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Kidney Failure / Congestive Heart Failure
I have a 15 yr old female Pekeapoo who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure 8 yrs ago. She has been on Digoxin (sp?) 3 X a day, Furosemid 3X and Enalapril 1 X. Took her in for a health screen last nite. Bloodwork/Urine finds bad.
BUN - 140 Creatinine 3.1 Phosphorus 8.8 Calcium 13.3
Doc says she is going into kidney failure because of the Furosemid and want me to cut back to 2x daily. However, this will fill her lungs back up, start her coughing and possible serious heart failure. We have a follow up on Thursday.
I am scared to death - what should I expect or what symptons should I be on the phone to the Vet for? She looks fine on the outside. How much longer does she have?
I'm not ready to let her go : (
BUN - 140 Creatinine 3.1 Phosphorus 8.8 Calcium 13.3
Doc says she is going into kidney failure because of the Furosemid and want me to cut back to 2x daily. However, this will fill her lungs back up, start her coughing and possible serious heart failure. We have a follow up on Thursday.
I am scared to death - what should I expect or what symptons should I be on the phone to the Vet for? She looks fine on the outside. How much longer does she have?
I'm not ready to let her go : (
Hello,
So much information, I am so scared. I am glad I found this site.
My 10 year old 4 lb Yorkie had a fainting episode 3 wks ago while I was on vacation and then started to hyperventilate. I rushed him to ER where he was placed on oxygen and blood tests and xrays were taken. They said he had CHF. His BUN was elevated but he had just eaten so they were not concerned, otherwise his blood work was good. He did show signs of fluid in the lungs but he was not coughing. I took him to a cardiologist the next day and had an ultrasound done. They confirmed the CHF and wanted to start treatment immediately, they were worried about his flight home in 6 days.
They placed him on .6 ml Furosemide (lasix) and ½ tablet of 1.25mg Pimobendan 3x day for 3 days when I would have a follow up visit. The new xrays 3 days later showed improvement in his lungs but his kidneys were not doing so well. His creatine was 3.2 and his BUN was 184. They immediately dropped the dosage of Furosemide to .4ml 2x day, Pimobendan ½ tab 2x day.
When I returned home, I followed up with a cardiologist at a veterinary school/hospital near me (8 days ago) and his creatine and BUN are still severely elevated but they chose to continue with the .4ml Furosemide 2x day. The next day he started having diarrhea and vomiting.
I spoke with the cardiologist and we agreed I could lower the dosage of Furosemide in small increments and monitor his breathing. She said I may have to accept that he has kidney failure from the high dosage of Furosemide he was given at the start. In one week I dropped his dosage down from .4ml 2x day to 1.5ml 1x day in the morn. His breathing is 18 while sleeping and 35 when awake. The cardiologist said the diarrhea was probably due to the change in his diet to canned kidney/heart dog food.
His diarrhea became mucous/bloody yesterday and very smelly. The veterinary/school hospital is open 24 hours so I called late last night and explained everything to the vet on staff. She did not seem concerned and encouraged me to make a regular appointment which the earliest I can get is in 3 days.
The days are better, he eats/drinks well, urinates, sleeps most of the time. He walks slowly and stumbles a bit. I make his dog food now. The diarrhea is not so mucousy, just soft but still bloody. But the nights are the worst. After getting his afternoon dose of Pimobendan, he vomits, and the diarrhea is more frequent. He usually make it to his pee-pads, sometimes just barely.
I want to take him to ER but the vet I spoke with yesterday made me feel like I was needlessly worrying. He looks at me and I feel his pain, he wants me to make him better and I don't know how.
So much information, I am so scared. I am glad I found this site.
My 10 year old 4 lb Yorkie had a fainting episode 3 wks ago while I was on vacation and then started to hyperventilate. I rushed him to ER where he was placed on oxygen and blood tests and xrays were taken. They said he had CHF. His BUN was elevated but he had just eaten so they were not concerned, otherwise his blood work was good. He did show signs of fluid in the lungs but he was not coughing. I took him to a cardiologist the next day and had an ultrasound done. They confirmed the CHF and wanted to start treatment immediately, they were worried about his flight home in 6 days.
