Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 00:03:36 AM

Title: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 00:03:36 AM
Clapton will always perk up for chicken. Especially on the odd occasion he hasn't had it for a couple of days. He went into the spare room in the basement tonight and won't come out. He is still purring when I give him a cuddle but as soon as I stop, he curls back into a tight ball and seems really withdrawn. I try not to react to much as he often springs back but this doesn't seem right. Lets hope he is OK in the morning. Usually chicken is my only hope of giving him his fortekor  :(
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Jasmine on February 11, 2008, 00:32:03 AM
Poor boy, hope he feels better too

 :hug:
Jas
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: pappilon on February 11, 2008, 00:40:54 AM
Oh Mark, i really hope Clapton feels better in the morning. :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 08:00:47 AM
Mark I hope Clapton is better this morning.  I am thinking about you both  :hug:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 11, 2008, 08:02:41 AM
Do you have any SEB in Mark? He might just be feeling a bit nauseous.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: pappilon on February 11, 2008, 08:16:35 AM
Mark,just to see how is Clapton today? :hug:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 08:23:43 AM
Thanks everyone. We couldn't find him this morning and eventually found him under the radiator in the dining room which is usually reserved for when there are workmen in. He isn't 100% but he has eaten 1/2 pouch felix beef in jelly which is one of his favourites. I offered him some chicken - partly so he would take his pill but he won't eat it. I wonder if it smells different to him as it's free range corn fed rather than regular free range. I will see how he goes this morning and speak to the vet. I will put some SEB on his food later. He hasn't had the nausea and sickness for months. It crossed my mind that when a cat has a particular illness, we tend to put everything down to that but it could be something else and he is just having an off day - he has been eating more than all the other cats for months now and has even developed a little paunch so it seems quite sudden. Yesterday he even had his usual 2-pouch breakfast and a couple more during the day. I will just keep an eye on him.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 11, 2008, 08:53:13 AM
Hope Clapton is ok, and just feeling a little off colour today  :hug:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 08:56:16 AM
I am glad he has managed to eat something.  Is he constipated?  Hope he feels better as the day progresses.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 08:58:15 AM
Hopefully he isn't but it's hard to tell. He has an indoor tray and an outdoor one but he seems to prefer the lawn (or the patch of scrubby grass that passes for one)
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Susanne (urbantigers) on February 11, 2008, 11:01:08 AM
I'm glad he's eaten something today.  Fingers crossed he gets better soon and he's just under the weather today.  That's what Jaffa was like on Friday but he was fine by the next day.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 11:04:42 AM
He has eaten a bit more felix and is now in the garden  :)

Hopefully he will  pick up later. It is odd for him to reject chicken though  :Crazy:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 11:16:56 AM
Ah bless is it sunny where you are it's lovely here.  Hope he continues to eat and enjoys the day
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Kittybabe (Ruth) on February 11, 2008, 11:18:06 AM
Gis him a little cuddle from me. Hope he starts perking up soon.  :hug:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: swampmaxmum on February 11, 2008, 11:27:05 AM
How's he doing in the sunshine? (hope it has reached you, just arrived here). have you tried him on lactulose at all? I'm starting to see it as a bit of a wonder med. My vet says they use it successfully for liver disease as it rids the body of ammonia, so logically it could help with CRF too. He also said you can mix SEB into a paste and rub it on their gums if they aren't eating -how do you administer your's to Clapton?

Hope it's just an off colour day and he'll be fine in no time. You are right in that when they have CRF, any symptom gets put down to that.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 12:07:09 PM
Dragan was on lactulose for the last three months.  Not to do with his liver though more because he was often constipated due to his pancreatitis.  It did help.  Am I right in thinking that constipation is one of the side effects of kidney failure?
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 12:11:13 PM
I haven't had to do anything special other that the fortekor as he had been really well for months. I will look into getting some in as standby. When I did give him SEB, last year, I just sprinkled it on his food and he was OK eating it  :Luv2:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 12:38:07 PM
It might be just an off day hopefully
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Corporal Smokey on February 11, 2008, 15:00:42 PM
Dragan was on lactulose for the last three months.  Not to do with his liver though more because he was often constipated due to his pancreatitis.  It did help.  Am I right in thinking that constipation is one of the side effects of kidney failure?

It's one of the symptoms, yes. Hope was regularly on Lactulose and it did work but she already had megacolon by then  :'(
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: CarolM (Wendolene) on February 11, 2008, 15:06:39 PM
I haven't had to do anything special other that the fortekor as he had been really well for months. I will look into getting some in as standby. When I did give him SEB, last year, I just sprinkled it on his food and he was OK eating it  :Luv2:
Hope Clapton is feeling better. Sorry to be a bit thick but what is SEB?  I'm interested in this because Korky is in the early statges of renal failure  so the more I know the better.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 11, 2008, 15:19:36 PM
I'm interested too with Max's recent diagnosis too.

