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Young cat with kidney failure

We noticed our young, 4 year old indoor cat was losing weight and we took her to the vet only to discover after blood work that she is in kidney failure (she has not been exposed to any anti-freeze, is young and the vet could offer no reason for it). She has been still purring, trying to be her normal self (although she was a bit clingy and we thought something was wrong). We have gone ahead with fluids through IV, 2 days at the vet hospital and she is going to continue to be monitored with her blood work. All her other blood work values came back within the normal range (except for her red blood cell count) and they said it was not an infection (which sadly would have been easier to treat). What are the chances of recovery from this? We all love her very much, my two year old adores her and we thought we would try and save her. The vet said she has never seen kidney failure in a cat so young and could not give us a prognosis.
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Avatar universal
I also had a young cat get kidney failure for no reason what-so-ever, in 2016. After spending a ton of money at a vet clinic that just wanted to push pills, do expensive tests and tell me he was gonna die anyway, I found www.petwellbeing.com and ordered some Kidney Support Gold drops for him. They have fabulous reviews and I am sure they saved my Simba's life. I also started him on a liquid vitamin called "Lixotinic". The Lixotinic helps pump up their appetite and gives them energy. I mix the kidney drops and the Lixotinic together and give it to him in a syringe.  The taste of the vitamins helps mask the drops taste, which they do not like. Anyway, he has turned around totally, has gained back his weight and his kidney values have been normal for a couple years. Petwellbeing.com also has many other drops for different ailments, most with very good reviews. Please check it out.
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2 Comments
mrjinxsmomma...hey there, and thank you so much for all your tips.  When we take your kitties to the vet, it's all a guessing game, since we, as parents, can only give so much information which often doesn't give the vet the clues they need....like saying my girl/boy has acted a bit nervous; needed more loving, etc.  So ultimately we pet owners are faced with expensive tests to rule the obvious common 'firsts.'  

After all the tests, either a diagnosis is made (if we're lucky), or not and often antibiotics are given as a precaution when kitty doesn't even Have an infection.  Then we're presented the bill.  My last kity, Jade, seemed to have quite a few UTI's.  Come to find out...and of course after starting on the antib's, I found out she didn't have an infection at all.  Except now, unfortunately, she had to finish the bottle.  We got to the point where we didn't give the antib, until I called the vet to find out if she had an infection or not...which half the time she did not in which case, I was glad I waited for the results .  

I am thrilled to hear about Simba's turnaround.  Obviously the treatment you researched and found, did wonders.  Thank you so much for sharing that website.  I'll check it out.  There are so many sites out there, it's always good to add a recommended site that's been researched and found it be on the up and up.  I will definitely research it myself, then add it to my favorites for future reference to share to others in the future.

One tip I would like to pass on, is if you don't already, please feed Simba wet food only.  A good quality one, too. (if finances allow).  Cat's don't tend to drink the water they need, and adding just a small amt to his wet food at each feeding...like half a tsp, will help Simba to stay hydrated.  AND, he won't know the difference.  If mixed well, he'll lap it up like gravy.  

I'm very relieved to read your post that Simba had a happy ending, and is continuing to thrive.  You've been an amazing cat mom, especially with all the research and education you've given yourself.  

I wish you many, many more years with your Simba.  If you're up to it, you seem to be well educated in the heart field, and it would be great if you felt like popping in every so to share your advise and give advice and comfort who are going through the same thing.  

Hugs.  

