4th stage renal failure in my dog

[aggieone]

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

[maxili]

oh amielynn…i'm cry in…you spoke my inner gut wrenching feelings.

[maxili]

those puppy days.  oh they are the killer.  max acted like a puppy each day except those last few days.  he would go grab his favorite squeaky toy out of his bin and take it (thought he was sneaking it) out to the back yard.
he had a built in clock.  every day at 3 he did this.  i fortunately took a ton of videos and have them.
i'm in the process of trying to have someone save them onto a flash drive for me.  i'm not good with computers.
i can't even think of all our memories yet.  its been since april 6th.  we did every single thing together all day and night every day.  i assigned a voice to max.  i knew what he would say…i really knew…we really spoke.  i can't hear him.  i can't feel him.  i think i have to accept he is gone before i can feel if he is around…a piece of his soul or his energy.  i'm so scarred i'll never stop needing him back and not coping.  nobody understands but all of us.  they say they do but they don't.  thank you all for being here.
Lili

[maxili]

kathy,
i am crying reading your post.  i have not found that it gets any easier i'm sorry to say.  i think it might get to where i can breath a little easier but that empty sadness of loss of our babies doesn't go away and can't be filled with a replacement.  some friends say a new pet helps a lot.  i am not doing that.  but thats me.
i am so sick and i know max wouldn't want that but i just am.  i just heard a rascal flats song that sums up how we are all feeling if you can you tube it….its called let it hurt.  a tearjerker but so appropriate.
we are all special.
but the dogs were what made us special.

[Cholismom]

I am so so sorry about Spencer.

Amielynn could not have said it better.  Its always painful to log on and see another fur kiddie pass away because of this dreadful disease.  

But we are here to help and comfort you as those have done for me and every lovely person here has done for them.  In a world filled with so many ugly actions this forum is filled with so many special and beautiful people.  

Spencer feels no more pain. Take heart in knowing that you did everything you could to help him.  Now he runs and lays in a warm field of grass with lots of squirrels to chase (but never catch).  

It is so easy to forget to eat let alone breathe.  So, please make sure to take care of yourself.  And come here.  There is always a kind eye ready to console and help you through this heartbreak.

God Bless Spencer and you.   Silvia

[amielynn24]

I always hate to sign onto this forum to find another sweet doggy has lost its battle with kidney failure.  It is most heartbreaking at the end and you did the right thing.  Spencer is no longer suffering and he's running pain free with all the other doggies.  Know in your heart that you would have done anything to slow this disease, but his kidneys were too far gone to save him.  My heart breaks for you.  It does get easier with time.  Three months ago, I never thought I'd be able to think about my sweet Daisy and smile.  Now, when I talk about her or tell others about her, I find myself not only smiling but sometimes filling the room with laughter.  She was my best friend but i know her paw prints will forever be on my heart even if she isn't here with me.  

[tonyb286]

Hello. I am so sorry to hear about Spencer. Sometimes this disease acts so fast, it's shocking to see and experience what it does in just a very short time. This was how it was with my dog, BB. Although right now this must be dreadfully painful, take some comfort knowing Spencer is not in pain anymore. If he could, he would thank you for being so brave and so kind-hearted ... and for supplying years of love.

You are in my thoughts today. I am pleased you found us here ... you are in good company.

Tony x