Feline CRF

[Lady_MCSE]

I am sitting here preparing myself mentally for going downstairs and administering subcutaneous fluids to Boxer, who was diagnosed with kidney failure 2 years ago. He's been not quite himself the past few days, and I'm sure he's telling me that it's time he needs them. I haven't personally given him any in over a year. But he had them during one emergency trip to the vet for a urinary blockage a few months ago.

*sigh* He simply does NOT do well with the whole Sub-Q thing. I love my veterinarian, but they never really went over the procedure with me that well, and never suggested that I warm the fluids. So I think that those early days after the diagnosis in which I thought Boxer had to have them weekly, combined with my awkwardness and cold fluid to start out, that has made the whole thing even worse in Boxer's mind.

But I titled this thread "Feline CRF" in case anyone else out there has a kitty who is in renal failure and wants to vent.

This is a really fantastic website about managing the disease. I always check in on them for tips on administering Sub-Q before I go do it. So this has been an excellent resource.

http://www.felinecrf.com/managb.htm


And while I was there, I just found something that just might help! It looks evil, but when compared to what else we are going through, I think it may actually be better for both of us.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_restraint.aspx

[Carri]

I am so sorry for your poor kitty. Are you far from your vet? Would it be more traumatic to take him there? I know our vet does not charge to do it (other than for the supplies, which you already have) if you bring your kitty in.
I know the fluids are such an important part of keeping them well, but they do hate it, don't they?

[Lady_MCSE]

It's only a 15-minute ride, but yes, the car is more traumatic.

Boxer has never liked the car. He makes these awful noises that if anyone passing by heard them, they would surely think he was being tortured. I've suspected that perhaps he may be nauseous or something, but never worked my way through various meds to try to thelp out. The vet gave me one that is typically used for travelling kitties, and it did nothing at all. I didn't go back to pursue more options.

We just finished today, and it wasn't as bad as some previous times. In the past he has always taken advantage of the slightest relaxation of my hands to leap out and away. But this time, I'd say I was even able to relax just a little without him going anwyhere. He never did totally "settle down," and the whole laudry room looks like it has a complete cat's worth of shed hair, but overall this was one of the better experiences.

I wonder if he knows it's supposed to help him. I'd swear that he is a very smart kitty.

[Cariboo]

I feel your pain. Interesting web sites. I don't think the dixie cup muzzle would ever work on any cat of mine. SIGH! Bless your heart! I have a boxer with cancer and a 2 year old boxer with 2 heart conditions. I thought the boxer with heart condition had a bad coat because he is so sick. His conditions is inevitable, death, (he wasn't suppose to make it to 2 years old) so I just took him to a new vet who does things holistically, to see if there was more I could do and guess what? It wasn't a poor coat from his condition. It was (forgive the spelling) flea-lick-u-li-tus. Not caused by fleas, but an infection of the hair folicles. Felt so bad that I hadn't acted on it sooner. I have never given fluids but had to have cats taken to vet because of renal failure. I didn't know that you could do it yourself. The thing about all the boxer hair in the laundry room, I didn't know that others have experienced it too. You and yours will be in my thoughts and prayers. Bless you for giving them what they need. Enzo the half paralyzed Brussels Griffon has his acupuncture treatment tomorrow. Boy we love our animals!

[lawcat]

Good for you for keeping up with it! My renal faiure kitty was so good with the fluids - he would just sit there and purr the whole time. Even when we got up to twice daily, he had no complaints...I was really lucky. With some of my other kitties, if they ever have renal failure I don't know what I will do since there would be no way to give them the fluids without a major battle.

Hopefully your vet showed you how to "tent" the skin and then a quick jab (although after two years, your guy might have scar tissue if your giving it in the same spot) - you can do it in other spots, I started giving it over my guy's shoulders once the scar tissue built up at the back of his neck....

I miss my guy - lost him to what was probably liver cancer at age 18. Best kitty ever...

[BabyMay]

I am having to do the same thing with my cat who has intestinal cancer. I have done it before with a cat I had that had FIV. I never thought of warming the fluids first. Tiger may appreciate that. Thanks for the tip. Good luck with your kitty.

[Lady_MCSE]

Got home last night, and I was accosted with purring and rubbing, as if nothing had ever happened in the morning. So I guess that's a good sign! Boxer is the type to follow me around the house like a dog, but not so much the type to be so affectionate. Dare I hope we've turned a corner that maybe he's realizing it's helping him? . . .

I did luck out with the fluids thing overall though . . . he was diagnosed two years ago, and the vet said do fluids once monthly. I only got one done before we were rushing back because Boxer stopped eating completely. So the vet said he had gone downhill way faster than he would've thought. Gave him some pills to increase appetite, and within a couple of days Boxer was doing fine. Still don't know what that was all about.

But the point I'm getting to is that in 2 full years, I've only had to do fluids about 10 times. I hope this wasn't the start of needing to do them more regularly.