I need help with a 17 year old cat who has been losing weight, Here is a quick background.His name is Pop, he's a large male (fixed), black, very affectionate with female owner - testy with other humans. currently his fur is clumpy greasy looking, skinny, spine is very noticible back legs are emaciated skin sags

12/01- Drinking more water, aggrivated, jumping in & out of litter attempting to void - Voids only small amount outside of box, reddish hue to the urine -bladder infection treated with Clavimox (antibiotic) seemed to recover well

11/14- Same symptoms as before noted weight loss Infection reacures 2nd round of Clavimox

11/24- Obvious blockage - antibiotics not working 1st homeopathic remedy used Cantharis 30c did not work

12/2- Pop worsens emaciation/anorexia,fever chills back to the vet - testing shows Kidney failure

12/3- New remedy - Sepia 30c - & acidophilus, vit. c/spiralina supplement mixture, Plus subQ fluids - success - appetite returns, gains weight, becomes active again.

1/12- aggravated behavior returns, blockage/bladder infection returns squatting & trying to void in & outside of the box, urine is scant & red tinged again - another dose of sepia 30c - remedy is successful with the blcckage -but he does not bounce back the same as before he never regains all the weight loss, sleeps more, is cold, wants to be alone more, thirsty & urinates a great deal.

2/10-2/28 - gradual weight loss suppliments not working try sepia 30c & high calorie cat vitamins he worsens - will only eat small amounts of turkey baby food & juice from tuna in spring water (salty) or small amounts of tuna will lick butter he will sniff everything I put down for him to try but only wants what I know is the worst thing for a kidney patient - protiens & the salt content in the tuna juice confuses me he does not look like there is edema he smacks his mouth like it is very dry his nose is dry when he lays down with me he periodically will shake his right paw

[ 28. February 2004, 23:43: Message edited by: zette ]

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Can you give subQ fluid therapy? It would really help. He's 17 let him eat what he will. Are you sure he is blocked, sounds more like cystitus rather than crystals. Could be tumour, infection (irritation) or perhaps small stones (usually not detected in cats) had a case of small stones, lyc cured. If affecting kidney function (I'm not convinced his kidney's have really been affected by this, rather a more natural failure due to old age). At any rate if you can stop the immediate strain on the kidney and further depletion, you could still get years out of him.

From his condition I would probably guess that stones/ tumour or old age renal failure is more likely than cystitus or crystals.

Fluids will buy you time, most vets will teach you how to do at home. He's probably too nauseated to eat (renal failure sends toxins into the blood and eventually may cause heart failure -this makes the cat nauseated),the fluids will help dilute the effect of toxins and flush the cat out.Renal failure can also cause 2ndary anemia which usually gives the cat a big headache and may cause difficulty in getting enough oxygen.

GPM will have more advise for you I'm sure!

1 dose calc -carb 30c

diet exclusively water and partial cooked
(almost raw) meat-- red meat of wild game

I neglected to mention that I used subQ fluids to help him recoup the first time - I have started them again.(I updated the history.) I am still looking for the next remedy though. His appetite is slightly better & his energy was great yesterday not as good today - this is why I started the fluids again. I am looking into nat mur. He has a very strong lifeforce & bright eyes so I think there is a next remedy out there for him. Lots of life left in my sweet old man.

zette

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What is Essential is invisible to the eye.