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stage 3 kidney failure
We were just told that our 11 year old shitzu/poodle is in stage 3 kidney failure. They say that she may only have 1 year left. Is there anyway she could be with us longer and have a quality of life? What can we do, what can we expect?
How did we not see signs of this?
How did we not see signs of this?
Thank you for your answers to some of my questions. It does help when I talk to others with dogs in the same condition as Sasha.
hi sammy - i just read about your dog and i do have some suggestions because my 13 year old poodle is dealing with renal failure and there does not seem to be much that can be done - her blood levels are off - she was dehydrated and she has heart problems. i am giving her water anad some food but she does not want to eat. this has been going on for the past week and we will be bringing her back to vet tomorrow - if her levels havenot improved i do not know what we will do. i am so devastated that i feel that i am walkikng around in a daze - she was my constant companion and i really know that she will be on my mind all the time if anything happens to her - but to see her suffer i dont want to - so we will see what tomorrow brings.
i will tell you some things that i wish that i had done if i had any idea that she would have renal failure - firstly, she had heart problems and was given 2 diuretics as well as a heart pill - 3 years ago. apparantly, the diuretics have a toxic effect on the kidneys eventually and it will happen very quickly in some instances. in buffy's case,about a week before last week when she got really sick, i had noticed that she did not eat as much as she was eating. however, i figured it was because it has been so hot here - but inow i think that she was beginning to dehydrate. she was also very thirsty - more than before - again, i figured the heat. i really did not notice her peeing but i would say, be aware of peeing habits and when there is a difference see the vet. Also, what i would do now, is keep track of her fluid intake - perhaps keep a full bowl of water beginning of day - and see if it has been signifficantly lessened by end. if you notice a difference,, again, see the vet. yes it will cost a bit but it would be well worth it in the end. at least the vet would be able to start meds that will help to delay the failure.
when we took buffy to the vet this week - she had to get iv fluids under her skin - she was dehydrated, but because the kidneys were not functioning well, the toxins from the kidneys could not be removed. consequently, she will not eat because she is nauseous. and because the kidneys are not well, the body is breaking down.
however, as i said, she also had heart disease. buffy also had an unltrasound to see the kidneys, bladder, etc. and this was to see if there were any blockages causing her to not pee very much. none were found.
another thing, i dont know where you live, but don't have them out for any length of time when it is hot- the day before she got so sick, she was outside for quite some time, and it was hot. she always likes to be with me, so i let her stay but i should never have done that.
i also think requesting a blood test and urine test maybe once every 6 months would be wise - the blood tests as i have learned tell much about the kidneys etc. and the urine test can help to identify if toxins are being excreted by the kidneys.
also with kidney failure, they develop mouth sores like resembling canker sores so check her mouth - i did not know it until when she went to doctor this week and i noticed them. apparantly they are very painful, and sometimes stop eatting because of it. so periodically, check her mouth.
also, if her heart is healthy, have her teeth cleaned. my dog hated when i brushed her teeth so instead of being firm. i relented. since her heart problems, he would not clean her teeth because he would not put her to sleep because of her heart - consequently, her teeth became very bad. and this contributes to the uncomfortableness.
if you have any other questions, let me know. as i said, this is just from my experience this week - it has been a painful week and i wish i was educated about kidney disease before. but when he found out about the heart disease, he never told me that the side effect of some of these meds does affect the kidney - i think vets should be more informative about the diseases and what to expect. i should have gone in with a list of questions but you know what they say about hindsight.
anyway - one year is a long time for you to educate yourself and be aware for your dog.
oh - also from what i have read on the computer in various articles, from the time a dog is diagnosed, you can change his foods - stay away from certain things like salt,protein, etc.i read in one articles that distilled water if good because there is not alot of salt - so research, research,research, and get a vet who you feel is informative. i know that i will be much more careful in selection of a vet - ask hundreds of more questions about side effects and things to watch out for - you have to because i dont feel that many vets spend enough time with their patients. just my opinion.
well, if hi helped with anything, i am glad. at least my experience had some positive effect. let me know if i can help with any other questions from my experience.
i will tell you some things that i wish that i had done if i had any idea that she would have renal failure - firstly, she had heart problems and was given 2 diuretics as well as a heart pill - 3 years ago. apparantly, the diuretics have a toxic effect on the kidneys eventually and it will happen very quickly in some instances. in buffy's case,about a week before last week when she got really sick, i had noticed that she did not eat as much as she was eating. however, i figured it was because it has been so hot here - but inow i think that she was beginning to dehydrate. she was also very thirsty - more than before - again, i figured the heat. i really did not notice her peeing but i would say, be aware of peeing habits and when there is a difference see the vet. Also, what i would do now, is keep track of her fluid intake - perhaps keep a full bowl of water beginning of day - and see if it has been signifficantly lessened by end. if you notice a difference,, again, see the vet. yes it will cost a bit but it would be well worth it in the end. at least the vet would be able to start meds that will help to delay the failure.
when we took buffy to the vet this week - she had to get iv fluids under her skin - she was dehydrated, but because the kidneys were not functioning well, the toxins from the kidneys could not be removed. consequently, she will not eat because she is nauseous. and because the kidneys are not well, the body is breaking down.
however, as i said, she also had heart disease. buffy also had an unltrasound to see the kidneys, bladder, etc. and this was to see if there were any blockages causing her to not pee very much. none were found.
another thing, i dont know where you live, but don't have them out for any length of time when it is hot- the day before she got so sick, she was outside for quite some time, and it was hot. she always likes to be with me, so i let her stay but i should never have done that.
i also think requesting a blood test and urine test maybe once every 6 months would be wise - the blood tests as i have learned tell much about the kidneys etc. and the urine test can help to identify if toxins are being excreted by the kidneys.
also with kidney failure, they develop mouth sores like resembling canker sores so check her mouth - i did not know it until when she went to doctor this week and i noticed them. apparantly they are very painful, and sometimes stop eatting because of it. so periodically, check her mouth.
also, if her heart is healthy, have her teeth cleaned. my dog hated when i brushed her teeth so instead of being firm. i relented. since her heart problems, he would not clean her teeth because he would not put her to sleep because of her heart - consequently, her teeth became very bad. and this contributes to the uncomfortableness.
if you have any other questions, let me know. as i said, this is just from my experience this week - it has been a painful week and i wish i was educated about kidney disease before. but when he found out about the heart disease, he never told me that the side effect of some of these meds does affect the kidney - i think vets should be more informative about the diseases and what to expect. i should have gone in with a list of questions but you know what they say about hindsight.
anyway - one year is a long time for you to educate yourself and be aware for your dog.
oh - also from what i have read on the computer in various articles, from the time a dog is diagnosed, you can change his foods - stay away from certain things like salt,protein, etc.i read in one articles that distilled water if good because there is not alot of salt - so research, research,research, and get a vet who you feel is informative. i know that i will be much more careful in selection of a vet - ask hundreds of more questions about side effects and things to watch out for - you have to because i dont feel that many vets spend enough time with their patients. just my opinion.
well, if hi helped with anything, i am glad. at least my experience had some positive effect. let me know if i can help with any other questions from my experience.
Welcome Sammy......I have attached a link for you to read....It is this forums largest Kidney Disease thread......It is lengthy & quite sad, but it will provide you with a world of information.........There is another shorted thread that I will try to locate for you.......Take care, Karla
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
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