Big Butt Kate - AKA 'Fat Bottom Girl'

Big Butt Kate - AKA 'Fat Bottom Girl', originally uploaded by Hotash.

Ok
Did anyone tell you about the day we met Mr. Peeps?
Well Kate reminded me of that day....

We go to the local animal shelter, walk into this very room, and there she is! A beautiful, pregnant tuxedo girl. So friendly too!, rubbing on us and climbing up onto Chris' shoulders.

But the office is busy and we weren't looking for another cat were we?

We go home and talk about it and Chris agrees to the following:
We will adopt the fat, pregnant momma and one of her kittens, a male, when she has them.

The next day I call the shelter and excitedly tell then that we 'want the pregnant momma and one of her kittens when she has them.' There is a silence on the other end of the phone. The lady finally says 'we don't have any pregnant cats.' hmmmm. 'what about the big huge fat black and white long haired cat in that room?' laughing is heard....

'oh, him? HIS name is Squeakers and he is a he, not pregnant just fat!!!'

lol all around!!!!

& Squeakers comes home with us the next day- squeaking his talk the whole way and eventually becomes known as Mr. Peeps who always had a lot to say.

Meet Kate
No, she's not pregnant, just ummm, big boned.

For Inland adoption information call 707-467-6453
(Ukiah, Redwood Valley, Willits, Covelo, etc)

Ukiah Shelter → Visit us Today online!
298 Plant Road
Ukiah, CA 95482
707-463-4427
Directions

♥♥♥♥♥ SEARCH our LOST & FOUND pets ♥♥♥♥♥

RIP Mr. Peeps
we miss you

And when the sun goes down,your memory still hangin' around....I see your emerald eyes.

And when the sun goes down,your memory still hangin' around....I see your emerald eyes., originally uploaded by Hotash.

it's a long story...
But suffice it to say he was buried yesterday, overlooking the river and near Douina.

It was hard but does have a very final feeling completed now.

Mr. Peeps has pretty bulbs planted in his honor and now has a spot for his people to remember in our very people way.

Special thanks goes to my baby brother who helped us...retrieve the body.
Thank you brother.

Goodbye Mr. Peeps

Goodbye Mr. Peeps, originally uploaded by Hotash.

Mr. Peeps meowed at the back door yesterday afternoon- too weak to push through the kitty door.

Chris let him out. He sat on the porch for awhile then headed off.
Chris had to go back to work....Mr. Peeps did not come home last night.

I have checked his spots around the house...and under the porches...down by the river...he has taken himself somewhere else.

In the past two weeks he has continued to weaken and not eat much and I knew his time was near this past week.

I have to admit that I feel very bad about not being with him...but I can assure you that he would not have wanted to be kept indoors and he was most content doing his own thing...it was probably best I was not there to bother his death process.

He will be greatly missed as he was a very friendly, loving kitty, who always wanted to be near you on his terms. His most amazing feat was his ability to jump from a sitting position directly in front of you, to your chest and then to your shoulders without ever once scratching you. He also loved to sleep on top of you, your highest spot was his perch.

Mr. Peeps was picked - scratch that - he picked us up at the local pound. He had been living there for well over 6 months. He had been left abandoned (along with another cat who I believe had been adopted) in an apartment. He came home with us back in 2005 and he was never happier than when we moved to the country house (aside from the ride there) where he could hunt and stay outside until he wanted to come in.

We will miss his happy voice around the house.




Texture by NinianLif

The End of Night

The End of Night, originally uploaded by Hotash.

Mr. Peeps getting his daily Subcutaneous fluids

I have moved downstairs to be closer to him-he chooses to sleep in our spare bedroom on the foot of the twin bed.

Peeps has not eaten a single thing for at least 6 days.
He goes out every day and comes back each night.
We see him in his hunting grounds, patiently waiting- we could only hope that he was successful. But as his body thins we know he is not eating well enough.

Some of you may remember that a few days back Bramble brought in a mouse (fresh dead) - at this point it had been a number of days since I had been successful in feeding Mr. Peeps. I decided to offer him her mouse (she doesn't eat them yet) - he ravenously attacked and ate the mouse!!!

I was amazed to be honest...as he has a tooth that is in bad shape on his right side, but this is not why he is not eating. He is dying from kidney failure.

