Tbone my 19 year old - having age related issues

[juliew19673]

Hi new to this site, but not new to kitties; I've had my cat Tbone since she was 5 weeks old so I know her pretty well (she's 19 next month); however I'm not all that great with diagnosing age related stressors. A couple of weekends ago she was having problems with impacted anal glands - which I successfully expressed at home; did this myself as she becomes so stressed out going to the Vet (she always worse a couple of days after then she was going in for the general checkup)

Now today - she had been throwing up (total of 4 times), which was due to a hairball as she has not wished to eat her Petromalt the last couple of days (she eats it daily about a 1/4 tsp - I call it her kitty crack). What I'm more concerned about is that a year and half ago my Vet ran a blood panel and stated that her kidneys were begining to slow down (understandable at that time being only 17.5 years old); since that time - she has not had one hiccup of a problem (drinks a ton of water daily); my question is - incase her "hairball" is a precuser to something else, is there an over the counter med I could give her should she continue to vomit so that she does not become dehydrated (children peidialyte, etc); to give her time to see if this will pass?

With my bunny I know they can take alot of childrens med's, but have never done this with a cat. I'll obviously take her to the Vet if something becomes more serious, but thought I'd ask more knowledgeable people their thoughts and perhaps save Tbone the stress of the Vet.

Thanks in advance.

[Auntie Debbie]

Please do take her to a vet tomorrow. Just based on the fact that past blood work indicated a slowdown in kidney function and that she is currently drinking tons of water is not a good sign of health. She really needs a good geratric blood work up as well as full scale physical.
With kidney disease, if it's not too far gone can't be cured but may be maintained with fluids and proper diet that your vet will discuss with you. Another symptom of kidney problems could also include vomiting, so she may not be experiencing hairballs.
Please have her evaluated by your vet; that's the only way to really know what your dealing with. I'm sure going to the vet is stressful for her, but she does need attention. You may want to look into a vet that does house calls or contact your vet first and request a mild sedative for her before you go, if she's really that hyper when going.
Please post back and let us know how she id doing, ok? I hope she's okay!

[Traci]

Do NOT give her anything "OTC" or home "remedies", etc, since you truly do not know what you're treating. Do NOT give any human medicine of any kind, the majority of human meds are toxic to cats.

Get her to your vet RIGHT AWAY, either today or first thing in the morning, absolutely NO later.

Renal disease is progressive, and if a year and a half ago is the last time kitty has seen your vet or had full bloodwork done, you need to get this done again TOMORROW! Your vet is the only one who can determine her liver and kidney function, and especially rule out secondary illness. Diabetes might be at the top of the list if she is drinking excessively or urinating excessively, etc. Untreated renal disease can make a cat deteriorate very quickly, if your vet felt kitty's renal function was deteriorating a year and a half ago, just what has he been doing to address it since then??! Have you not had her re-evaluated twice a year, done bloodwork once or twice a year since then?! Renal disease can be treated....it is not cured, but rather managed. With appropriate diet, fluids support, REGULAR checking of bloodwork to determine renal function on a regular basis is crucial to treatment. The sooner it is checked and addressed appropriately, the more it can be successfully managed.

Do NOT wait "til something becomes more serious", your kitty needs to see your vet ASAP! The vomiting may have nothing at all to do with hairballs, and could very well be related to any number of health issues, including dehydration, pain, nausea, excess acid in the stomach or esophagus, or nearly anytthing else. In a 19-year old cat, you cannot take chances, get her to your vet NOW.

[juliew19673]

O.K. did not explain myself well.. I've resuced 20+ feral cats, along with 10+ cats - just "general" resuce and owned a number myself. Tbone IS, and will always be "my child", so do not think that she is not be "treated"..
I've nursed her brothers through PKD and Cancer (separetely and threw the kitchen sink at them and watched them die, slowly - which was awful.. would always give an animal there chance to recover but if I had to do it again, would never do that again - was cruel to put them throug the med's when they were 15 and 17 respecitively). Tbone is not in that "realm" of disease, just old and with no "baggage" of disease of any sort other than old age. But feel free to tell me your point of view on this opinion.

Since coming home tonight she has been "just fine".. She has eaten, peed and pooed and has taken some Petromalt. I just did not want her to get dehydrated and thought perhaps there was a "home remedy" for aged cats.

