18 yr old kitty with Kidney Disease

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jasmine's mum

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mrsgreenjeens...

Mirtazapine yes... 3 mg, and he gave us 5 capsules to give 3 days apart. 

Actually the throw up she had the other day was the first time in awhile that she's had.  Lately it's just been a matter of not wanting to eat.

There was definitely a time (maybe a year ago) that she was throwing up her food a lot.  I didn't think much about it, but maybe I should have?

Yesterday I was able to pick up the Pepcid A/C's, which from what I gather won't hurt her, so I'll give those a go and see if there's any improvement.  If not I may want to ask the vet about the cerenia you mention (thanks!).  I do believe I could give it to her in pill form... we're so fortunate in that regard! 
 
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jasmine's mum

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That guy... thank you!  I called the vet about the cerenia today... but he wasn't in.  They are going to ask him tomorrow.  They said they don't give the pill form to cats, just injection.  They mentioned a different one that I could give via pill.  I wasn't sure about a pain med, since I thought that might make it worse to get her to eat.  Maybe I should ask?

I did have a covered litterbox, and it was deep... so I switched that out for an uncovered one that is not so deep.  She's using it pretty good for the most part.  Now it's just the occasional pee that's outside the box. 

So far I'm not having any luck getting her to eat much the past couple days... it's really scaring me.  The vet tech I spoke with tonight said to try heating her food... so I did that (microwave for 8 seconds), and when I put that in front of her she dove in... for a single bite... then turned her nose up again.

19.5 for your cat... that's amazing!!  So happy you were able to get him past his crash... wishing you much more healthy time together!!!
 
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jasmine's mum

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btw... what are temptation treats?  Can anyone provide a link to a pic?  Are they a wiskas product?
 
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betsygee

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Have you tried the Gerber's or Beech's baby food?  The kind with only meat and gravy--no spices or onions or anything like that of course.  I was a bit skeptical when it was suggested to me, but it kept a couple of my old sick cats eating when nothing else would--sometimes just the baby food on its own, sometimes watered down and poured as a 'gravy' over regular food.  
 
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Thanks LTS3, I saw those at the store, but wasn't sure they were the right thing... I will pick up a bag tomorrow and see if that helps.

Betsygee.... I will also get some baby food... fingers crossed.  This is making me nutz.  I keep telling her she has to eat, but so far she's ignoring me!
 

betsygee

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I know, it's tough.  And truthfully, sometimes all these tips and tricks work, and sometimes, they don't.  
  But you'll know you tried everything you could.  
 
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thank you Betsygee... right now I'm feeling pretty helpless... the past two days she hasn't barely eaten.  I've tried heating up her food.. and all looked for a bite or two, then she stopped again. 

I've gotten her some baby foods to try, some fancy feasts to try, and some temptation treats.  I'm going to run home at lunch to see if we have any luck.

I just really wish I could get her to eat again... I'd say that's our main issue right now.

I've called the vet to see about some anti-nausea meds, and I think I'll mention pain meds also.

But thanks so much for letting me know that if it doesn't work, it's not my fault, and not that I didn't try.  That's the hardest part... the worry that you did something wrong, or not enough. 
 

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Our Callie ate really well after she'd had a Cerenia shot.  I'm thinking about taking her in for another one
.,   I'm in the same boat as you are right now.  She's barely eating anything....not even her Temptations.  She ate .25 oz of Fancy Feast Classics for breakfast along with 10 treats total for the day so far, and I'm counting the treats I give her in the middle of the night (I keep a small ziploc bag of them under my pillow for when she wakes me at night....yes, she's spoiled, BUT also, it's either give her a couple of treats or get out of bed to clean up the froth she throws up if she doesn't get something on her stomach.  I choose to give her a couple of treats


If the baby food doesn't work, you can also try sprinkling a little parmesan cheese (from the green can) on her food.  Cats love it.  Or pour a little tuna juice on it.   Or try feeding her a little bit of raw meat from whatever you are having for dinner.  Oddly enough, my last kidney cat enjoyed raw meat, which he had never had in his life until he was on his last legs.  Or you could cook up something (without bones) with absolutely NO seasonings or spices to see if she will eat it...maybe a chicken thigh or breast and see if she'll nibble on small pieces.  (If not, you can always make chicken salad out of it)

Of course I've tried all these tricks with MY girl and they don't work anymore...I'm guessing because they aren't new to her
, but they USED to work.
 
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Thanks!  Still waiting to hear from the vets about the anti-nausea and/or pain pills.

At lunch I ran home and gave her a temptation treat, which she inhaled.  So I gave her another... again she inhaled it.  So I gave her a few, and she went right to town on them... but within a minute she was kind of choking on one.  After she got it out she wasn't much interested in them again.  So not sure if they are now off the menu.

