I am way behind on posts so I don't know what others have said to you but I wanted to offer my experience with CRF before I lose my train of thought.
I had two eldery cats who were diagnosed with advanced CRF. It's an insidious disease that usually doesn't show any symptoms until their kidney function is down by 50% or more. They both lived for 2 more years after diagnosis and with a good quality of life until it was time to say goodby. I won't sugar coat this: There is no cure except transplant but with supportive care your kitty can live a number of very good years. Your vet is right-as long as she still has her appetite, things are good. I gave both cats subQ fluids twice a day for 2 years. I started out taking them to the vet once a week for them to do it (very expensive) and finally put my big girl panties on and asked to be taught how to do it. Once I got it down it was very easy. I learned all sorts of tricks about how to keep the fluids warm as it went into the skin, how the bigger nee dles are scarier to use but the session goes twice as fast, to setting up a special station to do this at. Once it got to the point where they needed it twice a day I was very glad I had sucked it up and learned. Because my kitties were having trouble with their appetite, I didn't worry about special diets. Whatever and whenever they ate was a cause for joy but your vet may recommend a low protein diet or whatever the current medical thinking is (my cats have been gone since 2000 and 2002 and I haven't kept up). I totally understand how devastating this diagnosis is but depending on age and how far gone her kidney function is, you may still have many wonderful years with her and all you'll have to do is keep her hydrated.
I don't recall her numbers, but they're pretty high right now. Hopefully, treatment will bring them down. I would rather do the sub-q fluids on her myself, as it would be much less traumatic on her. She pretty much will let me do anything to her- hopefully, this won't be such a huge thing for her. I'm so shocked, since I've had she and her daughter in for exams every year, and they've checked out A-ok each time. This was such a huge shock to me! I would be so grateful for two good years with her. She is so much my cat...she lives and breathes for me and I have to say that I am pretty smitten with her.
God knows I'll never find another like her. I'll do anything for her. Thanks for your history/advice. It's greatly appreciated! :h
Comment