Socks update: The numbers are in
Thursday, March 21st, 2013 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanni. . .and the numbers are Not Good.
Socks is in acute kidney failure*. This obviously means that our plan of treatment has been radically changed.
We're going to be concentrating on keeping him comfortable, hydrated, and fed. I'll be taking a tutorial on how to administer subcutaneous liquids to cats, so we don't have to distress Socks with a ride to the vet every couple days. The vet did say that she has never seen a cat with such high numbers who was still eating and drinking and enjoying life, which is a testament to Socks' good nature and can-do attitude.
The ultrasound image is. . .inconclusive. There was some concern about were or weren't the kidneys polycystic -- to my mind, that's a technical detail. The vet wants to diagnose correctly, and to that end, she's seeking guidance from her colleagues. The best she could tell me when we spoke this morning is that the kidneys are "not normal." Apparently in normal kidneys, the ultrasound will show the structure of the organ in perfect clarity. If the kidneys are polycystic, the cysts are very visible and impossible to miss. In Sock's case, the kidney structure is. . .not what it should be, but if there's a cyst tell, it isn't obvious.
. . .as I said, for us, and for Socks -- a side issue.
The other question -- how long will we have him with us? We don't know. We'll treasure each day that we do have him with us.
Steve and I want to thank everyone who donated to defray Socks' medical expenses, and everyone who were Standing Ready. At this point, there's really no sense in accumulating a Socks Defense Fund; this isn't something that money -- or anything else -- can fix.
We'll continue updates as seems reasonable.
Here's a picture of Socks this morning, as Steve and I were eating breakfast. He was full of smiles and purrs. His position on the bench (on newspapers! Socks loves him some newspapers!) is strategic: the cat water fountain is directly to his left, where he can keep a close eye on it.
Socks at home, March 21, 2013
__________
*Kidney function is measured in units of BUN/UREA and CREA. The normal range for BUN/UREA is between 15 - 34 mg/dl; 0.8 - 2.3 mg/dl for CREA. Socks' numbers are BUN/UREA: 180 mg/dl; CREA 8.3 mg/dl.
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no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:15 pm (UTC)A tip--if you have hooks for a shower curtain, you can hang the fluids bag from one and sit on the toilet with the cat in your lap. All you have to do is pinch up the skin on the scruff of his neck and slide the needle in. That skin is tough, and doesn't have a lot of pain sensors, so sometimes it takes a little punch to get through, but all the cat feels is a tug on the skin. The fluid forms a big lump under the skin until it disperses, so you want to make sure that you point the needle toward his hind end--otherwise you get lots of leakage (you'll always get a little bit). The lump goes down very quickly and, again, doesn't bother the cat.
The kidney problems also most likely have a lot to do with the constipation, I'm guessing.
Good luck. And please let us know how we can chip in--I know how those bills mount up.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 12:45 am (UTC)I've seen cats get fluids, so am familiar with the squishy bump on the back. I wish I could take water by osmosis.
No, wait. I don't.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 12:50 am (UTC)That's it, exactly. But. . .necessity. Socks is so laid back, that I don't expect him to give me any trouble, as long as I'm steady. So...I'll be steady.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:38 pm (UTC)As others have said, the sub-q stuff is pretty easy, especially with a cat that enjoys being held/getting attention, so hopefully his treatment will be stress-free for 4- and 2-footeds alike..
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 12:51 am (UTC)Do you happen to know where I can order about a week of stress-free? It'd really come in handy for everybody here about now.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:41 pm (UTC)I've nursed several cats through kidney failure, and the sub-q fluids at home made a HUGE difference in quality of life.
For us the easiest thing was to install a cup hook (the little metal ones that just screw into wood) on the bottom of one shelf of the cupboards over the kitchen counter, to provide an easy place to hang the IV bag; when it was time for fluids we'd put a favorite cat pad on the counter, and one person would soothe cat while the other administered the fluids.
My vet believed that one cat's kidney issues was induced by a bad reaction to medication, that cat did quite well for a long time once the medication was stopped. So it might be helpful to know if Socks has PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) or if his kidney issues might possibly be caused by something else that could be modified to slow down further damage.
For the more ill cat, the vet provided an injectable medication that could be given at home to reduce nausea and improve appetite -- it wasn't cheap but it was much less expensive than office visits and really did seem to help the cat.
Do, please, let us know if we can help.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 09:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 12:59 am (UTC)Anyhow, he's been on pretty low-key stuff, none of which is known to dangerous: Baytril, clindamycin, doxycilin (spelling brought to by phonics).
