PetSouth's Jemma

[Pookie]

How's Jemma doing?

[Pet South]

Hey Pookie. Visited her today, she is scared stiff. We will be (hopefully) picking her up Monday and will then know if the IV helped and how we are to further proceed. I had some updates on my FB page as did my wife. We had to start a fundraiser, 15k so far but she is worth every dime. Thanks for creating the thread.

[Pookie]

Poor Jemma.  If the vet's office will let you (and they should), you could leave an article of clothing there (in with her) that has your scent on it.  It does help give them some comfort.

Crossing paws she feels better soon.   

[Pet South]

We left a blanket. Picked her up today. She is looking great. BUN back to normal and creatinine in upper normal. So glad she is home and feeling better. Vet said she will need special diet rest of her life. Hoping to find some time later on to post the whole story, lots of questions in my head. Going to have to change all cats from free feeding to controlled.

[Pookie]

That's great news that she's home and feeling better!      What was the diagnosis?

For the special diet, feel free to check the other threads in the Caring for Cats:  Kidney Disease section.  One of them is here:

http://parenting-furkids.com/index.php?topic=3493.0

I think Lola's sending you Dr. Hodgkins' book, and you'll find more information there as well, about phosphorus binders, etc. that can be added to the diet.  I had also posted some of that information in another thread in the Kidney Disease section.  http://parenting-furkids.com/index.php?topic=3703.0

One more article (this is also in the Kidney Disease section):  http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/kidney-disease-in-older-cats/

I'm so glad she's better! 

[Pet South]

Thank you Pookie, so are we. They still don't know, said she may just be predestined for kidney problems and the virus in Jan or the banamine shots a few weeks ago may have just caused the kidneys to stop. But I kind of have my doubts if this wasn't just a build up maybe by way of the banamine which I had no idea was so dangerous for cats. We will see what the blood tests next week say and feed the prescription diet for now but she is way finicky.

[Pet South]

As promised, here a quick run down on Jemma.

She turned 5 on June 30th when we noticed she was hiding away and running around like the devil was behind her. Went to the vet on the 1st and found out she had fever. Vet thought it to be a bug and gave her a banamine shot and a 14day antibiotic. She was looking better the next day but a week later we went back again as she was back to hiding and wasn't eating. It was not our regular vet but this guy did the whole shenanigans, x-ray, FIV and FeLV test etc. Everything came back negative and he gave her a B12 shot to hopefully give her some appetite.

That evening she looked worse than ever and we thought she was gonna die so we went back the next day to our regular vet. She had fever again and we had gotten some input from other cat owners on Facebook and had pointed hi in direction bladder. Blood test done, white cells were normal so he took a urine sample and diagnosed a bladder infection. Prescribed antibiotics and sent the urine into tha lab which found a few crystals in her bladder.

She still was not getting better so a week later back to the vet and the vet tech had a feeling and ran the blood test for the kidneys and sure enough her levels were way too high. We got Azotyl (or something) and were told to pray. As we weren't satisfied with this answer and in the end the bladder issue more than likely came from the kidneys meaning they missed it and she could have been treated a week or two earlier, we went to another vet to get an ultrasound done (our vet does not have this equipment). The first diagnosis was a genetic cyst disease which shattered all our hopes, but was sent to the radiologists to verify and they said the kidneys and the liver look normal, whew.

Still had to hospitalize Jemma over the weekend due to the high BUN and creatinine levels where she received IVs. When we picked her up two days ago she was as alert as I have ver seen her which made us all happy even the vet. Her levels were back normal and the vet said she didn't believe it would be this good and she would need a kidney diet for the rest of her life.

So now she is home NOT eating the k/d wet food but she is eating the dry food (Jemma is one of the dry food fanatics here at the house) and we have to figure out how to change all the cats from free feeding to controlled feeding which is not an easy task especially since the other cats want her k/d lol. We are also trying to find out what had happened, I cannot believe her kidneys are that damaged and no one can actually tell me if it may have been that she ate something poisonous or maybe even the banamine shot that elevated her levels.

So any input is welcome, we are going back next week to check her levels to hope they are still normal. Will keep everyone posted.

[Lola]

To be blunt...

Cats ONLY eat kibble because it is sprayed with "ew" to entice and ADDICT them to it.  Hill's k/d in particular, is the worst of the worst. It is FULL of TOTAL CRAP ingredients. 

Brewers Rice, Pork Fat, Chicken, Egg Product, Flaxseed, Whole Grain Corn, Whole Grain Sorghum, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Pork Liver Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Potassium Citrate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), L-Threonine, Iodized Salt, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, L-Tryptophan, DL-Methionine, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene.

There are a bazillion reasons why cats should NOT eat kibble.  One of the top reasons is the lack of MOISTURE.  A cat will NOT drink enough water to make up for the lack of moisture in kibble.  Mannnnnnnnny kibble fed cats end up with kidney issues. 

[Lola]

This is just what ONE vet (that isn't in a Hills and/or Purina coma) has to say...

These diets represent an area of the commercial cat food industry that is very misleading and, quite frankly, a source of embarrassment for this profession.

Many of these very expensive products contain corn, wheat, and soy which have no logical place in your cat's diet.  These diets are often very high in carbohydrates and, of course, all of the dry versions are water-depleted.  Many of them also contain by-products as the main - and often only - source of protein.

snip

It is important to note that most of these diets do not have robust clinical feeding studies supporting their safety for long-term feeding or even for use in treating the various diseases they target.

On the contrary, we have plenty of evidence to show that feeding water-depleted, high carbohydrate, plant-based diets to carnivores does not honor their carnivorous make-up but, instead, promotes disease in this species.

It is also critical to understand that there is no independent agency overseeing these diets' medical claims.  None. Zero.  Including the FDA.

The fox is definitely guarding the henhouse and the FDA shows no interest in remedying the situation.

http://www.catinfo.org/#Prescription/Therapeutic_Diets_

[Lola]

This person gives you the skinny (first hand experience) on what Hill's "Prescription" Diets are REALLY about:

http://coveredincathair.com/content/hill’s-pet-nutrition-center-tour-part-one
http://coveredincathair.com/content/hill’s-pet-nutrition-center-tour-part-two
http://coveredincathair.com/content/hill’s-pet-nutrition-center-tour-part-three

Any non-Hills-coma vet will CONFIRM the facts she explains. 

[Lola]

PS

I AM glad that Jemma is feeling a bit better. 

[DeeDee]

Powdered Cellulose. Yeah. Let's go ahead and damage their gut along with their kidneys. That's always a great idea.

[Lola]

The only thing the k/d wet has going for it is ... it is wet.

Water, Pork Liver, Chicken, Pork By-Products, Brewers Rice, Oat Fiber, Corn Starch, Chicken Fat, Dextrose, Potassium Citrate, Psyllium Seed Husk, Guar Gum, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Fish Oil, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Iodized Salt, Cysteine, Glycine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Beta-Carotene

PetSouth,
What you are paying for this "food," you could feed ALL your cats another wet brand...with MUCH better ingredients. 

[Lola]

Last comment.  If YOU believe in RX food, that is fine.  I said my piece.  I tend to get a little worked up over vets pushing kibble and/or prescription scam food.  However, you DID say "any input is welcome."   

[DeeDee]

Just wondering if Jemma has had any recent vaccinations?