My 12 year old baby girl is in mid to end stage renal failure

I've had Maury since she was 8 weeks old and weighed 3 lbs.  She was supposed to be a Toy Fox Terrorist but she got just a little bigger than a toy should.....21 lbs.  A late friend surprised me with her for my birthday in '97.  I'll never forget those big green (green at that time) eyes looking up at me and her little stubby just wagging while wondering who I was.  It was love at first sight.  For much of the 12 years that she's been my baby, I felt that she was the only thing in this world that truly loved me with everything she had.

DAMN!!!!!  How will I survive without my little honey bunny?  I'm crying so hard now that I have to take a break to get my thoughts back together.  Sorry.

Ok. I'm back.  Bless her heart.  Every time I start sobbing thinking about all this she comes to comfort me.

Anyway, last week I had a vet come out to the house and draw some blood to make sure she could tolerate the anesthesia for her teeth cleaning.  I haven't have them cleaned in about 5 or 6 years because she was diagnosed with Cushing's disease at about that time and I just was too scared to risk the sedative meds.  The vet called me Wednesday and told me there was no way she could risk it and then broke the bad news to me.

I have a few questions for those true dog lovers, like myself, that had to go through this horrible disease with their dogs.  First, did any of the prescription foods or supplements help at all that the vet advised you to use?  Should I start her on food that I make myself instead of most dog foods that contain crappy by-products?  If so, is there any foods that you would recommend I start making/feeding her?  I just ordered a supplement called "Tripsy" to see if it helped.  The reviews on it looked genuine because there were some that tore the stuff up and said to not even waste your money on it. But most of the reviews really applauded its use. Did the sub Q fluids help anyone's baby?

In the past month or so she has started the trembling, lost interest in her favorite food and treats and has begun vomiting about twice a week.  The only thing that she STILL absolutely loves, ever since I introduced her to it, is Mandarin oranges.  She'll take those over a ribeye steak any day of the week.  I can't get over her love of them.  Does anyone know if it's ok that I continue giving her the Mandarin oranges?  Oh yeah, she still loves her walks around the block (a very short walk these days but she still loves it).

Any suggestions that ANYONE has would be so appreciated.  As much as I'd love to keep her alive until I'm gone, I really just want to keep her happy and comfortable, as all of you have/would your babies.

Thanks so much in advance!  Take care.   Chad & Maury

[ginger899]

First I'd like to say that if your little dog has had Cushing's for 5-6 years now, it  shows me how extremely loved and well cared for she has been, and how well you must have managed her condition.

I wish I could give you advice to help you. I have no experience with Cushing's. Other people here have better experience with this than me, and may be able to help you.

You could post your question on the "Ask a Vet" forum. Quite a few qualified vets there may be able to give you some good advice. There is a small charge for using this service, but it may be well worth it.

God bless. I truly do feel what you are going through. They bring us so much joy and fun, and love, sent from God to make us better people....but they bring us so much heartache too.

[ShyanneDianne]

I agree with Ginger you've done really well to have gone 5 years with Cushings,I chose the opposite and said goodbye to my lovely companion off 11years Friday 27th,the vet told me she had it pretty bad and that the starting of medication would probably make it worse for her than the actual disease,also as you'll know from experience it's difficult to get just the 'right' dosage and numberous blood tests etc also needs very close monitering etc and I couldn't put KIm through all of that but you've done well like I say for your friend still to be here 5years later. Your Vet seems to be the one to trust when you're needing the answer to the question on your lips as he/she must know your friend inside out as you do,I know it's going to be the hardest question you'll ever have to ask and also the hardest decision and my heart goes out to you as I am still naturaly raw with it being so soon afterwards. I can't thank the staff enough where I took Kim (you mentioned your vet comes to your house-which would be better tbh) to say goodbye-I was the last person she saw and I cradled her and kissed her wet,muddy nose (we'd been for a walk round her fav park it was raining and very muddy! before heading to the pdsa)and I told her she was a beautiful baby etc and then she just fell asleep-very quiet and dignified. Like I say my heart is still breaking and prob will for a long while yet. What helped me get my head around it is this saying 'it's better a day too early than a day too late'-I hope that helps you too. xxx

[AireScottie]

I'm so sorry you're losing your Terrorist!  They're so spunky, irresistable, and irreplacable.  I wish I could give you advice, but haven't had any experience with Cushings.

[Libbii]

I just wanted to say that I've used Tripsy for my dog as well. I totally swear by it as I believe that it strongly influenced his will to live and gave him enough strength to keep going for another 6 months. The Tripsy does take a few weeks to work to really see the effects so please do give it some time. In the meantime, give your baby lots and lots of love and attention. Good luck to both of you.