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5 Year Old Golden Retriever - Maxie
Hi everyone!
I've been reading this thread nonstop and I think it's time to post my own experience that I'm currently dealing with. I'd appreciate any support, advice and help.
I took Maxie into the vet because he lost a lot of weight all of a sudden, vomiting, and I noticed a decrease in energy. The vet suggested a new diet, which we already did over two years ago. Back then, he had been throwing up his food a lot and the vet recommended cooking for him. We started cooking oatmeal, chicken, pasta, potatoes, and he was instantly better and the vomiting went away. That being said, I just didn't think new dog food would be the solution. I felt an intuition about Maxie. I asked the vet to run blood tests, and x-rays. An hour later, the vet tells me Max is in kidney failure. My heart stopped. I don't think I've ever wanted to be more wrong in my life. You can all relate to the instant panic and uncontrollable crying.
The vet instantly pushed to euthanize, but as I stared at Maxie I couldn't fathom it. He's so young! We ended up putting him through two days of fluid therapy and re-tested him. The results are slightly lower, but not much.
Initial Blood Work Results:
BUN >180+ mg/dL
PHOS 12.4+ mg/dL
CRE 10.5+ mg/dL
Blood Work After 48 Hours of Fluid Therapy:
BUN 150+ mg/dL
PHOS 7.8+ mg/dL
CRE 9.4+ mg/dL
He is now home, and I've been giving him sub-q fluids twice a day, cerenia for nausea, metronidazole (not really sure what it's purpose is?), and aluminum hydroxide gel. It's been 4 days and he has been eating, peeing, pooping, playing fetch, and hast thrown up. He is uncomfortable during the sub-q fluids for the first half, and then just falls asleep until its over, and he does shake and tremble at times (usually at night) and I find wrapping him in a blanket d putting the heater on him helps. Today is the only he hasn't finished his food, but I think it's because we ran out of the cerenia so he didn't have it this morning. I gave it to him late. I do notice he is more tired than his normal self, but when he's up and happy he is his old self. I'm so torn and feel like I'm just waiting for his end.
I'm so scared for the re-tests in two weeks. If they don't improve significantly, what do I do? Have any of you had similar test results? How long did your beloved dog last? Are there any medicines I should be giving him that I'm not? Or are there any I'm giving him that I could go without?
Maxie is an extremely big part of my life. Words cannot express how terrified I am, but I also am terrified of keeping him alive to endure unnecessary pain.
My prayers are with all of you who are going through this or have gone through this.
I've been reading this thread nonstop and I think it's time to post my own experience that I'm currently dealing with. I'd appreciate any support, advice and help.
I took Maxie into the vet because he lost a lot of weight all of a sudden, vomiting, and I noticed a decrease in energy. The vet suggested a new diet, which we already did over two years ago. Back then, he had been throwing up his food a lot and the vet recommended cooking for him. We started cooking oatmeal, chicken, pasta, potatoes, and he was instantly better and the vomiting went away. That being said, I just didn't think new dog food would be the solution. I felt an intuition about Maxie. I asked the vet to run blood tests, and x-rays. An hour later, the vet tells me Max is in kidney failure. My heart stopped. I don't think I've ever wanted to be more wrong in my life. You can all relate to the instant panic and uncontrollable crying.
The vet instantly pushed to euthanize, but as I stared at Maxie I couldn't fathom it. He's so young! We ended up putting him through two days of fluid therapy and re-tested him. The results are slightly lower, but not much.
Initial Blood Work Results:
BUN >180+ mg/dL
PHOS 12.4+ mg/dL
CRE 10.5+ mg/dL
Blood Work After 48 Hours of Fluid Therapy:
BUN 150+ mg/dL
PHOS 7.8+ mg/dL
CRE 9.4+ mg/dL
He is now home, and I've been giving him sub-q fluids twice a day, cerenia for nausea, metronidazole (not really sure what it's purpose is?), and aluminum hydroxide gel. It's been 4 days and he has been eating, peeing, pooping, playing fetch, and hast thrown up. He is uncomfortable during the sub-q fluids for the first half, and then just falls asleep until its over, and he does shake and tremble at times (usually at night) and I find wrapping him in a blanket d putting the heater on him helps. Today is the only he hasn't finished his food, but I think it's because we ran out of the cerenia so he didn't have it this morning. I gave it to him late. I do notice he is more tired than his normal self, but when he's up and happy he is his old self. I'm so torn and feel like I'm just waiting for his end.
