chronic renal failure (AKA kidney failure) in pets?

[bob tilton]

got a sick animal. prelim diagnosis is kidney failure. any body had to deal with an animal with CRF post vet diagnosis? read about the extra care involved - no worries there. concern is about the quality of life. feedback and personal experience appreciated.

[RickM]

Bob, what are the symptoms?

[island911]

My wife, just this morning, took our old cat in to have tests for urinary tract infection or ?(I forget) . . possibly secondary to (known) early stages of kidney failure. ( I believe they just drink more water, and pee more often, as the kidney failure slowly advances)

The "why" (for the testing) is one of the two cats we have pissed on the carpet in my study. . . .Shampoo, carpet cleaner, enzyme-oder killer . . .still stinks!

Oh well, time for a new rug . .. and maybe a new cat. . . .I may be a bit pissy in the mean time.

[bob tilton]

symptoms include cosnuming lots of water, listless, 10% loss of motor functions, and just plain out of character. the pet is at the vet now getting bloodwork, urine tests and rehydrated. it does not look good.

[vash]

dog or cat?

sounds expensive....sorry bob, i hope it works out. the symptoms sound a bit like cushing's disease. i know this, because that is what my pooch has.

[island911]

Yikes, that doesn't sound good.

The vet's should be able to tell ya what to expect.

[RickM]

My Golden was "hit" with something about a month ago. It was so bad I slept on the floor with him for half the night cause I didn't think he'd make it to the next morn. Went to the vet and they did a battery of tests. They came up with:

- Severe arthritis
- Kidney disease..probably advanced and caused by infrequent teeth cleanings
- Ear infections (which he did have)
- Systemic yeast infection


We were given fish oil capsules, one of those off the shelf joint "lubrication" medicines, antibiotic ear ointment, generic broad spectrum antibiotic pills along with special perscription food for kidney disease....don't ask how much it cost. He did not improve, rather he got worse. He'd groan with any movement, could barely stand, wouldn't eat but would drink copious amounts of water, legs would give out from under him when he could walk and he was totally listless. He could not even lift his head.

Called vet back and was told..."He's getting old, prepare yourself"

Because it came on so suddenly I figured it had to be Lyme desease. I brought (read carried) him back and asked for the two types of tests, one returns results in 10 minutes the other in 2 weeks. Sure enough he had it, despite Lyme Vaccinations and having our property sprayed specifically for ticks.

He went on Doxicycline and 4 days later he was like a puppy. Not one symptom is present...not one.

Sorry for the length of this post but I believe this is an avenue to explore.

Best of luck.

Edited for spelling and detail.

[tabs]

I do hope they get better....

[bob tilton]

thanks guys. it's one of our 2 cats (brothers) that is sick. he is only 3 years old and very well taken care of (shots and annual exams). really expected to have them for a long time. i think i was wrong. vet said he has a 50/50 chance. should he make it past the initial phase of this he will become a high matainence cat requiring diet change, rehydrating injections, medication, and close monitoring. all the above would be gladly done but very concerned about quality of life. he will tire quickly, get stuck with a needle everyday, become an indoor cat, etc. before - this was a cat that could pluck a bird out of the air unlike his porky brother. most concerned about the wife's reaction should we have to put him down. they are nearly joined at the hip.

[Halm]

Never liked cats very much until 2 years ago when our 27 year old daughter dumped her cat on us. Now we have 2 neutered male, inside cats. Inside cats are really great pets. Wouldn't worry about that part of the deal.

Hope he gets well.

[Adam]

I really hope he pulls through, Bob.

[carreradpt]

Bob, I just lost one of my cats to kidney failure. He was about 9.5 yo and started to look thin and drinking water all the time. He was then diagnosed. Put him on NF food, think it is low in phospates but he didn't live much longer. Xmas eve of last year as a matter of fact. When he didn't want to go outside I knew it was time. I put my other cat (Zoomie) on the same diet, same age as Chippy, and he is doing good. There is no cure and it seems to be a big killer.

[island911]

Well Bob, I call the best Vet I know (rather than waiting for her to come home tonight . . . i read to her your posts. What I remember she said(disclaimer); unusual for a 3y/o cat to have kidney failure unless it was born w/ a problem, got into something like antifreeze, or has kidney-stones . .maybe she said infection too. ANyway, she said she would xray, or better, ultrasound . ..look for any abnormality.

. . and she says she has seen young cats bounce-back, to lead normal lives, if they pull through.

that's about all I can remember . . . I even forgot to ask her about our cat. --d'oh.

Anyway, maybe you'll have some more pointed questions for your vet now.

[bob tilton]

thanks again guys.

island911 - that was a much needed read - thank you.

just got back from visiting the cat at the vet. strangest thing to visit an animal in the hospital. i have spent a lot of time in hospitals as a kid and throughout my twenties but that's another story - let's just say Make A Wish Foundation is the best.

his numbers are still bad based on this mornings blood work BUT they contradict his behavior. to observe him you would think nothing is wrong. he was alert and a bit pissed off at my wife and me. he looked good in general. most of all he was devouring his food like a wild animal. according to the numbers he should be extremely lethargic and not eating...at all. so this of course made us happy as we left. the fact that he has been urinating was good. no build up of toxins in the body. this is the one thing you hope for in this scenario.

if it was antifreeze he would have been vomiting and dead within a day or two of ingestion. rat poison kills by making a rat's stomach rupture. a cat or dog that consumes rat poison will vomit blood and possible develope blood clots in the stomach but their stomachs will not rupture. we took him in cause we thought he might have a bug considering his depressed mood for a week. an x-ray revealed abnormally small kidneys and a few possible stones.

both our cats are "heavy drinkers" leading me to believe it may be genetic. his brother goes in for his annual exam and boosters next month at which time we will run tests to see if he has accute renal failure.

all in all, we are hoping for the best and providing him the best possible chance. like so many other loving owners you would just about give anything to insure a long life for your pets. of course this means no engine rebuild for me in the near future but hey...such is life.

much appreciation for sharing.

Zander on sunday: