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Kidney Failure
Hi all
I have 2 sheltie boys (littermates) aged 10.5 years old
Jack(Tri-Colour) and Sam(Sable)
Both boys have recently been diagnosed with early stages of Kidney Failure.
Jack's blood results are higher than Sam's
I have been looking on the internet for some info on this disease to see how it progresses.
I seem to be going round in circles getting no where. I am looking for some info from fellow dog owners.
Jack has vets on wednesday for more blood tests....the only thing my vet advised was to put then on a low protien
diet (have them on Burns), he didnt give me any meds for the boys.
Any help/info would be great....Thanks
I have 2 sheltie boys (littermates) aged 10.5 years old
Jack(Tri-Colour) and Sam(Sable)
Both boys have recently been diagnosed with early stages of Kidney Failure.
Jack's blood results are higher than Sam's
I have been looking on the internet for some info on this disease to see how it progresses.
I seem to be going round in circles getting no where. I am looking for some info from fellow dog owners.
Jack has vets on wednesday for more blood tests....the only thing my vet advised was to put then on a low protien
diet (have them on Burns), he didnt give me any meds for the boys.
Any help/info would be great....Thanks
Best Answer
Hi Bella,
Thanks for the update on the boys. It is good to read that they are doing OK.
To answer your question about possible fluid retention, the answer is yes.
Dogs with kidney failure can experience edema, and a condition known as ascites ( fluid in the abdominal area that gives them a pot bellied appearance)
Are they feeling heavier and lighter before and after urinating?
It does seem odd that you are noticing a weight difference that changes throughout the day. Make a call to your vet and mention it. Please let all of us know what you find out.
Take care,
Connie
Thanks for the update on the boys. It is good to read that they are doing OK.
To answer your question about possible fluid retention, the answer is yes.
Dogs with kidney failure can experience edema, and a condition known as ascites ( fluid in the abdominal area that gives them a pot bellied appearance)
Are they feeling heavier and lighter before and after urinating?
It does seem odd that you are noticing a weight difference that changes throughout the day. Make a call to your vet and mention it. Please let all of us know what you find out.
Take care,
Connie
Hi
Thought I had better check in and let you all know how my boys are doing.
They seem to be doing ok just now....apart from being sick and having diarrhea sometimes.....they both sleep alot too.
I have a question for anyone out there.....Does a dog with Kidney Failure retain water ?
The reason I am asking this is when I lift the boys throughout the day they seem heavier then feel lighter....Confused.com
Thanks
Bella
Thought I had better check in and let you all know how my boys are doing.
They seem to be doing ok just now....apart from being sick and having diarrhea sometimes.....they both sleep alot too.
I have a question for anyone out there.....Does a dog with Kidney Failure retain water ?
The reason I am asking this is when I lift the boys throughout the day they seem heavier then feel lighter....Confused.com
Thanks
Bella
Hi PrincesMom
I have never heard of Pedialyte.....so can't really comment on it...sorry.
My vet has not gave me any meds for my boys he only asked me to put them on a Low Protien diet.....which I have done.
If I was you I would consult my vet before giving this to your dog as he has underlaying medical conditions.
Hope your dog is doing ok.
Bella
I have never heard of Pedialyte.....so can't really comment on it...sorry.
My vet has not gave me any meds for my boys he only asked me to put them on a Low Protien diet.....which I have done.
If I was you I would consult my vet before giving this to your dog as he has underlaying medical conditions.
Hope your dog is doing ok.
Bella
Hi Connie
Thanks for the link for DogAware.com. There seems to be alot of useful information there....I will take my time reading through it all to see whats relevent to my boys.
Jack and Sam seem to be doing ok at the moment....apart from Sam having a little misshap with his front paw....that boy still thinks he is a puppy with bouncing and barking at other dogs on our walk !! Have got him on some pain meds at the moment and am resting him too.
My boys are my life so I would do anything for them......this has been such a shock to find out they have renal failure.....I know they are not puppies at 10.5 years but still the same its rocked my world here. I have had both boys since they were 8 weeks old.
Thanks for your help
Bella
Thanks for the link for DogAware.com. There seems to be alot of useful information there....I will take my time reading through it all to see whats relevent to my boys.
