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silvercamaro · #1 Post by **silvercamaro** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:42 pm

I'm so sorry to hear about Lucy. Is she at home or at the vet's? Is there treatment that might prolong her life or make her more comfortable?

As you may know, I went through chronic kidney problems with Tigger. My heart goes out to your family, including the cats.

I just read your explanation in the Sploofus thread. You don't have to respond again unless you want to.

peacock2121 · #2 Post by **peacock2121** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:51 pm

She doesn't bite or beg for food, she just plops herself down next to us and wants to be loved.

I took this from the other thread.

Just in that sentence, I know who Lucy is and know the love you have for her, and her for you.

Thank you for sharing her in such a great way.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #3 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:54 pm

Lucy is at home. We are taking her back in tomorrow for tests.

She's acting normal, she eats and drinks and interacts with everyone. She wants to snuggle and be brushed, nothing has changed. She's just lost weight. Her bad test results indicate that she is towards the begining stages of renal failure.

Jeff has already told me that dialysis is not an option, as far as he is concerned, the replacement cost of a cat is $0. He loves Lucy, but has a different attitude about these things than the girls and I do.

We found out Tuesday night that Jeff's grandmother has lung cancer and has six months to live. With a person you can tell them what is going on and they understand why they are getting whatever treatment. It's more difficult, as you know, with animals.

gsabc · #4 Post by **gsabc** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:56 pm

Dang. The bad part of pet ownership (who owns who is debatable) rears its ugly head on the Bored again. Best of hopes and thoughts go out to the PSM family, two- and four-footers.

peacock2121 · #5 Post by **peacock2121** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:58 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: Jeff has already told me that dialysis is not an option,

If you really want to get Lucy treatments, I am sure you have Jeff give up his position about that.

He really does want you to have what is important to you.

You need to decide if you want to put Lucy through all of that, based on what the vet tells you is possible.

Also - deal with what is in front of you right now. You can do that. Trying to deal with an unknown future will just make you crazy.

I know, I have come back from crazyland.

Beebs52 · #6 Post by **Beebs52** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:14 pm

Ah, geez PSM. I'm so sorry, for Jeff's grandmother, obviously, but for you and Lucy. Watching the Beebs decline as he is is rough enough, but knowing that your kit has beginning renal failure is just so defined. If that made any sense.
Enjoy her for as long as you can, you'll make the right decisions.
crap.

silvercamaro · #7 Post by **silvercamaro** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:25 pm

Not many places can do dialysis on animals, as it takes a special, smaller machine, and it would be even more difficult for cats than most dogs. It's also terribly expensive and requires a lot of time several days a week, if not daily. Jeff is not being cold-hearted about this. Some things may simply be too difficult to put animals and owners through, except under unusual circumstances.

There will be things you can do to slow the decline and prolong her life, though, including a low-protein diet. I believe that Science Diet makes a prescription food for cats with kidney disease. It costs a little more than grocery-store cat food, but the difference isn't all that much for a beloved member of the family. If I remember correctly, it's made with a lower balance of protein to fat and has a specific proportion of salt, potassium, etc. Your vet probably will provide options. You can even find special recipes if you want to make Lucy's food yourself. In addition, if the time comes when the kidneys can no longer do their jobs effectively and, in essence, start dumping poisons into the blood rather than filtering them, you will be able to give Lucy saline injections to dilute those poisons. That will make her feel better.

The object of all of this will be to keep her as healthy as possible, in hopes of letting her reach beyond her normal life span and die of kitty old age before her kidneys shut down entirely.

Don't despair yet. Even the vet doesn't know how serious it might be until the additional tests are done. The chances are rather good (based on my experience with Tigger) that you will have a lot of additional time -- years -- in which to love on Lucy and let her love you back.

kayrharris · #8 Post by **kayrharris** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:15 pm

Kitty is 10 years old and was down 1 1/2 pounds from last year, but my vet thought that was a good thing.

Ritterskoop · #9 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:29 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
We found out Tuesday night that Jeff's grandmother has lung cancer and has six months to live. With a person you can tell them what is going on and they understand why they are getting whatever treatment. It's more difficult, as you know, with animals.

Animals are not afraid of death. They would like to avoid pain, as we would, but they are not concerned about whatever is the next thing that is supposed to happen to them.

This is from my vet, who says it is how she gets through her job. I like that their oath includes "relieving suffering."

kayrharris · #10 Post by **kayrharris** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:19 pm

Sorry, I had to sign off and go to a meeting. Please tell Jeff I am very sorry about his grandmother.

silvercamaro · #11 Post by **silvercamaro** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:41 pm

kayrharris wrote:Sorry, I had to sign off and go to a meeting. Please tell Jeff I am very sorry about his grandmother.

Oh, yes, from me, too. I apologize for not saying that in my first post. My only excuse is that I was focusing on a situation I'd been through. I wish Grandmother all the best, with hopes that her treatment might beat the odds -- and, if not -- that she may find comfort and love every day for the rest of her life.