Author |
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:08 am
Cnd, pretty pic of Izzy...I love her white tip on her tail. Wow, Cinderella...20+ yr is so long for a cat. Thanks Chaplin. Oreo is not sick though, she is depressed because her sister died last week. They were littermates. Even though Oreo is in kidney failure, she isn't sick, just a little thirsty but not a lot. She did purr twice yesterday and this morning, so, I feel less worried about her. Our vet a few years ago recommended Wysong or Innov for our cats because they were so old and feeding them high quality food would maybe give them an edge to staying as healthy as possible longer. We do feed our dog Innov, two different types of dry. The cats were eating Wysong until Cashmere got sick three weeks ago, then I was giving her anything she would eat...even the innov high protein dog food. I couldn't really feed Cashmere by herself and leave Oreo out, so now I plan on weaning Oreo back onto Wysong when I'm sure she's eating enough. I don't want to disrupt her with anything right now since she's dealing with losing Cashmere. With our dog, I too find it nicer to clean up after her when she eats Innov. We switched her to Purina One for awhile because she wouldn't eat the Innov, I think we got a bad bag or something. Our vet sells canned and dry Wysong, so does an independent grocery store (cheaper than the vet, still expensive though). I buy Innov at an independent, pet store. The cats never liked the Innov canned cat food though. RG, if I were you and you really want to buy Innov, I would call around. Sun, NT, Costa thanks for posting the cat food info. I'd like to keep Oreo for as long as possible and if food ingreds. will make a difference re: kidney's I want to try. Thanks for posting Smudge's pic, that is such a good sign that he is acting his range of emotions. I think it's a good sign too that Sophie is treating him as she normally would.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:34 am
Back when my two cats had kidney and urinary tract problems and they had stones (youch). After the male had surgery to restructure the whole tract and open it up, they both were put on low ash, low protein dog foods as opposed to cat food. This was a long time ago and was the only way because special cat foods were just beginning to show up but were so unpalatable. And both cats were taken off dry food for life, again to help their kidneys to function better. They each lived to be in the 19-20 range, so something was right in that regimen. But at a crisis time when they aren't eating at all.. I agree, you give 'em whatever they will eat! Smudge is adorable, sitting there kinda with steam coming out of his ears. I think that is a very good sign, RG!
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:11 pm
Dogdoc, If you have the time I would love it if you could answer some questions for me. I guess first and foremost is how did Smudge survive this? Our vet seemed so sure that there was nothing we could do for him last Saturday that honestly I thought we would probably have to put him to sleep Monday, if he wasn't suffering to much before that. If his kidneys had completely shut down or were damaged to the point that all the tests seemed to indicate, how did that change? And after such a serious episode is there a any possibility of a full recovery. In the sense that his kidneys will function normally, or will there always be issues that must be addressed? It may not be possible for you to answer these questions since you don't have the test results, and I don't have them here with me either, but if you can it would help me understand this better. Thanks!! 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:23 pm
Oh oh oh! I know, I know! <waving hand madly> RG, it's cause you care! You took Smudge to the doc. You took him to ANOTHER doc. You spent time and money on all sorts of things like tests and shunts and catheters. You spent all weekend curled on the couch with him. It's amazing what the power of love, and a little technology, can do! 
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:33 pm
Costa!! LOL! You are so sweet! I really wasn't looking for a pat on the back.. honest! But you are very sweet to say that. I was hoping there was a scientific reason, but maybe the power of love is a science!
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Regee
Member
10-09-2005
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 6:05 pm
Resort Girl: Is he over his ugliness now since this morning or does he still want to go outside? Heehee, giggle, snicker teehee.
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 6:27 pm
Regee, the days of giving him IV's while comfortably watching tv are OVER! He's squirmy, and difficult and wants nothing to do with it. We had to stand him on the kitchen counter and hold him for 15 excrutiating minutes... and we were grinning from ear to ear!! We love him being difficult! It means he's getting better... He's sick of cuddling too... sigh~ Are ya happy now? LOL!!
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 7:14 pm
Resortgirl, that expression on Smudge's face says it all. He is fed up with all the fussing. Animals are intuitive so his dog pal knows what is going on. As to diet, with any urinary problem it is better to feed a canned diet because of its high moisture content. I prefer all natural brands, but Fancy Feast seems to be keeping cats healthy. I really could not guess about what caused his condition or what the long term outcome may be. I I see no reason why there should be any permanent kidney damage in Smudge. Since body cells are constantly being replaced he will have "new" kidneys within weeks. ps:I have a clinic over at Animal Farm. Go to Barnyard Banter then Is There a Vet in the House?