    
I would just like to try and help anyone who is dealing with kidney failure in a cat, as it is very common. Simba is young, he is just about 5 years old now, and he is doing great, thank the Lord.  I know it is more difficult with the older ones, as I have been thru that too, and lost.  I am now fighting a new battle with a 9 year old cat who is hyperthyroid. I have never experienced this before and it is quite scarey. I am giving him Methimazole and Thyroid Support Gold drops mixed with Lixotinic. It's only been a few days and I am searching for any advice from others. God Bless.
Avatar universal
My little baby boy Sweet Baby James is only 18 months old and has been diagnosed with kidney failure.  He was about 8 months old when he beat panleukopenia and the vet seems to think that the virus may have damaged his kidneys and over time they just gave out.  He also has a heart murmur which they also think was the result of the virus.  Was your cat seriously ill with a virus that could have damaged the kidneys?  That could be the reason for the kidney failure.  We are treating my baby with medications to help with his kidney values as well as a renal diet from Royal Canin.  There is no cure but it can help to make them more comfortable and help with the quality of life they have remaining.  The irony of this whole situation is that I am a hemodialysis technician for 20 years!  My mother and husband both had renal failure and were on dialysis.
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Avatar universal
I know the pain. I feel so bad for you. It is so hard. I am going through something similar. I can't eat or sleep myself and am in tears all the time at work. The best cat I ever had, Lola, is really sick. She just turned 6. She is still young. Started throwing up over Memorial Weekend. Stopped eating, became almost lethargic. Took her in to see the vet the day after Memorial Day. $500 later was told she was in kidney failure. What? She just turned 6! She is still a baby. My last cat died at age 20 with kidney failure being a factor. The truth is he was very old. But Lola is only 6! Her brother, who I also adopted from the rescue shelter is fine. A week after the diagnosis we were preparing to put her down. She was lethargic, and would not eat no matter what. Attempting medications other than the sub-q fluids was traumatic and not worth what both she and we went through trying to force the medications on her, so we stopped. We wanted her to still feel we loved her and not hated her by trying to constantly force something on her. She fought like you would not believe. We decided to wait for her signal, then we were going to end her suffering. After 10 days or so of sub-q fluids she suddenly got better. She was up and around and acting herself again. However, we could not get her to eat no matter what. Tried everything you can imagine to no avail. I could not let her die of starvation. She was back to being the cat we knew, but was going to die from starvation. I finally made the decision for an e-tube. She has been home for about 8 hours now as I write this and still groggy from the anesthesia. However, I have been able to give her medication and feed her twice since she has been home. There is hope that she can live with quality of life for awhile. She barely notices the e-tube. Hardly any stress giving her medication or feeding her. We will see how she reacts once the anesthesia completely wears off. But what I am seeing so far, and how much easier and less stressful it is for both her and me, I wish I would have had the e-tube done a few days ago. I know she will be back to her old self again and enjoying life, at least for awhile now that she will not be starving to death. The e-tube will not restrict her from anything. She will be doing what she has always done, hopefully. I wish vets would tell people about this option more frequently. I found out about it by doing research on the internet. Stacie, I am so sorry for your loss. It sound like you were a great mommy to your cat.
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1 Comments
Has anyone of you guys had a necropsy performed?  I know how hard it is to lose your best friends, but it might help others get needed answers.  We are also suffering with this, our 2 1/2 year old russian blue Bean has this.  His symptoms started out with bad breath and red, inflamed gums.  We took him to the vet in which they thought he had stomatosis (spelling).  This was a year ago.  This year, he lost weight, being a long haired cat, we didn't notice right away.  We took him back again for blood work and that is when they diagnosed him with CKD.  He is on fluids and getting injections of red blood cells.  He is feeling better but his lab numbers did not come down.  We are feeding him a raw food diet, seeing that the commercial food might be a cause.  We don't think he is going to make it.

By the way, we are in Ga.  I am wondering if everyone who has experienced this is in the same area?  Maybe bad food or a bad vaccine?

