Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors

Pet Health Community

Announcements

Featured Topic -- Your Pet's Halloween Photo Could Be Featured! Post it HERE.

What's Happening Now

See All Discussions | Tips | Resources

cat problem

my 12 yr old cat was acting listless, not eating or drinking. took him to the vet and she...

Posted by janave

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:cat problem my 12 yr old cat was acting listless, not eating or drinking. took him to the vet and she...

Dog earache and fever

My dog is shaking his head and scratching his ear. I think he has an earache and fever....

Posted by Anon_67364

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Dog earache and fever My dog is shaking his head and scratching his ear. I think he has an earache and fever....

I love my dog, she is old

i have never chatted on the computer, but my dog is sick. I have had Maddie since I was...

Posted by 2110grapes

Take the Poll

My dogs lived a full life. I know i have to put her down soon, but when?

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:I love my dog, she is old i have never chatted on the computer, but my dog is sick. I have had Maddie since I was...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Do Indoor Cats Need So Many Vaccines?

Thanks, Dr Draper ... but I didn't answer the question about the difficulty of finding...

Posted by srstephanie

24 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Do Indoor Cats Need So Many Vaccines? Thanks, Dr Draper ... but I didn't answer the question about the difficulty of finding...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Canned Versus Dry Food: Which is Best?

Hi nicolemi, LOL! I bought Dr Hodgkins' book right after it was published in 2007. I'm...

Posted by srstephanie

22 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Canned Versus Dry Food: Which is Best? Hi nicolemi, LOL! I bought Dr Hodgkins' book right after it was published in 2007. I'm...

Vectra 3D caused my dog to be VERY restless & fidg...

Has anyone else had this problem with the newest Flea & Tick medication Vectra...

Posted by Survivor4Ever

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Vectra 3D caused my dog to be VERY restless & fidgety! Has anyone else had this problem with the newest Flea & Tick medication Vectra...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: opinions on pulse antibiotics for feline bladder i...

Thank your for the response Dr. Beaver. I realize that there isn't only one treatment...

Posted by nicolemi

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:opinions on pulse antibiotics for feline bladder infections Thank your for the response Dr. Beaver. I realize that there isn't only one treatment...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Does your pet sleep on the bed?

Oh heck yes...not only does my 9 year old Cocker Spainel sleep on my bed but under the...

Posted by Grandmaof03

63 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Does your pet sleep on the bed? Oh heck yes...not only does my 9 year old Cocker Spainel sleep on my bed but under the...

Sick Dog

I have a sick dog he won't eat and he is drinking very little. PLEASE HELP. He is 5...

Posted by angels1981

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Sick Dog I have a sick dog he won't eat and he is drinking very little. PLEASE HELP. He is 5...

Reply: goop in the eyes fleas

im not sure what to do about the goop. but my cat had kittens and they got fleas and...

Posted by anizabenzie

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:goop in the eyes fleas im not sure what to do about the goop. but my cat had kittens and they got fleas and...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: my cat wont take care of her kitten when people ar...

okay thank you! i wasnt quite sure if it was normal. and she does love us. everytime we...

Posted by anizabenzie

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:my cat wont take care of her kitten when people are around. okay thank you! i wasnt quite sure if it was normal. and she does love us. everytime we...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: diahrea everytime he eats.

it did help thank you... i watched him eat before i changed his diet and he was eating...

Posted by anizabenzie

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:diahrea everytime he eats. it did help thank you... i watched him eat before i changed his diet and he was eating...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Ear Soars

It was used for her Sister's (Ruby) upset tummie. I will take her to the Vet next...

Posted by RubyandDiamond

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Ear Soars It was used for her Sister's (Ruby) upset tummie. I will take her to the Vet next...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: I NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!!

Chelsea, It is hard to let any pet go, but having had to do so on more than one...

Posted by deblewnew

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:I NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!! Chelsea, It is hard to let any pet go, but having had to do so on more than one...

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Reply: I NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!!

I'm so, so sorry to hear about your loss. It's so devastating to lose...

Posted by Katherine Snyder, DVM, DACVIM

I'm so, so sorry to hear about your loss. It's so devastating to lose such a beloved member of the family. And seeing them pass can sometimes be very upsetting.

My best guess would be she passed right around the time she urinated and took a deep breath. It is very common after dogs pass away that they will urinate. This happens because the muscles in their body relax and allow the urine inside the bladder to leak out. I do NOT think she urinated because she was scared.

Same with the breathing. Many dogs will take those deep types of breaths after they have already all but passed, and it is simply the body's nervous system trying to still do what it thinks it needs to do. However, dogs are always unconscious at that stage and usually don't have a heart beat. It is not something we consider painful, but it can be upsetting to watch because it looks so different and will happen in dogs that are essentially already passed.

Seizures in people often cause loss of consciousness, and people "wake up" with no memory of what happened during a seizure. They don't describe seizures as a painful process. We can't ask dogs how they feel during a seizure, but chances are good that once little Jesse started to seizure she was probably unaware of anything beyond that point and did not suffer or experience any pain. She probably just slipped away at some point after the seizure happened.

