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11 year old Beagle w/ 4th stage kidney failure and Urinary Tract Infection

Hello everyone,
Back in November our beagle Lucy was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure when she was having her blood tested to see if she was ok to be put under and have her teeth cleaned. When the results came back the Vet said she was currently at a Level 2. At this point we couldn't even tell she was sick. We were prescribed a special diet for kidney failure and up until a couple of weeks ago she was eating fine and acting completely normal.

Recently she suddenly stopped eating and after a couple days we took her to the vet and they found that she had a pretty bad UTI and prescribed antibiotics. After a few days of her not really eating and having to shove the antibiotics down her mouth we took her back and they recommended her be hospitalized and hooked up to the IV drip. She went in from 7am to 7pm for 3 days and she hasn't really gotten better and the vet started to bring euthanasia up as an option and basically said there wasn't really much more that could be done.

Wanting to exhaust all options before making that decision we went to another recommended Vet for a second opinion and they found that she still had a pretty bad UTI and that the antibiotic she was prescribed wasn't working. They are ?culturing? her urine and I guess they are going to test different antibiotics on the bacteria that grows to see which one works. She's been at home for a couple days and we are giving her fluids  subcutaneously evening and the only stuff she eats is peanut butter and baby food when we pretty much force it into her mouth. She still jumps up and wags her tail and gets excited when people come and go or anytime we go near the leashes. Just curious if there is any hope that she may turn the corner and start eating once the UTI is under control or is it pretty much downhill from here. Also if anyone has recommendations or ideas that have worked for other dogs with the same non appetite condition please let us know.

Thanks!
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. The creatinine and other symptoms do indeed suggest end stage. The best thing you can do is have IV fluid therapy through your vet, for at least several days, followed by SubQ fluid therapy at home (Lactated Ringer or Saline fluids, depending on blood values). This will help flush the kidneys, remove toxins and rehydrate your dog. Although this kind of treatment is stressful on both dog and owner, it is the best there is to get over the cause of deteriorating blood values and improve things. Once blood values come down to near normal, diet and other management protocols can help to improve both quality and longevity of life for your dog.

If you feel this is something you would like to try, let me know and I'll give more support and info ... obviously you will need the immediate input of your vet (sooner rather than later) on this, as deterioration will happen quickly if it isn't dealt with.

Tony
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. A few questions ... why has the vet changed the antibiotic if the original one was appropriate for the UTI? How long is the new course of antibiotic being given for? What antibiotic is it?

The shaking symptoms seem very odd for this early stage of kidney disease. It's directly related to late stages and is caused by neurological issues. It may also be due to potassium and calcium issues in the blood. Can you post the latest set of blood test results, so I can check what's going on there?

The bad odour is usually from the toxin build-up in her stomach. Again, this is unusual in early onset of the disease.

The reason she is unable to jump is because of muscle wastage. This again is not likely in early stages, but more likely in late stages.

If the blood numbers are bad, then IV fluid therapy for a week will be essential to get the numbers back down. After that, a period of SubQ fluids should help even more. If you can get the blood values back to almost within normal limits, then your dog could have and enjoy much more time ... months and maybe a year or two. It is therefore worth pursuing this course of action, providing you are comfortable to do it and have the financial ability to meet vet costs.

Dialysis for dogs is available in the USA at several veterinary practices and animal hospitals. It is however extremely expensive. Unlike humans, kidney transplants for dogs has not thus far proved very successful.

Tony
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi Tony. The new antibiotic was because the other one wasn't working for whatever reason even though the culture said it should have. Maybe due to the kidneys failing and her body not absorbing it. The new one we got worked and her uti is gone but it's been downhill. She had a terrible seizure tonight and hasn't eaten anything in several days. Her creatinine levels were 7.7 I believe last they checked. She isn't early stage. I believe she is end stage.
Avatar universal
She ate a decent amount of plain roasted chicken out of my hand (I know it isn't great for her kidneys but it's all she would touch) on Thursday and hasn't eaten anything since. She shakes sometimes like she's shivering and her breath smells like she's rotting from the inside, she still wags her tail and gets excited when my wife or I come home but she's now having trouble jumping up on the couch. Both vets say even best case scenario isn't good and she's living on borrowed time.
She got a different antibiotic today even though the culture said the one she was on initially should have worked. Doesn't look good for her but she's a little fighter. I think of she doesn't start showing some signs of improvement in the next couple days it may be time. Such a terrible thing to go through.

Does anyone know about dialysis for dogs or is the technology not quite there yet?
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. Your experience with the UTI and antibiotics not working is typical of kidney disease and of some vets not being very professional. The vet should have performed a culture and sensitivity of the urine when they first diagnosed a UTI. This identifies the best antibiotic for the type of infection. Giving generic antibiotics for a UTI is pointless and wastes valuable time in getting the right antibiotic to treat the infection.

So, at least they are doing the right thing this time round. Antibiotics can make the kidney disease deteriorate for a short time, as they need to be processed partly by the kidneys. The kidneys need to extract any toxic substances from the medication. Antibiotics should also be given for a longer course than would ordinarily be required, so a week is definitely not enough. Most vets will aim at giving at least for two weeks, then re-culture the urine to see if the infection has been brought under control. If not, the antibiotics should continue for a further week.

The lack of eating is more likely directly connected with the kidney disease and the build-up of toxins in her digestive tract. Mirtzapine may help, so get your vet to prescribe it. You may also need some additional anti-nausea meds if that doesn't have the desired effect.

Good luck - and let us know how things go.

Tony
Helpful - 0
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