Stage 4 Kidney Failure in Senior Dog (Will constant follow up on results)

[cheesekoh]

Before I start to say anything , thank you everyone for being so informative and you have been a great help .  I will try my best to chip in ALL information that I can gather so that it could benefit all others out there that is in the same boat as me .

I will start will all symptoms of my 12 year old JRT

1) Lethargic
2) Drinking more
3) Peeing more and dripping urine (looks like he cant control his urine properly
4) Poor appetite
5) Constipated
6) Sleeping more than usual
7) Rarely Barks

First of all , my dog is not neutered and his prostate as been a problem , it was enlarged to the point that his rectum is compromised . He has troubles clearing his bowels and I decided to use a child's enema on him and it worked ! It cleared so much and I was happy , he was happy .

He started to eat a little better but energy levels seems very low for some reason and I was thinking , maybe its the heat and also his age . Things got worst after he was not clearing his bowels for like 4 to 5 days ? I tried to enema him again but nothing came out .

Time to send him to the vet and yes , the prostate was a problem again , the rectum was being squeezed and stools are hard to be cleared , took a tarmac jab (to shrink the prostate) and I was waiting for results but nothing happened , he was still not clearing his bowels


After 2 days , a different vet attended to me and insisted on a blood test to see what is going on . I told the vet we had it done a while ago and the OTHER vet told me that the results was OKAY without showing me the values . This new vet has checked the past values and it has shown that there was a problem with the creatinine values .  (Please ask your doctor to show you the values or a printed slip of the results , you paid for it and you should get it . I hope you learn from my mistake)


So , after a scan of the kidneys .. this is where everything goes wrong and changes from there . His kidneys were shot , it does not have a form a kidney at all and it was pretty much a huge problem then .Had blood test carried out and urine analysis . The results are as below and its a  confirmed of a stage 4 kidney failure . This is the results as as follow 3 days ago before any form of treatment has been carried out

Results 10/10/15

ALT : 105
GLU : 132
BUN : NOT MEASURABLE*
CRE : 7.9*
NA+ :149
K- : 3.7
CL- :116
TC02: 9

Phosphate level is 16.1



in short , the results were beyond shocking and has to be put in an iv immediately on this date 10/10/15 . It pains me so much as this is the first time my dog has to be caged and left overnight WITH NO NURSE/technician CARE at all .  The only thing that keeps the iv going is an electronic infusion pump but the big problem with this machine is that even the slightest of adjustments (dog accidently tangled himself or pulled the tube , it will trip the machine and it will halt all dripping)  Will update you guys on that later .


11/10/15
Went to see my boy and omg , he is actually looking way brighter then before . He is no longer giving me that lethargic look and has more energy in him , I am happy that the treatments is helping him . I walked him just outside the grass patch of the clinic  for about 20 mins , one in the morning and one in the noon and then something happened . I saw him dripping out blood from his tongue and I immediately grabbed him back to the clinic .

When the technicians opened up his mouth , he was bleeding at his cheek walls and I asked for some form of medication to help with the pain (mistake) . Guys , dogs with kidney failures are likely to have mouth ulcers and its pretty rare that the ulcers will heal , getting any form of a gel or medication on the ulcers surface does not help much . The moment its applied , the dog licks it all off and there goes your $40 "bonjela" gel , vet care here is extremely expensive .

I did saw him on drip #2 as its the 2nd day , kissed my boy and went back home after thanking the technicians . 2 more days to go before getting a new blood result done . One thing to highlight , when the the drip is taken off and after my dog's walk , blood was clogged at the iv tubes and it has to be cleared for the electronic fusion pump to work properly and start dripping as per normal again .  It got jammed 2 times every after walk so guys please take note .


12/10/15
Went in earlier then usual and my boy was still asleep , I tickled his head through the cage's entrance and he jumped up in happiness . He was even more energetic than before and he started to bark and pushing the cage's doors . I got the technicians to help me with the iv tube to be removed and he actually started eating and poop a little , that made me VERY happy .. I kissed him and told him that he will get better , we are all waiting for that new blood test to be done tomorrow and that will decide how things go .


Took time off work again and visited him in the late noon and again he was extremely excited and barking non stop at me . He was at his usual speed and started to poop again and I kinda think that the results tomorrow is going to be very positive . I carried him like a baby and told him that I will never give up on him and I will walk this difficult road with him to the very end .You know what guys ? I am was always controlling my tears everytime I see him and I cried so much this past few days behind closed doors . For some reason , I was pretty positive about tomorrow's result and didnt paid much attention the electronic infusion pump and the drip no. (They are suppose to change it everyday)


13/10/15
Which is today , I went in to the vet with full of positivity and hope for the blood test result . The vet was busy with other dogs and I took him out for his usual morning walks and his energy level is maintained , I was happy . Everything went crashing down after the results came in .