It's hard to know if Jesse knew it was "her time" and passed away because she was surrounded by her loved ones, but I think we know that can happen in people, so it makes sense to me that dogs might certainly "let go" when they feel ready and are comfortable in their surroundings. I'd like to hope that is true.

I'm sure her loss will be hard to deal with for many months or even years to come. But I would encourage you to take comfort knowing that she passed away surrounded by her loved ones, and try to focus on the good memories and happier times you shared together.

Best wishes.View Thread

Posted by Katherine Snyder, DVM, DACVIM

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:I NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!! I'm so, so sorry to hear about your loss. It's so devastating to lose...

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Reply: Help with dog

Ouch! That sounds like a painful condition. It could be a variety...

Posted by Katherine Snyder, DVM, DACVIM

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Help with dog Ouch! That sounds like a painful condition. It could be a variety...

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Reply: Dog bite by insect

Hi, I'm sorry your dog isn't feeling well. If those spots ARE bug...

Posted by Katherine Snyder, DVM, DACVIM

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Dog bite by insect Hi, I'm sorry your dog isn't feeling well. If those spots ARE bug...

Melatonin for dogs

Is Melatonin, bought from a supplement store, safe for dogs? thanks,

Posted by kennedyka

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Melatonin for dogs Is Melatonin, bought from a supplement store, safe for dogs? thanks,

Reply: NEED HELP WITH CAT ASAP

The first question is if the vet prescribed this particular delivery system of...

Posted by Violets_are_Blue

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:NEED HELP WITH CAT ASAP The first question is if the vet prescribed this particular delivery system of...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Cat's Kidney Disease--Any Experiences with it?

Hi Kittylove5, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. I know what it is like to be at...

Posted by srstephanie

Hi Kittylove5,

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. I know what it is like to be at the vet's and get unexpected news ... and then one's mind tends to shut down and you don't know what to ask, and when you do ask, you can't remember the answers. After you catch your breath, you may want to try talking to your vet again.

I wish vets would throw out the "CRF" (Chronic Renal Failure) terminology. The veterinary kidney experts have gotten rid of it and now prefer to use the term "Chronic Kidney Disease" (CKD). It is a disease where the kidneys are not functioning well and is usually progressive ... but only in the very last stages is it "failure". Cats are amazing critters and have an amazing ability to compensate for reduced kidney function. With supportive care, many cats with CKD live for years. My own cat was diagnosed with CKD at age 15 and lived over three years before dying of pancreatic cancer ... not CKD which was stable.

I don't know how advanced your cat's disease is, but try not to panic until you get more info. Your cat is very young at 5 yrs old to have CKD ... it is more common in older cats. I would wonder if there is something else that caused it (could she have gotten into something toxic?). Is she a Persian? There is a kidney disease found commonly in Persians called PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) in which there are cysts in the kidney ... and PKD can effect cats at a younger age. It doesn't really matter because the treatment and course of the disease is the same.

There is a group of veterinary kidney specialists from around the world called IRIS (International Renal Interest Society). They have a website that you might want to look at:
http://www.iris-kidney.com/

On that site, under the IRIS Guidelines tab is a page on "IRIS Staging of CKD" with links to cards, posters and general info on the staging. Here is a direct link to the Cards info on staging, look first at the last page which summarizes the Staging for cats:
http://www.iris-kidney.com/pdf/IRIS%20A5%20Cards.pdf

IRIS bases their staging system on the Creatinine value, which is an item on the blood test. Be sure that the blood is drawn after she is fully rehydrated (i.e. not when she is dehydrated which will artificially elevate the value) ... and they recommend fasting before, though my vet never worried about that. IRIS uses a 4 Stage system and it can give you an idea how advanced her CKD is.

IRIS then does a "sub-staging" by looking at the ratio of Creatinine to Urine Protein (UP/C). Your vet needs to get a urine sample at the same time as the blood sample. It is best when the UP/C is below .4. There are medications that can be given that will help bring it down (e.g. an ACE inhibitor like Benazepril/Fortekor).

The other factor that IRIS looks at which is very important is blood pressure. It is felt that high blood pressure can be a factor in advancing CKD, so checking it and bringing it back down can help slow the progression of CKD. Cats respond very well (better than humans) to a blood pressure medication called Amlodipine (= Norvasc). It is a small pill and works very well.

Giving fluids at home is one of the best ways to help your cat feel better. You can talk to your vet about her weakness. It is common for cats with CKD to have low potassium, which can cause weakness (you can give potassium supplements) ... or she might be anemic and the vet can help with that, too.

As for food, there are various opinions, but all agree that, if possible, giving canned food with added water is best. If she will eat a kidney diet (low protein) that's good, if not, just getting her to eat is best. I found my cat did best on small frequent meals, if possible.

Only you can make a decision about when to let her go. But many cats get through an acute episode and become stable for long periods of time and enjoy life. I wouldn't make any quick decisions until you see how she responds. The fact that she is eating is encouraging.

