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4th stage renal failure in my dog
I have a nine year old lab "Sandy Grace". She is in fourth stage renal failure-Of course she has seen her regular vet for fluids-ultra sound revealed she has one kidney which is failing. Creatine was 13-subs at home-now using hollistic and homepatic treatment. Recently more bad days than good. I am giving her ice chips which seem to work better for her than lapping. Pedialyte ice is also better. She throws up until she staggers and falls-I am continuously trying to hydrate her and giving her baby food-At times, she is able to keep it down, other times the vomiting is horrible. She continues to try for us, and we are fighting so hard for her-LIke others, I tuck her in at night (she sleeps on the loveseat with her "bankie" covering her). I am sleeping in the den with her so I can give her support throughout the night. Neither of us are getting much sleep. I have her spoiled now with hand feeding other than her baby food, and I hold her plate while she licks it up. I am using a recipe of egg yellow / whites, honey, and whole yogurt with a touch of dry powdered milk. This works sometimes. Sandy Grace is not ready to leave us-she continues to try-we try for her twenty-four hours a day. Is there any over the counter medication that I can give her that will help with her vomiting? We love her so much and she loves us so much-my husband and I feel like we will know when she is ready to go. We went to grocery store yesterday to buy more food supplies and liquids for her, when we got home, there she was looking out the window-barking for us to hurry and come inside-you open the door and there she is - -so excited, still wagging her tail for us. What can we do, this is our baby, she is so, so sweet-I know her days are numbered, but she is just not ready to leave. Help. Aggieone
This is exactly what I am going through now. I am sat here with my baby girl (age 17) and I can't let her go. We have the vets tomorrow and my husband wants us to let her go but I can't. My kids have also begged me not to. She's struggling and the legs are starting to go but she's not as bad as some of the other dogs mentioned on here. So so hard.
Hi. Okay. They still need do a blood pressure check. 93% of all kidney failure dogs have high blood pressure - and that seriously compromises the kidneys and causes the kidney disease to worsen very quickly.
It may take a few days for the IV fluids to "kick in", so get back after your vet has completed the course and let me know how things are. Importantly, new blood level checks should be taken to assess whether IVs are doing anything before the treatment is complete.
It may also be worth having renal scan undertaken if your vet can do it, as this will tell you and the vet how much organ tissue remains. If less than 20%, then any treatment is pointless as your dog will not be able to maintain any function after IV fluids. If more than 20%, there's a chance treatment and management of diet will have a more positive outcome.
Tony
It may take a few days for the IV fluids to "kick in", so get back after your vet has completed the course and let me know how things are. Importantly, new blood level checks should be taken to assess whether IVs are doing anything before the treatment is complete.
It may also be worth having renal scan undertaken if your vet can do it, as this will tell you and the vet how much organ tissue remains. If less than 20%, then any treatment is pointless as your dog will not be able to maintain any function after IV fluids. If more than 20%, there's a chance treatment and management of diet will have a more positive outcome.
Tony
2 Comments
My labrador retriever has renal failure and a high level of creatinine. I want to know what SQ fluids should I give him, one vet tells me dextrose, other vet Hartmann, and ringer. Please help me I'm desperate because my dog is weak.
Hi. Much depends on the blood results. If you have them, post them and I can advise better. As a general rule, Lactated Ringers are the better fluids for all kidney failure dogs, because the fluids are better balanced with minerals and electrolytes that mimic the canine body. Dextrose, Hartman, sodium and others are all loaded with minerals of specific types and they can be useful, but only when the blood results show a deficiency of the mineral and/or electrolyte concerned.
Is this acute or chronic renal failure? How old is your dog? Does he have other health conditions? When was he diagnosed? Is he on any medications? Do you know the stage of renal failure? What are you feeding him? What symptoms persist?
Tony
Is this acute or chronic renal failure? How old is your dog? Does he have other health conditions? When was he diagnosed? Is he on any medications? Do you know the stage of renal failure? What are you feeding him? What symptoms persist?
Tony
I've just got back from my usual vet, and they have sent him home with me as he looks completely healthy and still weighs the same as 8 months ago.
I have to go back in the morning so he can get more blood tests, and a urinalysis done. I also have some of the Royal Canin Renal food to pick up to begin a better diet for him.
I have to go back in the morning so he can get more blood tests, and a urinalysis done. I also have some of the Royal Canin Renal food to pick up to begin a better diet for him.
Thanks for helping Tony,
I have just got my dog from back from the emergency vet centre, where he spent 32 hours on the IV drip, although his creatinine levels did fluctuate, they are still at 452 umol/L. I have been advised to take my dog to my local vet so he can be placed on the IV again, and also to discuss whether it will have any positive effects as it has been unsuccessful so far.
They did not take a blood pressure reading, although dueing initial obs they stated that his HR and pulses were good. And they dis not run a urinalysis as he would not let then catch him urinating.
The blood tests also revealed that he had a low concentratikn of platelets in his blood (4-5 per field) and so suggests that something is going on with his liver also.
They gave him a course of anti-biotics in case their was an infection but there has been no response.
And i have obtained copies of all four blood test results.
I will be taking him to my local vet to see whether they can cater for his needs as the previous vet was only an emergency clinic, hence why the treatment so far has cost so much.
I have just got my dog from back from the emergency vet centre, where he spent 32 hours on the IV drip, although his creatinine levels did fluctuate, they are still at 452 umol/L. I have been advised to take my dog to my local vet so he can be placed on the IV again, and also to discuss whether it will have any positive effects as it has been unsuccessful so far.
