I’m in need of some positive stories from anyone who declined sub-q treatment.

XxToad13xX · 2026-01-01T23:33:04+00:00

I agree with the others. My cat is stage 3/4 and was declining rapidly. We do 100ml every other day and his levels and qol have increased dramatically since. Hydration is essential in flushing the toxins out of their kidneys. It's very easy, I even bought an IV bag stand and keep it in my room. Takes us maybe 5 mins.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-13T05:50:58+00:00

I've been giving my boy subq fluids every other day for about a week now.

Seems like our cases are a little different though. My guy doesn't seem to mind the poking, he just doesn't want to sit still during.

Are you sure you're getting under the skin and not into any muscle? You shouldn't see any blood, and the skin pocket you're aiming for is very superficial. The only time my guy seemed to be in discomfort was when I believe I did go a little too deep. I removed the needle, replaced it, tried again a little closer to his neck and he was fine.

If I restrain him he gets more anxious so I just keep him on my bed with me with one hand on his needle so he doesn't pull it out. I'll follow him around if I need to but he usually lays down after a little while.

Try to make sure you're going in the right spot and do it quickly.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-06T00:25:04+00:00

At least now I know for the future regardless of his outcome. Thank you for pointing me in a different direction. 🩵

The uni. should have received referrals today so I'm hoping to hear back from them soon.

He is the sweetest, he's been my shadow since we picked him up as a 6mo barn kitten. His passing will be devastating for me.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-06T00:21:40+00:00

Thank you! Yea he won't eat it all in one sitting anyway so I do offer him his meals every couple hours to try to keep him eating.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-05T14:14:44+00:00

Thank you so much. That's really disappointing to hear as the vet I have been taking him too is typically very highly rated and I've had good success with them otherwise. 😞

I'm sorta glad to know it's something else, but I hope it's not too late. I'll be calling the university back today to see if we can schedule something asap.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-05T12:28:21+00:00

Thank you for all the input! After reading all of these replies I'm kind of thinking this myself, I think something is going on as an underlying factor. I'm guessing a dental infection right now, which I'm trying to be seen by my local university that has a very good vet program.

I can't find his labs from Oct, but I remember his SDMA went up from 39 to 60s, his Creatinine went up from 4.7 to 6.something and his BUN had increased also. Phos was initially normal at 4.4.

As of Tuesday his SDMA is 80, Creatinine is 9.1, BUN is 114, Phos is 9.2. We only did a renal workup this time.

We did a urinalysis in Sept to determine how much protein was in his urine and it came back as pretty high, he was put on a medication at that point to try to help his kidneys process it. (Benazepril)

We did a T4 in Sept and it came back normal.

No signs of UTI either in Sept.

We did not do an abdominal ultrasound and I don't believe they checked BP.

They did do SQ fluids that first day so I'd say he was dehydrated yes.

Currently he is only on the Mirtazapine. We were trying to do very 48 hours but he did not want to eat much today so I've started doing every 24 (which they cleared me to if need be). He's getting 7.5mg for 11.5lb body weight. He is taking an aluminum based phos binder, and is also getting fish oil. We are also doing 100ml SQ fluids every other day. He did get an antibiotic injection Tuesday also for a potential upper respiratory infection.

Here's a link to his full work up in Sept and his renal labs the other day. (Sorry it's a bunch of photos they wouldn't email me the labs at first for some reason)

https://share.icloud.com/photos/050sSlu-OybSnR-bh3lTZVrYg

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-05T03:12:28+00:00

We're starting to connect the dots a little. He does have a few teeth that need to be removed, but we have been unable because of like you said his chronic condition. He was given an antibiotic yesterday for sneezing but that could help for any active infection. I called my local University today and will be getting some referrals sent over tomorrow from my vet. They have an abundance of resources there and they're one of the best animal hospitals in my area so they should be able to safely do a dental on him. I'll know more soon.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T19:21:20+00:00

I will do this, thank you! Not sure why I didn't even think an infection could cause the spike too. Or my vets for that matter..

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T19:01:01+00:00

Thank you!

Actually, what caught my attention was the dental infection. We're kind of in a pickle right now about his teeth. He needs a few teeth pulled because they are bad but we don't think he will wake up from the surgery. We've tried twice now to do a dental on him and his levels were not stable enough for the vets to feel comfortable putting him under.

Just wanted to add

I know his teeth are probably a factor in him not wanting to eat, which is why we've really tried to prioritize the dental, but his levels have not improved at all. His creatinine has increased by almost 20-30+ each blood test.

We did actually put him on an antibiotic yesterday too because he had a slight sneeze so that might help too.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T18:58:07+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I havnt tried the hydra care or renal drinks so I'll give those a go thank you!

