Bit of advice needed.

[bobbys girl]

As many of you know our Tommy has CKD. He is not doing too good, the bad days are starting to out number the good ones. But on a good day he can still frisk and trot up the drive to meet me and he still responds well to a fuss.

He is still on Semintra and the vet has given us 5mg tablets of Prednisolone (?) We seem to be getting into a pattern. He has his meds, mixed with a little Recovery - two syringes by mouth. He goes off for a sulk, then sucks all the jelly off a satchet of Coshida and has a little Chicken before going out to drink out of the pond.

Our vet says he should not be on the steroids for long and we should wean him off them. But we figure that he has not got THAT long and if they are helping him to eat what harm are they doing?

All ideas and suggestions gratefully recieved. We want to make his remaining time with us as comfortable as possible. My poor old fella.

[Lilith]

It's a tough one isn't it?

I've no experience of modern steroids - two of mine, 20 years ago and on the way out (no diagnosis; they were only middleaged and the vet couldn't be faulted but no diagnosis) had regular steroid jabs which picked them up for a few days - and then they went back to being moribund little bundles of fur and bone. With hindsight I wish I'd never put them through that - better to have let them go naturally.

But the steroids Tommy's on seem to be keeping him going and my personal feeling would be, whatever gives him a lift at the moment, why not? Long-term effects may not be relevant, and if he's coping and enjoying life at the moment and having good normal catty days, why not?

As I say, I'm no expert, but hope this regime goes on being feasible and gives you both some extra time together and lets him enjoy life a bit longer. All the very best! x

[Crewella]

Our Minnie had IBS and was on Prednisolone for the last year and a half of her life, so from age 18 onwards. It was originally supposed to be short -term, but we decided, as you are obviously thinking, that it might not be ideal in the long term, but that she stood little chance without it. The benefits far outweighed any contra-indications - she was a much happier cat on the steroids and they helped her appetite enormously.

Give Tommy a fuss from me. xx

[bobbys girl]

Thanks for that girls. Fusses will be passed on.

[meriad]

I'm trying to think how long I had Molly on Prednisolone for - but I'm sure it was a good year or two. She was on metacam and fortekor for her arthritis and her kidneys but as her appetite decreased she started having problems with the Metacam so we took her off that and onto the Pred... worked fine for her and as others have said - it gave her a good rest of her life. She was 21 when I lost her and looking back I wouldn't do anything different.

But I'm curious (and not quite up to speed on this) why is Tommy on Pred and not something like Fortekor to help his kidneys? Just wondering

Fusses from me as well x

[bobbys girl]

Thanks for replying Ria, but it has come a bit late. Tommy passed on to the Bridge on Sunday evening.

Your comments have been noted though - it was something I was unaware of too. I will remember that, it may come in handy with another cat and I am sure it will be useful to anyone else reading this. Thank you.

Sue

PS He was on Semintra for his kidneys.

[meriad]

I am so sorry.... and apologies