He has lost all the weight he put on back in September - He is down to around 4-5 lbs. He is still walking, jumping, drinking and coming and going on his own. He is still using the cat box but is sometimes missing now....

I have been giving him IV fluids everyday now to ease the effects of dehydration. I continue to offer many different foods...from dry to disgusting canned food, he will take nothing...except that mouse from Bramble.

So....I made a decision to go buy him some mice. I had to think long and hard about this- but I made my decision in the end. Chris went with me and we drove to a neighboring town

to the only decent pet store we have in our county. We were met with honest help and suggestions. We left with 6 'feeder' mice
.

I'm sorry if this offends you...but it is the most natural way for a cat to eat and I'm tired of Mr. Peeps not eating. Starving to death is no way to die.

When brought into the bathroom with the mice in the same room he became very animated - amazing as he is so poorly right now....he lunged at the box. I put one mouse out and he attacked swiftly, the little mouse life ended and Peeps ate-not on his good teeth side but on the right side!!!

Two days and three mice later he is having bowel movements again and has perked up rather well. I don't have any false ideas of what is happening here-but I do hope that his final days are happier - and I thank the mice and they are well cared for until the end of night.

Mr. Peeps is aged: 13-18yrs or nearly 90 in his years
He deserves care.

He is living a humble life, without the indignities of our human mis-conceptions of care and exaggerated ideas of a drawn out life by masking symptoms with pills or surgeries.

He is comfortable.

"I'm leaving you!!!"

"I'm leaving you!!!", originally uploaded by Hotash.

I kept him inside last night as he is refusing food and loosing much weight.
It's very cold at night and I was hoping he would have a bit more of an appetite in the afternoon.

Nope.

He woke me up howling at the kitty door.
I got some cloths on and decided I would go for a Mr. Peeps walk with him.

I seriously think he was running away from home!!! He headed straight out the door and lic-kitty split down the driveway (not a normal turn of events for him) - He is so anemic that he is pretty weak so he wasn't going far fast. He reached the bridge and sat down. He decided he was done with his "look bitty, don't lock me in anymore" bit and turned around and headed back to his river.

Thank you Bramble

Day 3's catch, originally uploaded by Hotash.

soooo,
Peeps has hit a wall this past week.
His appetite has dropped off dramatically.
He has even taken to refusing his most loved quail.

Peeps has always hunted, even though I don't find him eating his catch often, I'm sure that he does just fine.

Tonight, Bramble brought in a dead mouse. Mr. Peeps hasn't eaten anything in well over 24 hours. I decided (as he often would steel from Jester early on) that I would offer him her 'gift' after she was done.

It worked. She is happy to have brought in the mouse and he was, dare I say, excited to eat...the entire thing. I may be onto something here.

At any rate, at least he had a small meal and all thanks goes to the evil black cat Blackberry Bramble.

Mr. Peeps

Mr. Peeps, originally uploaded by Hotash.

and his sore ears....

He has something going on with his ears-I believe ear mites are the culprit - he believes he HATES me now.

His hair received most of the mineral oil....not his ear canal.

Which makes me think of an email I just received the other day....

How to give a cat a pill
(and if you don't believe this....I dare you to try it)

1. Sit on sofa. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your elbow as though you were going to give a bottle to a baby. Talk softly to it.

2. With right hand, position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. (be patient) As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. Drop pill into mouth. Let go of cat, noticing the direction it runs.

3. Pick the pill up off the floor and go get the cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. Sit on floor in kitchen, wrap arm around cat as before, drop pill in mouth. Let go of cat, noticing the direction it runs.

4. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. Scoot across floor to pick up pill, and go find the cat. Bring it back into the kitchen. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten. Drop pill into mouth.

5. Pry claws from back legs out of your arm. Go get the cat, pick up half-dissolved pill from floor and drop it into garbage can.

6. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of closet. Call spouse from backyard. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figures from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with rubber band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take another pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour one cup of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call at furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Get last pill from bottle. Go into bathroom and get a fluffy towel. Stay in the bathroom with the cat, and close the door.

16. Sit on bathroom floor, wrap towel around kitty, leaving only his head exposed. Cradle kitty in the crook of your arm, and pick up pill off of counter.

