Tag: CKD/CRF

Blest Sunday Vet Update

Published on by Service Cats U.S.55 Comments

Meowllo everypawdy. As you can see by da title, we know you wanna know how sis Lexi’s VET pointment went. As a lot of you know she started showin’ signs dat sumfin’ was wrong December of 2014. Mommy took her to da VET in early January of 2015, and she was diagnosed wiff Chronic Kidney Failure. At da time da VET told mommy sis Lexi needed to eat da RX diet and sold her a hunnerd dollar bottle of Azodyl and claimed he was purracticin’ holistic medicine cuz of da Azodyl. Azodyl isn’t a medicine, but rather a supplement. And then he sed “We’ll just make her comfortable for what little time she has left.” Mommy asked what he meant, and he replied, “ I’ve had a few patients that died within weeks and few lived for a few months. By the time we diagnose this 75% of the kidney function is gone and they just don’t live very long.” Well as many of ya’ know mommy hates those RX diets in general, so she refused da noms and came home to do research. She also wasn’t acceptin’ dat sissy was gunna die any time soon.

Lexi sitting pretty and posing for the camera

Mommy went ‘bout learnin’ everythin’ she kuld ‘bout this disease and it’s treatments. She felt validated when she discovered da research dat those RX diets are based on was itself based on what worked fur dogs and refurmulated fur cats and only purrfurmed by Hill’s. All da other RX diet furmulators base their diets off da “old” Hill’s research. Well as most peeps know cats and dogs are not da same, and just cuz sumfin’ works fur doggies dusn’t mean it will work fur kitties. Mommy found lots of studies dat purrmoted high quality protein and low phosphorous diets fur CKD cats. So mommy implemented what she found in research along wiff tons of purrayers. Our VET was and is not happy wiff mommy’s choices of treatment, but he’s learned it’s bestest to just not argue wiff her cuz she’s gunna do what she thinks is bestest fur us no matter what anypawdy sez. 

 

Unfurtunately CKD kitties are prone to UTI’s because their urine is so dilute from all da water they dwink. And da normal course of antibiotics given fur 2 weeks dusn’t work, they really need to take da medicine fur 3 – 4 weeks to truly get well. So now dat we be all caught up, sissy got a UTI round Christmas time. We kuldn’t reach our VET but we were able to get Lexi started on sum antibiotics none da less. We finally touched base wiff da VET who sed he needed to see her at da beginnin’ of da year. So mommy and Lexi headed fur da VET on Furiday. When he finally came in da room, sissy sed he looked shocked. So me thought she shuld tell ya’ ‘bout her own visit. Take it away sissy. 

Lexi takes a nap in the stroller at the Vets

Lexi:  Fankz Dezi. Yep he shur nuff looked shocked when he saw me. He asked mommy all da questions ‘bout how I waz duin’ and ifin I waz better. Then he started squishin’ me all over. He told mommy dat my kidneyz, liver and bladder waz awl da right size fur a healthy kitty. Nuffin’ waz swollen or shrunken. My furz waz kovered in white flakez cuz I habz a dandruff and dry skin purroblem and we don’t habz a humidifier anymore. It broke a kupple yearz ago and mommy juzt hazn’t had da green payperz to buy another one. She had hoped our fountains wood add sum humidity to da air, but alas, not so much. Anywayz az sissy told ya’ mommy beez treatin’ me her way stead of heedin’ da VETz recommendashunz. I lozt a lot of weight when thiz awl star-did, but I’z been holdin’ my own fur da lazt year. I’z not lozt any more weight, and da VET kuldn’t believe it. He didn’t spekt me to still be alive, much less lookin’ and feelin’ good.

Lexi lating in the stroller at the Vets office

When he asked mommy when she had stopped my antibiotikz, she sed she hadn’t. She told him dat everything she readz tellz her dat I shuld get them fur at leazt 3 weekz and maybe even 4. So he sed, “Well that’s fine. I think she probably had a bladder infection and I treat those for 3 weeks instead of 2.” You know he’z one of those dat can’t ever admit dat he duzn’t know everything and dat mommyz research iz valuable. Anywayz, he then star-did manhandlin’ my head and I skooted back towardz mommy. He grabbed my paw to pull me back towardz him and I’z gave him da hisssssssss of disapproval and he let go. MOL  He sed I shur had a lot of spunk fur my kundishun. And then he told mommy, “Well keep doing what you’re doing, she’s looking good. I don’t know how, but she’s looking good.” Mommy, Dezi and I attribute my duin’ so good to God and all da purrayerz and mommyz research and treatmentz. I shur waz a happy kitty when we finally left dat smelly place  and all da white coatz behind.