Mark
Avatar universal
My 3 year old male cat started loosing weight and became really skinny so we took him to the vets and they said he was fine but then they did blood tests and then they came back and said he had failing kidneys so they put him on a life support machine and on a drip so the drip would work as his kidneys, we then took him home after him being on the drip after 24 hours and he got worse once we brought him home so the next day we took him back in and he was put onto the drip again for another 24 hours but today we went into see him he was drooling everywhere, couldn't stand up, couldn't open his eyes, he didn't eat or drink or pee for days and the vets said there isn't much they can do and he passed away. I've been heart broke for the past week dealing with this, he passed away today and I've been crying my eyes out. I hate loosing pets, this was the first pet I've ever lost and it's seriously tore me apart. He was only 3, such a young age. He deserved a much longer life. :/
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Avatar universal
Do you have an update on your kitty? My 1.5 year old was hospitalized yesterday with kidney failure and I want to think that he can get through it and be managed. I would love to hear how yours is doing.
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Avatar universal
My 1.5 year old cat went in yesterday with renal failure and no possibility of toxic poisoning. They're going to retest his values on Thursday after IV fluids and meds. Looking through this forum gives me little hope my little Obie is going to make it. This is completely out of nowhere, the poor guy is so young. It's concerning that so many young cats are presenting with sudden acute kidney failure.
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587315 tn?1333552783
I am so deeply sorry for your loss.  Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for something like this happening.  I know that doesn't make it any easier to go through a devastating loss like this.  Remember to take care of yourself and to remember your special girl in happier times.  