Cre :  8.0  (Went up by 0.1)
BUN : 130 (Previously not measureable)
Phosphate level was still 16.1

this are insanely high numbers and I think its better for me to prepare myself a little more . For some reasons , I am quite concerned about realistic life expectancy but I figured out the vet is pretty much sugar coating things to make me feel better .

After returning him to the cage , I noticed something . The IV drip was still on #2 and it was only 1/4 used , that was like from sunday ?  For the past 2 days it has still been on the same drip packet and I asked the vet why ? She said maybe it kinked (meaning the machine stopped due to problems) MEANING , my dog is not getting the full dosage as per intended , it just stopped overnight and technically not on drips .


I will be making my way down for his afternoon walk later and will get to the bottom of this , but for now , the results are not making me feel any better . I guess my boy is going to be in that dark little cage for the next couple of days.
That is all I have to report since before admission till 3rd day on IV drips . I hope things get better...

[Lucyboy]

Do I have to repost, sorryI dont  follow you? thank you

[Lucyboy]

Hi Guys just joined today, my 6 year old boxer Lucy was diagnosed in May with Kidney disease and it was initially thought she was early stage, however having been on Hills KD renal food since then and had more repeat bloods 2 weeks ago we were given pretty devasting results Lucy was given just weeks , we are obviously heartbroken and just want to know when do we call it a day? Her creatinine levels were initially 650, repeat bloods 1 month later 644 and now they are 950! I am in Ireland and the levels measure differently ,she has had numerous vomiting episodes 2 weeks ago but only 2 thus week, she sleeps a lot but hasnt lot her appetite she also has had her first seizure, what is the next step? she has maalox for nausea and just been prescribed an anti seizure drug

[tonyb286]

Hi. Could you start a new thread for your post, please, using the name of your dog as the subject header. You'll get more replies as a resulkt- and it'll be easier for us to find your post for follow-ups. Thank you.

[tonyb286]

Hi. I think there's every good reason to continue with fluids, providing you are prepared for potentially poor results. The likelihood of success is small, but it's possible. IVs are fine as long as you know how to undertake them and are very careful, but should really only be performed by professional vets/nurses. SubQs are safer. The best fluids are Lactated Ringers (LR), as the fluids are electrolyte and mineral balanced. Saline fluids are okay if you can't get LR and more appropriate for dogs with low sodium levels (check blood results).

Cheers, Tony

[cheesekoh]

Just to check with you regarding IV drips , right now he does feel better and is no longer constipated and lethargic . The drips did help but the 2nd blood test doesnt seem to show much improvement except for bun . My boy will be due for blood test again in two days time and I am hoping for the best , THAT will be 7 days of IV .

So now the question is , if i can drip him at home for longer periods of time , maybe another week of fluid treatment via IV and not subq (under the skin) Do you think that will be advisable or a week of IV will pretty much be more then enough regardless the results ?


Problem with the vets here is , I do not call them vets , I call them businessman and businesswoman . They have been consistently trying to cover up their mistakes and trying to BS their way through . Hell they even fed my dog tap water even after paying almost $300 a day for treatment and  hospitalisation .


I was thinking if this sat , his values does improve and likely I will get a infusion pump and continue his iv at home rather at the ripp off pet clinic . What do you think ?

[tonyb286]

Hi. Welcome to our family of friends. I am so sorry for your best friend and your own experience over the last few days. With numbers so high, with stage 4 being pretty much confirmed, and with his additional complications, I regrettably don't think the fluids will help a great deal. Maybe temporarily, it will make him feel a little brighter (as toxin overload is eased slightly), but the extensive damage to the kidneys is irreversible, which means there will be a continuing decline.

Stabilizing him is worth trying, but not for more than a week or so. I think there comes a point when very difficult and selfless decisions have to be confronted, with your vet's advice. I fully appreciate it may be more difficult in your location to get really good veterinary and overnight care and supervision, which is most definitely what is needed when dogs are on drip fluids.

Let us know how things are and what blood readings are like. If there's no change, or if there's a decline, then maybe "that time" has come to help him out of suffering. Your dog will tell you if he feels he's had enough - it will be communicated through his eyes. Fingers crossed for some positive news. My heart is with you.

Tony