17. Retrieve cat from top of shower door (you didn't know that cats can jump 5 feet straight up in the air, did you?), and wrap towel around it a little tighter, making sure its paws can't come out this time. With fingers at either side of its jaw, pry it open and pop pill into mouth. Quickly close mouth (his, not yours).

18. Sit on floor with cat in your lap, stroking it under the chin and talking gently to it for at least a half hour, while the pill dissolves.

19. Unwrap towel, open bathroom door. Wash off scratches in warm soapy water, comb your hair, and go find something to occupy your time for 7-1/2 hours.

20. Arrange for SPCA to get cat and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.


AND of course

How To Give A Dog A Pill.....

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air.

Mr. Peeps annoyed that I'm taking so darn long!

Mr. Peeps annoyed that I'm taking so darn long!, originally uploaded by Hotash.

Well....

Mr. Peeps has been doing amazingly well. He is eating on his own twice a day with no special effort on my part.

He is taking his vitamin B12 by himself and he is hanging around, coming and going inside/outside by himself- without coaxing.

His hydration level remains stable and I'm only giving fluids very infrequently, so as to ease his anxiety on the issue.

I gave him antibiotics once a day for 10 days. This seems to have helped his tooth infection which I believe was really holding him back from being as healthy as he could be.

This picture is what I come home to every morning at 2am. He comes in and sits staring at me along with Bramble.

He is a much happier cat this past two weeks...without all the fussing and poking and prodding.

This is our decision.
He is happy.
When it's time it will be time.

In the mean time here is some good reading

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Now playing: The Verve - Make It Till Monday
via FoxyTunes

Mr. Peeps being a good kitty

Mr. Peeps being a good kitty, originally uploaded by Hotash.

even warm...he hates this

Peeps is taking a bit of a dive yesterday/today.
He has been smacking his lips a bit and didn't really have an appetite for about 24hrs.

He ate a bit this afternoon, ground chicken, catnip tea, colostrum & a bit of ground beef. He didn't eat with gusto though.

After a fluid treatment he went outside and hung out for awhile. Later on when I was feeding the others, he came over on his own and he ate an entire quail-bone and all. At one point he put a tiny quail leg on the right side of his mouth, he growled- I think he hurt his tooth?? He moved it to the left and went ahead and finished up his meal.

All in all he felt like this today.

Can we pretend I'm amazing....

Can we pretend I'm amazing...., originally uploaded by Hotash.

we have a plan...now we just need to trust it through.

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Now playing: Tom Waits - Hold On
via FoxyTunes

3 Week Re-Check

September 5th-

Peeps went to the vet.
Here's what they say.

Weight = 9.5lbs - up from 8.11lbs in August.

Kidneys = very small and lumpy
- more than likely due to traumatic injury in past

Systolic blood pressure = 136
*most normal systolic values range from 110 to160 mmHg

Teeth = 1 tooth is badly infected

Blood work =
Aug 13/Sep 5 / Normal Ranges
-------------- ----------------
BUN= 114 / 114 / 15 - 34 mg/dL
Creatinine= 6.1 / 5.4 / .8 - 2.3 mg/dL
Phosphorus= 10.2 / 8 / 3.0 - 7.0 mg/dL
HCT= 26.4 / 20 / 29 - 45 %

So, his numbers (BUN/Creatinine/Phosphorus) are not dropping low enough, fast enough for the vets liking.

His anemia is worsening - it's a non-regenerative version of anemia so iron supplements is not an option... only a type of hormone ( Erythropoietin ) replacement will help him with his anemia.

The vet is suggesting (heavily) a manufactured diet and Epogen, 200ml or sub-q daily, and 10 days of oral antibiotics.


I'm starting my research.

Here is my problem with this...

Peeps is eating really well, 2-3 times a day. His oral fluid intake is still really high/good.
He is much stronger this past 5-9 days. He is jumping up onto his bed, chairs, etc.
His weight has increased quite a bit (and it's not fluid) - he is acting like a normal cat - even the vet is amazed at his overall outward lack of symptoms in regard to the numbers.

Last night I heard Peeps meowing that "I have something to show you" meow. I took the flashlight out and sure enough - he had hunted, caught and was devouring a mouse!

His actions speak very loudly to me....but I am listening to the vet.
I'm trying hard to listen...to trust

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Now playing: Glen Hansard - Say It to Me Now
via FoxyTunes

Questions for the vet

Yup, we have 'em

1- what was/is his weight?