Hang in there!

Stephanie in MontrealView Thread

Posted by srstephanie

Take the Poll

Would you put your kidney-diseased cat to sleep?

28 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Cat's Kidney Disease--Any Experiences with it? Hi Kittylove5, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. I know what it is like to be at...

Help Save my Dogs Life

MY DOG IS DYING! - I had him seen by over 10 different vets and nobody can figure out...

Posted by helpdexter

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Help Save my Dogs Life MY DOG IS DYING! - I had him seen by over 10 different vets and nobody can figure out...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Dog is vomiting bile for 2 years

Hi Dr. Sandy, Thanks so much for giving me the information to make some good decisions...

Posted by chrissy451

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Dog is vomiting bile for 2 years Hi Dr. Sandy, Thanks so much for giving me the information to make some good decisions...

Bad Bathroom Habits

We adopted our Chi a year ago when she was 2 and her "foster dad" had allowed her to...

Posted by Anon_67125

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Bad Bathroom Habits We adopted our Chi a year ago when she was 2 and her "foster dad" had allowed her to...

Reply: I NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!!

Chelsea, I am so sorry for your loss...I am going thru the same thing with my 12...

Posted by Grandmaof03

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:I NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!! Chelsea, I am so sorry for your loss...I am going thru the same thing with my 12...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Lymphomia

Thank you Dr. Will....I am very fortunate becuase my regular vet also is an emergency...

Posted by Grandmaof03

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Lymphomia Thank you Dr. Will....I am very fortunate becuase my regular vet also is an emergency...

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Second opinion for demodectic mange treatment

www.dermagic.com ! It saved my Shih Tzu -- literally. Love, Fur Mom - Lynn Kraft

Posted by Mommage

11 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Second opinion for demodectic mange treatment www.dermagic.com ! It saved my Shih Tzu -- literally. Love, Fur Mom - Lynn Kraft

Reply: stiff hind legs

Could be arthritis, hip dysplasia or some sort of injury. Ibuprofen can be toxic...

Dr. Will

Posted by Will Draper, DVM

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:stiff hind legs Could be arthritis, hip dysplasia or some sort of injury. Ibuprofen can be toxic...

Reply: Gastrointestinal problems/ Tumor: Food and or Vitm...

rocpit1- only your veterinarian in charge of your dog's case should determine...

Dr. Will

Posted by Will Draper, DVM

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Gastrointestinal problems/ Tumor: Food and or Vitmans/ Supplements rocpit1- only your veterinarian in charge of your dog's case should determine...

Reply: Torn claw

Anon- outside of veterinary attention, cleaning it (soaking in some clean lukewarm...

Dr. Will

Posted by Will Draper, DVM

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Torn claw Anon- outside of veterinary attention, cleaning it (soaking in some clean lukewarm...

Reply: Enlarged Spleen

retrievergirl: it is not proper for me to direct you on this, with my not having a...

Dr. Will

Posted by Will Draper, DVM

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Enlarged Spleen retrievergirl: it is not proper for me to direct you on this, with my not having a...

More: Discussions | Tips | Resources

Visit the Pet Health Center

Women's Health Newsletter

Find out what women really need.

Featuring Experts from

Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, a practicing veterinarian for 25 years, is board certified in both oncology and internal medicine. She maintains her clinical pract...More

Guests

Will Draper, DVM

Popular Discussions

Start a Discussion | See All

Helpful Tips

Information on feline vaccinations from AAHA's Healthy Pet web site:

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/PetCareArticle.aspx?art_key=42ca5cdb-3f93-485e-8afa-1b35bcb6af19 More

Was this Helpful?

3 of 5 found this helpful

Post a Tip | See All

Helpful Resources

Great information from AAHA's ...

Salmonella and dry pet foods

Is you pooch portly or feline ...

Fleas...Persistence or Resista...

For all kinds of information f...

Post a Resource | See All

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Learn more about the AVMA

Other Pet Health Information

The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.

Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

In-depth coverage:

Recognizing the Symptoms of Depression|Coping With Excessive Sleepiness|Vitamins & Lifestyle Guide|Healthy Skin TV|Better Health Conversation

Find us on:

URAC: Accredited Health Web Site Reviewed by Trust-E site privacy statement HonCode: Health on the Net Foundation

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.

Pet Health Community

See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

Announcements

What's Happening Now

Take the Poll

Poll Results

Take the Poll

Poll Results

Women's Health Newsletter

Featuring Experts from

Guests

Popular Discussions

Helpful Tips

Helpful Resources

Related News

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

Other Pet Health Information

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

In-depth coverage:

Find us on:

Pet Health Community

See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

Announcements

What's Happening Now

Take the Poll

Poll Results

Take the Poll

Poll Results

Women's Health Newsletter

Featuring Experts from

Guests

Popular Discussions

Helpful Tips

Helpful Resources

Related News

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

Other Pet Health Information

More Related Communities

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

In-depth coverage:

Find us on:

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration