I’m joining this community to ask for some honest advice/opinions :)
So, my little girl Kira, who’s only three and a half, hasn’t been herself these last two days. She was eating less, hiding away in the flat, and most of all, she’d stopped playing (even though she usually wakes me up in the middle of the night when she's playing).
So I went to the vet, feeling quite hopeful, thinking she was probably just a bit run down.
Well, I came away with a diagnosis of Stage 3 or even Stage 4 CKD (kidney failure)!
They put her on a drip for 48 hours; her urea (60 mg/dl) and creatinine levels have come down, and I was able to bring her home today.
But what about her future? She’s got tablets to take every day and specific 'renal' dry food.
Should I expect to only have a few more days with her? A few weeks? A few months? I don’t even dare hope for years.
Does anyone know why it’s happened so fast (because I keep thinking there must have been Stages 1, 2, and 3 before Stage 4) and if I should have spotted it? Isn’t this usually a disease for cats over 10 years old?
Thank you for your replies...
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Hi everyone, please help, I’m at my wits' end trying to save my cat. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease a month and a half ago. He’s on Semintra and Hill’s renal food, and we’re giving him fluids at home, but he’s refused to eat anything for the last two days. I’ve tried everything: chicken breast, white fish, Royal Canin renal pouches... We’re going to the vet tonight and I’m terrified. I don’t want to lose him; he’s only 7. He also really doesn’t seem to tolerate the Semintra at all.
I read your message and it’s really given me a boost.
My cat was diagnosed with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) last September and I was devastated. I didn't think he'd make it through 2017, but at his last blood test his creatinine levels had dropped and his urea was back to normal. He's on renal dry food, takes Fortekor every day, and I give him some homeopathy as well. Over the last 11 months, he’s put back on about 2.2 lbs and he's doing really well. I’ve got my fingers crossed and I’m anxiously waiting for his October blood test. At the start, he was having blood work done every 3 months, but now we've moved to every 6 months. I really hope to have him with us for a long time yet. Thank you for your message, and I'll be back soon with more news.
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with my cat. Back in August 2016, my 7-year-old cat had lost weight and wasn't eating much. I took him to the vet, and he was diagnosed with a dental abscess on his upper canine. At the time, I thought that explained the weight loss and lack of appetite — an abscess really hurts! He had surgery about 3 weeks later. During the pre-op blood tests... surprise!! His creatinine was at 260!
Following the surgery, we started him on a renal dry food diet. In September, we did another creatinine check and finished the full renal work-up, including a kidney ultrasound. His creatinine had dropped to 220. The scan showed that his left kidney was completely destroyed by cysts, and the right one was showing signs of disease. We kept up with the renal dry food and added some Metamucil to his meals to help lower his blood calcium levels.
Since then, his creatinine has dropped to between 180 and 200. His SDMA went from 27 to 29 over the course of a year. And yesterday’s results were so encouraging! Creatinine was at 165 and SDMA at 24!!! My cat started this whole journey at about 11.5 lbs, and he's now a big lad weighing in at nearly 16 lbs and is in great shape! We do blood tests every six months and a physical check-up with the vet once a year.
At first, I was certain my cat would only have two years left at the most. But now, his results are actually improving just with the special diet and Metamucil!
Don't lose heart! Our fur babies are full of surprises! 😁
Hi,
I’m so happy for your little girl that she’s doing well.
Regarding the levels, there are different units of measurement; my Hyppolite has a urea level of 51 mg/dl (normal is between 16 and 36) and creatinine of 4.4 mg/dl (normal is 0.8 to 2.4), so his are nearly double. He’s 5 years old and I only noticed last September because he was drinking loads and had lost weight. It’s congenital for him, which is why he has CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) so young, but the vet told me the main thing is that he’s happy in himself and not to get too hung up on the readings. He might have been born with high levels, so they might not ever drop that much. She’s seen cats with better results than him only last 3 months, and others with much worse ones live for 10 years... so I’m holding onto hope. He’s put about 2.2 lbs back on in 6 months and I’m so pleased. He’s on medication for life, plus I give him some homeopathy that I read about on forums, and the vet said it can only do him good. I also have his sister, Clémentine, who is at risk. Since they’re from the same litter, they’ve inherited it from their mum. I’m not sure what units yours are in, but if it’s 20... if we're talking mg, that would be 2... which is still within the normal range!
Clémentine is at 2.2... so higher than yours, and the vet just put her on renal dry food.
He’s monitored with a blood test every 3 months and she has one once a year, plus a special blood test called an SDMA test to see if she’s at risk of developing CKD in the future so we can start Fortekor early.
It’s all a bit complex, isn't it? I just hope our little ones stay with us for as long as possible.
Well, yesterday the vet told me she’s at 20... and that if she’d been at 50 she would’ve been worried... so what does that actually mean?? I don’t know, but I went online to do some research and saw it was the creatinine level?? At stage 2??
This morning at 7am on the dot (as soon as the vet opened) I called straight away... and great news, she told me her urea is at 6...
I don’t quite understand all these numbers yet, it’s all very new to me.