2- what is/was his blood pressure?

3- what do the remarks of "Neutrophisl appear slightly toxic, slight Howell Jolly bodies" mean?

4- are we sure it's not diabetes? ketoacidosis?

5- what about our raw diet vs protein levels?
"BUN:creatinine ratio

If your cat is eating a low protein diet, this ratio is likely to be in the region of 10:1 or 12:1 (e.g. if creatinine is US 4, BUN is likely to be around 40-48). Since BUN is affected by dietary intake, if your cat is eating a higher protein diet, this ratio will be higher, with 18:1 or 20:1 not unusual (e.g. if creatinine is US 4, BUN will be around 80-96)."

5- what natural options are there for potassium supplements?

6- TCO2 levels = metabolic acidosis? treatments?

• 10 fluid ounces (0.3l) of water

• 2 tbsps powdered glucose (available from chemists)

• 1 pinch of salt

• 1 pinch of bicarbonate of soda

7- does he/or should he be on iron supplements?

8- methylcobalamin vs. cyanocobalamin - b-12

9- can we get a prescription to buy sub-q fluids online?

10- how was his last blood draw? did he fight it?
If a cat undergoes a stressful blood draw, the test results may show a high neutrophil count (an increase in segs rather than bands) with a low lymphocyte count; in such cases, you might also see elevated CK levels

11- no protein in his urine? why?

12- how did/do his kidneys feel & where are they?

13- what can be done for his tooth without anesthesia?

14- does he have non-regenerative anemia?

15- any herbs/treatments you recommend?

16- should we stop doing anything?

Things we've noticed

-at first, lots of burps.... no more burbs
-foul breath
-obvious pain when touching tooth area
-dropping of food when eating
-preference for liquid foods, however will eat chopped chicken necks and whole quail
-main food of choice = 15-20% ground beef
-bony backbone at first-no longer bony
-obvious lump on side, near spine - mostly gone now
-thick, sticky saliva
-fluids absorb within the hour
-one night of incontinence
-no real odor to urine
-decent appetite

vitamins / herbs incorporated in diet

fluids = 100 - 200ml per treatment

-vitamin b-complex
-vitamin c - ascorbic acid
-taurine
-eggshell powder

-catnip infusion
-slippery elm

probiotics powder
salmon oil
colostrum
zeolites

1 dose of dandelion during 1st week (2 weeks ago)

nettle ??

marshmallow ??


for the vet

http://www.felinecrf.org/


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Now playing: Blue October - Amazing
via FoxyTunes

an update...

an update..., originally uploaded by Hotash.

Mr Peeps has been doing really well the past 5 days or so. The weather has been decent for a few days, although it's creeping up on hot again. He is feeling less bony along the back bone and he never burps anymore when you pick him up. He also enjoys being touched and held again-often comes to us for this contact. He has also been coming to afternoon dinner on his own (without me calling him) and will always come when I call him for his early morning meal. His drinking and bathroom habits are pretty much the same, drinks a lot, pees a lot.

Yesterday morning when I came home from work I was exhausted and had a headache that I had been fighting all night. Mr. Peeps was not in the yard, so I figured he was in his usual riverbed spot across the river under this tree that has washed out around the roots, making an awesome little hut of sorts. This is where he has been every single night for the past week-it goes like this...I call him, he takes his sweet time coming home. Well, I was going to skip waking him up and head right to bed (some mom I am eh?) - I head upstairs, cozy up to my book, The Lost Continent, and wish for sleep to come really fast so my headache will go away.

No such luck. I hear a manly meow of Mr. Peeps. It sounds like he is in the house - hmmm, he never comes inside, at least not the past few months. I listen again, maybe it's just my guilty conscience?? But alas, it was in fact Mr. Peeps. He was heading upstairs, meowing, telling me he would eat if I would just get up and heat him up something (it was pretty cold out) - so I did. He ate like a champ and then went into his bedroom and I made sure he had a nice cozy little hut to sleep in.

He and I (and everyone else who sleeps the day shift around our house) slept until about noon-ish. When I went in to give him his afternoon check and fluids before he goes out for the day, he hops down and heads directly (with some speed) to the kitty box which is less than 2 feet away from him (in his room) - it was like I reminded him he had to pee when I came into the room.

