kidney failure - is this good enough??

greggustin

Yellow Lab will be 8 in October
started drinking tons of water - few months ago
(just learned this is normal for Kidney failure symptoms)
then started losing weight (80 to 60 over few months)
then started vomiting last week
took him to Vet on Friday
BUN HIGH -130+ (no urine test done)
vet said - too late - 'sleep time'
then we read all the info online
gave him low (no phosphate food on weekend)
dog is happy - still playful (chases ball - swims)
and has not vomited since Friday
do we still do 3 days in hospital - for blood cleansing?
or just stay with helpful diet
what about detox stuff we see online
and phosphate binders

dleggs15

aww i am so sorry to hear about this unfortunate news! I also know how it is with dogs with kidney problems! although Rosie doesnt have kidney failure it is not uncertain if she will in the future at some point! she has small kidneys for a dog her size so we had to switch her food. Although she doesnt do any drinking excessivly or lost a lot of weight like yours has! Im always those paronoid parents when it comes to my Rosie...if there is something im not sure of or if she is acting different i'm the first in the vet lol..the receptionists at the vets office knows my voice lol Good luck with this sorry i dont have any answers to your questions but is ure hope someone else can give you good advice! good luck and we'll be thinking of you and your loved fur ball!

Annamarie

I had a cat that went into sudden kidney failure when she got old, and I don't think your dog would be playful and energetic if he was in kidney failure. My cat was so sick and weak she couldn't even walk.

I would get another vet's opinion. For one, I don't put much stock into a vet if they tell you your dog is in kidney failure and to put it down without doing any blood tests first. However if your dog does have pancreatitis or diabetes or something, you do need to get the dog treatment asap.

Willowy

Annamarie, I think their vet must have done bloodwork, because they said the dog's BUN was high. No urine work done, though.

I would also seek a second and maybe third opinion. It never hurts to get a few more professionals looking at something. Many doctors have different ideas on how to treat a particular problem.

My uncle's dog lived for several happy years after receiving a diagnosis of kidney disease. He gave her a liter of fluids SQ once a week to flush the toxins from her kidneys (the vet taught him how to do it at home, and sold him the proper equipment). Proper diet can help a lot, too.

One of my mom's senior cats (18 years old!) was diagnosed with kidney failure a couple years ago, and because of her age, it was decided to do nothing about it, just to keep an eye on her. So far she's doing fine, but she does drink a lot of water. I don't see why your vet would recommend putting him down at this point, especially since he still feels fine.

Dogmom07

It does not seem that your vet discussed enough with you. Kidney Failure, whether it is beginning stages or advanced, should not be treated through information found on the internet. My 16 year old Beagle died from Kidney Failure last year. I would suggest getting a second opinion or discussing all your options for treatment with your vet. If treated properly, your dog can live years with this disease.

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Annamarie

oops sorry i misread. i've been up since 3am, my bad!

greggustin

all replies have been great! THANKS!!!
and it gives us much hope!
last Friday - we were resolved to say good bye - but not now
will keep you all posted
if the dog stays well - we will skip the hospital blood replacement/filter
we gave him 3 straight days of high quality food
(he was NEVER on BAD food (pedigree brand high end stuff)- and NEVER had human food till this weekend)
so far, pure liver, brook trout and tomorrow catfish - all things with low phosphates
and some 'expensive' liver and chicken for dogs in a can, and liver treats (like crackers)
I know - high protein makes high phosphates - but as he needs his strength
he had been drinking until Saturday - then stopped
so we placed about 1 inch of water in his bowl with each feeding
and the feeding was reduced in quantity to about 3 tablespoons per meal
about 1 meal every 90 minutes - and since we started this routine - no vomiting !!!
he even drank 2 bowls of water today
and still wants to go out and play fetch and has, for the first time in a week, endured his normal walk routine (about 1/2 mile with our son)
also ordered today some herbal supplements
the only one that not only said would detox - but also help REPAIR the Kidney functions
and no one said that
and even a money back guarantee! can't beat that
and will research Hill K/D food - to see how different than what we have learned
again - will share the results as they happen

Annamarie

good to hear! just a thought about the liver though, i'd limit the liver to once a week if that. i know in healthy dogs too much liver is hard on their systems, so with a sick dog with kidney problems you'll want to make it easy on their system.

Patt

I agree with the other members, I would get a second or third opinion on this and not treat the dog with what you found on the Internet.

My personal experiences with my dog and cat(s).... By the time the vet discovers kidney problems they are 75% gone. They need to have their kidney's flushed if they are going to survive, and that means a stay in the hospital to do it properly. After they are flushed you put them on the correct diet for the problem.