I also opened a fancy feast for her... not sure what to expect inside.  It's meaty pieces with gravy.  She had a good go at that... but I think mostly just after the gravy.
 

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I'm so sorry you have to go through this, it is heartbreaking to think our babies may be suffering. I would wish for her to just go quietly in her sleep, it is a prayer I have for all of our babies. It sounds like you have given her a great life. and definitely have given her love and devotion. There comes a time when we can do no more to help, hopefully she will let you know when that time has come. She is a beautiful little soul, please give her a kiss from me. I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
 
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Thanks Di and Bob...  I will definitely pass that kiss along... she can use all she can get!!

Well I just got back from the vet.  I took kitty in as well... just so I could get the vet tech to assess her dehydration level.  She thought she wasn't too bad. Our vet has prescribed two meds as follows:  Cyproheptadine-Peiactin: another appetite stimulant, and Metoclypramide: for nausea.  He did not want to prescribe a pain killer, as he said there are two kinds.  An NSAID (I think that's what he said) which would be bad for her kidneys, and a Narcotic which would just make her sleep all day.

So we'll give these a go.  The vet tech also mentioned the tuna trick... so I might just get a can for her.  I'm going to see how all the other stuff I got her works first.

Thanks for continuing to keep Jazzy in your thoughts and prayers everyone!!

Sandra
 
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Well the metoclypramide went over o'kay... I mean to say I didn't notice anything different or odd.

But the periactin has really made her uncomfortable. She was spitting up after giving it... I figure it tasted bad. But now she's very restless... she lays down, then gets up and moves to another location... repeat over and over and over, etc.  I'm not sure this one is a good thing. 

I need to do her fluids, but I'm not sure she can lay long enough for that??
 

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Well the metoclypramide went over o'kay... I mean to say I didn't notice anything different or odd.

But the periactin has really made her uncomfortable. She was spitting up after giving it... I figure it tasted bad. But now she's very restless... she lays down, then gets up and moves to another location... repeat over and over and over, etc.  I'm not sure this one is a good thing. 

I need to do her fluids, but I'm not sure she can lay long enough for that??
Some cats get that reaction from Mirtazipine.  Darn it all
.  Well, if she likes the temptations, why not try crushing them and sprinkling them on her food, of at least (if you're afraid of her choking again), semi crushing them up for her.   I still say for her arthritis you might try the Cosequin or Dasequin.  I can source it locally at certain store...maybe natural pet stores.  Some people think it might actually be good for kidneys, although I don't think that's been proven.  But our last kidney cat took it with our Vet's approval.  It's basically glucosimine/condroitin with flavoring for cats to make it palatable. 

BTW, we ended up taking Callie in yesterday for another Cerenia shot for nausea, just in case.  Last time it worked wonders.  So far it's not doing anything 
.  (She is impossible to pill, so an appetite stimulant has never even been discussed for her)
 
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Thanks so much for your reply Mrsgreenjeens...

Does that mean that I should not give the periactin again?  I'm really nervous of it now.  I've just put a call into our vet to ask.

After giving those pills, and giving her some time... then doing her fluids.  I again gave her a little time and then put down some of the beefnveg flavoured baby food.  She went right at it... and ate about 1/2 of those little jars.  She also took a couple temptation treats. 

This morning again she took some more of the baby food and some fancy feast, and a few more temptation treats.  I'm giving them to her one at a time now so she doesn't choke. 

I need to look into the cosequin... thanks for the reminder!!

I sure hope your Callie perks up for the cerenia shot!  I feel so badly for you both.  (((HUGS)))
 
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There weren't... I checked!!  Thanks so much for mentioning that before because I may not have thought of that!!

If she keeps eating them I'm going to look for meat and broth ones... they didn't have them when I went last time.
 
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Well I'm feeling completely sick to my stomach.  The vet wants to do more blood work on Jasmine to see where she's at.  My husband has already said no more blood work... and I'm not in disagreement.  We have spent a lot of money already this year so far, and Jasmine is 18+.  I'm afraid that this means that we are doomed.  I'm feeling like maybe I should have PTS when she crashed a week and a bit ago.  I had no idea about kidney disease, or the related expenses associated with it.

I must be the worst kitty parent ever.  Has anyone else faced not being able to do the necessary blood work for kidney cats?  Are we doomed?  Thoughts?

It's o'kay if you think I'm horrible and want to tell me that.
 
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I don't think I'm nuts.  Kitty is just not doing well.  She's falling over now.  She just keeps trying to get up and she just keeps falling over. 
 
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