My beautiful 2 year old kitty, Suzie has been diagnosed with Acute Renal Failure.

We took her into the vets last Saturday morning after she started showing signs of illness; vomiting, not eating and drinking, depression.

We thought it was a tummy bug but after a weekend of tests, the vet called us on Monday morning and told us she had kidney failure. We are not sure what has caused it exactly but the vet seems to think she may have eaten something poisonous such as anti-freeze.

Since Saturday, she has been on IV fluids to try and flsuh her system out. We went to see her yesterday and she looked very poorly. The vet told us her Creatinine level was off the scale and that we should consider putting her to sleep.

We have been to see her again today. Her Creatinine level is now registering at 1298 which is on the scale but still extremely high. She looked alot brighter today though.

We are going to give her another 24 hours and see what's she like tomorrow. I really don't want to have to put her to sleep. She's my baby and I just can't bare the thought of her leaving us. However, I also don't want her to be in any pain. The vet said that with the painkillers and treatment she may be in some discomfort but not pain for the moment.

I just don't know what to do. I'm heartbroken that this has happened and now have to face this terrible decision. Has anyone else been in this situation? Is 3-4 days enough time on IV to judge whether she will or won't pull through? I couldn't bear the thought of putting her to sleep if there was a chance she might pull through. (

I am so sorry. What a dreadfull thing to happen.
I really don't know what to say as i have not had any dealings in this.
The only thing is maybe get a second opinion, although your vet does seem to know what he is talking about and has done the tests.
I hope someone soon will come on here and can help you.

I hope and pray for you and kitty and hope that she will make a full recovery.
Fingers and paws are crossed xxx

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Awww i am so sorry to read this. sorry i have not been through this so have no advice but i do have a big hug for you (((Hugs)))))

I'm really sorry to hear about Suzie. I'm going to re-direct you to a wonderful group who'll advise you further. All of the people there are currently dealing with cats who have renal problems-they're also very experienced and knowledgeable. You need to set up a Yahoo account firstly to join.

tanyas-crf-support : Tanya's Feline CRF Support Group

In the meantime has Suzie had access to either lilies or antifreeze? Unfortunately, these can induce acute as opposed to chronic renal failure. Have the vets done an ultrasound? While a Creatinine is very high indeed, has it decreased at all since instigation of fluids. Infection can be another cause of acute renal failure so I'm wondering if the vets have ruled this out? If she's responding-however small this may be, then I would give her longer on the IV fluids ( after all she will be hydrated and not in any pain ) before I would make an irrevocable decision like this. No vet has a crystal ball. Sometimes these cases are reversible so how will you know if you don't try? However, some unfortunately aren't.

Hi katy81,

Sorry to hear about Suzie, I went thro' the same thing with the fabulous and still much missed Beckett at only 18 months old who's kidney failure was down to suspected anti freeze poisoning.

He spent a fair time at the vets after they initially (and now understandably) thought he'd just got a bug of some kind and treated him as such. I brought him home hoping for the best but he deteriorated, but the vets again suggested it was only a bug. As he behaved there just like a typical feisty cat and not the poorly one I was seeing at home, I ended up insisting they kept him in so they could see for themselves just how ill he was.

They did, and after all the test results came back confirming kidney failure, like Suzies they were off the scale, it was decided the best thing was to let him go. They told me the results were so bad it was only his youth and strength that had kept him going.

It was doubly heartbreaking as on the IV he looked perfectly healthy, and as much as I wanted to bring him home for a final day or so, without the IV he wouldn't have lasted long. Truth be told, bringing him home would have been down to selfishness on my part.

I don't know why, but on the day he was pts I took my camera with me and took what turned out to be my final pic of him, about 20 minutes before him being pts. By strange a quirk of fate it turned out to be the best pic I'd ever taken of him and now has pride of place on my mantlepiece. I see it daily and remember him in full health rather than being at deaths door, it still helps to this day, some 3 years later.

Just be guided by the vets, but trust your instincts, if *that* decision has to be made, you'll do it knowing it was for the best.

Ian

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RIP Black Tom and Beckett, not just cats, they were my cats and the best ever.

What a sad story Ian, lovely that you had a gorgeous photo of him to keep.

I think the vet has a lot of knowledge and will know what is best for your kitty, just take each day at a time, and see how she is tomorrow, see what the vet says. xx

Not wishing to hijack a sad thread, but I've got a lot of pcs and this one is especially poignant because of the situation we found ourselves in.

Ian

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RIP Black Tom and Beckett, not just cats, they were my cats and the best ever.

Yes i can imagine Ian, even when ill to have such a lovely picture you can keep forever.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support. They really do mean a lot.

Ianthi - I will certainly check out the yahoo group you mentioned - thank you.

We are going to see her at the vets this afternoon and are praying that she is showing some kind of improvement. We just want our little Suzie back

I'll let you know how we get on.

Thanks everyone x

Unfortunately this time of year always brings an increase in anti-freeze poisoning for cats as many people start to prepare their cars for the winter months. Apparently the liquid has a sweet taste which cats find attractive and lick up happily. Poisoning is slow rather than immediate so many owners and vets miss the signs until severe damage has been done.
All these tragic cases could be prevented if the government would legislate for a strong bitter tasting agent to be added to ALL anti-freeze and window washing liquids....several petitions exist and it has been done in other countries.
OP, I am so very sorry to hear that this has happened to your cat, I hope and pray that she will pull through. I know we had a poster on here last year whose cat defied the odds and survived.

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Nellie Paddy Mitzy Milo Peggy Murphy

Millie and Monty, the White Devils!