We ended up going to ACC after all, since the other place's vet evidently had a crappy attitude about giving us directions to their emergency center (I didn't talk to her), and dealing with someone combative that also doesn't realize I have any knowledge about vet care didn't appeal to me.

So last night, they gave him a shot of Pepcid AC (famotidine, not unusual) and ran a blood panel, then had us give him 100ml sub-q fluids at home. He has no interest in food, water, or the litterbox.

This morning, they called and informed us that his creatinine & BUN -- kidney values (where lower is better) -- are quite high. Three possibilities:
1) Acute renal failure, in which case we're screwed because the treatment is hospitalization with IV fluids, both not an option for financial reasons and because it'd cause his congestive heart failure to crash

2) Chronic renal failure, which would mean going into the "dance" (as some call it) of managing both diuretics for his heart and fluid for his kidneys. Yes, somehow a lot of people do succeed at this. Also, there's the question of whether he has primary kidney disease so his kidneys were screwed-up on their own, or if it's acquired from the Lasix usage overworking them to get rid of the fluid in his abdomen, or both.

The problem is that we can't tell offhand which of the two above categories he's in, because we also can't afford ultrasound to inspect them; all the vet could feel is that they're lumpy. (Usually failing kidneys are also tiny.) Things aren't looking good, though.

Oddly enough, I also just got bloodwork results recently warning that my own creat/BUN is abnormally high, and the doctor wants to see me ASAP since we know one of them went into failure once already. The situation with Jax, which has now mangled the ability to pay for Bastian's pricey anti-clot med, brought to mind the nasty situation with my father last Spring, and the "face reality that they 'just die'" aspect in particular. So when my mother reminded me to call for that appointment, I calmly refused: I'll get an appointment as soon as I can afford Bastian's medicine, and you two can think about 'facing reality' that people like me 'just die' without expensive medical care, too."

Still no eating, drinking, or litterbox, dammit. We're moving him back in here (he spent the night with my mother since he's kind of fed up with me) in case he likes my facilities more. I feel like I should make a sign labeled "Infirmary" and stick it above the staircase leading up to our rooms at this point. :-/

I'm waiting for a phone call from the emergency vet on duty to tell me how much (if any) Lasix Jax should get, but for now I need to get his Enalapril and Bastian's regular meds ready.

Tags: acc, chf, jax, renal failure, tests
Current Mood: crappy

A very quick note for the moment...

We just got back from the animal emergency center, where Max (the 16-year-old) is currently at. He has been diagnosed with acute renal failure & anemia; they're now giving him fluids and possibly blood in an effort to save him. No, he did not eat tainted food; we aren't sure what caused this, aside from that he has very small kidneys in the first place.

Any-and-all good thoughts, distance healing, prayers, etc. would be appreciated. We might find out more later, depending on how things go this afternoon/evening. At least he's with one of the better emergency vets, which is comforting. I hope beyond anything that the "bad" one isn't on-duty this weekend.


It's like his mother all over again, even the time of year -- we lost her in Spring 1997, I believe. I've never really forgiven myself for not knowing that there was more that could have been done for her, for not researching before that point, and choosing to euthanize the one morning rather than ask what could be done...

Tags: max, renal failure
Current Mood: distressed