For my cat with kidney disease also has a heart condition is the sub-Q therapy/liquid the only choice she has?
I dont want my severe kidney disease suffering cat to receive the subcutaneous fluid therapy (sub-Q) because it would be too painful for her and she is 15 years old and suffers a heart murmur (a sort of heart condition). I've been told cats who suffer from a heart condition shouldn't receive this sub-Q treatment because it's dangerous. I need to know what other options are out there instead of the subcutaneous fluid therapy/liquid (sub-q), there has to be other options. The vet i'm taking her with isn't very helpful he offered that option, and I really need to know what to do so her kidneys get better fast, right now she doesn't have a treatment or an adequate diet:-( I need urgent speedy help to find a better vet (preferably holistic) in Chicago. If anyone knows please let me know i'd really appreciate it. Thanks.
Cats - 6 Answers
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1 :
There's not a lot you can do about this. Normally they'll try to "restart" the kidneys with an IV of fluids, but with your cat having heart problems, and I would imagine that this is congestive heart failure (CHF)...besides her heart murmur, you're vet is giving her IV fluids sub q so she's not overloaded quickly with fluids. I hate to say this...but you need to consider that the time for your loved cat is just about over. If she continues to go down, then you really need to consider euthanasia. I wish you only the best of luck.
2 :
If you are blessed enough to have had this cat for fifteen years you are blessed indeed. Both conditions require a lot of pain and suffering that if it were my decision I would opt to let the cat die peacefully. After all it is fifteen years old and that is old for a cat. So old that chances are anything that the Vet offers is not going to prolong it's life long enough to make it worth it. This may sound harsh but it is pocket money for the Vet. A Vet is not going to tell you not to treat, that is you're choice. A Vet is going to want you to run up a bill and be responsible for paying it. While we need Vets for those of us that have animals that we love and want to take care of Vets suck you dry when it comes to certain treatments. If you are so devastated that you can bot consider euthanasia and letting it die peacefully without more pain then you need to research and see where you can get treatments elsewhere and less costly. I feel for you. A family pet is hard to loose and it hurts, but there are so many animals out there that need a good home.
3 :
You're in a very difficult situation with this - I feel for you. Whether or not you choose to give subQ fluids should depend on the severity of your cat's heart condition. Your vet SHOULD be giving you guidance on this and should be willing to answer any questions you have about this honestly and thoroughly. It sounds like you need to find a different vet, since your vet seems unwilling to help you in that regard. You can use this link to find a feline specialist: http://www.aafponline.org/ There is also a yahoo group for people with crf cats - perhaps someone there could recommend a vet in your area. A vet experienced in using ultrasound can examine your cat's heart with ultrasound and give you a good idea of her heart health, and help you to make a decision regarding the balance of the risks vs. the benefits of subq therapy. If the vet recommends it, you can do subq therapy at home with minimal stress to your cat, and it will really help the kidneys. I did subq therapy at home for my CRF cat for 4 years and it didn't really seem to bother her, and I could tell it made her feel better afterwards. This link has advice on how to do subq therapy: http://www.felinecrf.com/managb.htm If the vet assesses your cat's heart and decides that subq therapy is not a good idea for her, you should consider having a discussion with him or her about quality of life and euthanasia, to help you to decide at what point you may want to consider helping your cat to pass over peacefully. It's not something people like to think about, but it's better to honestly consider your thoughts and options in advance, so you can better handle it if or when the time comes. My best to you & your dear cat.
4 :
I work in a veterinary clinic in PA. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done. Kidney failure is VERY serious. At my clinic we too recommend sub-q fluids. This is less painful than you may think. The animals are usually more bother or annoyed by the fluid "lump" than the administration of the fluids themselves. After you cat has been getting the fluids for a while, you might find that she will be less apprehensive about them. The fluid will make her feel better, and she will know this and become more receptive the idea of them. What the fluid do is help take the load off the kidneys. We also recommend a special diet, low in protein, high in carbs. Rx foods are also available-but can be expensive. If your are uncomfortable with your vet, you should look for a new one, but FAST. The longer you withhold treatment from your cat, the worse off she will be. A few drug you should find more info about are Azodyl and Hepagen (hepagen is holistic). I wish you and your cat the best
5 :
This is a sensitive issue so bear with me--- Science Diet K/D is the food she should be eating for one. Protein is the enemy when the kidneys are failing. K/D is formulated to be easy on the kidneys but still provide what they need nutritionally. As for the fluids- I am sorry to say that the kidneys need it. They need to flush several times a week in order for them not to completely shut down. The pain is in the problem, there is a discomfort associated to having kidney failure. Having a heart problem means there needs to be greater care in keeping stress to a minimum. Fluid therapy, K/D, and a lot of TLC will help greatly...oh yea, keep checking the blood work!! Good luck!
6 :
First of all you have been very blessed to have this sweet cat in your life for 15yrs. But what you have to think about now is it fair to your cat to prolong her life any longer. Are you trying to do it for your pet or for you because you cant let go? Think about the quality of life for your pet against the quantity of life. It is a very hard decision to make I know because I had to put to sleep a very sweet cat of mine by the name of Simba. He had feline aids. There was treatment for that but his vet said that the quality of life would not be very good. It was a hard decision but the right one to do for him. Good luck in what ever measure you take with your sweet cat
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