4th stage renal failure in my dog

[aggieone]

I have a nine year old lab  "Sandy Grace".  She is in fourth stage renal failure-Of course she has seen her regular vet for fluids-ultra sound revealed she has one kidney which is failing.   Creatine was 13-subs at home-now using hollistic and homepatic treatment.  Recently more bad days than good.    I am giving her ice chips which seem to work better for her than lapping.  Pedialyte ice is also better.  She throws up until she staggers and falls-I am continuously trying to hydrate her and giving her baby food-At times, she is able to keep it down,  other times the vomiting is horrible.  She continues to try for us, and we are fighting so hard for her-LIke others, I tuck her in at night (she sleeps on the loveseat with her "bankie" covering her).  I am sleeping in the den with her so I can give her support throughout the night.  Neither of us are getting much sleep.  I have her spoiled now with hand feeding other than her baby food, and I hold her plate while she licks it up.  I am using a recipe of egg yellow / whites, honey, and whole yogurt with a touch of dry powdered milk.  This works sometimes.  Sandy Grace is not ready to leave us-she continues to try-we try for her twenty-four hours a day.  Is there any over the counter medication that I can give her that will help with her vomiting?  We love her so much and she loves us so much-my husband and I feel like we will know when she is ready to go.  We went to grocery store yesterday to  buy more food supplies and liquids for her, when we got home, there she was looking out the window-barking for us to hurry and come inside-you open the door and there she is  - -so excited, still wagging her tail for us.  What can we do, this is our baby, she is so, so sweet-I know her days are numbered, but she is just not ready to leave. Help.    Aggieone

[AmbertjesMom]

I am so sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for you. Everyone on this forum who had lost their beloved furries to this dreadful illness knows very well what you're going through. Your words brought tears to my eyes as they reminded me what it was like to be in your shoes all throughout that ordeal.

Be strong and know that Scottie has gone to a very special place.

[dukespcr]

Hi Kathy, your letter was helpful. I had to put my beloved Scottie, Spencer to sleep this afternoon. He was diagnosed with advanced renal failure two weeks ago. The first week went ok, with the usual problem of appetite loss and lethargic acting at times. I thought he was doing well and maybe would be around for awhile. The past week everything fell apart so quick...diarrhea, vomiting and really starting to struggle. He stopped eating three days ago and over the weekend it was fast with his bodily fluids this afternoon coming to a fast end. What was my hopes for a couple more days turned into  a couple hours at which time I called the vet and put him to rest. It was fearful at first, but after spending his last minutes together he finally went to doggie heaven.My heart is breaking I miss him terribly.

[Cholismom]

AmbertjesMom, Amielynn and Tony,

It's a mystery to me.  

Its been almost two years and I still miss my little girl.My husband was so afraid of crushing her Choli in our bed that he still lays a certain way in bed. Today, I'm working from home.  I still sit just about on the edge of my chair as if she's sitting behind me.  Some habits die hard.  

A friend of mine loves to tell this story of her dog PJ.  PJ was a beautiful blond Irish setter.  One morning she was quickly trying to get things done before heading off to work.   PJ was down stairs with her two year old son.  Well Louie had spilled the milk and all of the cereal on the floor.  Every bit of what was in the cereal box and in the milk carton. PJ ran to her bedroom tugging on her robe to get her to come out.  PJ led her back to the kitchen to see milk and cereal everywhere.   Instead of eating the cereal and slurping up the milk this lovely furry guy ran to let her know about the mess.  PJ has been gone about 10 years now.  But my friend still gets this look on her face that says it all.  The memory of this dog-person gives her happiness and will always be in her thoughts.  

Simply put, his life left an afterglow of smiles when life was done.  So, I sit on the end of this chair pretending to feel little Chooch's warmth.  

I miss her so very much, but as the saying goes it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.  

Ladies it will get better.  As Tony says...one day at a time.

Hugs...Silvia
PS.  Bless this forum for all the lovely like minded people I've met through it.  

[tonyb286]

I often believe we can learn so much from dogs ... they are surely the only creature on the planet that love us humans more than they love themselves. Heaven knows why, because sometimes humans are capable of such cruelty, but dogs are like that and that's one of the many reasons we cherish them. There are some humans that could do with a little dog in their DNA ... it would almost certainly make them much nicer people.

The forum is a fabulous meeting ground of like-minded people - a place to talk, a place to cry, a place to share our knowledge and opinions ... and a great place to find friends with hearts as big as our pooches.

Tony

[AmbertjesMom]

It's so good to be "in the company" of you people who understand, like you! Even my own family doesn't understand why I feel the way I do. I had to explain how Amber was our child, how much we loved her, etc. It amazes me sometimes how some people could be so clueless as to the depth of the unconditional love that our furry friends give us.

I am grateful that I found this place. Thank you for sharing your own experiences. Our furry friends will always have a special place in our hearts.

[amielynn24]

I'm not sure how 5 months feels, because Daisy has only been gone for 3 but it feels like an ETERNITY since I've snuggled her, kissed her head and held her close.  

The day I lost Daisy, someone said to me 'dogs don't live as long as we'd like because then they wouldn't be so special'.  I miss her every day and every dog I see reminds me of the love and special bond I had with her.