Sending you hugs and good vibes.
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Avatar universal
I just lost my 3 year old to severe kidney failure and I am having a hard time coping with this. She was always by my side and followed me everywhere I went. The emptiness I feel is so intense, I cant eat, barely sleep, and I cant stand being alone with my thoughts. My eyes are so swollen from crying. She was a normal happy girl 6 days ago and now shes gone and the doctor had no reasons as to why this happened. I feel so alone.
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874521 tn?1424116797
I am so very sorry for your double loss in such a short time, I can't answer your questions as to what happened and why...I just want to say how very sorry I am....((hugs))♥
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Avatar universal
I don't know if any of you are still on this site, but this morning we joined your heartbreaking group with the loss of our 3 yr. old L.S. to total kidney failure.  Last week we had to put down one of our older cats due to cancer.  He was pretty close to her, so when he acted a little lethargic over the weekend we assumed he was probably mourning her loss.  Monday morning, there was definitely something wrong.  His meow, which we hardly ever heard was real deep and raspy, he'd been drooling and wasn't real steady on his feet.  I got him to our vet where they found he was dehydrated, and his temperature was 95.  The blood work came back this morning showing no kidney function, and we all know where that goes.  If it helps anyone else my vet said that the common causes of this for a young cat would be anti-freeze, Advil, or Tylenol poisoning.  L.S. was an indoor cat, and we have none of those items in our house.  I want to stress that he said most common - not - only causes.  It could have been something genetic that he was born with.  I can' t vouch for his "breeding" as I found him all alone on our patio in the rain, soaking wet, and at that time he fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare.  He turned out to be one of the best "feral" cats we've ever had.  I'm sure you've heard the saying that only the good die young.  In his case it's true.
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874521 tn?1424116797
I'm so sorry, it's so very hard to loose our beloved companions than to feel no one else understands our deep hurt and ongoing feelings of depression following. Yes they are in a sense our children...we love them as deeply and mourn them equally.
Don't blame yourself dear, kidney disease and others can be easily missed until it's too late. You did all you were able to do in the circumstances, cats especially hide pain very well
He knew he was loved and that's what counts, a loving home and loving parent...he felt you beside him even tho you couldn't be there physically, he knew and understood this, your right he just couldn't wait any longer to go:(
It doesn't seem possible right now but the pain and depression will ease. He has crossed over the rainbow bridge and awaits to be reunited with you one day in the future....he doesn't want you to be sad
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Avatar universal
Hi Jack Sammy, i feel your grief, I just lost my 4 years old lil boy (Siamese) few weeks ago (22nd March 2015) due to Kidney Failure,  his blood results was good back in January but by mid of March his Urea & Creatinine have elevated & it was alil too late to do anything, as i brought him to the hospital only after realising he was really ill, he passed away in the hospital the next  morning & the most saddest part was i wasnt there when he took his last breath... he was all alone, he hates being alone especially in the dark.......he gets excited everytime he sees me but the morning of his passing I failed to make it on time as i was few minutes late, I guess he could no longer wait...
i still blame myself for not seeing all the signs that he was really ill & in need of instant treatment , it all started when  i was in the hospital to get myself treated for 3 days & when i came home he was too skinny & pale, thinking he was acting up to his new food/vaccination I didn’t really pay much attention, due to my financial constraint  i brought him to a local vet & the vet couldnt identify the causes, as the vet didnt have much facilities & only after i got some cash i brought him to the hospital... but it was alil too late as he couldnt stand nor walk anymore... i still blame myself for not taking him to the hospital immediately, I still carry an enormous  guilt & regret every single day ..
i miss him tremendously, ive  gone so thin since his passing, ive distant myself from people fearing some might find my grief alil too much & laugh about it because some may see him only as a pet. They don’t know what its like to lose a great companion like himself as he was very dear & close to me. He was such an obedient  & intelligent cat, I feel lucky to have found him & own him…, he wasnt just a pet, he was more of a son to me, he was my best friend & true meaning of happiness ...
coming home is never the same anymore, its quiet  & dull nowdays... no more joy to come home to...
im slowly going into depression.... it seems impossible to overcome….
missing his cute blue eyes, his baby smell, his hugs, his cuddles & mostly his sandpaper kisses
(Obie Nov 2011 - March 2015)
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Avatar universal
I too just lost my 4 years old lil boy (Siamese) few weeks ago (22nd March 2015) due to Kidney Failure,  his blood results was good back in January but by mid of March his Urea & Creatinine have elevated & it was alil too late to do anything, as i brought him to the hospital only after realising he was really ill, he passed away in the hospital the next  morning & the most saddest part was i wasnt there when he took his last breath... he was all alone, he hates being alone especially in the dark.......he gets excited everytime he sees me but the morning of his passing I failed to make it on time as i was few minutes late, I guess he could no longer wait...
i still blame myself for not seeing all the signs that he was really ill & in need of instant treatment , it all started when  i was in the hospital to get myself treated for 3 days & when i came home he was too skinny & pale, thinking he was acting up to his new food/vaccination I didn’t really pay much attention, due to my financial constraint  i brought him to a local vet & the vet couldnt identify the causes, as the vet didnt have much facilities & only after i got some cash i brought him to the hospital... but it was alil too late as he couldnt stand nor walk anymore... i still blame myself for not taking him to the hospital immediately, I still carry an enormous  guilt & regret every single day ..
i miss him tremendously, ive  gone so thin since his passing, ive distant myself from people fearing some might find my grief alil too much & laugh about it because some may see him only as a pet. They don’t know what its like to lose a great companion like himself as he was very dear & close to me. He was such an obedient  & intelligent cat, I feel lucky to have found him & own him…, he wasnt just a pet, he was more of a son to me, he was my best friend & true meaning of happiness ...
coming home is never the same anymore, its quiet  & dull nowdays... no more joy to come home to...
im slowly going into depression.... it seems impossible to overcome….
missing his cute blue eyes, his baby smell, his hugs, his cuddles & mostly his sandpaper kisses
(Obie Nov 2011 - March 2015)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I too just lost my 4 years old lil boy (Siamese) few weeks ago (22nd March 2015) due to Kidney Failure,  his blood results was good back in January but by mid of March his Urea & Creatinine have elevated & it was alil too late to do anything, as i brought him to the hospital only after realising he was really ill, he passed away in the hospital the next  morning & the most saddest part was i wasnt there when he took his last breath... he was all alone, he hates being alone especially in the dark.......he gets excited everytime he sees me but the morning of his passing I failed to make it on time as i was few minutes late, I guess he could no longer wait...
i still blame myself for not seeing all the signs that he was really ill & in need of instant treatment , it all started when  i was in the hospital to get myself treated for 3 days & when i came home he was too skinny & pale, thinking he was acting up to his new food/vaccination I didn’t really pay much attention, due to my financial constraint  i brought him to a local vet & the vet couldnt identify the causes, as the vet didnt have much facilities & only after i got some cash i brought him to the hospital... but it was alil too late as he couldnt stand nor walk anymore... i still blame myself for not taking him to the hospital immediately, I still carry an enormous  guilt & regret every single day ..
i miss him tremendously, ive  gone so thin since his passing, ive distant myself from people fearing some might find my grief alil too much & laugh about it because some may see him only as a pet. They don’t know what its like to lose a great companion like himself as he was very dear & close to me. He was such an obedient  & intelligent cat, I feel lucky to have found him & own him…, he wasnt just a pet, he was more of a son to me, he was my best friend & true meaning of happiness ...
coming home is never the same anymore, its quiet  & dull nowdays... no more joy to come home to...
im slowly going into depression.... it seems impossible to overcome….
missing his cute blue eyes, his baby smell, his hugs, his cuddles & mostly his sandpaper kisses
(Obie Nov 2011 - March 2015)
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Avatar universal
Found this site the usual way, by Google, after learning yesterday that my 4 year old cat Malik is in renal failure. He is in the hospital at the moment. The vet seems perplexed, but obviously this is more common than previously thought, or perhaps its just being diagnosed more often. She said something about possible toxicity, which makes me crazy because he has had access to absolutely nothing. I first noticed something wrong the other day when he was drinking excessively from the toilet.She thought drinking from the toilet could make him sick, but it seems so hard to believe that it would damage his kidneys. Thinking back on it, he has lost weight over the last year, so I think this has been coming on awhile. I feel better reading your stories and knowing that the symptoms are pretty subtle, that I didn't miss anything I should have recognized. I have also recently switched to a high quality canned food, and I don't see how that could be related. I think this just happens sometimes, unfortunately. Now I am steeling myself for the next phase, although some cats apparently do live awhile with it. Just heartbroken though. This was the cat who rescued me
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874521 tn?1424116797
Im sorry to read abt your dear kitty...especially when NO specific reason is apparent...don't blame yourself, there are times when these things just seem to happen to otherwise healthy well looked after cats. I am going to send you a website that deals strictly with CRF if you follow all the tabs on Tanya's site it will give you tons of info into this disease and the treatments.
I do hope you kitty makes a full recovery and will spend many more happy years with you:)

