Sudden Kidney disease (failure) in 22 month old cat

I don't know if Jessie is going to make it through the night. Yesterday (all yesterdays) she was a normal, frisky girl. This morning she seemed very pensive, lethargic and whimpered when I handled her. I took her to the vet immediately. Cursory exam revealed no problem, took her home and she got worse fast... trying to throw up a big of foam - back to the vet for blood work, x-rays and observation.

On the X-ray her kidneys were both significantly undersized. No fever, blood in urine. Her BUN and Creatine were off the chart. BUN more than 80, Creatine around 6. These are crazy numbers. Sugar was high (but could be stress) as was potassium. The vet is very concerned - numbers consistent with poisoning (she is indoors only, everything is hidden) or failure of BOTH kidneys.*

I'm already devastated, she is just laying on the floor, head over her bowl of water, totally lethargic. She will have an abdominal ultrasound tomorrow, but she doesn't look like she will make it through the night. Only option is to take her to emergency vet and put her on IV fluid which could help some, but I feel if she is to die to night, it should be in her home, even if not by my side (she just wants to stay on the floor in the corner next to the water).

It came out of nowhere. "Brother" eats the same food... I don't know. I'm thinking congenital*, but sheesh, 22 months????? Her coloration is intense and unusual, inbreeding (she is a rescue, after all).

I did not grow up with pets and never had to deal with the possible death of what I now consider part of my family (was expecting at least another 8 or nine years).

Asking for vibes. Hoping I've made the right choice to keep her here overnight, gearing myself up for the worst in the morning. 

*She always was a HEAVY drinker, her brother wasn't. I just got a fountain water bowel to hope to encourage him - I'm afraid it may have discouraged her (she seemed very confused, but would drink from the sink when dripping). I hope this didn't mean that she stopped drinking a couple of days with this as the result? Gotta watch the guilt. Due to the layout of my place and where she wants to lie I have to close off the door or her brother tries to play with her.

Heart is breaking, trying to remain hopeful while preparing for a very sad morning.

I just checked on her, she is obviously thirsty and nauseous (even with the medicine he gave her), but will not open her mouth, not even to lick any of the water on her chin (which was dunked in the bowel).

I was given to understand that IV fluids would not change any overnight outcome, just make her more comfortable... but alone in a cage!!!!! So unless someone has a real reason here to advise me otherwise, home is where she stays.

Simply touching her on her side elicits whimpers (of pain?). So sudden, so young. :-(

Oh no!!!! Oh I am SO sorry! :rub: Of course, many, many, many vibes!

Stupid question - if she'd actually been poisoned by something, wouldn't there be liver involvement too? :dk:

Did they administer sub-q fluids before you came home?

http://www.felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids.htm

Sub-Q twice today. Liver numbers normal. Won't know if there is an infection (white cell counts, etc.) until 9:30 tomorrow morning. I declined a shot of Covenia (the two week antibiotic) with a questionable reputation here until we know for sure if infection is involved.

I have walked my condo multiple times, all doors to cleaning agents locked. Has to be congenital (or an extremely rare cancer) - her kidneys so abnormal on x-ray. Will know more tomorrow if she makes it through the night.

I DO have pet health insurance - 200 deductible/90% up to 22K, so I could do the IV overnight at the emergency clinic - but if she dies, she dies alone. Not good, so I won't.

She and her brother are my first fur family and I'm dealing with tremendous personal health issues of my own which may force me into early retirement (without savings - already spent on my health issues). So I'm having a hard time. 

Checking on her every 15 minutes and giving loving. It hurts her to be moved and her brother won't leave her alone. Gotta close the door.

She has laid down now, off the water dish. Shallow breathing. I'm trying to decide if I can put her on a blanket and lift her onto the bed so we can be together because laying on the floor is so difficult. Want to do what is best for her. I'm not sure she will make it through the night even more... Last night she was playing and cuddling and now...

Her brother is locked in the bathroom so as not to disturb this (howling his frustration), but she needs the peace regardless. I still hope she will see tomorrow morning, but it doesn't look good.

It is starting to become real and starting to really hurt as hope fades. I thought I had more time, but...

Tiny glimmer of hope...

After folding her into a towel and placing her on the bed next to me (so we can be together over the night), she managed to jump down (obviously in bad shape and nearly crumpled from it) and stare at the water dish again.

Years, years, YEARS ago (40+) I helped save a very sick cat by shooting water down its throat with an eye dropper. What have I got to lose?

I tried with her and by squirting in the back of her throat she swallowed it! And again, and again... I will give her more fluids. She may vomit, or she may not. But I'm getting fluids into her. (Just water right now.)

Glimmer.

Aim for the roof of her mouth, so you don't have to worry about aspiration. And yes, little bits frequently, that is a very good plan.

Oh sweetie, my heart is absolutely breaking for you! My mind is sifting through possibilities.... I don't know if the x-ray would see something like the cysts if it were polycystic kidney disease? :dk: This has to be something congenital given TWO small kidneys. Oh you poor thing, and poor Jessie! I am glad you brought her home. We'd do the same thing.

More and absolutely heaps of vibes!

NBrazil said:

 
Sub-Q twice today. Liver numbers normal. Won't know if there is an infection (white cell counts, etc.) until 9:30 tomorrow morning. I declined a shot of Covenia (the two week antibiotic) with a questionable reputation here until we know for sure if infection is involved.

I have walked my condo multiple times, all doors to cleaning agents locked. Has to be congenital (or an extremely rare cancer) - her kidneys so abnormal on x-ray. Will know more tomorrow if she makes it through the night.

I DO have pet health insurance - 200 deductible/90% up to 22K, so I could do the IV overnight at the emergency clinic - but if she dies, she dies alone. Not good, so I won't.