I'm so scared for the re-tests in two weeks. If they don't improve significantly, what do I do? Have any of you had similar test results? How long did your beloved dog last? Are there any medicines I should be giving him that I'm not? Or are there any I'm giving him that I could go without?
Maxie is an extremely big part of my life. Words cannot express how terrified I am, but I also am terrified of keeping him alive to endure unnecessary pain.
My prayers are with all of you who are going through this or have gone through this.
Hi. Metronidazole is an antibiotic. You must ask your vet why this has been prescribed. If (as I suspect) it's for treating a UTI (urinary tract infection), then you need to ask whether a urine Culture & Sensitivity test was undertaken before prescribing this antibiotic. I will explain more about that if appropriate after you get the info from the vet and reply.
While IV fluids are the first route to getting creatinine and BUN down, SubQ fluids are essentially a supportive type of treatment which is less aggressive than IV fluids, but takes longer to have the desired effect. It is normal for a dog with kidney disease to be on SubQs for several weeks and sometimes months, so just keep going. It is very important to have regular blood checks during this time, and at a minimum every month, as this will help identify and prevent any issues arising from invasive fluid therapy.
Clearly after just 48hrs, there has been great improvement, so don't give up. The treatment is having the desired effect.
Tony
While IV fluids are the first route to getting creatinine and BUN down, SubQ fluids are essentially a supportive type of treatment which is less aggressive than IV fluids, but takes longer to have the desired effect. It is normal for a dog with kidney disease to be on SubQs for several weeks and sometimes months, so just keep going. It is very important to have regular blood checks during this time, and at a minimum every month, as this will help identify and prevent any issues arising from invasive fluid therapy.
Clearly after just 48hrs, there has been great improvement, so don't give up. The treatment is having the desired effect.
Tony
Hi! I just went through IV fluids with my dog post Addison's crisis. Her numbers barely moved from day 1 to day 2, but the vets wanted me to keep her there 1 more day or more. Her numbers significantly lowered by day 3 round the clock fluids. So maybe your dog needed a bit more time with the IV fluids?
Sadly, they didn't diagnose kidney disease until she starting crashing again a few days later and I took her back in for more IV fluids. After days of crying, I'm changing her diet, adding phosphorous binders, and sub q fluids at home....trying to take control.
Best wishes with your fur baby...
Sadly, they didn't diagnose kidney disease until she starting crashing again a few days later and I took her back in for more IV fluids. After days of crying, I'm changing her diet, adding phosphorous binders, and sub q fluids at home....trying to take control.
Best wishes with your fur baby...
4 Comments
Hi! Thanks for responding! Maxie woke up amazing today, I think we just have to take it day by day. My life has pretty much stopped. I'm doing everything in my power to get him as healthy as possible. Do you think the phosphorous binders are helping?
Well, I just got home with Gracie. 3 more days of IV, but we did take her home at night. Her numbers improved tremendously. Her phosphorus level is actually back to normal. The vet stated I could cut back on the binders, but I know that number will creep back up. High phosphorous will make your dog feel crappy, so I'm sticking to it. Her liver enzymes have increased in 2 weeks. I have read that liver enzymes can increase because the liver will take on some detoxing when the kidneys fail. I'm just focusing on the kidney issue right now. Hoping the at home sub q fluids will slow down the increase in numbers.
Well, I just got home with Gracie. 3 more days of IV, but we did take her home at night. Her numbers improved tremendously. Her phosphorus level is actually back to normal. The vet stated I could cut back on the binders, but I know that number will creep back up. High phosphorous will make your dog feel crappy, so I'm sticking to it. Her liver enzymes have increased in 2 weeks. I have read that liver enzymes can increase because the liver will take on some detoxing when the kidneys fail. I'm just focusing on the kidney issue right now. Hoping the at home sub q fluids will slow down the increase in numbers.
Sorry about the double post....
I have already discussed with my husband when "it will be time". I would definitely request 3 days of IV fluid. My dog is a completely different dog by day 3. That being said.....if she were suffering, and no improvement in numbers...I would know I tried everything.
I have already discussed with my husband when "it will be time". I would definitely request 3 days of IV fluid. My dog is a completely different dog by day 3. That being said.....if she were suffering, and no improvement in numbers...I would know I tried everything.
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