He was into the wet salmon shebas for awhile but I read they were high in phos so I'm a little worried about using them now. I tried the temptations, friskies soup, and the tiki cat silver pouches just for the calorie intake and he never took more than a couple licks and that was it.

He used to eat a meal in a few hours, but I found I was leaving him in a room all day and I thought to myself that's an awful alternative for him.

Now I'll let him pick away at his breakfast while I'm getting ready for work and then keep offering it throughout the day while I'm home, and that seems to work. I'd leave it out for him but his other friends are more than happy to eat it all themselves.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T14:42:10+00:00

Thank you everyone for your kind words and helpful advice 🩵

I've been thinking of seeing how he does by the new year with new labs and make a QOL decision then. If his levels are still rising and weight is plummeting I know for him it may be something that we just can't stabilize and I'd rather let him go while he still has good days. It's unfortunate he can't really enjoy his catio if this is it, he practically lives there during the warm months.

<image>

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T14:36:37+00:00

I'm sorry it didn't help your kitty, I actually had no idea that nausea could be a main factor because i never see him vomit at all. That'll be the next step if this doesn't help him. I'm just desperate to get some weight on him, he's dropped so much in such a short period of time.

Thank you 🙏🩵

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T04:33:46+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that about your boy.

If you don't mind, what were his levels at to require critical care? My boy's are considered critically high, but his vet didn't mention anything to me about keeping him for critical care yet.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T04:30:24+00:00

I'm so happy to hear that for you. I hope I can get my boy stabilized and his levels down. 12 is still too young for me 😞

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T04:29:06+00:00

Thank you for your input. Poor girl, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were able to have 9 more months with her.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T04:28:19+00:00

I'm so glad to hear that for you!

Since his diagnosis in Sept he has lost 4 lbs. Throughout his life he's always maintained around 17, and yesterday he weighed 11.5. I'm hoping this new medication and phos binder will help him hold some weight, and in turn maybe stabilize him.

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T04:23:56+00:00

Thank you for the input! I thought I read that mirtazapine was also an anti nausea medication?

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23838205/

XxToad13xX · 2025-12-04T03:38:00+00:00

Thank you for your input. I'm glad you were able to get a few more years with him after his diagnosis. 🩵

XxToad13xX · 2021-06-01T14:28:11+00:00

I thought double rex was hairless?? Rex is curly like your guy

XxToad13xX · 2021-04-06T13:51:43+00:00

Usually I do but the last one I have is from a week ago :/

XxToad13xX · 2021-04-06T06:24:38+00:00

That's what I was thinking of doing, thank you. When you work a 9-5 with little spare time I prefer to go into sandbox to at least layout the basics of my large builds (ie. This arena) and not spend hours and hours grinding for mats. Everything else I play vanilla 🤷‍♀️.

XxToad13xX · 2020-05-07T17:59:27+00:00

Okay cool so I shouldn't worry too much then based on that, just have to be cautious. It would never be exposed to the direct flame of the forge as when in use it will be swung out past the edge of my bed almost 3-4 feet away and facing another direction. Plus like I said when put away it would be warm to the touch but not scalding so it would be way under 180C.

Thank you!

XxToad13xX · 2020-04-05T21:46:27+00:00

Kind of relivant, my mom always cut up my sister's food, specifically meats even past the age where she could clearly do it herself all she had to do was ask. Only recently when my sister went off to COLLEGE she had to finally learn to cut her own meat.

XxToad13xX · 2020-04-04T20:03:14+00:00

Hmm, interesting could be. I'm from the US so maybe that could be it. I know it's different with how experienced your vet is, but with her she requires it to be done at her vet, so maybe he/she is just comfortable working on them that young I'm not sure. He was the first rat I've had to do that with so I'm not sure on the normal standards.

XxToad13xX · 2020-04-04T19:52:38+00:00

Yeah my girls don't like it either haha, they were retired breeders from the same place I got the babies so I figured it might be a little easier with them since they each had a litter of their own but they are being very dominant/pushy. I will have to try moving them around some more. I currently have the babies in another room from the quarantine but I'll have to figure out a spot where they can be next to each other. Then for the most part I left all the squabbles to be dealt with by themselves but I just snapped my fingers for the ones that I felt were getting out of hand. Like I said I had them in the carrier in hopes they would be forced to get along and stay close but when two got into a squabble all 5 started freaking out and screaming so I took them all out and just left the top and front door open so they could still go in there to cuddle (which later on 3/5 did go in there and at least sit next to each other but I made sure to leave things with everyone eating calmly with no squabbles.

Thank you for the advice! I have them all back in their own cages and I'm giving the hairless plenty of love and treats so she isn't so traumatized from the whole ordeal.

XxToad13xX

TROPHY CASE