? 4/22 Shooter AMPS 247

[Heather & Shooter]

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/4-21-shooter-amps-99-2-155-6-64-7-59.300256/#post-3266606

After Shooter’s beautiful morning of greens, he is doing some bouncing. Hopefully it doesn’t last long.

His left leg still isn’t 100% but it’s definitely better. However, I’m concerned about his kidneys. I’m told via his bloodwork (which I’ll post below) he is stage 3, but they didn’t tell me to do anything different. Should I be trying to change his food or meds or fluids? His appetite definitely isn’t what it was even 6 months ago. Keep in mind he is an 18 old man. Mom says I just need to start preparing myself that it’s likely he’s just going to start failing.

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

Oh Heather, I'm just catching up to the board, I'm sorry to see Shooter having such issues. I don't have any really good advice, but we gave ours with ckd a supplement called Azodyl, which did help with the BUN and Creatine levels. Getting him to drink as much water as possible to flush the kidneys is easier said than done, I know. I hope someone with more experience has some better advice. In the meantime, I'll be praying for you both!

 

[tiffmaxee]

I’m glad his leg is improving. I would try to find low phosphorus food at this point. His phosphorus is above 5. You could add a phosphorus binder to his food as well. That might improve his appetite. Add water to his food as well. Was a urinalysis fine? What was the urine specific gravity? Tanya’s CRF site will help you.

https://felinecrf.org/phosphorus_binders.htm

Tanya’s says add binder if over 6 but I have always been told 5. Either way though it could help given Shooter’s is 6.2.

 

[Heather & Shooter]

I’m glad his leg is improving. I would try to find low phosphorus food at this point. His phosphorus is above 5. You could add a phosphorus binder to his food as well. That might improve his appetite. Add water to his food as well. Was a urinalysis fine? What was the urine specific gravity? Tanya’s CRF site will help you.

https://felinecrf.org/phosphorus_binders.htm

Tanya’s says add binder if over 6 but I have always been told 5. Either way though it could help given Shooter’s is 6.2.

Sorry I haven't replied. I'm still waiting to get the urinalysis records from the vet. I thought I had them but I guess not.

I did pick up some of the Weruva foods from Tanya's list. The only one they have snubbed so far is Chicken Checkmate. Looking around on the Feline CKD FB site, I saw several people mention how wobbly and unsteady a cat can be if his potassium is even on the low end of normal. Do you know anything about this?

 

[tiffmaxee]

Sorry I haven't replied. I'm still waiting to get the urinalysis records from the vet. I thought I had them but I guess not.

I did pick up some of the Weruva foods from Tanya's list. The only one they have snubbed so far is Chicken Checkmate. Looking around on the Feline CKD FB site, I saw several people mention how wobbly and unsteady a cat can be if his potassium is even on the low end of normal. Do you know anything about this?

Yes. You want potassium over 4.0. I have supplemented by adding potassium powder to the food of my cats that had CKD. You can find out about it on Tanya’s.

I am pretty sure you will find the USG Is lower than normal. Does shooter seem at all dehydrated?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

There is a Labs tab on the spreadsheet. It's much easier to read than photo of labs, and you can see what previous labs were doing to compare trends.

I have familiarity with low potassium. But kitty did not show symptoms until her K was 3.4, she was fine at 3.7-3.9 which is in range but low end of range. Do NOT supplement without talking to the vet first. Too much potassium is hard on the heart.

Switching to low phosphorus foods if you can is a good idea. This list has a current list of low P and low carb foods. CKD food Chart

His Hematocrit is also getting to the lower end. Maybe talk to the vet about supplementing with B vitamins?

Do not start fluids until the vet says it's OK. I learned that the hard way. Acros have a tendency to kidney disease, but also heart disease. Neko went into CHF (congestive heart failure) from fluids given for her kidneys. She recovered, but it was pretty hard on her body. Not all recover.

Speaking of heart and conflicts, can you remind me what the prednisolone is for?

 

[tiffmaxee]

I’d run everything involving supplements by your vet. My vet wanted my cats’ potassium to be at least 4.0 BUT never did anything with just one test. He’d watch and recheck in a month or two.