I’ve been postponing Cleo’s kidney check-up. We were supposed to get her kidney readings done to see if the thrice-weekly 200ml subcut and Renal-N have been effective. We started on these in mid-December 2021. So it has already been four months now. I was initially very reluctant to get her checked because I wanted to leave “well enough” alone. She seemed okay, so can we just leave her be and continue with the protocol of the subcut and the Renal-N (very pricey, though)?
When we started in December last year, it took great pains to find a way to get her to eat the Renal-N powder. From the bread-balls which worked but quickly failed to finally using Cindy’s pureed food – this worked for more than 3 months. Then lately, she rejected the pureed food (laced with Renal-N). I had to resort to adding some renal kibble as an enticement. I’m told that some cats totally refuse to take the Renal-N too.
Anyway, I decided we might as well her kidney readings done since it’s just a matter of time that it would have to be done. Also, if the Renal-N isn’t working, then we could stop it.
So, Cleo had her blood work done today and the vet also took her blood pressure since high blood pressure can occur in kidney patients. Pole (Cleo’s mother) had high blood, hyperthyroidism and kidney insufficiency.
The good news first: Cleo’s creatinine actually decreased (from December’s 273 to today’s 225)! The vet said this is a significant decrease because for kidney patients, it would just usually keep increasing. The urea went from the previous 18.9 to 14.8 (also a good sign). Her phosphate level is 1.36 (as long as it is lower than 1.6, that’s good). We also had her PCV tested and it was at 35% which is good (no anaemia for now).
The not-so-good news: Cleo’s systolic blood pressure is 150 (normal is 130-140), so that’s borderline high. The vet says to start her on Amlodipine (again, Pole was on this too) so that the blood pressure can be controlled and won’t keep increasing. It’s just a very tiny fragment of tablet but it’s Cleo that we are dealing with here – the Queen with the golden mouth which cannot be forced open.
Cleo cannot be pilled. I can pill newly rescued strays, but I cannot pill this Queen Cleopatra who was born in our house and has been living with us for more than 15 years.
The vet tried to deworm Cleo with a tablet of Drontal. It took her many tries before the tablet was too moist. She had to use a brand new tablet to try again. The pill-popper also failed. Finally, the good old-fashioned finger did it.
That’s how difficult it is to pill the Queen.
So, now I have to figure out a way to give her that tiny fragment of the Amlodipine.
This is how tiny it is.
I could try wrapping it in bread and making a bread ball, but what if she won’t eat the bread? That’s what happened with the Renal-N last time – it worked like a charm for a few days then it failed miserably. Just now, I gave it to her using Orozyme (which she likes), but she spat out the tiny pill. It took many rounds to finally get it in (at least I think I did). I have to find a better way and I have a few ideas to try. The vet said I could crush it and mix it with whatever that works. That could be a way too, provided the crushed powder isn’t bitter.
Her Royal Majesty, Queen Cleopatra with the golden mouth.
Cleo weighs 3kg today, which is her usual weight nowadays. The vet doesn’t think there is any protein loss since her weight has been reasonably consistent.
I’m very thankful that there is actually an improvement in Cleo’s kidney readings. For kidney patients, no deterioration is already heaven-sent. So, an improvement is something I’m extremely grateful for. But I do know that for all kidney patients, there is no cure, it’s all about managing the illness and that’s what we are doing.
Cleo has been on Coco&Joe’s as her staple food all this while. The vet says it might be a good idea to start her on any CKD raw diet, so we shall let her have Cubgrub’s CKD chicken (contains no bone, replaced by eggshell powder). Being the very finicky eater that she is, I’ll still have to rotate her food. Well, Cubgrub shall be her new staple and we will still give her some Coco’s for protein rotation.
Thank you, Renal-N!
We will definitely continue with the thrice-weekly subcut (200ml) and Renal-N. I would just have to get more creative in finding ways to feed her the Renal-N powder. And the tiny bit of Amlodipine – this one is more difficult. With the Renal-N mixed in Cindy’s pureed food, at least I can force-feed her by rubbing the paste onto her teeth. She doesn’t mind paste being rubbed onto her teeth, but she simply detests having her mouth open for pilling. That is simply taboo.
I think kidney insufficiency runs in Cow’s family. Pole had it. Bunny and Cleo have it too and even Cow is showing some signs. By the way, the vet says Cow doesn’t need to continue with his subcut anymore since he isn’t dehydrated and his creatinine level is still normal.