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Jbean
Member
01-05-2002
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 7:43 pm
RG, you know when a cat is pissed, it is well on it's way to recovery! yay smudge! macy gives him a high five...then turns around and ignores him. (that's her best trick ) lol. for once i am grateful for a pissed cat. 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 7:45 pm
RG, hon, the power of love supercedes any science!! And without all that you (your family) did over the weekend, it's doubtful Smudge would've been able to give you that really dirty look today! The fact that he's a squirmy boy means he's definitely doing better, and you can and should take all the credit!!! Seriously! Smudge is lucky to have such wonderful people parents!
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 8:41 pm
resortgirl has learned my mantra for life... FAITH - HOPE - LOVE!
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:36 pm
Excellent news RG... Keep it coming. And keep up the good work! He looks perfectly healthy in the p'od pic. LOL. So happy to see that. 
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:30 am
Great news RG!!! Love the pic!!! Yep, you know they're feeling better AND doing better when they start doing some of their usual things. When they continue it, it's a good sign!! The kitten we had who got feline distemper from the kitten we got from the shelter (we treated them both until the little one from the shelter just couldn't hold on anymore) got up on an end table after two weeks of daily fluid injections (at the vets) and forced feedings, she started PLAYING. When we went in to see the vet he said he didn't want me to get my hopes up too much but as soon as he examined her, he could see she was definitely better and going to make it! Woooo hoooo!! Things are sounding really good for Smudge!!! I'm waiting on hearing good results from the vet! Our vet sells all kinds of special foods at her office, but I don't have any experience with them. I have always known that low ash is important for males to keep them from having kidney stones and they need canned food, too. We've never had to worry about that with our females, although looking back, I think maybe Jade could have used something at times when she was getting thin. It was funny. She'd get thin and then almost go into like a remission and gain weight back with long periods of times inbetween. I still feel guilty that I didn't do more for her but I seriously didn't notice anything odd with her behavior. I've always felt animals tell us a world of things from their behavior!
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 3:48 am
I need to learn to sleep through the night again! I'm constantly getting up playing night nurse...lol Smudgers started talking again this morning for the first time... he does this half purr,half meow thingy... rolls his tongue or something... that means Feed ME, Let me out, or tummy rub and it was music to my ears... I have so much to do at work and want to get him to the vet but don't know when I can do that until Monday... sigh..... Maybe if I call him, he'll let me bring him after work or something. As soon as I know the results I post them! Thanks for all the loving support. Thanks Dogdoc and everyone else for all the informative posts. I will never be able to thank you enough for all the time you've taken helping me. Love you all! 
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 3:50 am
I am so happy for you all and especially for Smudge. The sound of his "talking" is awesome news. Thanks for keeping us all so informed
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:26 am
RG ... it's great to hear that Smudgers is on the mend!! 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 8:29 am
YAY!!! Smudge has his purr back!!! Yippee! Oh happy day! RG, that is the best news yet! And I just bet if you called your vet, they'd let you come in late. I'm sure they wanna see your little miracle boy in person, too!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 2:48 pm
RG, Critter makes that sound!! I call it a trill.. that great sound with purring at the same time.. I love that sound!! Yay Smudgers!!
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 7:02 pm
Wooo hooooo Smudgers!!!! You go boy!!! Make all the noise you want!!! Great news, RG!! 
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 7:19 pm
Hooray Smudge! Hang in there sweet kitty!

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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 3:35 am
Morning! Smudge is getting stronger every day, and I can see that he is putting the weight back on too. I'm anxious to go to the vet and see what he weighs now. I talked to the vet last night and he said he would definitely call Smudge a miracle. He also told me that he was going over Smudges records from the other vet and saw that they gave him an injection of an anti-inflamatory/anelgesic that could have caused some of the problems. It's only to be given once, which it was, but never to a cat with Kidney problems. It can cause Kidney damage in a healthy cat if given more then the one time, so it can exhasterbate any existing Kidney problems after only one dosage. Sheesh! If they had only done a simple blood test. The other thing I read about recently is that kidney failure can cause gingivitis (which is what he was diagnosed with first) hmmmmm... wouldn't you think if you brought in a cat that couldn't walk, couldn't eat or drink, that you would possibly think it was something a little worse then gingivitis!? Ok, done venting now.... Allen told me to bring him in Monday and that I could remove the catheter from his leg myself. I have to get some scissors that have a flat head to cut the tape and I'll do that after work today. He said he's going to make a nurse out of me yet! And when I thanked him for saving smudge, he said that I saved him, he just assisted! What a sweet guy! So we won't know test results till Monday, but I'll post them and his weight then. Last time he was weighed, Sunday I think, he was 9 lbs. Love ya all! 
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Buttercup
Member
09-10-2000
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 6:43 am
Oh, RG--what wonderful news! 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 7:13 am
Yay RG and Smudge!
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Regee
Member
10-09-2005
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 7:51 am
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO Smudge and to Mom, Dad, and family to with out all your love, care, devotion, I feel he wouldn't of made it. So ya all take a bow . Oh it really a happy day.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, February 24, 2006 - 8:07 am
Yay Smudge!
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