I'm guessing it might be Slippery Elm Bark?
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 15:56:54 PM
Yes it is  ;D

I got the capsules in Holland & Barett when they were on offer. Their own brand ones are fine but check the ingredients as some have various things added like clove oil, cinnamon etc  :Crazy:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Corporal Smokey on February 11, 2008, 16:13:46 PM
Sorry to also be dumb but I never encountered SEB when I was going through it. What does it do?

Also meant to say, best wishes and snuggle headbutts to Clapton.

I'm off to do a follow-up on the renal cat I rehomed last month. I'm going to take him a box of pouches when I go but if SEB is good for them I might get some of that too!

Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Gillian Harvey on February 11, 2008, 16:14:53 PM
Hope he was just having an 'off' day  :hug: - oddly, my Jasper with CRF isnt doing so well these past few days.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 16:28:53 PM
He has eaten again but gone into hibernation. Then again, they are all asleep  :Luv2:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 17:52:24 PM
At least he is eating Mark.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 18:02:54 PM
Well he seems pretty much back to normal  :Luv2:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Corporal Smokey on February 11, 2008, 19:23:27 PM
Awww bless that's good to hear Mark  :hug:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 11, 2008, 19:31:11 PM
Phew they do worry us don't they
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Susanne (urbantigers) on February 11, 2008, 20:21:38 PM
I'm glad he's back to normal! 

My two are exhibiting a strange combination of spring madness and sleeping at the moment!  Mosi seems to be a bit hyper, esp when the sun is out, but a bit more sleepy in the evenings.

Sorry to also be dumb but I never encountered SEB when I was going through it. What does it do?

I think it is supposed to help with nausea.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Pinkbear (Julie) on February 11, 2008, 21:27:28 PM
He has eaten again but gone into hibernation. Then again, they are all asleep  :Luv2:

Remember my concerns about Jumpy last week? Well, OH reports both Tilly and Jumpy went upstairs when I left for work at 7am this morning, and they have only just come down to eat at 8.30pm. At 8.50pm, after a visit each to the tray, I heard them plodding up to the top floor again. :tired:

I'm sure it's the weather, Mark. Hot one minute, frosty the next. I'm even feeling sleepy myself...  :nite:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 11, 2008, 22:26:29 PM
Thanks people. He just wasn't himself last night & this morning. His eyes were dilated and he was acting scared. He is making up for lost time and just had his bedtime meal  :Luv2:

Now he is very active and looking like he is going to jump up on my lap  :Luv:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 12, 2008, 08:54:05 AM
How's he doing today Mark?
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 12, 2008, 10:04:09 AM
He's a lot better thanks Clare  :Luv2:

He ate well last night and had his Fortekor. This morning he was back to waiting for his 2 pouch breakfast and has retired to the basement spare bedroom so I had to put the heating on in there  ;D Our gas bill will be horrendous  :scared:

After breakfast, he came to join me on purrs before going for his nap  :Luv:

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Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: MrsR on February 12, 2008, 10:09:02 AM
He's a lot better thanks Clare  :Luv2:

He ate well last night and had his Fortekor. This morning he was back to waiting for his 2 pouch breakfast and has retired to the basement spare bedroom so I had to put the heating on in there  ;D Our gas bill will be horrendous  :scared:

After breakfast, he came to join me on purrs before going for his nap  :Luv:

Awwwww bless, lots of tlc for a special kitty x
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 12, 2008, 12:36:40 PM
That's great news Mark
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 12, 2008, 13:37:27 PM
That's great news  :Luv:  ;D  Must have been having an off-day yesterday!

I think I've now worked out that the only renal food Max will eat is the alu RC trays, so bought some more of them yesterday after exchanging all the other stuff at the vets!  If I mix in a bit of water, its almost the same consistency as the Nature's Menu, so think that will be the trick to keeping him interested with it  ;D
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Mark on February 12, 2008, 15:01:24 PM
I still wouldn't be happy feeding a restricted protein diet. If he is only eating that, I would be tempted to supplement with high quality protein like chicken & fish.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 12, 2008, 15:50:53 PM
I'm still giving him Natures Menu or Applaws every 3rd meal or so to be honest, even though the vets said to do all the renal food  ;)

He will get so bored only eating one thing that I want to keep it a bit varied, so I'm still doing my 'good quality' food as well  :)
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: swampmaxmum on February 12, 2008, 17:11:29 PM
Glad senor Clapton is doing better and hope it lasts. My Max has hunkered down on these foggy mornings too and can't say I blame him.

