High BUN, Creatinine, & Calcium
Dave88LX
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (8)
laurief_gw
9 years agolascatx
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Looking for advise.... end stage CRF
Comments (5)Rita, As soon as you are finished reading this reply, click on the link below and read all about phosphorous binders. The link will answer all of your questions related to different types of binders and their function, administration, and dosing. If Jazz has a problem with constipation already, I strongly recommend you buy some Miralax (OTC at any drug store) and start mixing 1/8 tsp into his food once or twice a day. It is a dose-to-effect drug, so you start with a low dose and watch the stool. If it is still too hard, increase the dose a bit. If it becomes too soft, reduce the Miralax a bit. I recommend starting the Miralax BEFORE you start the binder, just to be on the safe side. If he becomes badly constipated, Miralax may not be able to soften the existing constipated stool, so you may have to return him to the vet for an enema or manual extraction. It'll be MUCH easier on him not to become constipated to begin with. I don't know what to say about the fluids. If his heart health is questionable, fluids of any type can cause problems, but he still needs fluids. I would think that IV fluids would be safer than subQ because their administration can be more closely regulated. Then again, subQ fluids are more gradually absorbed. I've read over and over that subQs can't adequately hydrate a cat during a crash, which is what sounds like Jazz is in right now. I'm just not sure what would be best for Jazz under these circumstances in terms of hydration. If you're not yet a member of the Feline-CRF-Support mailing list, I urge you to join immediately and ask the members for their input. Many of them have a lot more experience with and knowledge of this disease than I do, and their input would be invaluable in this situation. If you increase his subQs at home, keep a close eye on his fluid absorbtion and on his breathing. Don't administer more fluids until the fluid pocket from the previous session has been fully absorbed, and if Jazz's breathing becomes at all labored, get him to a vet IMMEDIATELY. I'm so sorry for your loss of Rex. I know how exhausting it can be to care for one chronically ill animal, but caring for multiples can be overwhelming. How fortunate Rex was and Jazz continues to be. You have a strength that not many caretakers can muster. Hang in there, Rita. Whatever you do will be motivated by your love for Jazz. Trust yourself. Laurie Here is a link that might be useful: phosphorous binders...See MoreMeghane and others, help: Cushings, Hypothyroid & kidney failure.
Comments (1)I can't help much with the meds but can tell you I owned a miniature poodle that always had elevated alkphos (in the 600's) for years and one vet finally told me that it was just normal for my dog. He was diagnosed with Cushings in his final 2 years but I was never convinced the tests were accurate since my dog never had 'true' cushings symptoms. The symptoms he did have, and died from, were more indicative of a brain tumor. I wish you the best with your little gal....See More17-year-old cat with kidney failure
Comments (74)JJ, Renal failure is extremely common in elderly cats (and often in not-so-elderly cats). Unfortunately, it is as variable a disease as are the number of cats who endure it. There really are no "norms" where renal failure is concerned. There are cats who live for years after diagnosis, and there are cats who fail very quickly. The only thing you can "expect" with renal failure is the inevitable end. It is a terminal diagnosis. As lf mentioned, many of the symptoms of CRF are manageable. The keys to management of CRF are education and vigilant caretaking. You have already been given the URL to one CRF website, but the website which I consider to be the "CRF Bible" is linked below. If you spend as much time as possible reading through these sites, you will learn a tremendous amount about this disease, its associated ailments, and its management. There is nothing more important you can do for your cat right now than to educate yourself about CRF. To answer your questions, at-home subQ fluid administration is a critically important skill to acquire and practice. Your vet can and should teach you how to do the fluid administration, and the websites offer pictorial tutorials to reinforce the procedure and offer helpful tips that your vet might not mention. You'll probably find it a bit nerve-wracking at first, but you'll get the hang of it, and your cat will become more and more cooperative as you become more proficient. It really is a life-saving procedure that provides considerable health benefits to the CRF cat with negligible (if any) discomfort. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of CRF is that a cat's condition can change from day to day, sometimes hour to hour. A cat who is critically ill one day may rally to relative health the next ... or not. We CRF caretakers tend to hold out for the next rally because it's so difficult to tell when a bad day will turn around or when it really does mark the end. If your cat does require hospitalization at some point, you will just need to trust your instincts and your knowledge of your own cat to help you decide whether to give him a chance to rally or to let him go. I, too, have a cat who is in the early stages of CRF with slightly elevated BUN and CREA values. He's my fourth CRF cat, and I know that he could become critical at any moment, or he could live in reasonable health for years. I've been down this road before, so I know what to watch for. I'll be having bloodwork run on him every 3 mos or more frequently if he becomes symptomatic. When his brother developed renal failure a year ago, I couldn't get his condition stabilized and was having to run bloodwork every couple of weeks to keep up with his changing blood values and symptoms. Unfortunately, I lost Bitsy just 3 mos after diagnosis. My first CRF cat, though, lived quite happily for 4 yrs after diagnosis. That's how variable this disease can be. I know you must be feeling overwhelmed right now, and you'll probably feel even moreso once you start reading the CRF websites. Don't let all the info make you crazy. I had to read the same info many, many times before it sank in and stuck. Just remember that the more you know about this disease, the better you'll be able to manage your boy and keep him comfortable and reasonably healthy for as long as possible. I wish you and your cat the best, Laurie Here is a link that might be useful: Tanya's CRF Information website...See MoreHigh Creatinine Levels
Comments (13)A follow-up with patients concerning test results, whether by the doc or someone in the office. should be the normal practice in every instance. Probably like many other people experience, I get an email to check the online comprehensive patient record system. There I see the results and a message from the doc with comments about the various tests. Contact them and ask for a commentary on the findings and next steps, if any. Good luck....See Morekateydid29
9 years agoDave88LX
9 years agolaurief_gw
9 years agolzrddr
9 years agolaurief_gw
9 years ago
Related Stories
FARM YOUR YARDHow to Grow Vegetables in Containers
Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix
Full StoryCustom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County
kateydid29