Tips for making a cat in renal failure comfortable?

ichini

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So today I got the bad news of my girl being in renal failure. She's down to about 20% kidney function. The hard part is that this is a major issue because her low white blood cell count caused a problem with her paws, causing them to swell up and blister. Because of her low kidney function, the wounds are having a hard time healing and the vet wants surgery to fix the paw, but she wouldn't survive surgery because of her kidneys. So she wants a $1200 hospitalization to maybe make her well enough for another expensive surgery which will only deal with the issue of her paw. I don't have that kind of money for that kind of just maintenance care. The vet has put her on a diet to help improve kidney function, but there's a low hope that will fix the overall problem.

This is my first time going through this with a pet and it only am I kind of having the challenge of being put in the position of not being able to financially take care of this animal I took in and claimed responsibility for, I don't know the steps I need to take? When do I call it quits? What can I do at home to maybe help? What is acceptable to ask the vet? Because even the check ups on her twice a week and paying for the bandage changes is racking up to something I can't keep paying.

I would love any tips or advice on what I can do for at home care, and where it's acceptable to stop the vet from charging me and saving myself money to spend on care I can't give myself for a fraction of the price.
 

cat nap

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@IchiNi....I am so sorry your cat is going through both renal failure and problems with her paws.

I would be direct with your Vet, and tell them that you honestly cannot afford expensive treatments, or twice weekly visits, and ask them if there are alternative things that you can manage to do at home.

Some Vets will work with you, and once they understand a client's limitations, then some will offer other ideas that you can do.

(Sometimes, seeking another Vet's opinion, is also beneficial, especially one who has a lot of experience in dealing with kidney cats.

It all depends upon how comfortable you are with your own Vet, and the medical advice they provide.)

I was told that when a cat is diagnosed with CKD, chronic kidney disease, then they have already lost 75% of their kidney function.

(now they have a SDMA test that detects kidney disease earlier, so perhaps that will change in the future.)

But a cat with only 25% kidney function, can still survive, by slowing down the progression of the disease, and maintaining the function they have left.

The website most of have used for explanation of kidney disease is Tanya's Website: http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm

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

It contains a wealth of information on all things kidney related.

Home care usually involves giving Sub-Q fluids, (unless there are underlying heart issues, then this is tricky.), pain meds, or other medications, and food that our cats will eat.

If the prescription kidney diet is too expensive, then asking for phosphorus binders to go along with the food your cat was eating is also an option.

The main thing is getting your cat to eat, and not losing too much weight, and at the same time watching the bloodwork kidney numbers.

Because you mentioned that your cat is in Renal Failure, then this sounds like it might be more acute, or urgent, to get her back to feeling well.

And if the paw pad problem is due to excessive waste products or fluids, not being able to be filtered out of the blood, then I'm not sure if excess fluids are beneficial or not.

It all depends upon a Vet's advice, on what can and cannot be done at home.

I don't know about the swollen paw problem, and how that relates to her treatment, but perhaps you can ask if certain meds can be prescribed by your Vet, to reduce the swelling, and manage any pain, at home. Even transdermal creams.

How old is your cat? and what is her name?

Sending you loads of health vibes, too.
 
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msserena

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taking a cat once in a while to the vet is totally stressful for them, I wouldn't go twice a week. I don't have much experience with CKD but the link provided above to Tanya's website is valuable. I was reading everything on it & trying different things. My cat was 17 before I had to syringe feed & give sub q fluids. It was awful. I was crying most days, I didn't want to do it & I knew she wasn't going to get better so basically I came to the realization that I was only keeping her around for my benefit. She stopped eating, the vet said she was probably nauseous all the time so then I gave her anti nausea meds & would syringe feed her multiple times a day.

I don't know how old your girl is but you're gonna have to come to the decision of how long are you going to put her through all this stuff, just to keep her around longer when she's not going to get better. If she's running around & acting great & eating fine, then sub q fluids would probably be the first step. Any vet will show you how to do it, it took me a couple times before I was comfortable administering it but I still hated doing it. I hate needles & didn't want to put them in my baby even though it's in a fold of skin. it's gross.
 

cat nap

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@IchiNi....the swollen paw pad problem, made me think of "Pillow Paw", or "Pillow feet" also known as 'Plasma cell Pododermatitis'.

This thread has some info on it:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/315771/...matitis-otherwise-known-as-pillow-paw-disease

As well as the links here:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1720
http://vetbook.org/wiki/cat/index.php?title=Plasma_cell_pododermatitis

(also remember that if using any herbal supplements, still mention them to your Vet, in case they interfere with the absorption of any meds given.

Like Slippery Elm Bark, or probiotics. Even OTC (over the counter) Pepcid AC.)
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I've had three kidney cats, and I honestly don't think her low white blood cell count is directly related to her kidney disease.  My cats didn't have low WBC...none of them that I can recall.  And the last one got a ruptured anal gland and healed up so quick the Vet could hardly believe it, so not healing well is also not a kidney cat trait.  It seems to me that something else might be going on besides the kidney issues.

That website referenced above is truly my "go to" for questions for the Vet, and even discusses when it's time to let go
.  But my last two kidney cats both lived three years AFTER being diagnosed, and as cat nap mentioned they aren't usually diagnosed until they are at least in stage two and their kidneys are pretty well shot. 

Is there any reason why you cannot do the bandage changes yourself on her foot?  Twice a week would definitely break the bank.  Is she on any antibiotics for her paws?  Is it ALL of them?  Otherwise, it does sound a bit like pillowfoot, but that doesn't usually effect all of them, at least not all at the same time.
 
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