Thank you both for your concern.. Tbone has an appt for a checkup, but would appreciate the "aged" cat itinirary, if there is such a thing at such an advance age.

Thank again for your utmost concern - on any other ordinary pet owner it would be lost, but this is not the case I swear.

[Auntie Debbie]

Thank you for making an appt for Tbone. That is the basic itinary for geriatrics. Each cat may have separate issues. The fact that Tbone has already been diagnosed with kidney problems means she already has at least one issue. Caring for the teeth is another concern of geriatrics as well as diet. These and any other issue can be monitored through regular checkups. Should Tbone require fluids, checkups may be more frequent to monitor the progress of the kidney disease as well as how much she shoudl be getting and how often.
Please keep that appt and let us know how it goes. I hope she is in good health otherwise.

[Traci]

Tbone is not in that "realm" of disease, just old and with no "baggage" of disease of any sort other than old age. But feel free to tell me your point of view on this opinion.

According to your post, your vet feels differently. Again, you didn't say when her last bloodwork has been done, what her renal values etc are. You must know that when renal disease occurs, it usually is not detected until 3/4 of the kidney's function has been lost. By this time, managing the disease is the course of action. this includes regular checkups, meaning often -- sometimes every couple months to monitor renal values, urinalysis, bloodwork, IV fluids administration, making sure acidosis has not occured, making sure high or low calcium/potassium are not detrimental, initiating proper diet (low phosphorus etc), ensuring secondary infections or secondary diseases are not occuring. Any primary disease can be accompanied by another disease, due to immunosuppression and suceptibility of a diseased organ. Renal disease isn't a disease where you can just check it once a year or every other year, it must be monitored on a frequent basis. Boodwork and urinalysis are the only way to do so and to monitor other vital organ function. Also remember that infections secondary to renal disease affect the heart, thyroid, mouth, esophagus, GI tract.

I just did not want her to get dehydrated and thought perhaps there was a "home remedy" for aged cats.

Other than getting her to drink a sufficient amount of water daily, or adding a slight bit of water to her food (i.e., canned), there are NO home remedies for dehydration. Please understand that dehydration affects the entire system, from vital organs, to vascular, oftentimes it is necessary to hospitalize with IV fluids to stabilize and replenish fluids and electrolytes. Potassium, calcium, etc are to be monitored very carefully for excesses or deficiencies, in which, if compromised, make the kidneys work harder. If acidosis occurs, IV fluids administration and other treatment is crucial. You cannot detect this simply by looking for symptoms, because they are progressive and by the time they are detected, treatment must be initiated ASAP and can be difficult to treat/manage if not detected early on!

Tbone has an appt for a checkup, but would appreciate the "aged" cat itinirary, if there is such a thing at such an advance age.

Twice a Year For Life! and Senior Cat Health Care Awareness!

Lastly, why are you giving Petromalt on a daily basis? This type of product should only be given when there is clear evidence of hairballs, and should only be given infrequently. It should not be given on a daily basis. Something else might be going on, such as inflammation in the GI tract or something else entirely, your vet needs to address that, as well as address and ensure she is on a proper diet for her particular needs.

Understand I'm not trying to be condescending, but your post is a red flag that kitty needs to be seen ASAP, bloodwork done, urinalysis done, thyroid function testing done, and she needs to be monitored frequently for progression of disease. This isn't simply an "age" problem, we owe it to our cats of all ages to check for, and treat disease early on so that we can initiate appropriate and successful treatment and management at the onset. By detecting and treating at the onset, we give them longer, healthier, happier lives.

[juliew19673]

Tbone last blood work - came back fine; all levels were where they should be other than a slight decline in her kidney functions; when she was 10 she was treated for HyperThyroid (radiation and quarantined for 10 days at the center). She is currently on Innova Evo as this has cleared up her irritable bowel; prior to that she was Hills KD, but it gave her diarrhea thus the switch to Innova Evo. I give her Petromalt each day as she screams for it - Vet did not see a problem with it as long as she did not get loose stools; and her stools never have been.

Again as far getting the geriatric screen I see the need and thanks to all for the list of items to ask for; will post her blood results when I get them back and let you know what the Vet comes up with.