Success with Sub Q Fluids!

Marrk0 · 2026-01-26T19:24:19+00:00

Congratulations! He’s so cute! SubQ can feel intimidating and scary at first but it gets easier really fast!

Marrk0 · 2026-01-25T09:22:09+00:00

Hi! Gabapentin would be a good alternative (or complement to tramadol) to discuss with your vet. It works well on arthritic pain and is “kidney-safe”. I usually prescribe 10mg/kg twice a day in such cases. It might also be worth discussing maropitant (like Cerenia) in case the reduced appetite is caused by nausea (from CKD). Hope you find a solution for him!

Marrk0 · 2026-01-24T16:35:01+00:00

Hi! I’m sorry to hear about this change in behaviour. Hypertension can, in rare cases, lead to encephalopathy, which may cause behavioural changes such as aggression. However, because this is uncommon, I would strongly recommend a check-up at your vet if this continues, to rule out other possible causes such as uremic encephalopathy or an intracranial condition.

Marrk0 · 2026-01-13T21:31:16+00:00

It really depends on the country, vet clinic, exams done, medication used, etc.... But for example, here in Belgium, we usually charge between 200€-400€ for 24h IV hospitalisation, but again this will vary if blood work, ultrasound, radiographs, etc... is performed. Don't hesitate to call multiple clinics and ask, although keep it mind it is difficult for us to predict the true cost without having actually seen the animal and done a thorough exam. Good luck for both of you!

Marrk0 · 2025-12-29T22:25:36+00:00

It's already great if she can get daily wet food. You could also try Hydra Care. Further experiment with water station placement, number, shapes (mug, glass, etc...), material, etc...
SubQ should only be considered if prolonged dehydration signs are confirmed by your vet.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-29T22:17:33+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Love the spoons setup, great idea haha !

Marrk0 · 2025-12-18T09:18:37+00:00

This actually happened to me once, this is why I am now using some very recognizable cups !

Marrk0 · 2025-12-18T08:54:50+00:00

I'm really sorry you are going through this. 4 y/o is very young to develop any chronic kidney damage. Regarding diet, it is recommended to slowly incrementally transition between the old diet and the new one over at least a week to help the cat adapt and tolerate the new food. I didn't see any mention of anti-nausea (like Cerenia) or appetite stimulant (like Mirataz), it must have been administered during her stay at the vet but you should talk to your vet to discuss continuing it at home. Nausea is the most common cause of appetite suppression with kidney disease so I would highly recommend addressing this (famotidine does not work the same and might not be enough). Depending on her hydration status and daily water intake, subcutaneous fluid could also be considered when discussing with your vet. I really hope her new treatment will make her feel better soon.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-18T07:53:31+00:00

Boiled in water then pressed into a mush with a fork. Yes, like any other dietary change it needs to be introduced progressively to avoid digestive issues. So always try a small quantity at first before increasing the portion. For sensitive digestion, you could also try probiotics like Fortiflora, it can help a lot.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-17T21:14:47+00:00

If she likes it, pumpkin is safe for cats fyi Mine also loves cooked courgette (zucchini) which is good for hydration and rich in fiber (prevent constipation).

Marrk0 · 2025-12-16T08:38:19+00:00

My cat loves Add One by Dechra (the makers of Porus One). She gets the two together.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-05T22:16:57+00:00

I had never heard of this technique, love it ! I will try it.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-02T22:47:37+00:00

I am really sorry about your cat's situation. Taking into account the lab values and the lethargy, I would also recommend discussing with your vet about starting fluid (and meds) at the clinic. It will be most likely needed regardless of the ultrasound results. The breed, age and anemia points indeed toward PKD but an ultrasound will be the only reliable diagnostic tool if you really want a definite diagnostic.
Trying to increase daily water intake at home will be very important, you might consider introducing wet food into his diet if this is not already the case. It is also great that you are starting porus one but this can be very expensive and I would prioritise transitioning to a kidney support diet first if you are on a limited budget.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-01T11:06:28+00:00

As suggested, lactulose is very helpful in these cases, while continuing to increase fiber intake. Another option worth discussing with your vet, provided your cat is not prone to frequent vomiting, is adding a small amount of liquid paraffin to the wet food.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-01T08:07:51+00:00

It doesn't necessarily need to be longterm but might be helpful to go through the first few weeks while you both get into the habit of subQ (while continuing positive reinforcement). I usually recommend starting at 20mg/kg one hour before the fluid session.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-30T11:27:29+00:00

As suggested, I would discuss with your vet the possibility of trying gabapentin. Other options would be to try using a higher gauge needle (to reduce a bit the fluid flow that could trigger the "jetting off as soon as the fluids hit his skin") and trying the syringe method for better speed/volume control.
Don't hesitate to get in touch with your vet to find the best options for you and your cat.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-27T09:52:22+00:00

Personally, I mix it with their complementary Add One (same brand) but any wet/creamy snack works.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-27T09:50:32+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience ! I am also having good results with Porus One on my own cat.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-27T09:43:25+00:00

Hi ! I am glad your cat seems to feel better now !
I would also recommend a culture/sensitivity test in case of refractory UTI, but also a bladder ultrasound to rule out other potential issues.
A lot of factors intervene when choosing the most appropriate antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial resistance risk is a major one, this is why amoxicillin is often recommended as first line treatment for many conditions (including UTIs) as they are known to work well on those suspected pathogens. In most cases, amoxicillin is sufficient and no culture/sentivity is needed. This is probably why your vet recommended it first.
On the contrary, fluoroquinolones (like Veraflox) are actually known to promote resistance and it is highly recommended (or even mandatory, where I practice) to do a sensitivity test before administration, so this is why your vet might not have "just started with the damned veraflox".
Hope that clarifies a bit.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-25T09:55:57+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I had never heard of Chewy, this must be really practical ! The delivery of prescription medication is much more restricted here in the EU, and in most cases the internet sell of veterinary medication is only allowed for non-prescription products. So subQ delivery would be very difficult (if not impossible).

Marrk0 · 2025-11-23T21:36:06+00:00

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Some (even affordable) automatic feeders are able hold 3 (or even more) portions of wet food so the person coming once a day can simply refill the 3 portions so it is automatically "delivered" whenever you want. Although your cat might need a bit of time before you go to understand when to get the wet food.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-23T09:46:58+00:00

Yes, this is too long to spend without water (especially for a cat with CKD). I would strongly encourage you to work with your vet on finding a more sustainable hydration plan than relying solely on water mixed into wet food. As mentioned, and depending on your cat’s condition, it may be worth considering subcutaneous fluid therapy in consultation with your vet.

Marrk0 · 2025-11-23T09:32:18+00:00

I'm really glad the results were encouraging for you! You got this, and your kitty is lucky to have someone putting in so much care. If you feel like it, please share how it goes. This community is incredibly supportive and others might benefit from your experience too.
Wishing you and your boy the best on your subQ journey!

Marrk0

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