On renal food, Clarenmax -have you tried the beef and the chicken RC pouches? I have to blend the chicken ones for Swampy - that makes it really easy to eat and may be worth a try (although once they get used to blended you can forget trying to feed chunks ever again). Also believe the Hills lot are going back to the rice-based minced chicken K/d which makes lots of cats spit out the rice, but not sure as yet. The online retailers are still supplying the temporary smoother pate style k/d.
Has anyone tried Purina renal?
And if you cat eats fish, the Specifics that peeps mentioned on here before when I was asking, is meant to be good for 'em. Mine barfed it all over the beige carpet as they aren't used to fish  :sick:  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Jasmine on February 12, 2008, 21:51:40 PM
Glad Clapton is back to his ol' self - I did post last night, but decided to bounce a full glass of vino over the keyboard before it was accepted  :Crazy:

Here is a link for the Corporal re SEB:
http://www.felinecrf.org/holistic_treatments.htm#SEB
I haven't tried it myself yet.

Martha, my 22 yr old CRF puss is currently on a full prescription diet: one pouch RC renal beef & one tin Hills KD a day, but her coat hasn't been the same since the change, don't know if it's just a coincidental decline in her health or related to the diet.  I posted a little while ago that she had a bad case of dandruff, that's now gone, but the fur along her back is dramatically thinning.  I'm taking her for a check up on Fri.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Corporal Smokey on February 13, 2008, 08:53:18 AM
Thanks for that Jasmine.

Hope's coat was always a bit odd. It was thinner and more cotton-woolly than your average British. Meggie, the British girl we lost the other month at the shelter also had similar texture fur. They were both blue-cream and both renal so I've never been sure if it's a coat thing and blue-cream females are just lighter textured or if it was something to do with the crf. I have a suspicion that it was yet another symptom I missed first time  :(

Fore-armed is forewarned and all that.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 13, 2008, 09:00:16 AM
On renal food, Clarenmax -have you tried the beef and the chicken RC pouches? I have to blend the chicken ones for Swampy - that makes it really easy to eat and may be worth a try (although once they get used to blended you can forget trying to feed chunks ever again). Also believe the Hills lot are going back to the rice-based minced chicken K/d which makes lots of cats spit out the rice, but not sure as yet. The online retailers are still supplying the temporary smoother pate style k/d.

Max wouldn't touch the RC pouches, the vets on had the chicken flavour so I couldn't just get one or two pouches to try, but I think it just doesn't smell so strong, so he doesn't like that, or the texture.  Same with the Hills tin, its very dry, and even mixed with a bit of water, he still wasn't interested.  The RC alu tray is the only one he seems to want, but he does eat the dry food very easily, so I think a combination of both of those, and his better quality chicken/fish meals i.e. Natures Menu and Applaws should hopefully be OK for him.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: Corporal Smokey on February 13, 2008, 09:35:27 AM
The Leo Specific one I mentioned before has a similar texture to the RC alutrays so that's a good alternative
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 13, 2008, 09:36:35 AM
Thanks Amy, I'll have a look for that  :wow:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: swampmaxmum on February 13, 2008, 11:06:33 AM
Wow, Jasmine, your Martha eats well!!! A whole tin and a pouch every day  ;) amazing.  :wow:

These furbabes of ours are tricky to feed anyhow - mine would not touch the RC alutrays. Max hugely enjoys the RC Senior dry one but the RC dry renal was declared Revolting. Luckily it was a free sample. That Leo/Specifics nosh that Corporal Smokey mentions honks to high heaven, so may be acceptable? Very very fishy if it's the same nosh we're on about. Danish fish nosh for kidney and liver?
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 13, 2008, 11:10:20 AM
Any idea where I can get the Specific stuff from ?

One place I've found is Best Pet Pharmacy on line, but reluctant to buy 16 pouches if he might not touch them lol!

I might try and find the manufactures details, see if I can get a sample to try first  :sneaky:
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: swampmaxmum on February 13, 2008, 11:12:50 AM
I got mine on special order from the vet. I think the company also takes them back if your cat won't eat them as I recall taking about 3 alutrays of it back. Think they have a website? If I can find it, will post it later.
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 13, 2008, 11:16:03 AM
Thanks hun, thats very much appreciated  :wow:

I'll try and ring the vets later as well to see if they can source.  I'm pretty sure they only stock the RC and Hills stuff ordinarily, but they might be able to help!
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: swampmaxmum on February 13, 2008, 11:22:43 AM
found it http://www.specific-diets.com/

the nutritional breakdown etc compared to other nosh is also compared on www.felinecrf.org/tinned_food.htm.  The one I tried was the renal and liver fish one as they do another adult cat food but it's higher in phosphorus. My vet had to order it in although they normally just stock Hills and RC as well, don't think it was a problem. happy noshing!
Title: Re: The CRF rollercoaster
Post by: clarenmax on February 13, 2008, 13:05:16 PM
You're a star, many thanks  ;D