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How do I do this? Renal Disease in my Sheltie
One of my Shelties has cancer (Roxy( and actually, she is healthier than my male Sheltie (Joey). We found out last week at the has end stage renal (kidney) disease. His phosphorus, potassium, creatinine, BUN, uremia, were all 3x what they should be. The stage was confirmed by the urinalysis. He has cast cells in his urine which means that he has kidney tubular damage. We found out at that visit that he also has hypertension (high blood pressure). He used to be overweight so it could have contributed to this. Anyway.....oh where do I start....
He is so sick. I am giving him fluids at home through an 18gauge needle in his back through fatty tissue. The vet felt confident since I am a nurse sending me home with all of this. My husband and I give him is fluids this way every night. He is not drinking water unless we offer it to him. He won't eat anything except some cheerios...he usually vomits...I have him on slew of meds. He is so weak. I hate watching him like this. His gums have now turned pale. I told my husband that we needed to put him down, but when he saw Joey respond and walk to get his dog biscuit, he wanted to try more to keep him alive....in this state. It breaks my heart because I know he's suffering. My husband won't let go. After the infusions at home, Joey perks up and then that's really it. He is now too weak to get up and let us know when he needs to go outside and ends up urinating on himself. My vet has made herself available this weekend if we decide to put him down. I tried to get his crushed meds down him today and he gagged, threw up, choked, had a sputum hanging off his little lips. I stopped and said, "I can't do this to him."
I don't know what to do...help.
He is so sick. I am giving him fluids at home through an 18gauge needle in his back through fatty tissue. The vet felt confident since I am a nurse sending me home with all of this. My husband and I give him is fluids this way every night. He is not drinking water unless we offer it to him. He won't eat anything except some cheerios...he usually vomits...I have him on slew of meds. He is so weak. I hate watching him like this. His gums have now turned pale. I told my husband that we needed to put him down, but when he saw Joey respond and walk to get his dog biscuit, he wanted to try more to keep him alive....in this state. It breaks my heart because I know he's suffering. My husband won't let go. After the infusions at home, Joey perks up and then that's really it. He is now too weak to get up and let us know when he needs to go outside and ends up urinating on himself. My vet has made herself available this weekend if we decide to put him down. I tried to get his crushed meds down him today and he gagged, threw up, choked, had a sputum hanging off his little lips. I stopped and said, "I can't do this to him."
I don't know what to do...help.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this again, I cannot imagine how hard it must be. We lost a Sheltie in February to Cushings Disease, and it still seems like yesterday.I hope you find some peace in knowing you've done everything possible to help your dog, she is a very lucky girl. You are great owners, continue to spoil her for as long as you can.
Update: I ended up having to put him down. But it was the words of the vet that allowed my hubby to let go. It was a very trying time. We are going through all of this again as my oldest sheltie now has cancer...well has had it over a year. Chemo and radiation elongated her life, but she is slowly letting go....so her time to go to God is coming very soon. I am really worried about this time....
I agree with you. It's Time. When we lost our dog to renal failure I had the same problem with my husband. Of course, Chica herself didn't help. That dog never backed down from a challenge in her life, and death was no different. She finally grew as weak as your Joey, so I had to make the decision. My husband just couldn't be the one to make the call, even though he knew it was time to say goodbye. You'll have to be the strong one here and do what you know is right - if Joey doesn't take matters into his own paws this weekend.
Renal failure is one of the more heartbreaking diseases to watch. You know there isn't much you can do other than make them comfortable. When even comfort is gone, it's time.
God bless you. We all understand.
Renal failure is one of the more heartbreaking diseases to watch. You know there isn't much you can do other than make them comfortable. When even comfort is gone, it's time.
God bless you. We all understand.
I have lost my sheltie, Sami,( the larger, sable & white) almost a year ago to renial kidney failure. It only gets worse, not better. I have said it before and will say it again,
dogs have such a bond with us. Sometimes that bond is so strong, that even though the dog is dying, they are unable to let go. Just like we are unable to let go of them. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the kindest thing to do. No body wants to put their companion down.
Joey is only going to get worse, not better. There can be nor should be no second guessing one's self. It is the most humane and loving thing to do. Tell your husband that keeping him alive is only putting Joey in pain and prolonging the inevitable. I too wanted to wait until the last possible moment. I kept hoping my Sami would just go in her sleep. It doesn't always work that way. Their little wills sometimes won't let them go. Unfortunately, as their guardians, we are sometimes forced into doing things we do not want to do.
Just remember, no matter what you and your husband decide, you will make the right decision for Joey.
God bless, and may Joey go in peace.
dogs have such a bond with us. Sometimes that bond is so strong, that even though the dog is dying, they are unable to let go. Just like we are unable to let go of them. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the kindest thing to do. No body wants to put their companion down.
Joey is only going to get worse, not better. There can be nor should be no second guessing one's self. It is the most humane and loving thing to do. Tell your husband that keeping him alive is only putting Joey in pain and prolonging the inevitable. I too wanted to wait until the last possible moment. I kept hoping my Sami would just go in her sleep. It doesn't always work that way. Their little wills sometimes won't let them go. Unfortunately, as their guardians, we are sometimes forced into doing things we do not want to do.
Just remember, no matter what you and your husband decide, you will make the right decision for Joey.
God bless, and may Joey go in peace.
Scroll down to the post My Dog Passed away Yesterday, and click on it. There is a poem that el_em_en sent in, and I think your husband should read it. It fits your situation perfectly. I wouldn't do anything without his consent unless your sure he will be relieved that you did it, and not hold it against you. Having the vet talk to your husband during a visit was a good idea, perhaps he needs to be told what to do by a professional, and not have it left up to his decision, it might make it easier for him to accept that it wasn't his call.
You know what you need to do, but your husband won't agree to it. I think I would make an appointment with the vet and call her ahead of time and explain the situation, and see if she won't just tell your husband, during the appointment, "This dog needs to be put down. It is the only humane thing to do." Then do it. Afterward, it was the vet who made the decision, so your husband can be mad at her instead of you.
If your husband won't go to the appointment, so much the better. If he gets mad when you come home without the dog, tell him to call the doctor. (Of course, warn the doctor ahead of time, at the appointment, and make sure she is okay with doing the euthenasia against your husband's consent.)
Maybe even make the appointment at a time when you know your husband can't attend. Just say, later on, that the dog suddenly got worse, and you had to rush to the vet. Then proceed with the rest of the plan. The vet said that euthenasia was the only option.
Hopefully, your vet will go along. Really, it may be that your husband can't make the decision, but he will be relieved after it is done "against his will."
I'm sorry.
If your husband won't go to the appointment, so much the better. If he gets mad when you come home without the dog, tell him to call the doctor. (Of course, warn the doctor ahead of time, at the appointment, and make sure she is okay with doing the euthenasia against your husband's consent.)
Maybe even make the appointment at a time when you know your husband can't attend. Just say, later on, that the dog suddenly got worse, and you had to rush to the vet. Then proceed with the rest of the plan. The vet said that euthenasia was the only option.
Hopefully, your vet will go along. Really, it may be that your husband can't make the decision, but he will be relieved after it is done "against his will."
I'm sorry.
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