My Cat Just Got Out of Surgery, But Has CKD! What Can I Do?

Meet Today’s Cat!

• Name: Eli
• Age: 10
• Sex: Male (Neutered)
• Weight: 15.7 lbs (7.14 kg)
• Blood Test Levels: 4.6 (CREA), 74 (BUN), 26.4 (SDMA)
• Notes: Has stage 3 CKD and recently underwent a successful surgery to remove a mass in his lungs.

Caregiver
My cat Eli had to get surgery because the vet found a mass on his lung.
Thankfully, the surgery was a success, and Eli’s been making good progress on his recovery for the most part.
The only issue is that he’s since been diagnosed with CKD.
His kidney levels have all gotten a lot worse in the past few months.
In June, his creatinine was 3.7, BUN was 56, and SDMA was 22.8.
But now, they’re 4.6, 74, and 26.4.
He’s sleeping a lot more recently, too.
My only consolation is that he does engage in hunting when it’s time to eat.
I’d appreciate any suggestions you have on how to help me treat his CKD.

Greycoat Research
We’ve looked over the information you’ve provided, and we can see there is a steady decline in Eli’s kidney levels.
We are saddened to hear about Eli’s suffering, and are determined to help him feel better.
A decline in kidney functions after surgery is a situation we have encountered with many other cats who have received consultations from us.
A surgery can ironically lead to a decline in health in cats, and in cases like Eli’s, even CKD.
This is because the cats’ kidneys cannot handle the drugs necessary for the surgical procedure.

Given Eli’s current kidney levels, supplements alone will not be enough.
Greycoat Research’s lineup of AIM Dr. Toru Protocol and Intensive Protocol can help Eli by supporting his reduced kidney functions.
However, there is a limit to how much they can help him.
Due to his high BUN levels, we advise you to talk to his vet and see if you can start administering him with subcutaneous fluids.

If you can give us Eli’s weight and a list of supplements he’s currently taking, we’ll be able to help you make a more effective management plan for him.

Caregiver 
Eli is 15.7 lbs (7.14 kg).
Right now, I’m giving him omega-3 oils, phosphorus binders, probiotics, and a liquid antioxidant oil.

Greycoat Research
When it comes to supplements, the right administration method and doses matter just as much as the ingredients within the supplements themselves.
This is especially true for a cat like Eli, who is still recovering from surgery.
Cats in delicate conditions like Eli’s require a more delicate and careful approach.

As we’ve mentioned above, our supplements can help support Eli’s kidney functions.
As such, we recommend giving Eli both AIM Dr. Toru Protocol and Intensive Protocol to treat his CKD.
However, if you choose to administer our supplements, we also advise you to stop using the liquid antioxidant oil you are currently giving him.
While said supplement contains beneficial substances that can help Eli, they can end up doing more harm than good if given in excessive amounts.
As for the omega-3 and phosphorus binder, you can continue to administer them to Eli.

As Eli weighs over 6.6 lbs (3 kg), the recommended dosage of AIM Dr. Toru Protocol is 2 capsules a day.
However, as Eli is still recovering from his recent surgery, we advise you to start with a smaller amount.
So you should only give him half a capsule for the first week, and monitor his condition.
It’s best to feed it to him during or immediately after his meal.
If there are no issues with Eli, you can slowly increase the dosage over the following week until you reach the recommended dosage of 2 capsules a week.

As for Intensive Protocol, the recommended dosage is 1 capsule a day, regardless of weight.
Unlike with AIM Dr. Toru Protocol, Intensive Protocol can be given in its full recommended dosage from the start.

Furthermore, while we’re on the topic of weight, weight loss can be critically dangerous to cats with CKD.
Given Eli’s condition, there is a possibility that he may not have any appetite, and that he may refuse to eat.
Please make sure Eli is eating properly so you can maintain his weight.
As painful as it may be, you may have to feed him against his will.

Caregiver
Thank you so much for the information!
We’ll stop giving Eli the antioxidant oil after our order of AIM Dr. Toru Protocol arrives.
Can I give Eli all his supplements at the same time, or do I need to give them at different times than AIM Dr. Toru Protocol?

Greycoat Research
Omega-3 can be a burden on your cat’s digestion, so please ensure there is a gap of 1 to 2 hours between omega-3 supplements and AIM Dr. Toru Protocol.
In the case of probiotics, if you’re giving probiotics to Eli before his meals, then make sure to give him AIM Dr. Toru Protocol after he has eaten.
Meanwhile, Intensive Protocol can be given alongside AIM Dr. Toru Protocol.
It can also be administered by itself, regardless of whether Eli has already eaten or not.
We do, however, recommend allowing at least 10 minutes between Intensive Protocol and other supplements or medications to avoid putting a strain on poor Eli’s stomach.

Caregiver
Our vet also wants to try adding phosphorus binders to Eli’s food, so we’ve been looking into that.
Are your supplements safe to take with phosphorus binders too?

Greycoat Research
As with omega-3 supplements, phosphorus binders can hinder Eli's digestion.
As such, we advise you to allow 1 to 2 hours between them and AIM Dr. Toru Protocol.
A daily schedule for Eli would look something like this.

Caregiver
Got it.

Greycoat Research
Also, given Eli’s kidney levels, subcutaneous fluid therapy appears to be necessary.
However, due to his recent lung surgery, we advise you to get a blood test for Eli and talk to his vet first before proceeding.
If there is anything else you need to know, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We’ll help you find the optimal schedule to keep Eli in good spirits and health!

___________________________________

Caring for a cat with CKD is never easy. It requires long-term, consistent, dedicated care. There’s so much to consider and so much to monitor. And most of all, care needs to be provided immediately to keep issues from getting worse. When kidneys worsen, they cause many other problems that, in turn, cause the kidneys to worsen even more in a vicious cycle of renal failure.

However, as with the case of Eli, surgery can complicate matters. Trying to force kidney treatment on a cat that is already recovering from surgery can end up backfiring and doing more harm than good. That’s why Greycoat Research advises caregivers to closely monitor their cats and talk to their veterinarians after surgeries to determine the quickest yet safest time to provide cats the care they need to prevent or treat CKD.

All of Greycoat Research's consultations are specifically tailored to help individual cats and their caregivers. No two cats are the same, and many factors can influence the time and resources available to different caregivers. That's why we work closely with all caregivers seeking consultations to come up with a supplement list, feeding schedule, and protocol that best suits their cat's personal circumstances.