I don't know why, but I checked his little bed spot...it was wet, I thought just a tiny bit then I realized it was pretty wet all around the area he had been laying. sigh

The other thing I notice was that he has thick, sticky saliva today-his breath did not smell as awful as it has the past few days, but his saliva was different. I'm certain that his one tooth - the tooth that got him to the vet, is causing him issues - probably more than the CRF is at this stage of the game. Tooth decay will grossly affect his ability and desire to eat and do nothing to help his kidney failure....I plan to ask the vet if there is a way for them to evaluate this tooth without using anesthesia.

I am off to research incontinence with regard to CRF, his diet, herbal remedies and vitamins that he has been getting the past week or so.

He otherwise seems happier and healthier than he did 2 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure he has put on some weight even---

We will have to see how the vet visit goes...
I almost don't want to subject him to a car ride he is doing so well - I may just give them a call and see what they say.

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Now playing: Aaron Sutcliffe - Happiness Is a Warm Gun
via FoxyTunes

Peeps is eating!!!

Peeps is eating!!!, originally uploaded by Hotash.

This bowl was full

Contents:
1 whole Quail breast
1 tbsp Bogie mix from www.feedthis.com/
2 tbsp Catnip tea
Pinch of fresh egg shell
Pinch of Taurine powder
Pinch of probiotics
& Ground beef, raw with some warm juices

it's a recipe that works....




he is content and full, always a bit cold (even when warmed fluids) after his sub-q treatment.

we lay on the bed together until he quits shivering and then he goes outside into the warm sunshine - nice weather today & yesterday.

Mr. Peeps is living in the spare bedroom at night and doing very well the past three days.

Fluids = 3 days on, 1 day off. 2 days on, 1 day off this week

Good news for people who love bad news

Good news for people who love bad news, originally uploaded by Hotash.

Actually it is good news but any chance I get to plug Modest Mouse...
-- Modest Mouse

Two days running now (on a new - let's just calmly approach this plan) and things are looking good.

Eating well and moved inside.

The plan:

Meal one (early evening) - ground beef, raw, mixed with pinch of slippery elm, pinch of eggshell powder, pinch of Probiotics, pinch of Taurine powder and juice from small portion of cooked beef (for flavor)

Meal two (early morning) - ground beef, raw, mixed with 2 tbsp catnip tea infusion, pinch of Probiotics, pinch of Taurine powder and juice from small portion of cooked beef (for flavor)

After meal two -= one B12 shot tablet (melts in your mouth), every other day (1,000mcg)

Feeding away from other animals = concentration on eating.

Housing:

Moved in to spare bedroom of house during extreme temperature outside -otherwise free to roam outdoors.

Keep kitten Bramble and other threats away be giving him a safe, quiet place to be old ;-)

Fluids:

Warm them prior to use...be setting in warm water in sink
Current run = 3 days of 100-150ml, 1 day off

Vet check up on Sept 5th, 2:30pm

Today is another good day

Too hot to eat?

So, this afternoons meal was refused for the most part.

The weather took a turn for HOT again today and worse tomorrow through the end of the week - low to mid 100's

I was only able to convince him to eat some meat with vitamin B but that was all.

Since his calcium level is not too high (10.2) I plan on using an eggshell/calcium based Phosphorus binder to help lower his Phosphorus number (10.2) - I will give this three times a week for two weeks - until his next test. Then consider a different approach if necessary (based on new test results)

I cracked three eggs for the dogs today and rinsed the shells, baked in the oven at 350F for about 8 minutes and then ground up into eggshell powder-




I will be offering him ground beef, 1 tsp eggshell and 2 tbsp catnip infusion early tomorrow morning when I get home from work.


I'm working off of a base from Dr. Pitcairn's book

Feline Diet For Kidney Problems

3/4 pound (1 1/2 cups) ground chicken (with skin) or turkey
4 cups cooked white rice, enriched
4 eggs
2 tablespoons cold-pressed safflower,soy,or corn oil
3 teaspoons Animal Essentials Calcium (or a scant 2 teaspoons eggshell powder)
1/4 teaspoon iodized salt
1 teaspoon parsley (a natural diuretic, optional)
5,000 IU vitamin A
2,000 milligrams vitamin C (1/2 teaspoon sodium ascorbate)
taurine and other cat vitamins (about 5 days worth-we want to add at least 250 mg taurine to this recipe amount)
50 milligram level B-complex (or 5-10 milligrams per day)

Note : you may have check around to get vitamins- they are almost always avail from your vet, but I wouldn't switch around supplements, or types or forms of say calcium, in the case of a kidney friendly diet...

