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Kidney disease roller coaster
My 16 year old male Rat Terrier is in ICU a week today for dehydration due to vomit/ diahhrea episode. He has KD and been fed a diet for KD several months. Since Saturday hospital stay his Creatine 5.2 to 5.4 Wednesday and dropped to 4.2 on Friday. Fluids reduced a bit and he later vomitted bile yesterday night. Fluids increased up again tday and anti nausea meds administered. Does this mean that he will not likely maintain any quality of life at home if off an IV bag? His will to live is strong, we visit every evening and he seems attentive, interested and alert to us. I have read some stories here, and i want to hear more of what to expect in what i feel are final weeks/ months/ days?
I hope you find comfort knowing that you did everything possible for him and didn't give up early in the fight. I bet he loved his last meal and spending the day with the two of you. You didn't make him suffer and that says a lot. You guys will be in my thoughts as you continue to grieve.
Jordan's Creatinine spiked to 5.7 this morning. His level was 4.3 a week ago upon admitting for ICU. He fought the good fight and we were willing to do what ever it would take if we could return him to a quality of life. We had a picnic on a blanket in the sunhine today and Jordan ate Steak. We let him go this afternoon and he passed peacefully in my husbands arms. We had the best care at the VRCC in Maakin-sabot VA and the team there is wonderful. My heart is broken but letting him go was the smart, caring, and responsible thing for us to do.
My 10.5 year old beagle lost her battle with KD in February. The last 4 weeks were the worst. She spent 4 nights in ICU on IV fluids, anti nausea meds, etc. We had to do subq fluids for the last 3 weeks of her life.
When will you bring your baby home? Honestly, after the hospital stay Daisy was never completely herself... she refused to eat the first few days home, had 250cc of fluids daily, and three nausea injections within the first week home. She wouldn't eat nearly as much as she used to, so we tried to get her to eat anything at all.
The last week was the worst, vomitting Tuesday through Thursday, vet appt on Thursday confirmed her creatinine and BUN was stable but her phosphorus was elevated. No food since Thursday which she wasn't able to keep down. Sent us home with 2 days worth of cerenia. Friday night was the worst :( and I knew she had enough. Still no food, little water, no energy at all, fidgeting during her fluids and really restless. She didn't sleep Friday night and by sat morning had no interest in water. She was ready and while it was the hardest decision I ever made, I knew I had to let her go. I promised her no more hospital vets and that I wouldn't make her suffer. I toldher I would be ok and not to hang on for me. I was never going to be ready to say goodbye.
Make sure his good days outweigh the bad, and love on him for as long as you have with him. Be patient with food but don't push too hard because you don't want him to reject it completely. Make sure he knows how special he is to you and your family. He will tell you when he's ready and he will need you more than anything at his final moment. It's been 6 weeks but feels like forever since I've snuggled her. It gets a little easierbut some days it feels like the pain comes from nowhere. I saw a beagle last week, got back in the car and I cried my eyes out. The emptiness is more than I ever imagined.
My heart is with you, please keep us posted.
When will you bring your baby home? Honestly, after the hospital stay Daisy was never completely herself... she refused to eat the first few days home, had 250cc of fluids daily, and three nausea injections within the first week home. She wouldn't eat nearly as much as she used to, so we tried to get her to eat anything at all.
The last week was the worst, vomitting Tuesday through Thursday, vet appt on Thursday confirmed her creatinine and BUN was stable but her phosphorus was elevated. No food since Thursday which she wasn't able to keep down. Sent us home with 2 days worth of cerenia. Friday night was the worst :( and I knew she had enough. Still no food, little water, no energy at all, fidgeting during her fluids and really restless. She didn't sleep Friday night and by sat morning had no interest in water. She was ready and while it was the hardest decision I ever made, I knew I had to let her go. I promised her no more hospital vets and that I wouldn't make her suffer. I toldher I would be ok and not to hang on for me. I was never going to be ready to say goodbye.
Make sure his good days outweigh the bad, and love on him for as long as you have with him. Be patient with food but don't push too hard because you don't want him to reject it completely. Make sure he knows how special he is to you and your family. He will tell you when he's ready and he will need you more than anything at his final moment. It's been 6 weeks but feels like forever since I've snuggled her. It gets a little easierbut some days it feels like the pain comes from nowhere. I saw a beagle last week, got back in the car and I cried my eyes out. The emptiness is more than I ever imagined.
My heart is with you, please keep us posted.
This is the first page of a 4 page series....Probably better to skip over to the last 1-2 pages......I can find more if you like....There is a world of info. in this one.....
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dogs/4th-stage-renal-failure-in-my-dog/show/425814?page=1
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dogs/4th-stage-renal-failure-in-my-dog/show/425814?page=1
Hello & welcome to the forum----Most KD parents do their own sub-q fluids at home to increase quality of life....Let me go find you some links for you......Karla
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