 

We went to Wally World to get Dezi and me sum treatz. Dat place waz buzzin’. I’z not member da lazt time I saw dat many peepz in one place. Mommy waz tryin’ to drag da buggy and da stroller down da ailez and a man kame up behind us and sed, “Lookz like you’ve got your hands full.” Mommy smiled and sed, “Just about.” He walked past us and then turned to look my way and himz jaw dropped. He sed, “That’s a cat!!! I thought you had a baby in there.” To which hiz wife responded, “that’s her baby.” Mommy smiled, I meowed and we all went on ‘bout our shoppin’. It stormed da whole way home, but I was glad to be back home with da lektrik fireplace and awl my stuff and Dezi. It waz kold out there. When we got inside I star-did runnin’ round and aktin’ like a kitten again. I so lubz to go placez wiff mommy. I juzt wish we didn’t habz to go to da place of evil.  

Dezi among shades of purple stormy skies and purple rose

Me was glad y’all came home too sissy. And me is sooooooo glad you got a good report from da VET. We are so blest dat you’re still wiff us and feelin’ good. And we are so blest to have so many pawsum furiends who help us and purray fur us. We do have a little bad news today, but everything will be okay. Mommy has carpal tunnel and every once in a while it really acts up. Tryin’ to maneuver da stroller and da cart made mommy twist hers wrist and so it’s hurtin’ really bad and she can barely use it. We will visit as soon as she can purr-opurrly type again. It took 2 days of peckin’ keys to write this posty, so she needs to rest it. We are feelin’ very blest today and everyday to be part of such a pawsum community. Fank you all fur bein’ our furiends. Meez gunna go join mommy and sissy and snuggle sum. It’s cold and rainy outside but weez all cozy and comfy in here. Hope you’ll join us next time when we take da Pet Blogger Challenge.  

 

Do you always agree with your VETs recommendations? Tell us one blessing you are gwateful fur this week.

 

Till da next time…………………………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Dezi and Lexi      

What’s In That Ham Baby Food

Published on by Service Cats U.S.35 Comments

Hey y’all Lexi here again today. I really purreciate all your support an purrayers. This is the last of my Vet day posts. For the last three days we’ve been covering my latest appointment. We posted the link to my lab work Thursday and told ‘bout what happened at da VET; and yesfurday we told ‘bout what mommy and me did after we left da VET. We’ve been asked a lot of questions about just what is my diagnosis and what are we doin’ about it. So today we’re gonna cover all that. You’ve probably noticed the human speak, well we wanna make sure everyone can understand what we tell ya’ ‘bout my medicines and condition. So first, I do have kidney disease. My thyroid is okay and there’s no sugar in my urine, and the numbers from my tests confirm kidney disease. Although based on my latest lab work their does seem to be a small question as to whether it’s chronic or acute. What’s the difference you ask? There’s a few, but the most important difference is that acute can be cured and chronic can only be managed. 

 0dw Lexi getting luv

Now as most of you know the day doc diagnosed me he sold us a neutraceutical called Azodyl. It was expensive and mommy worried that she wouldn’t be able to afford it for long. Fanks to our wonderful furiends and awnties we were able to buy it for a few months. And then the day came that mommy had feared. We were out and she had no money to buy anymore. Of course as soon as we had gotten the news mommy started researching everything she could find and joined a very knowledgeable support group. During mommy’s research she had read about Astro’s products. So she contacted the creator, an M.D. and asked all kinds of questions. Still a little leary she staerted talking to the support group about them, and when we couldn’t afford my Azodyl mommy decided it was better to treat me with something than nothing. So she ordered the Astro’s Protein Powder because I lost so much weight, and Atro’s Nitrogen-Creatinine Scrub which takes the place of Azodyl. By this time some of our furiends had sent green papers and mommy could afford to buy them. As I said yesfurday most CRF diets are low in protein and phosphorous. And that’s great if you’re a doggy who could survive as a vegetarian. But when you’re a kitty what be an obligate carnivore, low protein isn’t the best idea. But as with most feline medicine the treatments for cats are based on those for dogs.