It just looks like we'd gotten it backward from the first. We thought that we'd take care of the infected teeth; the nose problem would dry up; we'd feed him up to his potential and life would be good.
Now, it looks like the problems we thought were primary may have been symptoms of the kidney problems.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:50 pm (UTC)He sure is a pretty kitty. I hope he's able to stay with you a long time.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:56 pm (UTC)you need this link: http://www.felinecrf.com/
This has ALL kinds of info, including info on kidney transplants. Socks might be a good candidate for this because he's still quite young.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 04:59 pm (UTC)http://www.felinecrf.org/ is a superb resource. There is a lot you can do to manage this.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:03 am (UTC)I'm still exploring that website -- lots of info!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 05:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 05:55 pm (UTC)You'll be fine with the subq. Don't be surprised if there's a visible fluid lump rolling around his back or side until he walks it off; that's normal.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 05:55 pm (UTC)Both from a DVM view and having had a cat with CRF from an early age, fluids make a world of difference. I've had patients go for up to 5-6 years with fluids, and a good quality of life. I tend to supplement CRF patients with B Vitamins (usually B-complex in the fluids), as I've seen better appetites with than without (YMMV). Plus B vitamins are water soluble, which I think is good in a patient who's (hopefully) peeing a lot. I don't get excited about special diets like I used to - my first rule is the cat needs to eat. What is a lower concern, as a special diet doesn't help if it is left in the bowl. Canned food, of a good quality, gets a bit more liquid in, stimulates the appetite, let's you track how much is being eaten, and is a good distraction when you're giving fluids.
My kitty, Blue, was just 14 months old when I diagnosed her. She had a chronic pyelonephritis (kidney infection) that likely started around 3 months of age (she had some medicine around that time that could cause immunosuppression, and spiked a high fever). At diagnosis, her numbers were similar to Socks'. She loved a very happy and comfortable 6 more years - other than the fluids, you would have had a hard time telling she was sick.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 05:59 pm (UTC)Melissa
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:08 am (UTC)Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:11 am (UTC)I expect it would be over time, but Socks' vet is funny. She described the rallying upon receiving ...SQ... as "just add water -- instant cat!"
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 09:38 pm (UTC)I'm glad the patient is improved :-)
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 06:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 08:07 pm (UTC)Best of luck with treating him, I hope he will remain with you in comfort for a long while!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:12 am (UTC)He is, yes. Exactly a budget sized lynx.
Socks
Date: 2013-03-21 08:31 pm (UTC)He is so beautiful and sweet. Truly you have been gifted, as has he.
Positive thoughts and best regards.
Re: Socks
Date: 2013-03-22 01:15 am (UTC)We are very luck to have Socks; he's a complete sweetie. I just wish he could've caught a break...
no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-21 11:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 01:19 am (UTC)I understand -- I'm not as spry as I used to be, either...
Thank you for the good wishes.
Socks
Date: 2013-03-22 12:08 am (UTC)Re: Socks
Date: 2013-03-22 01:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 02:36 am (UTC)Sending some good thoughts your way.
Socks News
Date: 2013-03-22 03:48 am (UTC)Thanks to the smart fan who mentioned one can donate via the Splinter Universe which....because I'm not good with web sites I had a hard time finding...hint: there's are links all the way over to the right one of which is Splinter Universe. clicking on Splinter Universe there's a donate button way down at the bottom. Sending something towards Sock's vet bills is easy if one has Pay Pal. I am very familiar with vet bills. they tend to balloon a bit. So sending wishes for lots of luck along with the Pay Pal.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 06:19 am (UTC)Joining the crowd
Date: 2013-03-22 10:01 am (UTC)Hydrating cats
Date: 2013-03-23 01:36 pm (UTC)Although scary at first, it is easier to do the subcutaneous fliuds than it feels like. (I'm not into putting needles into anything.) What i would suggest is arrange a hook to hold the bag of saline up about 2 feet high, so gravity is working for you, next to a comfortable table for Socks to sit on. My older cat never even flinched putting in the needle. (Pick up the loose skin and slide it in.) You'll know when they are full because they sit real casual until just about the amount of fluid you will be told to put in, and then they start to get antsy. We kept Bernstein going for many, many months with happy days, doing the fluids. It will be clear when it isn't helping any more.
I'm so sorry to hear about Socks. I'm glad he is a trooper and is still chipper. Jeanne T