Jillzii

acute renal failure in healthy cat

Posted on 05/18/09, 07:10 pm

I am soo crushed.unable to stop crying. my 10 yr old cat ( BFF)callie was puking up white foam on fri nite.she has done this before., she seemed fine- next morning she was in ovious pain when i picked her up and could not walk- like a drunk. took her to ER. the xrays showed enlarged heart (she always had a murmur) and some small kidney stones and irritated intestines. they would put her on IV over night for dehyration and then i could pick her up next day. I received call two hours later saying her blood work was done and prog. was poor. she would survive not treatment.Her BUN level was 250! suppose to be 30. her creatatin level was 25 and they said her potatssion was soo high, it would have stopped her heart in a day or two at home. Callie was 10 years old and was a completely seemingly healthy indoor cat. Always had clean bill of health at vets. HOW did i not see this? what causes these high level?high potassium. I had to go up there again to say goodbye. i was crying leaning at her forhead, my tears hitting her forehead and back of head while i was telling her " i am sooo sorry callie" thru my tears i am lost without her. i have failed her.
I called my reg vet with the news. He saw her friday nite and said she seemed fine.only issue was that she lost 1 1/2 lbs (which he didnt think anything just told me cats gain weight in winter and lose in spring WHAT?!?!!?)and sent her on her way. the next am sat she was much sicker. when i told him what happened, he told me she must of ingested a toxin. OK i live in a one bedroom apt. there isnt even a magazine out.I clean several days a week. i have no plants, no insectisides.nothing. i have no idea what she could have gotten into. i called the hospital and requested an autopsy. they can do a smaller verision one there just to see if i can get any answers. callie was my life, my sun, my reason. she kept me sane. Callie was more like a puppy. she would flop all over you giving me a purry meow cause she was sooo happy we were hanging out, she would cry until i picked her to daintly rock her which she woulds then rest her head against my shoulder and gaze up at me with love. shw would race up to me to bump her forhead on my chest, arms or rest her forhead on my forhead. callie had to sleep with me everynite. doing spoons, callie in front,both of us facing the same way. the morning she was sick before i knew it, she came over and spooned with me prob for comfort. but reality she gave ME comfort. i needed her more than she needed me and now she is gone. its been three days and i have been unable to stop the heavy painful crying over losing her. i cannot handle this.not having her in my life anymore.

• Reply #1 05/19/09  3:57pm
  
  JOYHOLY
  I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS,IT IS HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO A LOVED PET,I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL,IS THERE A FRIEND TO BE WITH YOU FOR A FEW DAYS,GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO MOURN,OF COURSE 'CALLIE'WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND ,YOU SHARED EACH OTHER LIFE FOR MANY YEARS,IT IS GOOD FOR YOU TO SHARE HOW YOU FEEL,PLEASE SEND ME A ME...IF YOU WANT TO TALK,I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A HUG AND COMFORT,LOVE LUCY..
• Reply #2 05/29/09  9:41pm
  
  NYyankeedeb
  i am sorry I had to put my sheltie Lucky down last month I wasnt happy...we paid $1000s to have a back leg fixed and the other leg went...I was so upset..I am still crying I miss my boy....hugs to you sweetie....may god give you comfort....
• Reply #3 07/24/09  9:32am
  
  CharlieKay
  I have lost three beloved cats to kidney failure and one of them was only four years old. She had symptoms similar to what you have described. I too worried that I had killed her with flea medicines or something else, but the vet said her kidneys were like rocks and that it could have been congenital. The other 2 didn't start having problems until age 14. It is a horrible illness and you have my deepest sympathy. My latest precious kitty had to be euthanized 2 days ago because she had stopped eating and drinking, walked all hunched over like her abdomen hurt, and cried off and on from the pain. Lab tests showed total kidney failure. Her urine was clear and the toxins were in her bloodstream. The X-ray showed kidney stones in one hardened kidney and the other kidney looked nephrotic and wasn't working. She also had a heart murmer which would have made it difficult to try and flush her toxins with an IV. I couldn't stay with her while she was euthanized because I knew she would sense how upset I was and would not die peacefully. For the last 5 years or so she always slept in the crook of my arm with her head on my shoulder. I have required sleeping pills to sleep at all the last 3 nights. I see her in my mind in all of her old spots in my house. It is so difficult to lose a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please know that it just happens sometimes and don't blame yourself. She sounds like a special animal and you had such a loving relationship, something so many miss out on. You will always remember her but try to concentrate on the good memories and take care of yourself. She would want you to.
• Reply #4 07/25/09  11:51pm
  
  raindrop512
  CharlieKay, (and Jillzii too and NYYankeedeb-so sorry)
  
  I am so sorry for your loss. I just checked this site periodically, as my dog Rainey died just a few mos ago, to cancer and Carole lost her precious Cheyenne. But I did not want to reply to an old post, if it would stir up wounds trying to heal.
  I saw your reply however was involved also with your own baby girl's loss, so recent. And Jillzii too, May is just a couple months ago. I am sure she can take comfort from your kind words even in your time of grief. Grief or guilt which is worse, and there is no reason for guilt. The grief is enough to deal with.
  
  What an unselfish thing to do Charlie, by staying out of the room, so your cat did not sense your stress. Amazing. With Rainey, I called for a home vet as was so afraid of the vet office, and fortunately they called me back the morning I needed her, even if we had to wait a few hours. I hope Rainey did not feel my mourning. She wanted me with her, as she swayed and followed me from room to room on her wobbly legs. She also had a tranquilizer to relax her. For Jillzi, and maybe CharlieKay you feel this way too, it definitely seems like your baby was your cat of heart, and my baby Rainey was my dog of heart. That is what they say when you feel a part of your heart ripped , and you are so close, like soulmates. When Rainey was sent to heaven, the vet sent me a card saying "it was obvious you and she were soulmates", and this vet made a housecall, we had only met once. Rainey passed away in February, and I still have heavy grief. I completely understand. Either one of you can pm me any time you wish, or call me if you want. I am SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I also had cats for many many years. It does not matter, dog, cat, or one person told me she was so in love with her ferret that she could never get another, she could not handle the loss again. You are in my prayers and thoughts, raindrop/Carla Here is a quote I saw recently, and it is true, even if we don't want any more loss.
  
  "Pets come into our lives to teach us about love...they depart to teach us about loss.
  A new pet never replaces an old pet; it merely expands the heart.
  If you have loved many pets, your heart is very big."
  Erica Jong (slightly modified)
  
  

This group is for everyone that has the love of animals. If you have lost a pet or have a pet that is sick then you are at the right place. We also will be discussing day to day problems that we run into with our little ones, helping each other to work through them and find the answer. This soon will be also a meeting place for all Ordained Chaplains of Pets/Animals to discuss all phases of their ministry.