If he comes out of this, I would say the diagnois was wrong in the first place. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose to do.

greggustin

Buddy Update:

well . . . things looking up
only one day of vomiting
and that was when we tried the dry food again . . . held it down for 2 hours
back to just cans . . . and nothing from the grocery store . . . even the best brands . . . he would only eat a small portion
so ,,, back to all natural stuff (no additives) . . .
only 1/4 can at a time - 4 times a day and some omega 3 oil and
my reasons . . .
all readings said - once lose appetite . . . down hill fast
plus . . .small portion easier for digestion
so small portions kept him hungry for more!

now, after 10 days, and a gradual increase in volume
(now up to 1/2 can 4 times a day)
plus 1/2 pound of either trout or catfish (no phosphates)
2 days - he did not want to drink, so we put some water in with food
now he is back to drinking normal

he is happy, and walking and chasing ball . . .
we also bought some natural herbs type vitamins
he ate one, and refused the rest . . . so we just break them into his food bowl

this week has been just canned liver (for dogs)
will try chicken next week

Patt

Thanks for the update. I'm happy to hear Buddy is doing so well.

Did the vet recommend this diet?

heyjayce

My vet said raw chicken is great protein and easy to digest.
Or just cook organic chicken cutlets. Dr.Harveys is a good food but a little expensive.

SQ or subcutaneous injections of 200ml 3 times a day wouldn't hurt.

Mylanta, the one with aluminum about 5 teaspoons a day is a phosphate binder. I guess once the mylanta binds the phosphate it comes out in the urine or feces. I use a syringe in the mouth for the mylanta and/or mix with a little vanilla icecream.

My dog also has kidney failure but other than drinking a lot of water and peeing has always acted normal. Lost some weight. I only found out during a routine physical from the blood test. She will be 9 in Sept.

Put her on herbs also.



Time will tell, but she can last 6months to years with luck.

Patt

How is Buddy doing today? I hope all is going well.

smithy

Hi
I am a newbie on here,joined to ask about experiences regarding kidney faluire.
Our little dog who is fifteen years old started vomiting a week last Thursday come Sat morning he wasn't any better so took him to the vets.The vet we saw said he thought it was a tummy bug so gave him an a jab to settle his timmy and another antibiotic jab..........come Tuesday he still wasnt eating he ate a little on the Thursday and started to vomit again.Back to the vets different vet this time.She gave him another jab to settle his tummy and a long lasting antibiotic jab,she did say his kidneys could be failing and we could take him back for blood tests and to be put on a drip,or put to sleep.This little dog has never spent a day away from us all his life and I was not going to stress him out at this stage in his life.I asked when he should start eating and she said if it wasnt his kidneys it should be that day after.He didnt start to eat until the Wed I spent the week in tears, I tried him him on salmon tuna,fish eggs you name it I tried it,he has never eaten dog food in his life,tea-time I tried him with some beefburger and he ate it,he is now back to his normal cheeky playful self.Had I listened to the vet maybe he still wouldnt be here.

Patt

Welcome to DF. I am glad that your little dog recovered, you were very lucky. Usually the vet will do a blood test to see how the kidneys and other organs are doing. If it is a kidney problem they usually flush the kidneys for a couple of days and most times the animals turn around to be healthy again.

Since he is a senior I would have blood work done along with a full exam including x-rays. I have my seniors blood tested every 6 months.

Good luck with your little fellow.

smithy

Thanks for your reply Pat.
I did ask the vet how long it would give him if we knew for a fact it was his kidneys,and if he was flushed out and she told me a few months.Now I would not put him through the stress of that to prolong his life for a few months.
I am thinking now that it was a bad virus he had picked up and if the first vet had given him a long lasting antibiotic he would have recovered a lot quicker,it would have saved my dog from being so ill and myself a lot of heartache,but what a little toughie to come through this at his age.I love this dog to bits.

Patt

Smithy,

Your welcome. It's a tough call when our furkids are ill. Sometimes your darned if you do and darned if you don't in whatever you decide to do. We all do the best we can including the vets. I am thrilled that your little man is okay and hope he's with you a very long time.

Kathyy

That is great news. No reason to 'put down' a dog that is feeling fine! What an idiot vet. Probably he was trying to let you know how serious the problem is and not to ignore it. A terrific page for information on feeding a kidney patient dog is


I would buy the commercial diet the vet sells or put the dog on a home cooked diet from the site I posted. No regular dog food. Small amounts of liver and fish. No bones. Oh, it is delicious stuff, Sassy eats it very happily. She would much rather have bones like her brother but that isn't going to happen. It isn't expensive either. Chicken is cheap. I think I spend more money on the vegetables and rice than the protein part of the food!

She was diagnosed 18 months ago and has been on homecooked food for over a year now. I really think real food helps a lot. For one thing it is wet and she doesn't like to drink water! Her values weren't critical and she had no problems but the blood values have improved since discovered.

Smithy, get the jab. My senior dogs get it as part of the check ups. Then you will know better what is best to feed the dog. Dogs can live well with damaged kidneys, livers and hearts if diet is right. One jab hurts for a little while and the wallet for a bit longer. It is a really good tool to know what is going on inside the dog!

smithy

Hiya,
Thanks for your replies.
My little dog has never eaten dog food,he would never touch the stuff as a puppy.He has always eaten home cooked food,liver,sausages, yorkshire pud,chicken,corned beef,steak,hearts,mince meat,with rice and sometimes biscuits.He is such a fussy eater.He wont touch his dinner until we sit down to eat ours,breakfast he will eat when he has had his walk.
He is back to his usual bossy little self natters like made when its time for his walks,(he has a watch on his paw) and playful.
Thanks for all the advice.

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