My Mums lovely cat has been diagnosed today with stage 2 kidney disease. She is currently constipated and vomitting. The vet has suggested an ultrasound to check there isn't a blockage in the stomach and then hospitalising for 3-4 days (day hospital only), a second blood test to check the kidney function again then followed by a strict diet.
The cost for all of the above is £509. The cost isn't really a huge issue, I've just mentioned it incase anyone asks.
The cat is 17, hasn't really had any health problems until now and is much loved.
The dilemma is she is old. How much longer will she have left if she received this treatment? It could be years but it could also be months.
My Mum has made the decision to have her PTS to stop her suffering any more pain/discomfort - not an easy decision to make and she's in floods of tears. I've said I'll support her whatever she decides but I fear she's making the wrong choice here.
Originally she said she'd do the ultrasound but not the kidney treatment as she's sure there is a stomach issue. I asked how she'd feel if the ultrasound showed nothing and she said she didn't know. The only thing we both know is the cat cannot continue like this - she's in pain and is suffering. She either needs the treatment, or she needs to be PTS.
She wants me to call the vets because she just keeps crying but I can't do it. I really, really can't. I've spent the entire day in tears myself and I've got no work done.
Is she making the right choice? Should I just go with it or should I try to get her to treat the cat?
Anyone have any experience of stage 2 kidney disease?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit of a mess 
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The litter tray
WWYD? 17yr old cat with stage 2 kidney disease
Hazelbrowneyes · 04/03/2014 16:41
Typically she's now stopped the squatting 
My mum is going to see how she is today but unless there is a dramatic improvement, we're still going to PTS on Friday. Either way, we'll keep the appointment Friday morning even if it's just to discuss further with the vet. The vet has been fantastic. Very understanding and very helpful.
Just thought I'd update as you were all so kind.
She is still with us! 
She has dramatically improved over the last few days and has had 3 good days in a row now. No vomiting and the squatting has stopped (we now know she was squatting to wee, not poo) and she isn't constipated anymore. A few days of her weeing all over the house but that's stopped too.
The vet was bloody useless. My poor mum has paid £410, not been given any receipts (until yesterday when she asked for a breakdown of the account and it only comes to £380 ) and the vet has just been trying to get more and more money out of her. The latest is a visit to the nurse every week for medication at a cost of £33 a time. My mum has refused this as the cat gets stressed going to the vets.
Also, where the vet had taken blood, the cat has scratched her skin and it was a bit sore. The vet decided to roughly scrub all the scabs off her and then use neat hibiscrub on her neck and face. Luckily my mums friend told her not to use it neat before she started using it but the cat now has chemical burns The poor thing looks a complete state but my mum has spoken to another vet and they have advised salt water to soothe and this is already helping.
Overall the cat is much happier at the moment. She's lost a bit of weight but she's on the correct food now which is helping and she's taking the tablets she needs to without much fuss.
I am just furious with the vet who pretty much admitted she thought that the cat was insured and that was why she was suggesting so much treatment. We're now registering with a different vet who has been highly recommended and was very helpful on the phone.
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