Chica ia looking pretty good, walking around and getting up on the chair or bed herself but still not eating on her own. She is just eating a few squirts of the watery food every few hours. She passed another clump of furball yesterday but is getting dehydrated again. I am giving her water and electrolytes but may take her in to get sub c fluids today but...
When the ER vet gave her fluids on Thursday she was vomiting and moaning and looked very uncomfrotable after for a few hours - usually she perks up and is better. When I got to my vet they tried to take blood to do bloodwork but her veins collapsed and they got nothing. Without knowing what is going on, I am hestistant to give her fluids if they are going to make her sicker like last time. I looked up online and the websites for CRF say that vomiting after fluids was a sign of the wrong fluids used. She may need added minerals like calcium or potassium.
I don't know what to do? Has anyone had this happen to them? I just worry I will make her feel worse and at her age hate to do that to her. Monday I will check in with her regular vet - should I wait until Monday on the fluids? Thanks for all your support and help.
26 comments:
Sorry we haven't any advice to offer but we are sending healing purrs.
Purrs to sweet Chica, there are lots of smart ones out there and I hope the will be here with advice shortly.
Our mom had a cat with CRF that she gave fluids. She never had a problem with vomiting afterwards so she's not sure what may be going on with Chica. There is a good website out there for CRF...felinecrf.com...and a great Yahoo group...FelineCRF Support. Mom found them invaluable when she was dealing with CRF.
We sure hope Chica is feeling better soon.
Hope you get answers soon. I only know about humans with CRF, have no idea about the fur babies.
I will send purrs and purrayers your way.
Oh me and Charlie hope you get lots of help - it's the vomiting after being given fluids that's thrown me - cos my last kitty with CRF was ok after the vets gave her fluids, so I don't know why poor Chica is vomiting!! Oh dear. We are sending her hugs and purrs! Good luck, take care
x
How old is Chica?
My 17-year-old cat, Cinders, has CRF. She responded very well to the meds given.
Blood is taken from the carotid artery (at the neck).
Dosage and meds given are according to the results of the bloodwork and urine tests. Example when her bloodwork shows that her potassium level was low, potassium citrate was given. She is off that already.
She responded well to Azodyl (wrote about this in my blog).
Chica must eat. You have to try very hard to entice her to eat. I tried all kinds -- fish, chicken, everything. Noticed that cats hated syringe-fed. I smeared a bit of food on her lips, messy but worked. I give her B complex pills too.
Her bloodwork results are improving. She didn't need sub-Q fluids as she is drinking lots of water and urinating a lot.
My 2 other cats had CRF -- late Tortie, a severe case and late Tommy, a mild case.
Mum doesn't know about CRF so she can't help - does the vet run a help line at the weekend so you can ask?
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
I gave fluids to 2 kitties for many years and a doggie, but never had this happen; I always used the same fluids=it was fluids like people get when they go to the ER with dehydration, the very same ones...Best of luck with your girl; have your tried water off of tuna or chicken from a can to get her through until Monday?...Big hugs...J
Teri here, I'm a vet tech at an all feline hospital. I can't think of any fluids that they would give that would be 'wrong' really. Some sting more than others, but none should cause nausea. I am not sure if in previous posts you posted her lab values, but depending on the severity of the 'toxin' buildup in her system, nausea can be from the stomach related side effects of CRF, they can get gastric ulcers, even oral ulcers. As The Chair Speaks said, there are medications that can help balance the 'out of whack' potassium and phosphorus values, and pepcid ac can be given to help the stomach, too.
Just for a gauge, a cat who isn't eating anything needs about 120cc of fluid/nutrition a day to maintain. While you are trying to get her on her feet, don't be too concerned about feeding 'kidney' diets, but just get her to eat. Sometimes, people think that getting eyedroppers or small syringefuls of liquid into their cats is going to make a difference, but it takes a lot. Of course, if the kitty is eating, you can reduce the amount of cc's accordingly.
As for the sub q fluids, unless a cat has an underlying heart problem, the guideline is 15cc per pound every 24 hrs. To me, if possible it is better to give the fluids either daily or 3 x a week to help much, and so the kitty isn't on a rollercoaster of up and down kidney function. But some cats are difficult to give fluids too or their owners are afraid to learn how to give them at home, but we give lots of demos at the hospital where I work and it is rare that the owners and cats can't learn how to give and accept the treatments.
You have been offered such wonderful advice already. We so hope it helps! All the best for sweet Chica and she has our purrs and prayers, too.
Hugs,
Tom & Julie
xoxo
Oh, dear, our mama doesn't know what you should do.......we will be praying that Chica will hang in there until she can see her regular vet tomorrow....and it goes without saying, really, that we are praying that Chica will soon be A-OK again.
Love to all of you.
Poor Chica, and poor you! Our Chuckles used to vomit a lot too, his CRF made him quite nauseous. Can the vet give Chica something to settle her tummy? Chuckles always felt better after fluids, he's be perky almost right away. {{hugs}} coming your way from Trish, xx
We don't have much experience with CRF. But we are going to be volunteering later today, and will ask PAWS staff and other volunteers if any of them have any helpful thoughts or advice for you and Chica. Looks like you're getting some good and knowledgeable advice above, though.
Purrs, prayers and hugs to you all.
I was hoping Teri saw this and I was going to email her to ask her to look at this. Excellent advice.
Mom has had several crf kitties and a crf woofie. She never had a problem. She did use alternagel for tummy problems though. We hope you find an answer.
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
Sorry cant give advise in this but I do send purrs and prayers that you get the right help. Hugs GJ xx
I'm so glad Teri checked in - she always has good advice. Purrs to you and Chica!
I am glad that Terri wrote too. Also glad to hear that most people have not had a problem with fluids making them throw up. I do remember giving one of my cats with CRF, potassium pills. I really think you should take Chica tomorrow for sure. Take care.
Sending healing light. As an intuitive I'm sensing fear and would recommend any subtle non-invasive homeopathic spray or drops like Rescue Remedy or Spirit Essence
My mom know nothing about it but I will send my best purrs to Chica.
But I'm so glad we got a lots of friend here who can give you advices.
Hugs and Kisses to you
xoxo
I have no experience with that so can't offer any advice, but I am sending her lots of purrs and healing energy.
Teri gave you some good advice. As far as the vomiting, she is right...CRF can cause stomach upset. Our mom's kitty use to get 1/4 pepcid (regular strength) once a day to help with nausea. She used slippery elm bark too sometimes.
Mom closest G/F has a kitty with CRF and she has to give him the Pecid AC for the upset tummy. She does the fluids and I have never heard her say he has vomiting afterwards. WE think that Teri gave you excellent advise. We will be purrin for Chica.
>^..^< >^..^< >^..^< >^..^< >^..^<
Abby Ping Jinx Boo Gracie
purrin
xoxox
~ManxMnews
We don't have advice BUT we are sending tons of healing purrs.
oh gosh, poor sweet Chica!
I don't know much about these fuilds, so sorry. I'm purring and sending love to Chica and her faster recover!
Please be positive dear friends!
purrs
Luna
I wish I had advice to offer and I wish I had seen this sooner. I am praying that since it has been a while since you posted this that Chica is doing better and that you hopefully got answers to your questions?
xoxoxo
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