Mix everything together in a large bowl. Serve raw if the cat will accept it. otherwise, mix all but the vitamins together, bake about twenty minutes in a moderate oven, and then wait until it cools to mix in the vitamins. Your cat may have a poor appetite, so to some extent you will need to cater to him to keep him alive. Occasionally, substitute 1 to 3 teaspoons of liver for part of the meat. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, pure (bottled or filtered) at all times. Also encourage drinking by providing meat or fish broth warm once or twice a day.
Feed as much as your cat will eat-this makes 5-6 days worth of food for the average cat.

I am mixing much smaller batches and have substituted a few ingredients

Also, Mr. Peeps will be made to come in side during the hot day tomorrow - which means moving into the large dog kennel with a bed, fresh water and a kitty paper/box. He won't like this a bunch but he can't be trusted in the house loose and it's way too hot - I can see it take a toll on him.

I have also skipped two days of subcutaneous fluids - because he had been eating well, 2 meals a day, although small, he still ate good. Tomorrow he will have his fluid treatment even if he doesn't like it!

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since diagnosis - we have 1 more week to work on diet and trying to get his numbers down.

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Listening to: The Nightwatchman - No One Left
via FoxyTunes

His numbers

Mr. Peeps, originally uploaded by Hotash.

August 13th 2008

BUN = 114
[15-34 mg/dL]

Creatinine = 6.1
[.8-2.3mg/dL]

Creatine kinase (CK) = 573
[64-440 U/L]

Phosphorus = 10.2
[3-7 mg/dL]

TCO2/Bicarbonate = 11
[13-25mg/dL]

Cholesterol = 245
[82-218mg/dL]

Calcium = 10.2
[8.2-118mg/dhl]

RBC = 5.41
[6-10 million/uL]

HGB = 8.2
9.5-15 g/dL]

HCT = 26.4
[29-45%]

MCV = 49
[41-58 fL]

MCH = 15.2
[11-17.5 pg]

Neutrophil SEG = 84
[35-75%]

Lymphocytes = 8
[20-55%]

Reticulocyte count = .7
[0-1%]
Absolute Reticulocyte = 37870
[0-50000/mm3]

(non-regenerative anemia)

Legend:
[xx-xx] = normal ranges
Blue = low
Red = high
Green = normal


I'm still trying to understand them all.
The vet says "the BUN / Creatinine / Phosphorus & HCT matter.
I asked about the CK = HIGH - don't worry about that number - I must do more research on this number.


My next step is to look into a natural Phosphorus binder.

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Listening to: Burial - Archangel
via FoxyTunes

FEEDING TIME

FEEDING TIME, originally uploaded by Hotash.

For the past three years we have been feeding an all raw diet to our cats and dogs.

I'm very glad that I had switched them over, I'm sure that this has helped Mr. Peeps with regard to his kidney failure. My guess is that he would have went downhill much faster if he had been on a dry kibble diet.

This is a shot from back in April 2006 - skip ahead to August 2008. Mr. Peeps is not eating well and seems to be loosing weight slowly.

He has had his teeth cleaned in the past and I noticed that his breath smelled foul. One of his upper molars had a bit of plaque and I ASSUMED this was his issue. I finally got him into the vet to have the tooth pulled if necessary.

The vet examines him and says his tooth is fine, just a bit of plaque, no pain, no gum issues, but if I want them to clean it/pull it they can get a better look under anesthesia. Sure, why not, I don't want him getting sicker with an infection of his teeth/jaw bone.

The vet says, well, since he's only about 10 years old we'll just do a small blood work up...I say, wait, he's more like 15-18 years old maybe- we just don't know. Oh, he looks like he's only about 8 the vet says. Anyway, he stays overnight at the vet to await blood work results (it's better than driving him home).

The next morning is when we get the news that he is in Chronic Renal Failure.

Here comes the issue of feeding.

I'm informed that he needs to be on a low protein diet, taught how to administer subcutaneous fluids at home, handed some information from online and we set up a follow up appointment in 3 weeks.

