Blood Signs and Starting Treatment - Part 2

July 2009 - Tests & Treatment

Before continuing with Simone's treatment facts and figures, I want to write a few words about this business of taking care of cat with a potentially fatal illness.  Why bother?  Why take the time and incur the expenses?  Good grief, this cat is almost 20 years old!  

First of all, Simone is not just a cat.  She's a companion animal and a friend.  She has been with me for all but a few months of her life.  She has been with me for a third of my life.  With the exception of a few months cumulatively, we have spent over 19 years together sharing sleeping quarters.  She has been with me through the best and worst of times, always faithful and attentive, always there.  I cannot abandon her through her time of need.  Until this last year, she was always a healthy cat, never needing a vet.  As long as she responds to the CRF treatment and as long as she enjoys a quality of life with a measure of happiness and comfort, I will do all I can to help her.  I'm sure she would do the same if we could trade places.

From July 25 to August 10, 2009, we fought to restore Simone's kidney function.  During that time she was getting twice daily:  1/2 tab Tumil-K, 1/2 mL aluminum hydroxide suspension, 1/4 tab of cypro.  Each evening she received 50-mL of the sub-Q fluid to flush toxins out.  She received a second blood panel with the following results: 

BUN:  116 mg/dL  (36% reduction!  Yeah!)

Creatinine:  6.4 mg/dL (49% reduction!  Yeah!)

Phosphorus:  6.2 mg/dL (60% reduction!  Yeah!)

Calcium:  12.6 mg/dL (good balance with the phosphorus)

Potassium:  3.2 mg/dL (12% increase!  Yeah!)

It looked like Simone was on the rebound although she was still very low energy.  She had a uremic breath, a sign that her kidneys were still not functioning properly.  Based on the internet research, I found some supplements that were recommended for cats with CRF.  I started her on the following:

Renafood (from Standard Process Inc.):  This is an herbal supplement touted as a renal detoxifier and helps to maximize kidney function.  This product is actually for humans, but it is supposed to be very effective in treating CRF.  The supplement contains kidney bean plant extract, bovine kidney PMG extract, bovine kidney, enzymatically processed tillandsia and beet root, lactoxe, defatted wheat, oat flour, carrot root, Vit C, and Vit A.  Simone was given two tablets a day mixed in with the Hill's A/D food.

Renal Essentials (Vetri Science Labs):  This is a nutritional supplement for kidney support in cats.  It is like a vitamin pill.  It contains EPA, DHA, astragalus, lecithin, rehmannia, arginine, nettle seed, crdyceps sinensis, DMG, potassium gluconate, Vit B6, inositol, Vit B1, Vit B2, Choline, Folic Acid, and Vit B12.  Simone was given two tablets a day mixed in with the Hill's A/D food.

Here was the daily regimen early on:

[The medicines and supplements were mixed in with roughly a teaspoon of Hill's A/D cat food twice daily, morning and evening.]

One tablet of Tumil-K each meal.

One tablet of Renafood each meal.

One tablet of Rena Essentials each meal.

1/4 tablet of Cypro each meal.

1/2 mL aluminum hydroxide each meal.

50 mL of sub-Q fluids administered in the evening.

With the new treatment, Simone perked up considerably and some of her old behaviors were coming back, like following us around the house, wanting stroked, sleeping with us in bed, talking some, and eating her favorite food, tuna (eventually mixed it with Purina NF).

Next time I'll write about suppliers, costs, other supplements, and continued changes in Simone's health.  Purr on!!!

Simone & Me

“The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different.”

>< Hippocrates