kitty kidney's

[Guest]

Surgery was through his abdonomin and not through his urethra. The fluids that have been gathering around the incision.. could that have anything to do with infection? His vet is pretty confident that it is just post-surgery fluid. He has been asperating it and it seems to be going away.

I don't know exactly what numbers his BUN and creatine were at but as far as looking at the chart the first day we checked the levels were both identical and slightly above the normal mark. After 3 days of fluid therapy his BUN had gone back to normal and the creatine stayed the same. Then 4 days later it was checked and the BUN had jumped a bit higher than the first time and the creatine was still steady, slightly above the normal mark.

I doubt that Rocky has gotten into something but it always a possibilty. I know this is a waiting game and I will know more once I get him rechecked next Monday. thanks for all your helpful insight. If you have any more thoughts on the matter, please let me know.

[Traci]

Well, a CBC would certainly have helped your vet determine if the post-surgery fluid was infection or not (i.e., elevated WBC's, etc). IF it were infection, then yes, it could affect nearly any organ function, kidneys included. On the other hand, it could be as your vet suggests, fluid buildup for whatever the reason, but ideally, checking the fluid at least as a cytology method or running a CBC to rule out infection would be appropriate.

Regarding the lab results, I think it's too soon to determine the significance. Once you continue fluids maintenance, dietary restriction, and complete any meds that have been prescribed, a recheck within a couple weeks should show marked changes and your vet will be better able to make a determination as to whether this is infection vs early renal disease. The BUN will almost always be the first to fluctuate, it can take some time to expect favorable results with the creatinine.

[Guest]

Traci, after two straight weeks of fluids, Rocky had his kidney levels checked again today. I am happy to say that they are close to normal! Closer than they have been since the start of this. I am still continuing with fluids and am getting him re-checked in a week.

Thank you for all of your great insight and compassion.

Maria

[Traci]

Maria, I'm thrilled to hear this....I hope that the next recheck proves all normal. Please post an update then if you can.

[Guest]

Traci,

I just had Rocky rechecked. His weight has improved (8 lbs before his surgery, 7 after the surgery and today 7.5 lbs.) His BUN is 100% normal BUT the creatine is at 3.42. This is the number it has been stuck at pretty much since the start. His vet has come up with a new possibility. He has also been talking to an online vet and are now thinking that the tube (uritor?) between Rocky's kidney's and bladder has a stone in it causing problems to his kidney's. Now this is just a hunch and he wants to run an ultrasound to see if it's a possibilty. What is your take on this? The problem is, Rocky has already been through a tramatic 2 months.. his vet did not sound as though if Rocky did have a stone there that it would be easy to retrieve, possibly causing complications, etc. I feel that I want to continue with the fluids and have him rechecked every couple weeks. His vet did look back at x-rays to see if anything was visible but said that this is a microscopic area. Is a 3.42 level a dangerous level? I appreciate any thoughts on this. Thank you.

[Guest]

I talked with my vet again. He said I have 2 options. One would be for me to continue with fluids and gradually drop him to 200 mls/day (he is currently receiving 300-350 mls/day). Re-check and see what happens. Option 2 would be to schedule an ultra sound and check to see if there is a stone .. but he said if there is, it is unlikely that surgery would help because the damage will have been done. If there is a stone there, isn't there something that I can give Rocky to break up the stone? I'm hoping that the fluids I am giving him would flush anything out. Also, don't you think I should give the fluid therapy a bit more time? I am starting on week 4.

Thanks again. It seems this issue is never ending.

[Traci]

If your vet was "looking back" at a previous x-ray to detect a stone, that's not enough, a new x-ray should be done at least. If your vet feels Rocky is not responding to dietary measures (the Rx diet), and fluid therapy, then an ultrasound could indeed be useful to hopefully detect what a new x-ray doesn't. You can still continue sub-q fluid maintenance during this time, but also ask your vet to re-evaluate the diet, maybe it's not working, in which a similar veterinary diet may be helpful (another veterinary diet that serves the same purpose, to dissolve the stones)

Another approach might be a contrast x-ray that might pick up what a simple x-ray may not. Ask your vet about that. If that is not an option or your vet feels an ultrasound would be more confirmative, then talk about your options at that time....at the very least, maybe your vet can consult a feline urologist on your behalf regarding surgical intervention vs medical managment, based on his finding s on ultrasound or on Rocky's symptoms, response to treatment, etc.

[Guest]

Thanks Traci. I have made an appt. for the end of the month for Rocky to see a specialist. Until then, I will keep up with the fluid maintenance and ask his vet about adjusting his diet. Thanks for all of your helpful advice. It's tough when there is such a gray area.

[Guest]

Traci, Rocky saw a specialist yesterday at the UW Madison. They ran a chem profile, urinalysis, urine culture (still pending), ultrasound of kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, the also did a urethrocystogram. Early diagnosis is that he has chronic renal failure although they are still waiting on the culture. It is a possibilty that he has an infection and they are treating him for that. His kidney's were bright in the ultrasound and they could see the stricture in his urethra. The urine gravity was 1.016. His creatinine was 2.9 (lower than previously at 3.5) and BUN was 44. We have put him on a low-protien diet, specifically for renal kitty's. I am giving him 150 mls a day and may drop that back to every other day. The vet was still concerned with te rupture in the urethra may be adding to Rocky's problem. This narrow's his urethra (1 cm long) and the vet is concerned about him urinating.. if he is completely emptying his bladder. He goes in next week to have this checked, along with his blood pressure.

He seems pretty out of it still today. Is this just an effect from the sedation?

Wanted to give you an update.. thanks

Maria

[connect..the..dots]

[ Try parsley water- one heaping tsp of dried parsley in one cup of boiling water- let cool - give vic 3cc syringe (minus the needle) - give the equivalent of 4 or 5 tablespoons throughout the day . Excellent for the kidneys.