I dive into reading about diet change. Man there is a lot I didn't pay attention to in school!!!

On August 13th when he came home, his very first meal consisted of cooked white rice, canned pumpkin and ground chicken bogie-very little bogie. He eats a tiny bit then wanders off to be left alone

By the next day, he is eating only very little. Chris (AKA The Man) gets him to eat some quail.

Two days later he is refusing to eat any of his normal diet (except quail) - I need to find something else - we only get so many quail per month. I bring in some ground turkey-not the best choice but it's a start, and some ground beef (70% lean)

I don't normally feed beef to the cats and the dogs only ever get meat bones or freezer clean out beef. Turns out he LOVES ground beef. But, alas that wasn't going to last but a day....

I now (4 days after diagnosis and 2 sub-q treatments) notice that he burbs when you pick him up and he is licking his lips a lot, his breath smells again (it did not at the vet) - I remembered reading about slippery elm for stomach/appetite in cats.

Day 5 - gets me to the local CO-OP to buy some slippery elm. I mix two of the capsules/powder in with his ground beef- he eats good - mind you this is no easy feat - I have to roll the meat into perfectly round, tiny balls and toss them to him, ensuring that everyone else keeps their distance. Oh yeah, the really good part is....it's 2am!!!! (when I get off of work) but it's cool outside - all the cats have a better appetite when it's cool and it's been pretty hot around here.

By the next day his appetite is better- I'm still feeding him by hand.

I have mixed in a weak infusion of dandelion with his afternoon meal. I did this with much trepidation...as dandelion is very acidic and actually causes bile. I figured it couldn't hurt to trust and try to help is appetite out. This along with the slippery elm seems to have really helped. He is now eating twice a day, still drinking A LOT of water from his watering spot.

I only used dandelion for two days. I used slippery elm since August 20th. So, for five days he
got slippery elm mixed in with his ground beef. Since August 23rd he has been eating twice a day and eating a decent amount.

His burbs have subsided and he is licking his lips (sign of anemia) less. His appetite has increased to the point that he comes for food at the afternoon dinner and when I get home in the morning. He is also eating quail again...but nothing else.

August 26th - ahhh!!! he will be needing vitamin help too?

For more on RAW diets visit:
BARF World
or our supplier
Feed This, Inc.

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Listening to: The Heads - johnette napolitano - The- Damage I've Done
via FoxyTunes

"Wha?"

"Wha?", originally uploaded by Hotash.

If we only had known...or paid closer attention.

This is near when the first signs of a problem began to appear. Of course this is all looking back and putting it all together.

All the animals insist on drinking from standing water around our house- who am I to disagree? We top/overflow this fish ponds on a regular/daily basis so the water is fairly fresh, so to speak. They also have fresh, clean water in the house and around the outside of the house - but you will more often than not find them rushing to the fish ponds for a drink.

This is a shot from May 2007. Thinking back, this activity of his caught my eye (thus the photo) - I never gave it a second thought-other than he must have been thirsty.

He would drink (still is) for long periods of time....I should have thought to wonder why as all our animals are raw from Feed This, Inc. Usually cats don't drink much water, especially when they are on a raw diet.

Turns out this is the #1 sign that your kitty is having some issues with their kidney function. I'll be chalking this (and much more) up to "now I know."

My plan is to offer up some experience (as I gather it) and information to any of you who may be going through this too.

Other symptoms to watch for:

* Excessive urination
* Increased thirst
* Nausea and gagging
* Licking lips
* Grinding or cracking sound in jaw
* Vomiting (both clear/foamy liquid and food)
* Drooling
* Dehydration
* Hunching over the water bowl
* Stomach irritation (uremic gastritis)
* Constipation
* Loss of appetite
* Weight loss
* Muscle wasting
* Emaciation
* Poor hair coat
* Halitosis (ammonia smell)
* Lethargy
* Sensitivity to sound
* Eating litter
* Weakness
* Depression
* Oral ulcers
* Detached retinae
* Convulsion, low temperature, coma (end-stage)

Information from: Feline CRF Information Center

Additional, detailed list of symptoms can be found on Tanya's Feline Chronic Renal Failure Centre

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Listening to: trevor hall - you Find Me
via FoxyTunes