- Joined
- Nov 29, 2012
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I'm not sure if I'm here for advice or just support (or both), but I am devastated to find out that my beloved Tigger was just diagnosed today with having stage 5 kidney failure. He was first diagnosed in October, 2012, and I have worked so hard at giving him the best quality of life possible. I have had to work at managing both CKD, chronic pancreatitis, and chronic constipation (with bowel obstructions) with daily sub-Q fluids, frequent meals/special diet, prednisolone, and a slew of other daily supplements. I have been a FT grad student and intern, but have happily welcomed sleep deprivation to wake up 2-3 times during the night to feed and take care of my baby. He has had really long stretches of good periods, followed by flare ups or blockages, and some close calls. Needless to say, it has been a stressful ride, and I've given up a social life, traveling, and had limited romantic relationships due to my commitment to taking care of my cat. I have not left him overnight since his diagnosis.
Tigger has been at stage 4 kidney failure for quite some time now and has been fairly stable for months, so I was shocked to hear that a visit to the vet for chin acne (which he's on antibiotics for) revealed that his BUN went from 83 to 133, Creatinine from 3.8 to 5.8, Phosphorous 5.1 (normal) to 8, spec fPL 15.7 to 34.7 in 6 months (and he has developed a heart murmur, and a broken k-9). On our last visit the vet found a large free-floating circle that moved positions on his X-ray, but had no explanation for what it could be.
I am not emotionally prepared to cut ties with my cat of 14 years, but I will do what I have to do if he is suffering. The vet does not think euthanasia is necessary yet since he is still eating and drinking (although eating less, and drinking more). He is definitely not himself. He would ALWAYS sleep by me, play, and CONSTANTLY beg for food and was never satisfied (I was worried he had hyperthyroid at one point, but the vet said he isn't), but now he begs less and never finishes his smaller meals. He is typically hiding in the bottom of my closet, but still purrs when petted, vocalizes his friendly greetings with me, uses his litter box, grooms himself, and has a decent amount of energy. I guess I am praying that he has an infection, which has elevated his numbers, and they will fall back down after he finishes his round of anti-biotics, but maybe that is wishful thinking? I would like to hear from other owners who have lost a cat to CKD or been in this situation. I lost my beautiful cat Princess to rapid organ failure (unknown causes), whose health deteriorated FAST (in the span of a day), and I had to quickly euthanize her. This was traumatic and I don't want to see Tigger suffer like that. However, I've also seen Tigger unable to barely stand or eat (I would promise myself to euthanize him the next day), but he would recover the next day with an upped dosage of pred. The bind I'm in is that the pred is necessary for his pancreatitis, but it accelerates his kidney disease, and the kidney disease should be treated with extra fluids, but that could prove deadly due to possible heart disease (the heart murmur). I am exhausted from the tears and heartache, but have thought it was the end before, only to have him rally back several times. How do I know when it's time?
Thank you for listening.
Tigger has been at stage 4 kidney failure for quite some time now and has been fairly stable for months, so I was shocked to hear that a visit to the vet for chin acne (which he's on antibiotics for) revealed that his BUN went from 83 to 133, Creatinine from 3.8 to 5.8, Phosphorous 5.1 (normal) to 8, spec fPL 15.7 to 34.7 in 6 months (and he has developed a heart murmur, and a broken k-9). On our last visit the vet found a large free-floating circle that moved positions on his X-ray, but had no explanation for what it could be.
I am not emotionally prepared to cut ties with my cat of 14 years, but I will do what I have to do if he is suffering. The vet does not think euthanasia is necessary yet since he is still eating and drinking (although eating less, and drinking more). He is definitely not himself. He would ALWAYS sleep by me, play, and CONSTANTLY beg for food and was never satisfied (I was worried he had hyperthyroid at one point, but the vet said he isn't), but now he begs less and never finishes his smaller meals. He is typically hiding in the bottom of my closet, but still purrs when petted, vocalizes his friendly greetings with me, uses his litter box, grooms himself, and has a decent amount of energy. I guess I am praying that he has an infection, which has elevated his numbers, and they will fall back down after he finishes his round of anti-biotics, but maybe that is wishful thinking? I would like to hear from other owners who have lost a cat to CKD or been in this situation. I lost my beautiful cat Princess to rapid organ failure (unknown causes), whose health deteriorated FAST (in the span of a day), and I had to quickly euthanize her. This was traumatic and I don't want to see Tigger suffer like that. However, I've also seen Tigger unable to barely stand or eat (I would promise myself to euthanize him the next day), but he would recover the next day with an upped dosage of pred. The bind I'm in is that the pred is necessary for his pancreatitis, but it accelerates his kidney disease, and the kidney disease should be treated with extra fluids, but that could prove deadly due to possible heart disease (the heart murmur). I am exhausted from the tears and heartache, but have thought it was the end before, only to have him rally back several times. How do I know when it's time?
Thank you for listening.