http://www.felinecrf.org/
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Avatar universal
Hi Everyone -
My 3 year old calico Snickers just spent 4 days in the cat hospital last week with kidney failure.  It came out of nowhere.  The vet was sure that it was due to something toxic.  They kept asking us if she got into any lilies or antifreeze.  But she's an indoor cat and we don't have any lilies in the house.  I was baffled.  But they did also mention that she had a Urinary Tract Infection that could have spread to the kidneys.  I felt terrible and so guilty, like I should have seen the signs sooner.  I was a wreck for a week (and I still am).  They said she was well enough to come home about 4 days ago.  They actually used the term "clinically better".  So we happily brought her home and we're administering SubQ fluids every night, along with a couple other medications.  She seems perfectly normal.  Happy all the time, active, purring, eating.  But still drinking a lot of water.  I am still so worried about her though.  I am hopeful, but I also know she's not out of the woods yet.  Reading many of your posts on here scares me because they don't sound too optimistic.  I'm hoping she pulls through, we're due to take her to the vet this weekend for a checkup and more bloodwork to see how her levels are doing.  I'm just hoping and wondering that she can make a full recovery.  I'm hoping for some positive stories here on this feed!
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874521 tn?1424116797
Welcome to our community, but very sorry for your loss that led you here. What Your little buddy had wasn't common...a missing or under developed kidney is a congenital defect and something that could never have been foreseen.
I suspect the one kidney he did have was also defective for it to fail at such a young age
I am very sorry, our little fur babies give us so much joy and love no matter how long they are with us, they leave a hole in our hearts when they pass
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Avatar universal
This is my first time posting here, so hopefully this will work properly!  I found this forum by searching for "kidney failure in four year old cat."  Unfortunately, my 4.5 year old male cat just passed due to kidney failure.  I skimmed through the other posts and didn't see this mentioned, but in my buddy's case he only had one developed kidney.  We did an x-ray and two separate ultrasounds to confirm that his left kidney was either completely missing or severely underdeveloped.  A specialist said there was some tissue where the left kidney should be, but it didn't resemble a kidney at all.  We had no idea until he started getting sick.  From initial diagnosis to passing, we had one month.  I just wish I could have him back.  Losing a beloved cat, especially so young, is so devastating. My heart goes out to all of you.
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1 Comments
Hi - just read this post and Opus88 reply.  We suddenly lost our 4.5 yr old friend (3 weeks ago) and it all happened so fast!  We thought our guy had hairballs until his demeanour  changed. We rushed him to Emerg.  An x-ray revealed one very small kidney and the other 3x's the size.  There was speculation that the small one was not working and then the large one was failing.  It became dire after 2 days of liquids, etc, things were getting worse and his little lungs were filling with fluid.  We had to let him pass.  In spite of our shock, we decided to have a necropsy done and are awaiting the results...which btw, does not make this any easier.  We are devastated.  Yes Opus88 & JackSammy - crazy hurt!
506791 tn?1439842983
Our Calamity Jane Grey had reduced kidney function the last 2 years of her life (made it to 21 years 4 months).  We gave her Ringer's lactate subcutaneously 3 to 4 times a week (2 - 3 ounces) to help keep her properly hydrated.

