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My cat has PKD and unhealing sores. What can I do to help him?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Male | neutered | 8 lbs

I have a 7 year old male Persian that has been diagnosed with PKD. He has open sores on his head and neck that won’t heal and are growing quite large. Our vet just simply said, he will die and there is nothing we can do for him. When asked about having him put down he told us he wouldn’t do that because the cat is still eating. Is there anything I can do to help him be more comfortable? Is there something I should be doing with his wounds?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Amber W

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on January 19th, 2018

I'm so sorry to hear of Charmin's diagnosis. Poor kitty! There are several things you can do to keep Charmin more comfortable and to help with his kidney disease.

You should speak with your veterinarian about learning how to administer subcutaneous fluids. These fluids can be administered at your veterinary hospital or by you at home a few times a week. These fluids can help keep Charmin hydrated and reduce the BUN and creatinine values.

Vitamin B12 injections from your veterinarian may also be helpful. Medications such as famotidine (Pepcid AC) and Cerenia can be helpful for managing the GI problems we see with kidney disease. Please discuss these options with your veterinarian to decide if they are appropriate for Charmin.

You may also want to talk to your veterinarian about special prescription kidney diets. If Charmin will readily eat these then they can be helpful in managing kidney disease.

It looks like Charmin may have infection on his skin. It would be a good idea to have those areas clipped free of hair by your veterinarian so they can be more easily cleaned. Charmin may also need to be prescribed an antibiotic.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best wishes to you and Charmin!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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