Jack and Sam seem to be doing ok at the moment....apart from Sam having a little misshap with his front paw....that boy still thinks he is a puppy with bouncing and barking at other dogs on our walk !! Have got him on some pain meds at the moment and am resting him too.
My boys are my life so I would do anything for them......this has been such a shock to find out they have renal failure.....I know they are not puppies at 10.5 years but still the same its rocked my world here. I have had both boys since they were 8 weeks old.
Thanks for your help
Bella
Hi PrincesMom...
I really know about the Pedialyte. I know that it is OK to give dogs Pedialyte, but I'm not sure how it affects the kidneys. So, I don't know if it would really be beneficial for the kidneys..?
Is Prince drinking water...? Distilled water might be best for him...and his kidneys. If he is not drinking anything, then MAYBE pedialyte would be best, as something is better than nothing.
Hopefully other forum members will know more about the Pedialyte and will be able to guide you better. You could check out the Dog Aware Website that I mentioned above...also, try posting your question in the Ask a Veterinarian section of this forum. What has your vet suggested..?
Poor little guy...sounds like he has alot of issues. You certainly have your hands full when it comes to managing his diseases.
Stay in touch, and let us know how he is doing...and what you find out about the Pedialyte.
Connie
I really know about the Pedialyte. I know that it is OK to give dogs Pedialyte, but I'm not sure how it affects the kidneys. So, I don't know if it would really be beneficial for the kidneys..?
Is Prince drinking water...? Distilled water might be best for him...and his kidneys. If he is not drinking anything, then MAYBE pedialyte would be best, as something is better than nothing.
Hopefully other forum members will know more about the Pedialyte and will be able to guide you better. You could check out the Dog Aware Website that I mentioned above...also, try posting your question in the Ask a Veterinarian section of this forum. What has your vet suggested..?
Poor little guy...sounds like he has alot of issues. You certainly have your hands full when it comes to managing his diseases.
Stay in touch, and let us know how he is doing...and what you find out about the Pedialyte.
Connie
Hi Bella....
I am going to direct you to a website that is very helpful..
Please go to ....
www.Dogaware.com
When you get there, click on the Health Section, then scroll down to
Kidney Disease. A little window will open, and you will see the section that says Diet Guidelines. Click on it...this section is loaded with information, including the best water that you should use...( Distilled )
Please read through the Dog Aware information, and bookmark the website. It is very helpful.
Let me know what you think....and as always..."Discuss your decisions with your vet."
I hope your Boys are doing well. It sounds like they are lucky to have you to take care of them. Give them a hug from me....Connie
I am going to direct you to a website that is very helpful..
Please go to ....
www.Dogaware.com
When you get there, click on the Health Section, then scroll down to
Kidney Disease. A little window will open, and you will see the section that says Diet Guidelines. Click on it...this section is loaded with information, including the best water that you should use...( Distilled )
Please read through the Dog Aware information, and bookmark the website. It is very helpful.
Let me know what you think....and as always..."Discuss your decisions with your vet."
I hope your Boys are doing well. It sounds like they are lucky to have you to take care of them. Give them a hug from me....Connie
Hi, I see that you give a lot of advice for people dealing with kidney failure in dogs. My 10 year old, Prince was diagnosed with kidney failure in February, the latest in a list of other medical problems. I have found some tips through these forums that have helped keep him stable since and was wondering about Pedialyte. Do you know if it would be beneficial?
Thanks!
Prince suffers from Pancreatitis, Cushing's Disease and SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration).
Thanks!
Prince suffers from Pancreatitis, Cushing's Disease and SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration).
COMMUNITY LEADER
My dog had early-stage kidney failure diagnosed last October. She went onto the Royal Canin veterinary prescription diet both canned and dry (horrendously expensive if bought from the vet's but costs can be cut to about HALF of what it would cost at the vet's by buying online (I bought from petmeds.co.uk) and bought large quantities in large bag.) Free delivery comes with a large order too, saving more.