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This be da protein powder and da scrub.

As cats, we need the protein to stay healthy and maintain muscle mass and weight. And since CKD can cause us to lose weight we sure don’t need to cut back on anything positive. Recent studies have proved CKD kitties do better on a high quality protein and low phosphorous diet. But proteins make our liver work harder and that’s harder on our kidneys. So it’s almost a lose lose. But in comes the Astro’s Protein Powder. It’s designed to help animals gain and maintain lean muscle mass and promote cellular regeneration. It’s a white fish derived, amino acid concentrate that’s pre-digested so that it’s easily absorbed by the gut. Because it’s concentrated and high quality very little waste product is created, therefore the kidneys have less toxins to filter out. In other words, it’s easier on the kidneys. That’s great news for CKD and many other ailments as well. Although this product was created with CRF in mind, it can be given to any animal who needs to gain weight and/or maintain muscle mass. It costs $32.95 for a 120gm jar. Or a little over $10.00 a month because 1 jar lasts about 3 months.

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Now to talk about the replacement product for the Azodyl, the Astro’s Nitrogen Creatinine Scrub. It’s designed to use the digestive tract to trap and excrete metabolic toxins, transforming it into a rudimentary third kidney. And unlike the Azodyl, it doesn’’t have to be refrigerated and can be given in food. Or in my case the tablespoon of ham baby food I get each meal. It can be made even more effective by adding it to yogurt, but it’s not necessary. And it costs $22.95 for a 120gm jar (ie: about 2-3 months supply). Mommy prayed it would work because $23.00 for 2-3 months as opposed to $80.00 a month is a huge difference. And we know you all get tired of helping us and we hate to be a burden on anyone. But purrhaps helping with a smaller amount might be less burdensome. 

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Now I’m also taking Renavast. That was something that mommy had come across in her research but was also told about by Brian and Cheri. It’s more amino acids and peptides, just different ones, and helps too maintain normal kidney function in CRF cats and dogs. All of these products by the way have no reported side effects as they are all natural and can be used for both cats and dogs. Consult your VET if you’re a bunny, piggy, etc. I’m also taking vitamin B-12 supplements for overall health. And the Regeneril that Truffles and Ms. Melissa shared with me. It’s purpose is to increase appetite and energy and help with joint pain. The Renavast is $27.00 for a 30 day supply, the B-12 is $10.00 for about a 6 month supply and I’m taking Organic Slippery Elm Bark at $8.00 for about a 6 month supply for the upset tummies and acid reduction. Mommy also ordered for $20.00 some D-mannose to give to me and even Dezi in the event of a urinary tract infection caused by e-coli. Again since this is all natural it can be given to any animal even as a preventative. What all this means as far as money goes is that for less than the price of the Azodyl we can buy all the medicines I need. Because even if I was still taking the Azodyl, I would still need everything other than the Astro’s Scrub.

As always if you have any questions please ask and if we can answer them we will. As for those of you who think our VETs are cheaper, they most probably are cheaper than what you’re paying, but remember, wages are less here too, so for us; especially mommy who be on Social Security, our VETs charge a lot. Our $200.00 bill is like your $2000.00 bill. Altho’ we just don’t understand why it is that VETs think they need to charge so much. If you missed my lab work, can read it and would like to see it, you can click here.

 Dezi sparkle

And till the next time……………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Lubz and Hugz and Kitty Kissez  

