Chris has been puking more than usual lately so I took him to the vet Friday morning. Chris used to like vet visits. It was a chance to explore, but as he got older the vets started doing things that were more unpleasant, so Chris gradually turned into one of those pets that the vet techs dread seeing.
They put us in an exam room shortly after arriving at the vet. I opened Chris’s carrier, but he had no inclination to leave it.
The vet came in with her vet tech, who picked up Chris and placed him on the table. The vet felt around Chris’s body to a chorus of grunts and howls. When the vet tech tried to take Chris’s temperature, he resisted. He dug both sets of claws into her arm and tried to pull himself off the table. When that didn’t work, he started peeing, and didn’t stop for a long time.
She eventually got his temperature and then they took Chris to another room to get blood work done. I could hear the howling in the distance. The tech then cam back with a large towel to wipe up all the pee.
I got the results from the vet today. She said Chris suffers from “moderate kidney disfunction.” She also said he has early signs of liver problems. She recommended a special renal diet for him. She said you can’t fix kidney disease. You can only slow its progression. So, here’s hoping for a slow progression.
Bad Cat Chris 
CKD can be slowed – I’ve dealt with it with a couple of cats, and I’m sure you will get comments from people with even more experience. Sending purrayers and Power of the Paw to Chris and all his caretakers !
Thanks so much.
put extra water into all his foodz!!
He has always drank more water than other cats.
Oh, Chris…I hope the progression is very slow. Stay well, little buddy.
Thank you.
Paws crossed for slow progression. Medicine is amazing. Stay brave, little buddy.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Thanks so much.
dood…heerz hopin de progression iz az slow, aza turtull tryin ta crozz
de US….sorree buddy ya got kidnee….for what itz werth boomer lived with it ….ta de ripe ole age oh 19 plus….best fizhez with de renal foodz….tell yur mom N dad that if ya due knot like it, ta look for foodz low in phosphorus 🐟😺💙
mackerull
Thanks. I didn’t see a product that binds to phosphorus that I could add to his food if he doesn’t like this one.
Our Brian lived for 11 years after being diagosed with kidney disease so it really can be managed and slowed if Chris lets you help him.
Thanks. That’s good to know.
Poor Chris. I hope he will like the food, but there are a lot of choices. Sounds like he needs some gabapentin a couple hours before his next trip so he won’t be so stressed. I do that for some of mine.
Thanks. I hope he doesn’t need to return to the vet anytime soon.
I’m glad his issues are mild; I hope he actually eats the prescription diet; we had very little luck with it for our cat with kidney disease. Hopefully his hearty appetite extends that far.
Thanks. He does still have a good appetite.
Poor baby sending prayers
Thanks.
I’m guessing Chris will keep that good appetite and will cooperate with all the other things he needs to do with that diagnosis of his. Looks like you have lots of good advice from others who have dealt with this issue…..the cat community looks after its’ own! We send a big dose of POTP.
Hugs, Teddy and Mom Pam
Thanks. So far I haven’t seen any sign of a decrease in appetite.
Awww, c’mon Chris … you gots super-claws it seems, hang in and hang on, you can do it. Sending some power-of-the-paw your way big boy!
Thanks.
Getting Chris on to the kidney diet only schedule will be the hardest part. Apart from that there are usually years of slowly progressing kidney disease. Merlin was diagnosed 2022. He is allowed some normal things to get his medicine in. But you also know now, his days are limited. He is unlikely to be 24 one day.
Chris has been such a special part of our lives for so long now. I’m not sure what we will do without him when that time comes.
Yeah, saying goodbye is the hardest part. But trust me, I lost one cat to CKD already. They show you when it is time.
I also had a girl cat, Abbey, who had that issue. She started losing weight but also became more active because of the weight loss, so I didn’t think she had a problem at first.
What an experience at the vet office!
Our Celestial Chuck once pooped in his carrier on the way to the vet, and he was covered in it.
Please consider all avenues of feline kidney health; vet’s love to prescribe food but they are just taking the word of the food manufacturer, in my opinion.
I will replace their dry food but I think I will feed them my homemade wet food twice a day instead of once. I started giving them canned food in the afternoon because the more raw food I fed them the less interested they were in it. Also, I bought a liquid that is a holistic treatment. I haven’t tried it yet but I think I just need to put a few drops on his food.
The vet is right, it can be slowed down. Our cat has been on an S/O Index diet for many years and he’s holding his own.
That’s good to know.
We’re sure you can manage it with the right food and the helping hands of your family, but we’ll send Healing Pawkisses anyway🐾😽💞 Ps sounds like you could take some Rescue Remedy before going to the vet. It works for us…all of us😸😺
Thank you. That’s a good idea.
Chris – you are in our prayers (and your parents too).
Thanks so much.
Awww poor Chris!! I wouldn’t like to be poked and prodded if I were sick either. Hoping he likes the special food, that’s always hard. Most importantly, I hope it slows down the progression. Sending prayers and lots of positive energy!! (((hugs))) and kisses to Chris!
Thanks, Caren. He does like the food.
It’s pretty amazing how well they can handle renal disease these days. Hope it goes well.
Thanks so much.
I am sorry to hear this.