It really made a difference to her BUN and creatinine levels. At her monthly blood check November, her "bad" values had come down to lower"high". Then 2 months later her blood values were "upper normal". In March they were right back to normal, and the vet said if he hadn't known her history, he would not have suspected there was anything wrong with her kidneys at all. That's how helpful this diet was....combined with an ACE inhibitor "Benazecare"
My dog since passed away. But the cause of her death had NOTHING at all to do with her kidneys, which were doing pretty well.
It really made a difference to her BUN and creatinine levels. At her monthly blood check November, her "bad" values had come down to lower"high". Then 2 months later her blood values were "upper normal". In March they were right back to normal, and the vet said if he hadn't known her history, he would not have suspected there was anything wrong with her kidneys at all. That's how helpful this diet was....combined with an ACE inhibitor "Benazecare"
My dog since passed away. But the cause of her death had NOTHING at all to do with her kidneys, which were doing pretty well.
Hi Connie
Thanks for your help explaining this to me it makes more sense now.
I know know what to expect as more blood results are done.
The first blood test Jack was not allowed any water after 10pm the night before. The second blood test he was allowed water....maybe thats why the level was down a little.
I have both boys on Burns wet food....this is the lowest protien one I could find without it being a vets prescription diet. (protien 4.8%)
They have fresh water available at all times...(they have the freedom of the house)
Can I ask what water is best Tap water or bottled water ?
I am trying to learn as much as possible of this disease and hints or tips from anyone would be great.
Bella
Thanks for your help explaining this to me it makes more sense now.
I know know what to expect as more blood results are done.
The first blood test Jack was not allowed any water after 10pm the night before. The second blood test he was allowed water....maybe thats why the level was down a little.
I have both boys on Burns wet food....this is the lowest protien one I could find without it being a vets prescription diet. (protien 4.8%)
They have fresh water available at all times...(they have the freedom of the house)
Can I ask what water is best Tap water or bottled water ?
I am trying to learn as much as possible of this disease and hints or tips from anyone would be great.
Bella
Hi All
Just to let you all know what happened at our vet visit. I have found out that Sam is at stage 1-2 and Jack is at stage 2 of renal failure so its quite early in.
Jack got blood took today after a mix up yesterday at vets....they forgot to tell me not to feed him his breakfast.
My vet phoned back with results to say the two levels have went down slightly by 1 point or so.
I am a bit confused here....does this happen with blood results do they go down ?
I thought the results would just go higher at each blood test ?
Anyone help with this ?
Thanks
Just to let you all know what happened at our vet visit. I have found out that Sam is at stage 1-2 and Jack is at stage 2 of renal failure so its quite early in.
Jack got blood took today after a mix up yesterday at vets....they forgot to tell me not to feed him his breakfast.
My vet phoned back with results to say the two levels have went down slightly by 1 point or so.
I am a bit confused here....does this happen with blood results do they go down ?
I thought the results would just go higher at each blood test ?
Anyone help with this ?
Thanks
I don't know what happened, but the link above is page 2......When you get there, you can click to go back to page 1 to begin......Now, I'm confused......Sorry, Karla
Hello & welcome to the forum.......Here is the link (Within this forum) with the most information on Renal Disease.......It's lengthy, but has valuable information for you........
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dogs/4th-stage-renal-failure-in-my-dog/show/425814
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dogs/4th-stage-renal-failure-in-my-dog/show/425814
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Yes, you can expect the numbers to fluctuate. It will depend on how well hydrated the dog is, and what he has eaten. Over the course of the disease, as the nephrons in the kidneys start to become more diseased, and less functional...the numbers on the Bun, Phosphorus, and Creatinine, will start rising.
What you want to do, is get your dogs started on a kidney diet, and make sure they have fresh water available at all times. The idea is to keep the remaining nephrons as heatlthy as possible for as long as you can...this is done at first, with changes in the diet.
Hopefully, once the diet has been changed, and your dogs are receiving food that is "easy on the kidneys"...you may see the numbers go a little lower...level off...and stay there for awhile.
Eventually, as the "numbers" start rising, you dogs will need medication.
As you said, it is fortunate that your dogs are in the earlier stages.
Learn as much as you can about how to treat this disease...start now, you will be glad you did.
Best Wishes,
Connie