CKD Cat, an advice?

Hello all --

New member to this site, so glad I found it! I have a cat with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) who was diagnosed around 3 months ago. She's about 14 years old and we just had her in the hospital on IV fluids for five days after she crashed with extremely elevated kidney values (Creatinine: 13.9). After five days, her values dropped nicely to somewhere around 4.8. We started her on 150 mL of Sub-Q fluids as prescribed by the vet, along with Cerenia and Pepcid AC for nausea and acid. We were told to give her the additional medications only if she needed it. This morning her eating is slowing down and she only peps up for her Greenie's treats, and we cannot keep offering that to her as a substitute to food. We gave her medicine and the vet said to give the Cerenia a chance to work because she's been off it for a while (we didn't give it to her because she didn't need it with her rate of eating).

Unfortunately, my authority is limited. I am 17 years old, and I am quite lacking in authority. My dad, a realistic man, has been telling my mom to give it a rest with the attempts to save our cat. My mom is starting to buy into it, which is quite hypocritical considering she was yelling at me not to give up on our cat. Money is such a big issue for us considering we spent $4000 on her five day stay at the hospital. I've read so many success stories about cats like her -- and even worse -- who have bounced back with continued care at home and check-ups with the vet. My question for you all is: Do you believe this is worth pursuing? With a lack of money, it's starting to get to my mom who was once so set on helping our cat. Now, it seems, I am the only one who is still willing to fight, even if I'm "living in a dream-world" according to my mom. Is there any suggestions from fellow CKD owners that could prove helpful to us? I'm sure Whiskers would appreciate it very much. 

Thank you to all who read and respond,

CatLover17

Hi CatLover17 and welcome to the forum!

$4000 - ouch! (Have you considered Veterinary College? )

Managing a cat's reduced kidney function is really a balancing act...understanding how other parts of her system may be affected, watching for symptoms of change in her and being prepared to "treat" other changes as they may come along. It's going to take commitment to learning, observing and treatment. These days, much of that treatment can be done at home. From time to time, you'll need the Vet's help.

There are private groups of people online that focus only on renal kitties. They have lots of experience and help each other to manage and maintain their cats' health. If you were to join up with them, you'd be able to get the coaching you'll need to maintain that balance in her. There's no curing this for the average person just yet (transplantation is available, but extremely costly), and, over time her kidney function will reduce further. There's no predicting how much time she may have - that's as individual as the cat. Many cats do manage well for years after diagnosis, though.

So, if someone is willing to take on the commitment, it's doable for the average person.

It seems to me that you'll need an ally, a partner at home who has some "authority".....looks like your mom is the best candidate, considering she was Whisker's staunch supporter. Perhaps if you were to do some research up front, get some indication of support from that group, and put together a basic action plan your mother might buy in and begin to work on your father. And, after all, if maintaining her health could be done reasonably costly, wouldn't that be more reasonable than to just throw away that $4000 without even attempting to manage her at home?

(Just a word about costs. There are ways to reduce some of the usual costs involved, and here is a little about that: http://www.felinecrf.org/obtaining_supplies_cheaply.htm Many people in that group do not use the special "prescription" foods, either...one of the things you'll learn is how to select "standard" commercial foods that will be acceptable for your cat.)

OK - time for some links.

You'll find that online group here: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/tanyas-ckd-support/

Info on how the group 'works': http://www.felinecrf.org/tanyas_support_group.htm

Some success stories: http://www.felinecrf.org/success_stories.htm

Here's where you begin your research: http://www.felinecrf.org/

duplicate post

My Sven was diagnosed with CKD when he was 13, and he lived for 3 years with it.  We did NOT feed him prescription kidney foods because he wouldn't eat them.   We did give him sub-q fluids, which was really inexpensive because we purchased the supplies (except the fluids) via the internet (see links above), and we purchased his fluids quite inexpensively thru Walgreens by putting him on their Pet Insurance Plan, so I think his fluids cost us maybe $20/annually (including the insurance!)  We bought the Pepcid A/C at Target, so that cost was minimal, and he never took Cerenia.  He hated pill pockets, so we used Whiska Lickins soft treats to hide the Pepcid A/C in. 

Honestly, we didn't have his blood tested very often, because we knew no matter what his numbers said, we weren't going to treat him much differently.  We were NOT going to force him to eat kidney food, we were NOT going to force medicine down his throat, we could determine how often to give fluids without the need for blood tests, because if he started throwing up more frequently, then our Vet told us to give fluids more often.  And because kidney cats often get constipated, we already knew what to do for that.  So, honestly, there was very little cost involved with his illness. 

Sven's main issue was eating...I think this is a universal issue with kidney cats. (There were days when all he would eat were the Temptations with added vitamins.)   Kidney cats all seem to have good and bad days.  When the bad days out number the good days, then you know it's time to let go.  Today could be just one of her "bad days" .  How often are you giving her the Pepcid A/C?  How about the sub-q fluids?  What is she eating...when she IS eating normally?  I found with my Svennie that he did better if he ate something right before bedtime, then as soon as I got up, I gave him something (even if it was just a couple of Temptations) right as I jumped out of bed, before I even brushed my teeth.  He did better if he always had a little something in his stomach.