Cat recently diagnosed with Kidney Disease. Advise?

pancat

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Hey there

My 13 year old girl was just discovered to have Kidney Disease after we took her to the vet about two days ago. She has had a lot of trouble walking, has been meowing a lot in a way that sounds like shes in pain, and a lot of the other usual stuff that comes with kidney Disease (increased urination and drinking for example).

I was reassured that there was a good reason to try to help treat her, I've been giving her Sub-Q fluids and Amoxil to help with her condition. So far she has been eating a little, and has been good with getting up to go to the litter tray and get more water (although I do have to place her in because of how weak she is at the moment). 

I've mainly been concerned with how long it may take for her condition to improve... (if it does). Although I feel some of the things I mentioned mean that shes not too bad off, I haven't yet seen much improvement, but at least she hasn't been getting worse. I feel the fact that shes still trying means that there's still hope? I just home that she starts to show some signs of improvement soon.
 

cat-tech

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Did your vet also rule out hyperthyroidism?  This often goes hand in hand with renal disease.  The weakness and crying out could be indicative of untreated hyperthyroidism.

Also ask your vet if she could benefit from pepcid ac, don't give it until you've talked to your vet.

With fluid support, appropriate diet, regular checkups to ensure her renal values are stabilizing, or, that she doesn't require supplementation due to a calcium/potassium imbalance and monitoring for hypertension, she has a good chance to thrive and do well.  Early detection and treatment is the key along with regular checkups.  If her renal values were right at the high normal or slightly above, your vet may have felt it not necessary to hospitalize her on IV fluids, but if she does not improve within another day or two, please get her rechecked and determine if she may require IV fluid therapy.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm a little concerned about her weakness too. And my mind went immediately to a possible Low Potassium issue, which can be easily corrected.   I've had three kidney cats and none of them displayed that type of issue.  They never needed lifting into the litter box
.  Why is she on antibiotics (Amoxil).  Was she also diagnosed with a UTI or something?  Do you have copies of her bloodwork?  How bad did they say her kidneys were?  Did you  notice her drinking an inordinate amount before taking her in to be seen? 

My Vet told me that kidney disease, in and of itself, was not painful.  Some of the accompanying issues, like an over acidic tummy, can be uncomfortable.  Is your girl vomiting at all, even a clear frothy like substance?   (that's why Cat-tech made reference to the Pepcid A/C) 

Did you Vet discuss making food changes?  That's usually the first thing that is done, above all others. 

Here is a website that is my "go to" for anything kidney related.  It's not interactive like we are, but it's still very helpful if you just want to try to look something up.  In the meantime, if you can get back to us with answers to my questions, maybe we can provide more insight.  http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm
 
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pancat

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I'm a little concerned about her weakness too. And my mind went immediately to a possible Low Potassium issue, which can be easily corrected.   I've had three kidney cats and none of them displayed that type of issue.  They never needed lifting into the litter box
.  Why is she on antibiotics (Amoxil).  Was she also diagnosed with a UTI or something?  Do you have copies of her bloodwork?  How bad did they say her kidneys were?  Did you  notice her drinking an inordinate amount before taking her in to be seen? 

My Vet told me that kidney disease, in and of itself, was not painful.  Some of the accompanying issues, like an over acidic tummy, can be uncomfortable.  Is your girl vomiting at all, even a clear frothy like substance?   (that's why Cat-tech made reference to the Pepcid A/C) 

Did you Vet discuss making food changes?  That's usually the first thing that is done, above all others. 

Here is a website that is my "go to" for anything kidney related.  It's not interactive like we are, but it's still very helpful if you just want to try to look something up.  In the meantime, if you can get back to us with answers to my questions, maybe we can provide more insight.  http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm
As it is now, the current treatment I have her on is just to see if its possible for her to bounce back, so while my vet did mention food changes, its a case of seeing if shes going to get better before I decide to spend money and time on other forms of treatment. She was pretty ill when I bought her in, so we weren't sure if she was at a stage where she could recover or not.

