- Joined
- Jan 9, 2011
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- 21
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Hi everyone.
Been a long time since I frequented this site. Unfortunately I come at time when things are not so great. My oldest cat Prada has Acute Kidney failure and I'm trying to sort everything out. It's been a whirlwind 72 hours that has tested me in ways I haven't felt in a long time.
A little over 1.5 months ago I noticed he no longer wanted to eat his dry food, but he was perfectly fine with his wet food (which he would chow down like a champion). Then a couple of weeks ago I noticed he threw up and looked a bit fatigued. His weight was also down from 16lbs to around 12. I decided to give it a couple of days and he appeared fine again. Around 3/21 I noticed he wasn't eating as much wet food and not taking in enough water. I switched the glass bowl out and used a porcelain one. I also stopped being lazy (which I had been for the past few months) and gotten water out of the fridge filter instead of tap water. He began drinking plenty again.
By 3/23 I noticed he just wasn't being himself and at this point it was time to get him to the vet. He had panels run and xrays, which showed one kidney was small and the other enlarged. They also mentioned he had a heart murmur. I boarded him for 48 hour fluid treatment on 3/25 thru 3/26 until he could get his ultrasound done on his kidneys. Turns out he has an infection/absess on his healthy kidney which is why it's inflamed. However, little did they tell me that the first round of IV were not as aggressive due to fears of complications from his murmur. I don't know why they didn't say something in the beginning. I could've gotten that test done first instead to get the full effect of the previous fluids.
The cardiologist cleared Prada yesterday for aggressive fluid treatment and wouldn't you know it as of this morning the creatinine came down to the lowest it's been. It was as high as 6.6 when I first brought him in and now it's down to 4.4. This has been really hard for me. I couldn't in good conscience put him down yet, even with the less aggressive fluid treatments he was acting energetic and eating a ton when I visited him. I at least wanted to bring him home for a little amount of time for some comfort before the possibility of having to make any permanent decisions. I'm just wrestling with optimism and reality at the moment.
I've just been determined to do all I could considering that I didn't do enough in terms of preventative care. That's something I have to find ways to mentally forgive myself. I just got so consumed with stuff going on in my life over these past couple of years and these little guys are so good at hiding what may be ailing them. Any advice is appreciated.
Been a long time since I frequented this site. Unfortunately I come at time when things are not so great. My oldest cat Prada has Acute Kidney failure and I'm trying to sort everything out. It's been a whirlwind 72 hours that has tested me in ways I haven't felt in a long time.
A little over 1.5 months ago I noticed he no longer wanted to eat his dry food, but he was perfectly fine with his wet food (which he would chow down like a champion). Then a couple of weeks ago I noticed he threw up and looked a bit fatigued. His weight was also down from 16lbs to around 12. I decided to give it a couple of days and he appeared fine again. Around 3/21 I noticed he wasn't eating as much wet food and not taking in enough water. I switched the glass bowl out and used a porcelain one. I also stopped being lazy (which I had been for the past few months) and gotten water out of the fridge filter instead of tap water. He began drinking plenty again.
By 3/23 I noticed he just wasn't being himself and at this point it was time to get him to the vet. He had panels run and xrays, which showed one kidney was small and the other enlarged. They also mentioned he had a heart murmur. I boarded him for 48 hour fluid treatment on 3/25 thru 3/26 until he could get his ultrasound done on his kidneys. Turns out he has an infection/absess on his healthy kidney which is why it's inflamed. However, little did they tell me that the first round of IV were not as aggressive due to fears of complications from his murmur. I don't know why they didn't say something in the beginning. I could've gotten that test done first instead to get the full effect of the previous fluids.
The cardiologist cleared Prada yesterday for aggressive fluid treatment and wouldn't you know it as of this morning the creatinine came down to the lowest it's been. It was as high as 6.6 when I first brought him in and now it's down to 4.4. This has been really hard for me. I couldn't in good conscience put him down yet, even with the less aggressive fluid treatments he was acting energetic and eating a ton when I visited him. I at least wanted to bring him home for a little amount of time for some comfort before the possibility of having to make any permanent decisions. I'm just wrestling with optimism and reality at the moment.
I've just been determined to do all I could considering that I didn't do enough in terms of preventative care. That's something I have to find ways to mentally forgive myself. I just got so consumed with stuff going on in my life over these past couple of years and these little guys are so good at hiding what may be ailing them. Any advice is appreciated.