I've had a horrible 2 weeks. On Monday, March 12 I awoke several times during the night to my wonderful little black and white kitty, Nina, vomitting. The next morning she was despondent and not interested in eating so I called the vet. The first appt. available was Wednesday morning and when I took her in the vet seemed unconcerned, telling me she probably had a hairball. On Friday I took Nina in again because she wasn't improving. This time we saw a different vet who ran several tests and then informed me that at the age of 1 1/2, little Nina was in kidney failure. Since then we have been back and forth to the emergency animal hospital. Nina was admitted that Friday night and given fluids until her bloodwork was back to normal. She came home on Monday night and was promptly back in kidney failure a second time on Wednesday. She just came home again on Friday night, this time with sub-Q fluids and meds for increasing her appet*ite, but she still isn't doing well. I have been told a hundred different things by the various vets and techs who have been taking care of her at the hospital and have crashed back and forth from hopeful to despairing, spending most nights crying and feeling a deep, deep ache of hurt. Next time I take her back to the hospital I don't think I am going to be able to afford any more treatments or tests, despite the fact that the vet says it is not time to give up yet. Everything is so expensive! I am only a few years out of college surviving on a single, preschool teacher budget. I am completely devestated. I got Nina only 6 months ago from a shelter in Maine. I knew she was perfect the instant I saw her. She is so very sweet and always wants to be with me, snuggle up, and purr. Before she got sick, she slept every night curled up on my pillow. I can't believe I am going to have to put her to sleep when she is so young, only having had such a short time with her. My other cat is devestated as well as she and Nina are buddies. I adopted them at the same time. It is hard to watch her be confused and upset by everything that is going on. I love Nina and can't bear to lose her...

Please hang in there! Someone will come up with something. If you have to return to the vets explain your financial situation. Let the onus be on the vets that they have to help you through this. Offer to make small payments for as long as necessary if they give you credit. I feel terrible for you and I hope some force will light the dark path you are on until it's all better. Where there is life there is hope. Try to get rest, try to eat well. Make sure your kitty has untreated water to drink, bottled spring water instead of tap. Everyone will come up with help I am sure. TAke care. We care.

The very first time I seen my current vet was when my cat Baby had fatty liver disease. They didn't know me from a hole in the ground, but understood I wanted to do whatever I had to even though my budget at the time was limited. They took my credit card number and allowed me to make payments for her treatments. Maybe your vet could set something like this up?? Also there are Medic cards as well for this (financing, a bit high on interest, but they help in a pinch)

Hello.I'm so sorry you are having to go thur this awful time with your kitty Nina.It is so sad that she is sick and she is so young.I understand about kidney failure.My kitty boy Sox was almost 17 yrs. old last Oct. 13th when it happened to him.We chose to put him to sleep because we just couldn't put him thur anymore suffering.I really hope the vets can help your Nina but please try to think of what's best for her.Does she have a good quality of life or is she in constant pain? There is only so much a vet can do for an animal who is in kidney failure and that is not a cure only a treatment.I know that is hard to hear...on the other hand if she is in good spirits and is eating well and responding to the subQ fluids then by all means you should try to help her as long as you can.I have heard of pets living with kidney failure for many years if it is the cronic kind and not the acute kind.As for not being able to afford any more vet bills I can totally relate, be honest with them and ask for credit.Some vets are more willing to work with you about a payment plan.If the vet you are going to won't help you work something out then maybe it's time to find a new vet.I wish you god's speed and I truly hope things work out for you.Let us know how things are going and remember that we really do care.Sincerely,Renee (Sox's mom)

I'm so sorry...have the vets ruled out any issues with the current food recall? It makes me very nervous, so thought I'd ask. I sincerely hope that they will be willing to accept a payment plan and that more can be done to save her..

Thinking of you.

I feed Nina Science Diet which IS on the recall list, however I have not fed her any of the 5 types of food they have specifically listed. I feed her dry food and canned food, but not the "savory cuts" variety. However, I am not confident that the companies fully know at this point which of their foods are affected nor that they are being completely honest with the public. The vet cannot find any other reason that this could be happening to Nina. Nina is very young, was previously perfectly healthy and UTD on all her check-ups/shots, the ultrasound has shown she has perfectly normal kidneys so it is not congenital, she has not been injured nor has she has had any recent changes in her environment, and has not been exposed to any of the other things that commonly cause acute renal failure (anti-freeze, lillies, human medication, etc). I would be extremely wary of what you feed your pets right now... I am terrified that I might have unknowingly fed Nina the poisoned food (my other cat eats the same thing and has not shown symptoms yet).

