Hey everyone! I hope this doesn’t go against your rules, my brain is essentially scrambled eggs after the past few days so please remove if necessary.
I’ve had my two sons for a few years now with no major health issues or any signs of distress. Like everyone here, I adore my feline familiars and do my best to give them the happiest home I can. I’ve constantly gotten compliments on how friendly my cats are — that, paired with my undying love for them, made me confident I was giving them the best life I could. Happy, healthy, friendly little loves. Truly the lights of my life.
That reality was brutally shattered last week. Took my little guys in for a routine physical at our primary care vet and both were found to have abnormal kidney functions from their blood work. I was advised by my vet to take them to the ER for immediate treatment. One had levels of 3.5, the other nearing 6 at the time of hospitalization. It was an absolute shock. My little loves spent all weekend at the hospital on IV fluid treatment.
Sometime Saturday night, it was suggested that I reach out to the ASPCA poison control center because simultaneous kidney failure is likely from a home toxin. I paid the fee and gave them a ring to discover that the most likely culprit was a Lilac and Lily essential oil I was recently gifted and used in a diffuser. I was gifted this diffuser a month ago and placed it on a table in my living room about 3ft from their water fountain. Current speculation is that the oils either entered the fountain or covered their coats when they were drinking, ingested during grooming later.
(EDIT) I’ve been meticulous for years about reading the ingredients in home cleaners, researching plants inside and outside the home and making sure the food I fed them was clear of any of the known ingredients to cause illness. I never thought to check the essential oil I diffused for ingredients or suspect it could be dangerous at all — it was just a scent, who could it harm. This small gift ended up giving my cats lifelong, acute kidney disease and a diminished quality of life. PLEASE don’t make the same mistake I did and spread the word. I’ll never forgive myself for what I did to my boys, but hopefully this can save someone else and their favorite fluffs the pain, suffering and heartache that me and mine are currently experiencing.
I’ve been absolutely GUTTED since finding this out. My guys acted normal, didn’t show abnormal bowel movements and were eating well until I took them in for their physical. I’m sure it’s a blessing that this was discovered at all, but the prognosis seems grim.
After consulting with half a dozen vets (thanks to friends and friends’ referrals for additional opinions) it was suggested that I take them home from the hospital and start treating them at home. It’s been ... a fucking terrible week, no other way to describe it.
If anyone has a cat in acute kidney failure that opted to continue treatment at home:
1) How was the experience for your cat? Was this time well spent or do you think this just prolonged suffering?
2) Both of my cats had no outward signs of ill health before I took them for their primary visit, now that we’re treating at home with SQ fluids they’re eating less and much more withdrawn. Did your kitty love have an adjustment period or could this be a sign that the stress of the past few days exasperated their symptoms?
3) Both of my sons are having a bit of diarrhea- formerly well groomed gents, now they’re both leaving the litter box covered in ... well, you know. I haven’t figured out a good system to keep them clean - any suggestions that don’t cause added stress?
4) Are there any foods or supplements you recommend to enhance their diet? I have what the vet suggested but they’re eating less and I want to explore some options beyond the prescription diet we now have (even if it’s just mixing something in to make the new food more palatable.)
5) If you’ve had a young cat diagnosed with advanced kidney disease, how long did they live after the initial prognosis? I’ve read so much conflicting things online and heard so many different estimates from my vets that I can’t tell who’s trying to be kind and who’s being realistic anymore.
6) I love my kitty boys with all my heart and NEVER expected something like this to come up to suddenly and without warning. How do you know when home care is no longer “care” but a selfish attempt to prolong goodbye? My sons are the first pets I’ve ever had and I want to do everything I can to keep them happy and at home, but what are some signs you’ve seen that it might be time to cross the Rainbow Bridge (out of love for them.)
TLDR; Both of my beloved kitties were shockingly diagnosed with acute kidney disease (most likely caused by a home toxin, in this case a Lilac and Lily essential oil used in a diffuser.) I’m in shock and devastated - would love to hear about fellow humans who navigated a similarly difficult prognosis well.
XOXOXO - Bass Cat
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/mva8no/cross_post_acute_chronic_kindey_disease_in_two/
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