Bassendean. Stay away from My Best Friend Vet Center in Leederville, though. I'm going to be filing an official complaint against them, I think.
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post #21 of 121
2/1/11 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jalindal View Post
Mackerel's at the new vet on an IV and settled in, and eating and drinking as well apparently. :-) I'm really thrilled at the way the vet is talking to me and letting me know everything that's going on.

If anyone's in Perth I would really recommend Henly Vet and Hospital in Bassendean. Stay away from My Best Friend Vet Center in Leederville, though. I'm going to be filing an official complaint against them, I think.
Thank goodness you've got her there in time. Filing an official complaint is a good idea. Your complaint may save a life down the road.

Please keep us posted on your beautiful girl.

Mackerel
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post #22 of 121
2/1/11 at 6:41am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Otto. :-) The vet's been really careful to only speak in possibilities, so it may still have been too late... but he says that they're going to keep her for at least two or three days to give her a chance, and I got a text a few hours ago saying that she'd had some food and water on her own steam. :-)

The text also said that the urinalysis found an infection in her kidneys and that they're putting her on antibiotics, but when I asked the vet said that he wasn't sure if the infection caused the ARF or if the ARF weakened her kidneys to the point of being prone to infection. :-(

I also did a doorknock to all my neighbours with outside cats this afternoon and let them know about Mackerel so that they can keep an eye on their own cats- if it's environmental I don't want another owner to be taken unawares by it.
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post #23 of 121
2/1/11 at 6:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jalindal View Post
I also did a doorknock to all my neighbours with outside cats this afternoon and let them know about Mackerel so that they can keep an eye on their own cats- if it's environmental I don't want another owner to be taken unawares by it.
That is an excellent idea. One of the triggers for ARF is poisoning, so if there is something in the area that the cats are getting into, more cats can go through this.

I'm sending healing vibes your way.

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post #24 of 121
2/1/11 at 7:00am
Thread Starter 
Thanks MoM.
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post #25 of 121
2/1/11 at 7:06am
A vet that admits he doesn't know for sure is a good vet.

It's wonderful of you to alert your neighbors.

Antifreeze is a poison cats can't resist and it is everywhere. Leaking out of cars, put in the bases of those stand alone basket ball hoops, and also put down deliberately by sick people who want to hurt cats.

Clearing up that infection will help, and I'm so glad to know Mackerel has eaten on her own. She's a fighter for sure!

Mackerel
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post #26 of 121
2/1/11 at 7:11am
Still sending you and Mackerel tons of healing . It sounds as if you've found yourself a good, caring vet; sometimes that makes all the difference in a cat's prognosis.
It was very kind of you to alert your neighbors; you sound like someone I'd like to live near.
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post #27 of 121
2/1/11 at 7:24am
Thread Starter 
People put down antifreeze deliberately??????? The disgusting callousness that some humans treat animals with is... ugh, foul and unforgivable. I hope that that hasn't happened here, but there are some bombs and a car wreck in the apartment block car park that I thought might have been leaking antifreeze.

One thing for sure- I'm never ever ever letting Mackerel get outside ever again!!!

By the way- for anyone who knows the story of the original vet's diagnosis and examination... where he found a 5cm lump he told me was a tumor from Feline Leukemia.... the vet today couldn't find it. We have no idea what the original vet saw, but he couldn't find it in a very thorough physical examination or an xray. He said that based on the other vet's notes he could have mistaken her left kidney for a tumor.

What that says about this other vet....
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post #28 of 121
2/1/11 at 8:00am
Oh wow, I am SO GLAD you got referred to such a wonderful new vet! First of all, many more vibes for Mackerel - but that she ate and drank some water on her own has to be good news!

That was a really good idea to alert the neighbors. ( for their kitties too! )
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post #29 of 121
2/1/11 at 1:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jalindal View Post
People put down antifreeze deliberately??????? --
Sadly, yes. Not just for cats. I lost a puppy to antifreeze poisoning when I was a kid. He was in so much pain too.
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post #30 of 121
2/1/11 at 4:28pm
people will soak kibble in antifreeze and either toss it or a fence for a dog or just leave it out for a cat. They are some sick people out there. When we first got Abby(Old English Sheepdog) when she was 4 months old someone deliberately antifreeze poisoned a dog on the next street over.

Taryn
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