trancegemini: I believe they did the fluid treatment this way because they wanted that quick boost to try and help him want to eat and to see if he would tolerate the treatments...I spoke with him yesterday evening after I typed that last message and the vet said that it should have helped, the bad diarrhea accident was not a good sign either he said and it seems his kidneys are shutting down. The bacteria they found in his stool is on the bottom the list and is not really the problem at this point. My questions to him were would have more fluids helped him, he said no. We discussed the Euthanasia options that I can have him cremated or buried. I could either keep his ashes or have him cremated with other animals and his ashes scattered at a park. I feel rushed to make this decision because of stupid work and social conflicts. I really don't want to have to do it tomorrow and have to go back to work on Friday...I can do it Friday evening but then my boyfriend feels bad because he has a show to play Friday night and doesn't want to leave me at home crying and depressed...but I also feel like I'm being cruel to let him starve until Saturday. I really want to take him to the park or something and just sit there and soak in the fresh air, my boyfriend doesn't seem like its a good idea he basically said that its not like Loki will enjoy it. I just wanted to do something special one last time before I end my best friends life. I just feel so selfish and cruel. I wish my boy could just tell me somehow that its going to be ok and that I should just let him go. But its so hard when he perks his ears and lifts up his head and that tail starts wagging when he sees me. Annz: Thank you I know that if I talk to the vet that gave him the treatment he'll tell me what he would choose for his own dog. He told me about his dog when I was in his office getting a second opinion on his leg condition. He said they suspected his dog had a brain tumor just from all the signs he exhibited, he opted not to do an MRI or surgery because going through vet school he did some brain surgeries and he knew how extensive and harsh they were and didn't want to put his dog through that. After that I really felt this vet was a truly caring compassionate person, the other vet just doesn't have that good of a bed side manner. I always felt I was rushed and when I asked questions at times I felt like he just kinda of brushed them aside or he'd give me all this info that left me standing there saying huh?? Even though its almost $100 more to go to the more compassionate vet I'm leaning towards that option. Though I think I will call the other vet just to let him know what we tried and what he thinks.

Loss of kidney function is unfortunately often a part of growing old. I enjoy caring for my geriatric pets and making their golden years comfortable and enjoyable for them. Giving subQ fluids adds substantially to their quality of life, so I consider it a part of routine care for my older pets, not a desperate measure at all. My cats, all but one, have lived comfortably into their 20s, in large part due to hydration therapy. Many will disagree with me, but I seldom have blood drawn from my geriatric pets, at least not on a routine basis. I base the frequency of subQs on the recommendation of my vets and my and their observations of the animal's condition. Signs of dehydration, lethargy, nausea, loss of appetite mean the animal needs fluids more frequently. Typically I start out giving fluids once a week, and by the time they are out of their teens, we are usually up to every day or every other day. If your kitty is eating well and enjoying outdoor excursions, it sounds like he is doing well and enjoying his life. Cats behave differently in their later years, as do we. But retirement years have their own special rewards. I'm in my 60s and retired, and despite arthritis and other ills, I'm not ready to pack it in yet! Being able to give my old animals a retirement filled with love and creature comforts is, and has been, one of the most fulfilling of all my life's accomplishments. I find it calming to administer fluids to my old pets. This post was edited by spedigrees on Thu, Oct 10, 13 at 11:45

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. I know that is a very stressful time. I have had several CRF cats over the years and some foods that we tried were Hill's a/d (high calorie which is great for those with waning appetites), Hills k/d (renal diet), Gerber turkey or chicken baby food (great treat for picky eaters), and certain flavors of Organix and Weruva (low phosphorus canned food). In the end, I believe that it is important that your cat eat anything. I tried to give my current CRF cat the best low phosphorus and low protein foods on the list, but he got bored of them. He began losing even more weight and my vet said just to give him whatever he wants to eat now because keeping his weight up is the main priority. We supplement his food with a phosphate binder (aluminum hydroxide powder). I also give my CRF cat 150ml LRS subcutaneously every night. Do you warm up the bag before you administer it? I noticed that it made a difference because my cat used to be squirmish until I did it. Just place the bag in a tub of warm water and let it sit for a while. Make sure you also run the line too in order to remove the cold solution. My CRF cat is also on Calcitriol and Azodyl. Has your vet mentioned those medications to you? I recommend them both..look into them, especially the Azodyl, because I have noticed an improvement in my cat's bloodwork ever since he started it. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. I have a lot of experience with managing CRF, especially right now because of my current CRF kitty. I wish you all the best!

Hi, I would definitely recommend the sub-q fluids ASAP. I had a CRF cat that was on 100ml daily for 2-3 years and I know that it greatly improved her life. She lived until she was 24 years old. My current senior kitty also has CRF but to a greater extent, and we give him 150ml every night. He is also on Calcitriol and Azodyl. I think the Azodyl has been very helpful in improving his blood work..definitely ask your vet about it if you have the chance. Has your cat undergone an ultrasound for his swollen abdomen? I wish you all the best of luck. It is hard to manage a CRF kitty but don't give up!! I've been going through this for a while and I know that CRF cats have their ups and downs. Also, check our Tanya's CRF website if you haven't already. Good luck..!! http://www.felinecrf.org/key_issues.htm