Vet has bad news for Max

mom to lil buddy

Vet called this am and Max has renal disease. I am devastated. I just went through 5 yrs with diabetes with Koko1 and lost her in July. Max was given to me in Aug. 2006.

My husband thinks the previous owner knew he was sick when she gave him to me. Every since I've had him he has had a high consumption of water, and urinates longer than any dog I've had. It really didn't red flag until I got Koko2 and I saw the comparison.

We didn't do a vet panel when I got him, wanting to let him settle in a bit. This just stinks! He is such a wonderful lil buddy, especially to my 89 y/o mother. When I leave he goes to her living room and gets in her chair and waits for her to come in and hold him. tears and more tears. Virgnia

CrzyBritNAmerica

I'm so sorry, that must be so hard!! I can't even begin to imagine the feeling of finding out something like that. It scares me to death that our family dog, Sandy is 12 years old and now living in California with my family while I am here in Arizona...I'm so sorry!

Dogged

How old is this dog? There are varying levels and degrees of renal disease, and sometimes changing diet and certain medications can keep them going strong for years even. He should start on a low protein diet, and depending on his blood levels, he may benefit from some medications. Blood pressure is something else that should be monitored and medications given if it is high. Discuss this with your vet, and if he/she doesn't want to do anything about it (again depending on the blood levels) then find another vet.

Lorina

Absolutely what Dogged said.

Renal failure can't be cured, but it can be managed with diet, medication and sometimes fluid treatments. I know of a very old Bichon (about 15 or so) who was diagnosed with renal and liver failure over two years ago who's doing better now than when he was first diagnosed. My own renal failure cat did great for a year and a half with diet and treatment, until she died of heart failure. But even at the end, her kidney levels were better than they were a year and a half prior.

mom to lil buddy

Thanks for your replies. Max is about 8 +/-. Previous owner had him four years, she got him from the pound, unclaimed stray from the air base, they guessed his age then as about 4.

I'm just starting my homework on renal disease. Started him on Hill's k/d last night, not that he ate. He did eat about 1/2 c plus 1/4 c Nature's Recipe, "easily digestible" (previous dogfood) with about a tsp of bacon grease as an enticement. Vet did say the stomach problems go along with it. Do they ever give anything for nausea?

Vet said to try the k/d for four weeks, and we will repeat the vet panel at that time. Said the urinalysis was normal and other meds weren't indicated at this time.

Didn't ask about the blood pressure,bun was 64, creatinine 3.5. So much to learn. Virginia

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