I am so sorry that you are going through this.

Besides the financial concerns, at some point you are going to have to look at Nina's quality of life and decide when enough is enough. I went through that with my beloved Indigo, and at one point it was just life support and I had to accept the fact that he wasn't going to get better.

When the time comes, she'll let you know. She'll either shake it off and want dinner, or tell you that the machines aren't any fun and she's ready to go. Have them take her off all the machines and let her know how loved she is.

PLease let us know what is going on...I'll be thinking of you.

Yes, do hang in there. My cat Davis is going through the same thing. And after a week of prednazone, sub-Q fluids, and a pottasium supplement he's much better. However he is really old so I have to be realistic. Nina is young and strong. If you can get her to eat, that's half the battle. Syringe feeding is possible. As for vet bills, sometimes it's really just the initial cost that is high. Vets can order new meds without having to see her again. Davis had the runs bad (nightmare!) but my vet gave me something that seems to be working and with no new office visit bill. If you can get her over this hump, especially if it was a poison, she could be fine. Of course it's hard to stay optomistic and at the same time realistic, so we just do what we can do. Good luck to you both. michaelT

Nina's Mommy

I'm so sorry Nina is having so much trouble so young. I just want you to know I'm thinking of you guys and pulling for little Nina.

Thinking of you and Nina

I am really praying that she pulls through this..

There has been much advise and info given already, but I'd just like to say that if it were me, this is what I'd do at a minimum - I'd change that food first, to a high quality canned food ONLY (dry is VERY hard on the kidneys, and why take any chances that it might be the food?), and I'd stop giving her vaccinations. If this condition happened w/i about 3 months of those shots, I'd be suspecting it might even be vaccinosis.

I wish you all the best of good fortune with little Nina, and your other cat, too and hope you can all pull through this!

Thank you for the support and kind words. It really does help to know that there are other people out there who understand. I took Nina back to the vet again today and her numbers had gone up, but not enough that she needs to be hospitalized again right now. The vet changed some of her treatments and medications. She also said that there is every indication that Nina is a victim of the poison in the pet food because her symptoms are the same as other pets that she is currently treating who have eaten food on the recall list. Apparently the symptoms of renal failure in cats that have eaten the rat posion are somewhat different than "normal" renal failure symptoms. As I mentioned in an earlier post, she has only eaten Science Diet canned food that is not currently one of the specific varieties on the recall list. So to anyone feeding their cat Science Diet canned food, even if it is not currently on the recall list - STOP IMMEDIATELY! I am taking my other cat in on Friday to be tested as well because she has been eating the same thing.

Nina's Mom,

I'll add my two cents that you should strongly consider the idea that your Nina has been affected by this food crisis - hang on to all your food wrappers/cans, keep all your vet receipts. Should your food turn out to be suspect or your vet confirm that this is a food issue, you will be able to be compensated for your out-of-pocket fees eventually - Menufoods and the various companies are already offering to pay bills for people, and you may very well be able to be repaid, though no one can repay you or your Nina for the pain you've gone through.

We lost our dog Sport prior to the recall, and had already gotten rid of leftover food before things were announced - he appeared poisoned, but I can't prove anything.

The new dog we adopted from the shelter came home with a bag of dry Science diet which she ate voraciously, but the second bag that I bought at my vet's she has been reluctant to eat, and I have switched to old-fashioned regular Purina dry which at this point is at least not manufactured by Menufoods. Though dry foods are not currently being mentioned, who knows? Those foods start out wet and maybe have "something" in them too.

So sorry you are going through this - we also lost our 18-year-old Abby kitty in January after a long period of kidney decline. There are treatments but they require dedication and cost a bit. Hopefully Nina will bounce back and Menufoods will be cutting you a check!
Barb

Nina's Mommy


Oh no, this is too sad. I am so sorry for Nina, poor little girl. I am hoping to hear good things soon.