Lexi and Dezi

cat-animated

B Is For…

Published on by Service Cats U.S.42 Comments

Meowllo Evewypawdy hope yous havin’ a good week so faw. As you know meez joined up wiff da Bloggin’ A to Z challenge fur Apwil. Mommy and Lexi and me ‘cided we wuz gunna cover da purrocess of how sis Lexi wuz diagnosed wiff Kidney disease and what shuld have happened and what weez duin’ now. Cuz what did happen and what shulda happened awe 2 vewy diffewent fings. Now yous not wequired to follow a theme, and we hadn’t weally planned on duin’ dat, cuz weez not fink it’ll take all mumff and all da letters of da alfabet to tell ow stowry, but based on da comments and emails fwum yesfurday, we ‘cided today dat we wuld post as long as it took. And cuz so many peeps be pawsibly visitin’, after ow intwo da wemainder of da posty wuld be in hooman speak. We wuld also like to add dat in ow wesearch we found dat there awe certain bweeds of cats dat be purredisposed to kidney disease. As there is no cure fur this de=isease ifin yous have one of these bweeds it might pay to keep an eye on yous kitty fwuout their lives. They awe: Maine Coon, Abyssinian, Persian, Siamese, Burmese and Russian Blue. So today is da letter B’s day.

 AtoZchallenge

Our furst B is fur Blood tests, as they awe a definite must when it comes to diagnosing Kidney disease. So yesterday we told you that a common urinalysis can be a great tool in diagnosing illnesses in your cat. And that if Albumin is present in the urine more tests are needed to determine the actual reason/illness. That’s where the ERD comes in and we will be telling you more about that test in a few days. For now we will say that not all vets use this test and so after a urinalysis typically blood work is the next logical test. And we don’t mean a prick. We mean a full CBC, Super Chemistry and T4. Now if your anything like us or you’ve not had a sick pet then you just read that last line and said…what the cat?!! And by the way me would like to say that in our research we found a lot of the same conditions, symptoms, and testing apply for cats, dogs, and humans when it comes to diagnosing kidney disease. Anyways, if Albumin is present in the urine please get a full blood panel and that T4 that’ll diagnose Thyroid disease.  

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Although we stated that the presence of Albumin in the urine can certainly mean kidney disease, it could also mean a lot of other things. Even after performing the ERD if your doctor runs that, you still need a blood test to confirm the diagnoses and determine a proper course of treatment. The numbers most looked at are the BUN and Creatinine. Next is the Phosphorous, Potassium and Sodium. BUN or blood urea nitrogen rises when the kidneys aren’t functioning well enough to remove all the waste product from the blood. By determining the level of Creatinine in the blood your doctor can tell how well the kidneys are working and the stage of kidney disease. High Creatinine numbers mean kidney disease.

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Most kidney diets awe low in Phosphorous and Protein. High Phosphorous levels can make Kidney disease progress much faster. So knowing these numbers can be very helpful in determining treatment. The first thing mommy did was try to switch Lexi to a low Phosphorous food. Once we got the blood tests we learned sis Lexi’s Phoso. numbers were really low and she didn’t need a food with low Phosphorous. That could be as dangerous as high numbers. Newer studies have found that lowering the Phosphorous in the diet and providing high quality protein are more important than the lower protein in managing Kidney disease. After all cats are obligate carnivores and require meat protein to survive and thrive. So the importance of today’s post is that blood work is a necessity in helping to determine if your pet indeed has Kidney disease and to help formulate a plan of action for treatments. Although all the numbers are important, the BUN and Creatinine are the ones your doctor is going to rely on most in his/her diagnosis. And always, always, always get a copy of the tests. You paid for them, they are yours. We actually recommend getting and keeping a complete copy of your pets records at all times. No matter how much you like your Vet, you never know what the future holds. Join us tomorrow for the letter C.  

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Approximate Normal Ranges for Common Tested Blood Values

 

BUN    14 – 36 MG/DL

Creatinine   .6 – 2.4 MG/DL

Calcium (Ca)   8.2 – 10.8 MG/DL

Phosphorus (P)   2.4 – 8.2 MG/DL

Potassium (K)   3.4 – 5.6 MEQ/L

Sodium (Na)   145 – 158 MEQ/L

Packed Cell Volume (PCV)   29% – 48%

Well we do hope weez shed a little mowe light on da subject of blood test and kidney disease. And we hope weez made weadin’ blood test wesults a little less scawy. Da list above is in no way complete and da nowmal levels may vawy slightly fwum lab to lab. Andyways, meez gunna go now mommy’s purromised a stwoll in da sun.

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So till da next time………………………………Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses  

Dezi and Lexi

 

cat-animated

 

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/08/06/kidney-disease-in-cats.aspx

http://www.vetinfo.com/renal-failure-cats.html

http://www.felinecrf.com/tests0.htm