I’ve just got back with Luna and today she’s full of beans :) I’m over the moon... she’s eating again and grooming herself... she’s wandering all over the house (24 hours in a crate is really no fun at all) so she’s roaming everywhere right now...
She gave me some powder meds to put in her food morning and night and we’ve got an appointment in 14 days for a follow-up blood test...
Same here, I can’t imagine my life without her... she’s my absolute everything... my baby, my best friend... my sidekick... we’re inseparable... we love each other to bits and without her I’d probably be depressed for 20 years!
What stage is your baby’s CKD at?? I’ve read on some sites that a cat with CKD that’s well looked after can live for a veryyy long time... and it sounds like you’re really taking great care of him... so he’s going to be by your side for a loooong time yet...
You just have to keep a close eye on him every day and at the slightest suspicious change in behaviour... straight to the vet.
My vet told me that if we act fast... we can quickly slow down the process...
Well done for everything you’re doing for him... he’s very lucky to have you...
I really admire people who fight for their pets...
They are living beings in their own right and so many animals have rubbish owners who have them put down for the slightest thing... I often put myself in her shoes and I’d want someone to fight for me too if I were in the same boat... so well done, seriously.
Hi Anita,
You mentioned 20... what exactly is that figure? Is it the creatinine level? And what unit was it measured in?
We first found out about Hyppolite's CKD back in September. Now, nearly six months later, he’s put on about 2.2 lbs and is back to his normal weight. He’s eating, playing, and acting just like his old self, so I hope every day that it stays this way for as long as possible and that he’s with us for a long time yet. He’s on k/d kidney dry food (he’ll only eat dry food) and he’s on lifelong medication (Fortekor), which he takes straight from my hand because he loves the taste so much.
I can’t bear to think about life without my little boy and his sister.
How is your little one doing?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi,
Your post has really given me a boost.
My girl is at the vet's on a drip; she’s been there since this morning.
The results are in. Stage 2 kidney failure!
It was a massive shock this morning and I’ve been in tears all day. I’ve actually got a splitting headache right now!
My little one is 5 and she’s my sidekick! We’re completely inseparable. She had an accident 9 months ago and according to the vet, it would have been better to put her to sleep! Because she’s now incontinent for life due to an injury to her back legs—cauda equina syndrome. My girl wears nappies and I have to manually express her bladder! And for *my* convenience, he suggests putting her down!
A flat NO from me! For my convenience? You must be joking! If you get a pet, you’re in it to fight for them during the tough times too!! And my girl is so full of life apart from this problem! So I decided to adapt to her disability and we’re carrying on with our lives... together.
It’s been 9 months since her accident, and yesterday my darling’s mood changed. She wasn't eating... she wasn't playing... she was just moping in her corner... so I didn't hesitate and took her straight to the vet.
I told him right away that I wanted a blood test done, and then the news came. Kidney failure! A level of 20! The vet reassured me though and said it’s in the early stages.
They’re keeping her overnight on a drip. I’m waiting for first thing tomorrow morning to call for an update and I’m hoping I can pick her up then.
I miss her like crazy tonight and I can’t wait to have her back.
I’m scared about what’s next, but your story gives me so much hope that we can manage this and keep her with me for as long as possible. I’d have such a hard time getting over it without her by my side!
I really hope with all my heart she can come home tomorrow because I’m so sad knowing she’s in a kennel tonight away from me... (even though I know it’s for her own good) but still... in her little head she must feel abandoned and that really upsets me.
What a nightmare this disease is!!! And all the others too, for that matter...
That’s life, I suppose!
Best wishes,
Anita
Hi everyone,
I’m new to the forum and I’m desperately looking for some support and comfort.
Reading your posts, @Telennys, has given me a bit of hope.
My cat, Hyppolite, has recently lost a bit of weight and is drinking more than usual; otherwise, he’s in great spirits, playing with his sister Clémentine and doesn't seem ill. He’s always been a bit of a fussy eater, ever since he was a kitten. Because it’s been so hot lately, I just assumed that was why he was drinking more.
However, I was still very worried about his weight loss, so I took him to my vet for a blood test. The verdict is in: CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). He’s only 5 years old and I’m devastated. He’s been on a drip since yesterday. His creatinine is 59 and his urea is 70. The vet told me not to panic; it all depends on how he responds to the IV fluids and then the specialist diet and lifelong medication. She said he could live for a few months or even longer if his body reacts well to the treatment.
Looking at your chart, @Telennys, it’s reassuring because Hyppolite’s levels are similar to yours—the urea is practically the same and the creatinine is actually a bit lower. You were told he only had 2 days left and that was 3 years ago; that’s wonderful.
I’m picking him up tomorrow, and I’m hoping his levels have come down and that he’ll be happy to eat the renal dry food, as he is quite picky with his food. The vet also tested his sister, Clémentine, as CKD at such a young age can be congenital, but thankfully her levels are normal.
How is your cat doing now? Is he still doing well since 2014?
I’d be grateful for any advice you can give me to ensure Hyppolite has the best life possible.
Thank you all.
