Anyone dealing with frequent constipation in their cat due to renal disease?

paddypaws101

This is a very difficult situation for you and I extend my sympathies.
many cats wont eat the renal diets and literally starve to death as a result.
If it were me (and this is what I am doing personally with my own elderly cats) I would let the cat eat whatever and whenever she will.
Famotidine is an effective anti-acid for a cat if you think she is nauseous and if you really want to give her fluids at home then the vet can show you how to give Sub-cutaneous fluids.
have a look at this informative site
http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm

Cottage_Economy

Thanks Paddy, we came across that site a few days ago and it is superb. So much great information. It helped me put together some questions for the vet over the last couple of days.

Well, things have taken a turn for the worse. Until this afternoon the vet was confident about her recovery as she was eating and drinking. Then she stopped both and no-one at the surgery has been able to get anything into her since apart from iv fluids. Despite eating a lot yesterday and this morning there has been no poo at all. Her blood pressure is high.

We've been given fluids to administer sub cutaneously, which I'm fine to do, and they have ordered some appetite stimulants that will be in tomorrow, but in the meantime we've been told just to try and get anything into her we can which. I think that speaks volumes after being told nothing but renal food yesterday.

They've also asked us to return with her after surgery on Thursday so they can monitor her over night but honestly? A different cat has come back home with us. She very subdued and quiet. Sat behind the sofa. She looks done in, and very very different. I'm wondering whether all the food and water the vet said she was scoffing was her 'last rally'. I've heard that both humans and animals can do that very unexpectedly before death, so much so people think they're recovering.

We're going to leave her alone tonight and see how she recovers and if she comes out of her hiding spot to use the litter tray and drink.

We've already decided that if nothing changes in her condition we will be taking her to be put to sleep on Thursday, if not before if things get worse.

Cottage_Economy

Just to update everyone, we have just come back from the vets after taking our furbaby to be put to sleep.

She did come out of her hiding place, used the tray and had some water, but she had developed a rapid heart rate, started wheezing and had almost lost the ability to stand unaided.

It was just not fair to keep her going anymore.

We took her for one last breath of fresh air in the garden and then phoned the vet and asked him to meet us at the surgery to euthanise her. As soon as he got her out of the box and heard her wheezing he agreed she'd had enough. We think her heart had failed. The actual injection was very quick and painless and she was gone in less than a minute.

As we're considering moving in the next year, we've decided to have her cremated so we can take her with us and pop her ashes under a fruit tree when we create our fruit garden. She was always a fan of kipping the day away under a shady tree so it seems appropriate.

SnowyOwl_2

So sorry to hear this. It is the final act of kindness you could have done for her.

Cottage_Economy

SnowyOwl wrote: »

So sorry to hear this. It is the final act of kindness you could have done for her.

Thanks Snowy.

Someone mentioned that cats with renal disease end up starving to death because they don't like the food. The vet said something different. It isn't that they don't want the food because of the taste, it's that they feel sick due to the accumulated toxins in their bloodstream. Without the low phosphate food and enough water the situation spirals and they get stuck in a catch 22 of feeling bad, not eating, felling worse, not eating, etc etc.

Anti-nausea medication can help with that and I so wish I had known this months ago, but the vet we always seemed to catch when we went in had the opinion that there isn't anything to be done with a renal cat. The new vet I saw for the first time a couple of weeks ago was a lot more knowledgeable about renal disease and its management, and very positive about it.

I know better for next time, but I just wish I didn't have to find out in such a hard way this time.

SnowyOwl_2

CE - hindsight is wonderful, and knowledge is power. But please don't upset yourself as you did your best with the information you had. You gave your cat a safe and happy home and that is to be celebrated.

dandelionclock30

I'm sorry to hear about your cat, I think you tried really hard for her. Try to think about the fact she was a good age and about the happy times she spent with you rather than how ill she was etc at the end.
Also think about getting another when you are ready as there are some lovely loving cats in rescues that need a home.
I got a Tom from a rescue place and I'm so glad I did as hes so family minded and affectionate.