They did not take a blood pressure reading, although dueing initial obs they stated that his HR and pulses were good. And they dis not run a urinalysis as he would not let then catch him urinating.
The blood tests also revealed that he had a low concentratikn of platelets in his blood (4-5 per field) and so suggests that something is going on with his liver also.
They gave him a course of anti-biotics in case their was an infection but there has been no response.
And i have obtained copies of all four blood test results.
I will be taking him to my local vet to see whether they can cater for his needs as the previous vet was only an emergency clinic, hence why the treatment so far has cost so much.
Can anyone please offer some advice.
My 7 year old staffordshire bull terrier was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure late last night and had a reading of creatinine reading of 460.
He was placed on an IV drip through the nigt and that reading has omly dropped to 440. The vet has advised that he may need another night on the drip.
Up until now my dog has been completely fine, he is in great shape, and had a healthy appetitie. The only symptom which caused us to take him the vet was that he suddenly Wet himself and was breathing very deeply.
The vet when taking his obs said he was completely healthy and they only took a blood test because we was adamant that they run some tests to see what exactly caused it.
For the one night of treatment it has already set us back £800 and it is unlikely we can afford much more for his treatment.
Is it advised that we leave him in the vet to stay on an IV drip? Or would it be better that we spend what time we have left with him at home?
Like i said he was of completely normal health, and showing his usual high energy levels.
I've read online that at stage 4 they do not have much time left, but how long is that? Epecially when he seems so healthy, and i know he will be severely distressed staying in the vet as he has never spent a night in a kennel, and will not eat unless we are present.
My 7 year old staffordshire bull terrier was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure late last night and had a reading of creatinine reading of 460.
He was placed on an IV drip through the nigt and that reading has omly dropped to 440. The vet has advised that he may need another night on the drip.
Up until now my dog has been completely fine, he is in great shape, and had a healthy appetitie. The only symptom which caused us to take him the vet was that he suddenly Wet himself and was breathing very deeply.
The vet when taking his obs said he was completely healthy and they only took a blood test because we was adamant that they run some tests to see what exactly caused it.
For the one night of treatment it has already set us back £800 and it is unlikely we can afford much more for his treatment.
Is it advised that we leave him in the vet to stay on an IV drip? Or would it be better that we spend what time we have left with him at home?
Like i said he was of completely normal health, and showing his usual high energy levels.
I've read online that at stage 4 they do not have much time left, but how long is that? Epecially when he seems so healthy, and i know he will be severely distressed staying in the vet as he has never spent a night in a kennel, and will not eat unless we are present.
1 Comments
Hi. Ordinarily, when the blood numbers are very bad, it takes 3 or 4 days of IV fluids at the vets to get control of the disease (bringing the numbers down to a moderate rather than a high abnormal level). It is not unusual for good results to follow an initial spike of bad results with IV fluids, so you need to be patient. After the IV fluids have finished, it is important you then begin a 3 to 4 week course of SubQ fluids, which you can administer yourself at home (after a vet has taught you how to do it). This should be with Lactated Ringer solution, unless the blood results suggest another form of fluids.
The vet should also have run a urinalysis to check for culture and sensitivity (to assess if there are any urinary infections), checking also for protein loss and the specific gravity of urine. If they didn't do this, get them to do it.
The vet should also have taken a blood pressure reading. Did they do this? If not, you must get them to do it.
Once you have your dog home, you need to start a diet change regime. We can talk about that once you are able to post the test results (make sure you obtain copies).
It's impossible to say how long your dog may have, because only by assessing the blood results and your dog's reaction to the fluid therapy and diet change can anything be determined. With good management and a pro-active approach to treatment and diet, dogs can live a good quality of life for a year or more. Beyond that, it's dependent on how much kidney function remains, whether the deterioration can be stemmed and stabilised and how committed your vet is to monitor and adapt treatments.
It may help to read one of my articles (designed for first time diagnosed dogs) ... you can access it here:
http://www.infobarrel.com/My_10-Point_Plan_for_Dogs_with_Kidney_Failure
Regards
Tony
The vet should also have run a urinalysis to check for culture and sensitivity (to assess if there are any urinary infections), checking also for protein loss and the specific gravity of urine. If they didn't do this, get them to do it.
The vet should also have taken a blood pressure reading. Did they do this? If not, you must get them to do it.
Once you have your dog home, you need to start a diet change regime. We can talk about that once you are able to post the test results (make sure you obtain copies).
It's impossible to say how long your dog may have, because only by assessing the blood results and your dog's reaction to the fluid therapy and diet change can anything be determined. With good management and a pro-active approach to treatment and diet, dogs can live a good quality of life for a year or more. Beyond that, it's dependent on how much kidney function remains, whether the deterioration can be stemmed and stabilised and how committed your vet is to monitor and adapt treatments.
It may help to read one of my articles (designed for first time diagnosed dogs) ... you can access it here:
http://www.infobarrel.com/My_10-Point_Plan_for_Dogs_with_Kidney_Failure
Regards
Tony
all this after .....a months of meds, daily IV and spoon feeding him. His numbers did improve for a short while, his ultra-sound showed kidney function .....nil.
1 Comments
I am so sorry for your loss. Sometimes kidney function is so poor that battling the disease is nigh impossible. You certainly did all you could. Run free Re'Tale.
Tony
Tony
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