She and her brother are my first fur family and I'm dealing with tremendous personal health issues of my own which may force me into early retirement (without savings - already spent on my health issues). So I'm having a hard time. 

Checking on her every 15 minutes and giving loving. It hurts her to be moved and her brother won't leave her alone. Gotta close the door.

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@NBrazil...Sending you positive vibes for your Jessie.

I would take her to the Emergency Vet Clinic, because as you said, you do have pet health insurance, and also because I don't think you will actually be able to sleep tonight.

Could you stay with her overnight at the clinic?  Would they let you do that?  And there, they could do in house blood tests, and also send out Urgent bloodwork, so that you could know about the full extent of her bloodwork, before morning.

The I.V. fluids may help to re-hydrate her faster.

Hoping for the best.    

My dog died of acute kidney failure. He had a severe infection which hit his kidneys, liver, and heart. I would go to the emergency vet as they have better tests to determine whether there is infection and can ultrasound to see if there are cysts on the kidney.

I would be prepared to euthanize if there is no hope. Kidney disease is very painful with lesions developing in the digestive tract.and toxins building up.

Dialysis is available at some clinics if insurance covers it. Dialysis can prolong her life for weeks. If she has an infection dialysis might give her time to recover and save her life.

The best thing you can do is get her to the er vet. If you have insurance they may be able to attempt dialysis and that is your only hope. Dialysis works but is much to expensive if not covered by insurance. Call the emergency vet and ask if they have dialysis available and if your insurance covers it.

My dog was not a candidate for dialysis as he had an infection in his heart. The odds of survival were less than twenty percent for just his heart condition, with the kidney and liver damage, it was too much. He became sick literally overnight. There was no warning and no time to say goodbye. He was young.

Acute kidney failure hits very rapidly... if poison isn't possible, it could be an infection.

I called, no dialysis. She still does not have a fever - but has perked up a tiny bit with the oral fluids (has retained all of my small doses). Meaning, I stepped out and she came over to me.

So I laid her on her favorite towel on a mattress on the floor and I will lay next to her for the night, trying to get a little sleep (I have significant ongoing medical issues which are exacerbated a lot by lack of rest). Giving more water as I may wake up and hope she makes it to the morning to be taken in for ultrasound.

Her brother is howling his frustration at being locked out, but it has to be.

If she passes, then I will be next to her - if not, we'll see what can be done.

Anyway, without dialysis, I don't see a point in taking her into the ER - seems I've managed to get some hydration into her. Wish I had thought of it much earlier.

She knows she is surrounded by my love and, as above, even tried to return it in her own way.

I may sound cavalier, but my heart is breaking. She isn't even two yet!

Nope - no way to stay with her there at the clinic... She stays here in her home.

So I pray I won't have to change my avatar. Good night all, laying down next to/with her - blowing "I love you" eye kisses back and forth (weakly on her part). Will see what the morning brings. Thanks.

:heart2: :heart2: :heart2: :heart2: :heart2: :heart2: My thoughts are with you and Jessie.

You're doing the right thing, staying with her tonight! I would be doing the same!!

My heart and thoughts are with you tonight! I have a 2 year old kitty, and I can't imagine going through this, like you are! Sending positive vibes your way

Still alive at 7:30 AM - but her "brother" is going crazy calling for her and digging at the door while I'm out and doing some morning things. She is very weak, but showed some signs of fighting for her life.

Both have been so playful and he is missing his morning romp. Meanwhile my own medical pains and issues have been worsened,  but she needed me. Now I must take some time to deal with my issues for a bit.

I know you don't want to leave her alone at the clinic but if she is suffering from acute kidney failure her best hope at beating it would be hospitalizing her on iv fluids till the kidneys can be properly flushed out. Most cats that recover from this type of kidney failure need aggressive treatment. Being on iv fluids will rapidly rehydrate her and flush the toxins out of her blood that the kidneys can not and it will make her feel better. Also she can receive medications to correct any additional issues iv which work a lot faster. I'm glad your doing the ultrasound as that may give some clues as to what's going on. I totally understand your concerns though but I'm just speaking as someone who works at an animal hospital and has seen firsthand the differences between hospitalizing and home care. I have 2 CKD cats (older though) but I wouldnt hesitate to keep them somewhere overnight if they were crashing.

:heart2:

Good vibes and prayers. I'm so sorry!

Jessie is in ICU and about to have a lot of tests.

The ultrasound revealed normal kidneys and abdomen except for two things: a small (collapsed/empty) bladder and that the abdomen was full of fluid. A sample was drawn and being tested for contents.

They need to determine 1) if her kidneys are actually not functioning and 2) the source of the fluid.

They will need to do contrast studies to see if the bladder is ruptured (note: extremely rare in a female cat, more so an indoors one) and the source of the fluid. Otherwise contrast to find it.

If the source is something that can be repaired surgically, then likely proceed with that IF the kidneys are working. THAT is critical.

This case is considered highly unusual because of the youth of the cat and the internal "trauma." I know that she played rough but they said, even so, it should not be relevant (i.e. falling off of a cat tree onto furniture would not be sufficient force to rupture a bladder).

I had to leave her with a best hope/departing kiss.

If the kidneys are working and it is "only" a ruptured bladder, prognosis is good. Otherwise, all bets are off. I do not yet have a diagnosis or prognosis.

A hard time for all involved. Sending my best.

@NBrazil   Sending you more positive vibes, prayers, and good thoughts...for both yourself and Jessie.

I know it is hard, but please do look after yourself, too, since Jessie is in good hands, and all you can do now, is wait.

  Know that many of us here, are waiting with you, and hoping for the best.  Stay strong.