If the kidney function loss is mild, kitty can have a good life with help.
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7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi 3Cat,

Thanks so much for posting ! It helps us realize that what might help answer one persons question  might be able to help others who just read here for information We all learn every day. That is why I love this forum.

I cannot tell you how common it is for we cat parents to feel quilt  when we find our pets may have had an illness we did not know about early enough.
I guess it comes with the turf. Since our cats cannot tell us what is wron we will always be behind the eight ball , so to speak.

You have plenty of company in your feelings, but "s---t Happens" , and it has no reflection on we as pet parents..As long as our pets have been protected and loved  their life with us has been a treasure. They sure would not blame us , so we should go easy on ourselves, LOL!

Happy to know this forum has helped you!

Best wishes,
CML
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Avatar universal
After 18 years(!), I was still feeling guilty because my 4-year-old cat, Betsy, had become ill with renal failure. I had adopted her from the local animal shelter when she was around a year old, so I never knew her young history and wondered if she had experienced some trauma earlier in life OR if I had done something wrong. After reading so many of your posts, I'm comforted (in a way), knowing that renal failure in young cats is more common than I previously believed. At the time, my veterinarian had no explanation for how Betsy could have succumb to the disease. I now know that I did all that I could at the time--got her to the vet quickly and, later, administer the lactated ringers and lots of love. After all these years, my best friend is still missed.
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7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi Rebecca,

I have done some research and it seems that Bengals are prone to an hereditary condition called Polycystic Kidney disease. Unfortunately some breeders have not done the proper screening and this may be what is happening with your kits. If so, How awful, and I would certainly speak to the breeder---she should not be allowing her litters to be adopted unless she screens for this. It is so unfair to find this out after you have grown to love these babies.  These breeders should NOT be breeders, UGH!

I think bringing another cat in now might be additional stress for the cat. As long as your kit is eating, drinking, and using the litter box....hopefully the depression will lift with lot of love and attention from you.

Please keep us posted on this situation. Bengals are glorious creatures and you are very lucky to have them in your life.

You may want to do a little research on this condition it might help to know what to expect and how it can be managed.

Sincerely,
CML
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Avatar universal
I am still searching for answers.   Last November my 8 year old bengal had kidney failure and after being in the ICU we had to put him to sleep.   And Earlier this week we found out my 6 year old half-bengal had kidney issues and the vet recommended we put him to sleep cause of the blood work results and because nothing was helping.  Now I'm afraid my other 6 year old bengal will get it because the 2 others were in his family line.    I know he is depressed since he lost his "brother" and I don't know how to comfort him.  I am thinking of adopting a companion for him from a local shelter but I don't know what to do or think right now.  
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