So far, she's been doing a lot better! But shes still having mobility issues. Her back legs have stabilized a bit but she now has a heavy limp on one of her front paws? I'm starting to wonder if it might be from outside causes since it does seem like an odd symptom of the disease. Aside from that, shes almost back to her old self which is a relief to see. I'm tempted to look into correcting other aliments she has if my next visit with the vet goes well.

I don't have any of the official results unfortunately, although my vet suggested that the condition may have been caused by infection (hence why I have her on amoxil). She hasn't been vomiting at all, and hasn't really displayed any other symptoms other than urinating and drinking a lot (which I assume is normal anyway)
 
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pancat

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Did your vet also rule out hyperthyroidism?  This often goes hand in hand with renal disease.  The weakness and crying out could be indicative of untreated hyperthyroidism.

Also ask your vet if she could benefit from pepcid ac, don't give it until you've talked to your vet.

With fluid support, appropriate diet, regular checkups to ensure her renal values are stabilizing, or, that she doesn't require supplementation due to a calcium/potassium imbalance and monitoring for hypertension, she has a good chance to thrive and do well.  Early detection and treatment is the key along with regular checkups.  If her renal values were right at the high normal or slightly above, your vet may have felt it not necessary to hospitalize her on IV fluids, but if she does not improve within another day or two, please get her rechecked and determine if she may require IV fluid therapy.
She didn't specifically rule it out but it wasn't mentioned. I'll be sure to ask about it during my next visit.

Her condition has greatly improved over the past few days! Shes become a lot more responsive and alert, although her trouble with walking still remains. I hope to get that checked out during my next visit with the vet.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm glad she's feeling better.  Maybe this was mainly from a kidney infection...hard to know.  But still doesn't really explain the leg weakness issue. 
   Weird that her back legs are improving, and it's moved to her front leg.  Have you called the Vet and mentioned that?  I would.

When is your next visit scheduled for?
 
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pancat

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Her back leg weakness is still there, but it almost seems different to her front leg? Her back legs are just somewhat 'wobbly' and she has a bit of trouble coordinating them but its not painful looking. With her front paw she straight up has trouble putting any weight onto it at all and it seems like it hurts. It is really strange...

My next visit is scheduled in about two days, so I'll be sure to tell my vet about the issues then
 

kathy1

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we took our cat to the vet last week and found out he has kidney disease he was eating normally up until that time. they first perscribed him medicine and he won't let us give him the medicine. also they perscribed the hills prescription diet k/d they gave us the chicken flavor in dry and can but he won't eat it. we are trying to think of ways to have him eat it. i welcome any suggestions we have to take him back to the vet in a month for bloodwork.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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we took our cat to the vet last week and found out he has kidney disease he was eating normally up until that time. they first perscribed him medicine and he won't let us give him the medicine. also they perscribed the hills prescription diet k/d they gave us the chicken flavor in dry and can but he won't eat it. we are trying to think of ways to have him eat it. i welcome any suggestions we have to take him back to the vet in a month for bloodwork.
Did the Vet say he is in the very early stages of kidney disease? Doesn't need sub-q fluids or B-12 shots or things like that yet? WHAT medication did they prescribe for him? Many medications can be given in different way...liquid, pills, transdermal (rub into their ears), even injectable. Out last kidney cat was impossible to pill, so we used both transdermal and injectables with her. You can also try to hide smaller pills in soft treats.

As far as getting him to eat the new food, some cats simple just don't like the kidney diet. None of mine ever did, so we gave up on that aspect of it. There are lots of other foods out there that are lower in phosphorus though, and that's really what you are looking for. Most of the food made by Weruva falls into that Category. Here is a food chart that lists foods by the amount of phosphorus in them Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease- Canned Food Data USA If you boy is a kibble eater, try crushing up some of his favorite kibble and topping his new food with it to transition him to new wet food, as moist food should be better for his kidneys. I always added extra filtered water to my guys' wet food too.

The above website is a wonderful website to keep bookmarked for information purposes on kidney disease. It was my "go to" anytime I needed to look up anything after Vet visits, etc. (sometimes even after reading a post here on TCS :lol: )
 
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