1/2 Hershey CKD AMPS(189)PMPS(141)+2(167)

1/1 Hershey

HAPPY FURSDAY!

After spending hours on the computer last night - reading condos and websites about kidney disease - I decided to give my eyes a break and not get on the computer until tonight. We did manage to get the Christmas tree down and living room reset. A little earlier than usual, we usually leave it up until Jan 6th. I'm told my Grandma used to do that and I thought it was a nice tradition to reinstitute. But, with moving Jessica on the 9th, we really needed the space for her to pack. Anyhoo -

Last night, I read and read about low phos foods and decided we'd start with Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets. Oreo eats Friskies and Hershey likes to sneak it when he can, so maybe he'll feel like he's getting something special...I can always hope. Doug couldn't find it at the Walmart near work, but Joseph found it at Harris Teeter today. We'll see how he likes it at +2, in about :30.

I didn't get back to the 12/29 condo I posted about kidney disease, but wanted to thank everyone Rachel, Catherine, Sienne, Michelle, Marje, Carla, Tara, Ella, Deborah and Julie for stopping by to offer information and support. Thanks for all of the prayers and concern for the family, too. Doug's back still isn't 100% but he hasn't had to miss any work. He called the chiropractor, but it seems he's out of the office until next week. My eye is still acting up. Even using the drops it'll stick overnight without warning. So, when I open it in the morning, it pulls cells off, resulting in pain and blurry vision. The eye is an amazing healer, so it's mostly well by the evening, when it's time to go to sleep and, oh, yeah, do it all over again. oh. joy.

LABS in SS: I posted Hershey's labs in his SS and I'd appreciate any thoughts you have about them. I'm clueless as to what much of it means, although I've spent much time googling, trying to learn. The vet said he was thinking early stage of kidney disease, but I guess we won't really know until he repeats Hershey's labs. I do want to go ahead and try lower phos foods before the repeat labs and hope it'll help his values. Maybe the numbers were off because of his teeth? I know it's not probable, but I'll hold out hope until the labs say something different.

Prescription foods vs commercial foods? It seems I'd have to get a job to afford the prescription foods and can't even find where they disclose what's in them, so how do I KNOW they're better? I don't want to butt heads with the new vet right off, but I'd like a good reason to break the bank for prescription foods. I'm trying to stick with carbs <6%, so that's limiting, but I'm not sure if I'm going to worry with the Fat/Protein numbers right now. I'm thinking low carb, low phos that Hershey will actually eat may be enough to battle right now.

HYDRATION: Marje mentioned that as a concern with CKD. We give Hershey Miralax and mix it with water. Should we discontinue that? I don't want Hershey constipated, but certainly don't want to add to possible dehydration.

Still trying to learn about binders - what they are, how/when to use them. But, honestly, the thought of giving fluids is pretty scary to me. I know I can do it if/when the time comes, but I have NO clue about them, either. (Trying not to get ahead of myself and stick with the small bites!)

I'm sorry so many of y'all have had to deal with CKD, but appreciate you passing your knowledge along to the rest of us! Last night, I was saying my vet said they don't know what causes it. With so many of us going through it, it seems we'd be a good group to study!

Green doesn't look promising for Hershey today, but he's feeling good and doesn't seem as unsteady today, so that's good. Several times over the last week or so, he'll jump onto the arm of the chair and his back leg(s) won't quite make it, so he has to pedal up to it. I don't know if that's kidneys or age or just that he's off sometimes. All P's are in place and I've seen him chase Oreo down a time or two today.

Well, Doug's calling me to supper, so ttyl. THANKS for coming over; it's always good to see you!!

Libby (& Hershey, too!)


AMPS (189) +12 - Shot .5u at 5:30am + 1/8th tsp Miralax
+2 (201) - fed
+5.83 (133)

PMPS (141) +12 - Shot .5u at 5:30pm + 1/8th tsp Miralax
+2 (167) - fed Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets - 1st time and he LOVED it!
+6 (151)

 

Re: 1/2 Hershey CKD AMPS(189)+5.83(133)PMPS(141)

I replied last night, but here's a little of it. Bothe PetSmart and Petco carry the Friskies SD Turkey and Giblets, Tess thinks it's a real treat. It's on sale at PetSmart now too!

From the numbers it looks like Hershey is early stage, and tests usually don't show anything wrong until there is significant damage so don't beat yourself up for not getting tests earlier. Tess has held stable w/ just the change to low phos foods. No binders yet. We are also giving Renafood and cranberry/d-mannose supplements, but don't have test results since we started those. We're considering Azodyl too. We haven't needed to give fluids yet, but w/ the miralax I'd increase the amount of water you add to his food. i did have to give them to Cleo (GA) though and it gets to be routine, just like giving insulin does. Cleo would go BTB w/ me afterwards and cuddle.

It looks like the Hills KD has been changed so Dr lisa's list may not be up to date.
The list says the old formula was also 35% DM and 27% ME (metabolized energy, which is the number we use to compare fuds.), the website says the new version is 35.4%DM so the ME should be about the same too. On the up side they seem to have taken the sawdust …… er, excuse me powdered cellulose :roll: out of the formula. Still not great ingredients and lots of cats get tired really quickly of food w/ a high % of pork liver.

BTW, there are a lot of specialists that think the same dry foods that can cause FD are responsible for a lot of kidney disease. Chronic dehydration is hard on the kidneys!

 

Re: 1/2 Hershey CKD AMPS(189)+5.83(133)PMPS(141)

Hi there

Just popping in to see how Hershey is doing. Sounds like he made it through the other nights double dose without incident (except for a bit of a HC hangover)

I have no experience with CKD (so far) however have complete faith in the knowledge of the folks around here that do.

 

- Hey, Ann - Thanks for all the information. I got last night's post and thought I responded. Sorry if I didn't. :sad:

I don't know what those are, but will google them. :smile: What in the world did we do before google?!

- Hey, Sandy - Thanks for checking on us and for the words of encouragement.


+2 (167) - fed Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets. He LOVED it! Here's hoping that continues and that it helps!

 

Hi Libby,
Hooray for success with Friskies special diet T&G!! Sounds like a tasty treat for Hershey. Sorry I don't have much experience with CKD. Stu was in the early stages, but he also had hyper T, so we were going to deal with that first before tackling CKD. (As it turned out, he also had cancer and was too weak for us to treat anything.)
I have read that chopped-up hard-boiled egg whites are a binder that can be added to wet food. Have you tried that? It seems like an easy and good first step.

Thinking of you and sending vines. Glad that Hershey survived the double dose!!

Hugs, scritches,

Ella & Rusty

 

Just checking in on Hershey. I'm glad he's doing okay after the double dose. I hope he likes the Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets. Sending prayers for your eye and Doug's back to get better.

 

Great news that he liked the Friskies.

In addition to what others have said, I would encourage you to make it your mission to keep Hershey's BG levels below 200. Renal threshold is a littler higher than than so the more time in blue or green numbers, the easier it is on his kidneys.