Sending good 'vibes' to Nina, and you

I'm posting with an update on Nina. Her latest vet appointment was last Wednesday and she had maintained her kidney levels from the week before and had even gained a bit of weight! I am giving her 100ml sub-q fluids twice a day, cyproheptadine (an appet*ite enhancer) twice a day, pecid AC twice a day, and carafate (a medication to coat any stomach ulcers she may have gotten from the tainted food) once a day. I don't know who hates all the treatments more, Nina or me! However, she is much more back to her wonderful little self lately. She is eating a fair amount (I have spent hours researching what to feed her and for now am using Canidae brand canned food), shows interest in playing with and grooming her sister kitty, and is seeking out my attention again. As I type this she just came and settled herself on the computer keyboard, one of her favorite places to sit. The vet has said that we just have to wait and see how she progresses and we might not know for sure for months. For now I am trying to enjoy every moment with her and give her lots of extra love. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice and has sent good thoughts Nina's way.

YES!!!!!!!!!
WAY TO GO NINA!!!!!!

We really needed some good news around here!!! I hope she just keeps on getting better!!!

By the way, I know quite a few people who've switched to plain old "people tuna" instead of canned cat food.

*\o/*

Woohoo! Good for Nina! Good for you!

I am so so happy for you and Nina and her sister of course! I congratulate you for all the good care you have given her, this is hard and you are doing great! Like
V Angel I too tend to look for human food for my dog now but be careful with salt that might be in the food, that you most likely know is a no no. But a little cooked
meat or chicken or fish, these make very safe treats. May the positive vibes keep surrounding you and your loved ones!

Just a quick note: Canidae is for dogs, and dog food is not safe for cats' nutritional requirements. Felidae is the (proper) one for cats. It's a pretty good brand, tho it has some salt in it, unlike most of the other high quality foods.

And canned tuna on a regular basis is not considered safe by most vets, either. It's not a balanced food (it's pure protein, folks - NOT good, especially for a kidney cat or dog!!), has a lot of salt in it, plus mercury which can kill cats and often leads to a "tuna addiction" where the cat won't eat anything else, creating a vicious circle. I really can't believe people don't know these very basic things about their animals' health needs, when they wholly depend on us to be wise on their behalf.

There are also class action suits starting in both Canada and the US and I would strongly encourage anyone whose animals have shown symptoms to do your due diligence and look into joining one of these, find out the 'requirements' of putting your name on the list, even IF you don't have any supposed 'proof'. If the symptoms of poisoning are quite unique from using these foods, don't you think a case could likely be made partly on this basis, too? People need to quit laying down and being so passive and apathetic about this, and other things, when it comes to animals' safety. And keep checking those recall lists, just in case more foods get added.

Oops - I did mean felidae, not canidae.

Nina's Mommy

Thank you for keeping up updated! Woo hoo Nina! I'll keep sending her good vibes. I'm so happy for you both.

Love

Thanks for letting me know about the tuna. I passed the word along.
My cats all eat ProPlan dry, so we're safe.

GO NINA!
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Phew! Glad it's Felidae! That one, apparently, is safe. I'm so glad Nina is doing okay right now - good work!

Not so sure about the Pro Plan - see this link to the post I'd just put out there:
HERE.

ProPlan is safe. It's Purina. The only things they've recalled is Alpo and Mighty Dog canned dog foods. I've been on top of the whole thing since it started.

Except that Purina is owned by Nestle, and Nestle owns L'Oreal, which tests its products on animals. So I don't think they're 'safe' or trustworthy companies to deal with...and certainly not as ethical as my standards dictate. These huge conglomerates are never as 'friendly' as they'd have people believe.

About tuna. I've read that it is fine but not complete nutritionally. Lacks taurine and others things as well. Are their kitty multi-vits? michaelT

Well, sure there are.....many brands and types, depending on specific needs and what-not. But they won't get rid of the mercury contamination that's in virtually all canned tuna, nor will multivitamins alone provide a balanced nutrition for cats. Even for humans, the best way to balance one's diet is through whole foods, and not relying on pills alone. And besides, just how many undomesticated cats in the wild even catch and eat fish to begin with?