My cat has CKD. Can I split subq fluid doses for easier care?

This isn't really something we monitor to be honest, so I don't have a good number for you. If he's not drinking much water or eating very wet food, he likely is getting slowly dehydrated if he's getting 200ml water subcutaneous and urinating that 200ml out, since he will lose water through his feces, breathing, skin, etc. I'd recommend letting his vet know what you're seeing, checking in on his kidney values, and consider increasing his fluid levels slightly. However, I wouldn't do this without guidance from his vet, because there are other issues he could have at the same time that would require taking a more moderated approach to the fluid amounts.

I don't recommend giving them water via oral syringe because they can choke on it. Cats don't like having anything syringed in their mouth! You can give added water to food, but it's not enough. Sub Q fluids are recommended for any cat with CKD. As their kidney function falters, the kidneys must produce more urine in order to eliminate the waste products. Cats with kidney disease cannot consume adequate water to meet the needs of their compromised kidneys. The waste products begin to build up in the bloodstream, which ultimately cause affected cats to feel sick. These fluids produce extra urine, thus helping flush out the waste products. The extra fluid intake helps with the kidney disease.

225ml is not a problem. A daily maintenance fluid for a cat would be 60 ml/kg. Your kitty weighs 12 lbs, which is about 5.5kg. So her daily maintenance would be 330ml. She actually may feel very good now, which is why she is using her scratching post and obviously is not nauseous but hungry. The extra fluid is likely flushing out toxins. So, no , you do not have to worry. Since you are giving the fluids under the skin, she will only pull in what she needs over time. Good luck with your kitty!

I would not recommend re-using it. Once the ampule is broken, the contents are no longer considered sterile, so using them in an infection the next day, with an unsealed container, increases risk for an abscess (bacterial infection ) at the injection site). If the injections aren't helping much, talk to your vet about whether or not its worth it to continue doing them. Your vet may recommend rechecking bloodwork to see where those kidney values are at; there may be improvement that you can't appreciate on the outside, but the values may be better which would indicate that continuing the injections is wise. You can feed the royal canin indefinitely. It is safe long term. However it is ok to give some other food occasionally as well, especially if he's not wanting to eat the renal diet. Some cats prefer canned food so you may try the canned version if you haven't tried that yet. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Your vet is correct in saying that the subcutaneous fluids given to animals are the same as those given to humans. However, due to their pH, certain fluids can burn while being given subcutaneously as they react with the normal fluids in the body. I recommend asking your vet what type of fluids they recommend, what amount your cat needs, and to show you how to administer them. I sometimes recommend a numbing cream to facilitate the administration, only if there are no underlying medical conditions. If your cat has liver issues, fluids may help correct some of the symptoms, but other issues such as adequate nutrition need to be taken into account as well. I am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Hello. It is difficult to comment on Beau's kidney function because there is some vital information missing. I would need to see his BUN value, an SDMA analysis, & a urinalysis. SubQ fluids are always a good idea for cats with kidney insufficiency, but without the urinalysis, I cannot say if there is any azotemia ( a term used to describe kidney function abnormalities ). The same goes with the Azodyl, which may help pets with azotemia. With a creatinine of 2.5, & according to the International Renal Interest Society ( IRIS ), Beau's kidney insufficiency is a class 2, or mild, but we really need to see the SDMA to truly classify things. If his T4 is indeed 1.0, I would definitely decrease the methimazole, only you do want to keep the doses the same morning & night. Your vet should recheck the T4 in 2 weeks to see if the Methimazole needs to be decreased further. If the prednisolone is helping the bronchitis, then it is not necessary to stop it. His liver is perfectly fine, & depending on the dose, it too may be titrated down to the very lowest dose to keep him comfortable & control his symptoms. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A more specific dose of fluids for her body weight would be 900ml daily to every other day. However, this is only dependent on her being able to tolerate this amount meaning for example that she does not have any heart disease. Please make sure with your veterinarian who knows her medical history, that this amount of fluid would be well-tolerated. Good luck and have a good night!