When is it time?

[Minniesmom]

My 6-year-old shih tzu, Minnie, was diagnosed with CRF in March of 2015. She was prescribed aluminum hydroxide, pet tinic, and famotidine daily, as well as subq fluids 100mL every other day. She responded well to this treatment for over a year, but this past week she has progressively lost interest in food, then water, and now is so lethargic she only wants to lie and sleep. I took her to the vet and her prognosis is not good. She is severely anemic, and has developed ulcers in her mouth due to the uric acid buildup and has a very strong odor in her mouth. He recommended doing a three night stay to insert a feeding tube, continue subq fluids, and start a treatment that will stimulate red blood cell production. I would then continue the red blood cell treatment afterwards and hopefully this will allow her to get well enough to start eating on her own again and get better.

I don't believe she has much time left either with or without treatment, but I want to know if anyone has experienced anything similar, and if their dog had substantial quantity and quality of life left after similar treatment. I'm having a really hard time deciding what to do, especially since she's so young, but I also don't want to prolong this situation and have her suffer anymore than she has to. She's already fought for over a year with this disease, and I had hoped for more time but it does not seem to be the case.

I also want to know if anyone has had their dog live years longer after getting to this point? Seems unlikely, but if there's a chance she can gain another quality year of life after treatment it would be worth it. I don't want to subject her to more daily needles and medication if the stress of it all will only prolong her time mere months.

I've read countless stories here and they have given me hope; I hope some answers to my own situation will bring clarity and peace during this really difficult time.

[tonyb286]

This is an uncertain and unpredictable disease. No one can truly answer your questions, because every dog is different and every case of kidney disease is different. The recommendations made by your vet seem very logical to me and the best chance of getting through this phase. Of course, only you can truly appreciate and assess when the right time may have come to withhold treatment and help Minnie take her final journey. With treatment, years are unlikely and months are more probable. Without treatment, weeks, if that. It would help if you could post the blood test results as we could give better answers (BUN, creatinine, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, amylase, calcium and any other relevant results). Has Minnie had her blood pressure checked? What diet is she receiving? What about anti-nausea and any other meds? Famotidine is intended to help ease ulcers, but clearly it isn't doing the job - try adding a desertspoon of chopped cooked green cabbage to the daily diet. This is a natural protector against ulcers forming and may help boost the effects of the famotidine.

Tony