The good news is that Duncan doesn’t have diabetes or a problem with his thyroid. The bad news is that he’s got kidney disease. And the bad news with that is that there’s no cure. But treatment can make him more comfortable and improve both the quantity and quality of his life.
Treatment. If I was rich and crazy, I could contemplate options like a kidney transplant or dialysis.
Instead, I’m changing his diet (low protein, low phosphorous), putting him on antibiotics and an appetite stimulant (he lost another third of a kilo in the last week or two), trying to keep him very hydrated, and getting his blood and urine checked every few months.
The vet says he’s at the beginning of Stage 3. Stage 4 is when they die.
She wouldn’t predict how long it’ll be until he reaches the end of Stage 4, because every cat is different. From what I’ve read, the median, based on his stage at the time of diagnosis, is two years. But it also depends on what is causing the kidney disease. Multiple causes would likely lead to a faster demise. Often they don’t know what’s causing it.
In Duncan’s case, he has kidney stones. There may also be other contributing factors, like dental plaque or an infection.
She took an x-ray. Actually, she took two, because he was too big to fit on a single x-ray plate. (That made me smile, even though it cost extra.)
She showed me the x-rays. The only things I recognized without being told was his spine, his tail and his poop.
One of his kidneys is all shriveled up. The other one is better, but not great either. His small intestines looked funny too, she said.
So far it has cost about $700 just to find out what’s wrong with him. This stings a bit since I didn’t think anything was wrong until we went for his annual checkup.
While we were at the vet, I talked with a woman with a gorgeous cat with a few behaviour problems. She said Percy hasn’t been the same since he fell off her 7th story balcony. He shattered his palate, dislocated his jaw, broke some bones, and suffered a bunch of other injuries.
She didn’t have the $5,000 required to put poor Percy back together again. The only person she knew with that kind of money was her dad. But when she was a kid, her dad wouldn’t spend money on vets.
“Too expensive,” he’d always say. “If it dies, we can always get another cat.”
So they went through a lot of cats in her childhood, and she couldn’t bring herself to ask her dad for help with Percy’s emergency.
But her sister talked to her dad, and her dad phoned her and said “Don’t worry about the money.”
I like happy endings, even if the cat did suffer a personality change as a result of the head injury, and now bites her and her other cat mercilessly.
Take heart and have hope.
My girl was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease almost 2 years ago and with proper diet and care she’s 15 and doing well.
I just had her sisters leg removed due to an agressive cancer tumour. She’s also back to her old self.
I won’t downplay the financial impact of their care, but when we took them home we agreed to the extent we could afford it they would be treated as family members.
Thank you Rob. Much appreciated.
Really? You had no idea there was anything wrong with him? Kidney failure is easy to spot: the patient turns yellow/orange (jaundiced).
You didn’t notice this with Duncan???
– RG>
Doh! I feel like such an idiot now. 😉
I’m so sorry, Zoom! Sometimes it is difficult to know if a pet is sick – they (especially dogs) can be so stoic. Good thing you followed through on the tests.
In the bad old days, most cats were outdoor cats, so they rarely lived long enough to develop terminal illnesses. Since they lick their fur and paws, they also ingest all kinds of stuff from their environment. My vet said they see a lot of tongue cancer in cats whose owners smoke. We two-leggeds get sick, so it is only natural that our pets develop illnesses too.
Knowing you, Duncan will get the best care.
My heart goes out to Duncan and you. I admire you for taking such good care of Duncan. He is a really beautiful cat. I am sure with all your love and caring Duncan will be ok for a few years yet. I know that it so expensive to pay vet bills, but you are doing everything you can now. Duncan is very lucky to have such good care, and love from all his bird friends and Logan,you and GC. If there is anything I can do please let me know.
Hugs and skritches for Duncan and all his human and avian friends. I won’t be surprised if he outlasts the median by a long time because of the loving care you give him.
I’m really glad you decided on the tests and that you have options. It does suck, but it means Duncan will be with us longer and that’s only a good thing.
Hugs to you and Duncan
I’m sorry to hear this news about Duncan! But it’s good that at least you know now, so you can work to keep the symptoms under control.
That’s a very handsome picture of Duncan, by the way. He looks so stately (as always).
I am sorry to hear this but I know you are doing what you can and Duncan is in good (and loving) hands.
I’m sorry to hear about Duncan. But I know in my heart you will have many more years with him – probably more than you think!
Oh Zoom! I’m so sorry! I know you’ll take great care of him and he will still have a long healthy life.
Big hugs to you and Duncan.
Hugs!! Love him for me! (oh, and it’s liver failure that turns them orange, not kidney, so don’t feel guilty!)
I’m so sorry Sooze. It reminds me of them giving Shadow 3-6 months. I just felt the blood drain away from my head. If you need to talk you know where to find me. XXOO
I’m sending Duncan all of my healthy thoughts, and I’m sure with all of the good care and love he gets he will have a long time left. I’ll bet the birds keep him going too!
You’re doing everything you can for that gorgeous boy – just keep hugging on him! That’s what he likes the best!
So so sorry! We will all love him up!
Do NOT feel bad, Zoom! Cats are subtle, and long-haired cats more so. I’m glad you decided to get him diagnosed.
THE Gwyndolyn was diagnosed with Stage 3-4 kidney disease and had about six months left, said the vet. We changed her diet and started giving supplemental fluids (Lactated Ringer’s) subcutaneously every day.
That was 5.5 years ago.
She is beginning to decline now, with mini-strokes and/or electrolyte issues (hyper- and hypo-, due to the kidneys’ inability to filter). She has urinary tract infections every few months, which we treat with standard antibiotics. She costs about $100/month, occasionally more. I, too, have borrowed from my family to pay her vet bills.
She greets me when I come home, tells me when to cuddle her (Now! NAOW!!!), plays gently, and purrs when she cuddles with us. Those are the criteria: no pain, good quality of life.
She’s love in a fuzzy suit.
Hugs and nose-greetings to you and Duncan. You’ll know what to do for him; he’ll tell you.
I’m just catching up on my reading, this post brings tears to my eyes. I’m so sorry to hear this news. Sending you big hugs and positive vibes that Duncan will be the amazing story we share about the cat that lived for years and years despite the odds.