Just two weeks after my last entry, Heidi left us to go to the Rainbow Bridge on the day of Christmas Eve. This really shook my faith and left a huge empty spot in our home and hearts.

This is part of why I'm even angrier than I'd normally be at the scumbags who have left their advertising spam in the comments sections of this blog. Jerkoffs who left GODDAMN ADVERTISING for PURE CRAP SITES AND STUFF as comments to posts dealing with subjects such as a beloved pet's illness or death.

Not that they will see it here, but I seriously hope these jerkoffs all CHOKE and DIE in some painful and slow manner. I hate them all and at the very least, I hope their businesses fail and leave them in dire straits and at the mercy of people who really would kill them, instead of me and my fruitless wrath.

When yet another one left us to go over the Rainbow Bridge after teaching us all she could here on Earth, I considered abandoning this blog completely. Couldn't quite do it though.

Several months have gone by. It's winter. Maybe it's time to come back...

Now back to our regularly unscheduled blog. Since our household already includes one diabetic dog and one formerly diabetic cat now with chronic renal insufficiency, of course I jumped to conclusions when Random was seen drinking more water and visiting the litter box more often.

Apparently he was just thirsty :) There is also the possibility he has an as-yet-undetected mild bladder infection. His bloodwork and urinalysis looked good; blood glucose, BUN and creatinine were all within normal ranges. We'll just keep watching him to make sure things get back to normal. If not, we'll do another urinalysis this coming Saturday.

Just wanted to put in a "no news, good news" entry for a change!

Strangely enough, however, her weight is up almost half a pound from her last vet visit, which is a very positive development. She is still eating and drinking well on her own, without any nausea, stomach upset or vomiting -- also good. Although her appetite is not exactly hearty, she's eating most of what is set out for her, both dry and wet prescription food. "Output" seems fine (no constipation, no excessive or inappropriate urination) as well. In other words, despite the lab results, she's not showing many of the symptoms that might be expected with numbers that bad. And in terms of attitude (or should I say cat-titude?) she's still feisty and curious and still has the random scamper attack now and then.

So the good news, of course, is that her quality of life is apparently still quite high. Read MORE... if you'd like to see actual numbers and the continued plan for Yuki's treatment.

BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is a waste product excreted through the kidneys. A high number here also reflects dietary changes and dehydration.
Normal: 15-33 mg/dl
Yuki: 117 mg/dl

Creatinine is a waste product excreted through the kidneys. A high number reflects declining kidney function.
Normal: 0.7-1.8 mg/dl
Yuki: 7.5 mg/dl

She is also showing signs of anemia, which is expected in most CRF cats as the disease progresses.

What this means in terms of her treatment is that she (and we) are no longer going to be able to slide on the subcutaneous fluids. No matter how little she likes getting them, she is going to have to receive 150ml at least two times per week. If this means that she has to receive them at the vet clinic where she can be surrounded and her threats neutralized (you think I jest? see above where I say she is still feisty :) ), so be it.

Unfortunately, that would mean paying not only for a vet tech's services, but also paying the clinic's full price for fluids and needles. As anyone who has read this blog in the past already knows, the cost of pet health care is not in itself a problem to us. But if we are able to do some of the needed care for chronic conditions at home it is definitely preferred. Lactated Ringers Solution, venosets and needles can be obtained very reasonably by prescription at most human pharmacies and also through several pet health mail order sources. So, Yuki... please get with the program :)

For the anemia, she will be receiving injections of Epogen, which is synthetic human erythropoietin. This is a hormone produced by healthy kidneys that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

There is one major drawback to this medication, though... and I want to talk to the vet a little bit more about it before Yuki actually begins this treatment. Because Epogen is derived from human DNA, a small percentage of cats develop an antibody reaction to it. In that case, not only will it not help, the cat's anemia will worsen.

Want to check out some of the sites that I have been visiting?

Feline CRF Information Center
Nadia's Feline CRF Page
Tanya's UK Feline Chronic Renal Failure Information Centre

Rightly so... her blood glucose was at 498 when she was tested on Saturday, July 26 (normal canine blood glucose would be somewhere between 80-120). She was put on insulin immediately, and input and output returned to close to normal levels within 24 hours. However, the full bloodwork showed some results which led her vet to suspect Cushing's Disease, rather than just diabetes.

So today Heidi is at the vet for an 8-hour test which will tell us whether or not that is the case. The results go to Michigan State University for interpretation, so we won't have the final verdict for about a week. Those of you who have followed us for a while know that our dear departed
Missy was also tested for Cushing's at one time. She did not have it, but her symptoms and bloodwork were less indicative than Heidi's are.

That entry contains links to more information about canine Cushing's Disease if you are interested in learning more. Or you can wait with us to hear the results in a week!

Although chronic renal failure is progressive, incurable at this time and ultimately terminal, the condition can be managed for months and even years with a decent quality of life. Yuki was originally diagnosed in April 2002 and since that time has had her diet changed twice; first to a lower-protein non-prescription premium diet, and then to a prescription kidney diet. She is still eating and drinking well on her own (in later stages of CRF it is likely she will not be able to do so) but she has lost quite a bit of weight and one kidney has atrophied quite a bit. Her blood work also indicates that it is now time for her to receive subcutaneous fluid therapy in order to help rehydration and to help her kidneys process waste. Want to know MORE... ?

We took Yuki to the vet for the first couple of fluid therapy sessions in order to learn the correct way to administer the fluids... and to have more people available to surround the grumpy old cat :)

Can't say that the home sessions are going well yet. We have managed to get fluids into her, but not the full amount. With her thin skin and my own general discomfort around needles, I am always afraid of hurting her.

Our vets and vet techs, plus an internet resource or two, have been very helpful. But I suppose it will take some time to get really comfortable with giving Yuki her fluid treatments!

We will light the Candle Ceremony candle for all of the Rainbow Bridge kids as we do every Monday night... and also another birthday candle for Jakey.

Happy Birthday, Jake... I hope your first birthday at the Rainbow Bridge is almost as happy as the last one you had here on earth...

She's a little heavier, a little slower and a little grayer on the muzzle now... but she still loves playing catch and chasing balls of all sorts. She's our perpetual puppy, always acting younger than her years.

Although Heidi was never a star in the show ring or on the trial field, she has made a bigger contribution to bettering the world than some people do as a working therapy dog for two years, and she is also the best therapy her family could ever have with her unfailing goofiness and her big rottweiler smile.

We love you, Heidi!!

Pounce and tuna fish were had by all (felines, that is) in celebration ... but we are the ones who got the gift... just having her a part of our lives for so long!