For the  food check the online sites. We had a diabetic cat and found the food online. Varied which site was least expensive so each time we needed food we researched all the sites. 

Went through the same thing with my cat .... subcutaneous injections of fluid from an IV bag.  Think it was the ringers solution.  Drs Foster and Smith sells it online.  

It was a bit traumatic doing it at first (I really hate needles).  But you'll quickly get the hang of it.  I never had any blood come back up the tube, or a insert point start to bleed.  The procedure is to slip it between the skin and the tissue, so there is never any bleeding.  My cat had quite loose skin as she had lost weight.  Just put in the required amount and then it kind of flowed underneath her skin and made little pockets of liquid in her belly.  Quite a strange thing.  And it made her feel much better for her last few months.  Best of luck to you.

I just checked on Drs Foster and Smith has the IV solution bags, needles & drip lines.  Great info.  Tks.

TRACKING BACK TO CLOSE THE LOOP:

Sorted through http://www.drsfostersmith.com and http://www.vetrxdirect.com

There were differences in pricing and products, but in the end the total package needed (fluid, drip line, needles) came down to just a few dollars difference with Free Shipping & a 10% off coupon.  I went with VetRXDirect because they sell a brand of thin-walled needles that had strong reviews compared to the brand sold at Dr. Foster's.  The net was the needles were sharper, quicker, and easier on the patient.  I could also buy them for 11 cents each, so 40 needles were only $4.40.  A pharmacy in town wanted nearly $4 PER NEEDLE for the same gauge (different brand).

If you find yourself having to deal with this, here are the reviews for Terumo needles that helped me make the choice: http://www.vetrxdirect.com/product/view/terumo-needle-rx/variation-11843#    Some reviewers actually contrast and compare  their experience using both the thin-walled Terumo and the Monoject sold by Dr. Foster.

Like others in this thread, my mother also has high regard for Dr. Fosters and uses them exclusively.  They have a lower threshold for free shipping and low prices.  VetRXDirect had a 10% OFF code on their site, and immediately sent me an e-newsletter with 10% off the next order, too.  I was glad to find my vet's partner already registered by another customer at VetRXDirect.  This order met the free shipping threshold and we should be set for the next few months.

So... once we get going if there is anymore feedback worth sharing I'll let you know.

Beerboy, thank you for sharing your experience about what to expect, and that it was worth your discomfort to help your kitty feel better in her last days.  I'm so sorry for your loss. 

Al F., I'm sorry you are going through it too, but so appreciate you sharing.  "I did try to get ONLY the saline solution" - I saw both sites had 0.9% Sodium Chloride: Fosters was cheaper by the 1000 ml unit and more so in a 4-pack.

SWharton, thanks for the tip to keep price-checking online sites for prescription foods. 

Kitty ate only one can of KD chicken and wouldn't touch any other of the prescription flavors.  With a receipt PetSmart will take back unopened cans and open Kibble, which is a great way to test new food.  After she's had a few days on the fluids maybe her interest will change, but if not, that return alone will pay for the IV order I just made.

  On 6/22/2017 at 3:31 AM, rocksbride said:

SWharton, thanks for the tip to keep price-checking online sites for prescription foods. 

Kitty ate only one can of KD chicken and wouldn't touch any other of the prescription flavors.  With a receipt PetSmart will take back unopened cans and open Kibble, which is a great way to test new food.  After she's had a few days on the fluids maybe her interest will change, but if not, that return alone will pay for the IV order I just made.

Our cat will not eat the KD dry or canned food.  We have another cat who is on ID (Intestinal Disorder) food, and she likes that.  Also the other cat will not eat the KD food either.  We know the ID food is not the best for her, but having her eat is much better than her not eating.  Keep her comfortable and happy is what we care about for the time she has left. Months or years we don't know.  We are hydrating her every 3 days with 100cc each time.  

"Comfortable and happy"... I'm with you on that choice.

She won't eat the kd - kibble or canned - even with tuna juice poured over it or her favorite treats used as croutons.  She IS still eating dehydrated chicken from The Honest Kitchen.  It comes powdered and I grind it finer and add water to adjust the consistency of the rehydrated chicken, from "soup" to very thick "gravy."  The biggest thing with that is that once mixed with water, it will go bad if you leave it out so I make small servings and make sure it gets back in the fridge if she doesn't finish her meal.  She likes it on the soupy side so hopefully that brings down the protein percentage.

I'm praying she gets her appetite back once we start the fluid therapy. 

Sorry about your kitty and good luck with all your efforts.  On the diet side and her reluctance to eat the prescription KD food, have you googled for ideas on home-cooked meals for kitties with kidney disease?  I have done so for my dog and settled on a recipe for ground beef (with high fat content), white rice, sweet potatoes, and green beans.  She loves it and is doing quite well on it.  I mix in lots of water at serving time to help with her fluids (I flunked the sub-cue procedure and am unable to do it).  It will possibly be different for a kitty, but just as an example from the dog side, beef was recommended over chicken because of lower protein and lower phosphorus content.  Best of luck to you and your sweet pet.

Thank you, Carolaow.  Hadn't thought of that yet.

Since Kitty enjoys "soup," I may try mixing the open can of KD stew with water and giving it a whirl with an immersion blender.

Never an easy thing to do.  We sent our 18 year old kitty with failing kidneys on her final walk over the Rainbow Bridge to join the other cats and dogs we have had over the last 50+ years. 

We have about 5 liters of saline solution, some IV lines and a bunch of needles left.