They placed him on .6 ml Furosemide (lasix) and ½ tablet of 1.25mg Pimobendan 3x day for 3 days when I would have a follow up visit. The new xrays 3 days later showed improvement in his lungs but his kidneys were not doing so well. His creatine was 3.2 and his BUN was 184. They immediately dropped the dosage of Furosemide to .4ml 2x day, Pimobendan ½ tab 2x day.
When I returned home, I followed up with a cardiologist at a veterinary school/hospital near me (8 days ago) and his creatine and BUN are still severely elevated but they chose to continue with the .4ml Furosemide 2x day. The next day he started having diarrhea and vomiting.
I spoke with the cardiologist and we agreed I could lower the dosage of Furosemide in small increments and monitor his breathing. She said I may have to accept that he has kidney failure from the high dosage of Furosemide he was given at the start. In one week I dropped his dosage down from .4ml 2x day to 1.5ml 1x day in the morn. His breathing is 18 while sleeping and 35 when awake. The cardiologist said the diarrhea was probably due to the change in his diet to canned kidney/heart dog food.
His diarrhea became mucous/bloody yesterday and very smelly. The veterinary/school hospital is open 24 hours so I called late last night and explained everything to the vet on staff. She did not seem concerned and encouraged me to make a regular appointment which the earliest I can get is in 3 days.
The days are better, he eats/drinks well, urinates, sleeps most of the time. He walks slowly and stumbles a bit. I make his dog food now. The diarrhea is not so mucousy, just soft but still bloody. But the nights are the worst. After getting his afternoon dose of Pimobendan, he vomits, and the diarrhea is more frequent. He usually make it to his pee-pads, sometimes just barely.
I want to take him to ER but the vet I spoke with yesterday made me feel like I was needlessly worrying. He looks at me and I feel his pain, he wants me to make him better and I don't know how.
Hi. Your post is a really tough one to try and answer. Stage 3 kidney disease means that, with appropriate intervention, you may gain a few months to a year or so of good quality time with your best friend. However, given her age and the complication of CCF, that outcome is unlikely.
It's Catch 22 ... removing the CCF medications will increase the likelihood of the heart disease progressing, but will actually help the kidneys, because they won't be under additional toxic by-product stress. Giving the medication will improve the CCF, but will adversely progress the kidney disease.
This is a case where I would take each day as it comes, and deal with the fact that sooner rather than later, you will need to consider the obvious. When her quality of life deteriorates, and when you see "that look" in her eyes, then you'll know what needs doing.
For additional support on the kidney disease, you might consider joining our User Group - the CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN DOGS group, which s on MedHelp.
My thoughts are with you.
Tony
It's Catch 22 ... removing the CCF medications will increase the likelihood of the heart disease progressing, but will actually help the kidneys, because they won't be under additional toxic by-product stress. Giving the medication will improve the CCF, but will adversely progress the kidney disease.
This is a case where I would take each day as it comes, and deal with the fact that sooner rather than later, you will need to consider the obvious. When her quality of life deteriorates, and when you see "that look" in her eyes, then you'll know what needs doing.
For additional support on the kidney disease, you might consider joining our User Group - the CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN DOGS group, which s on MedHelp.
My thoughts are with you.
Tony
Hi
I've stumbled across this site whilst looking for answers .
My 14.5 Jack Russell was born with a heart murmur and eventually developed CCF. She has been on medication for years: Vetmedin, Prilactone, Fortekor and Frusemide.
Several weeks ago she became unwell and refused her normal food. I spent weeks trying various foods to tempt her to eat with minimal success; this was a very stressful time for me since the only way she takes her medication is with her food.
Our vet did a blood profile which showed that she was also in stage 3 renal failure.
At that I decided that I wasn't going to fight with her to take get tablets so I stopped them - all but the Frusemide and within 2 days she was back to eating normal food, pottering about outside and barking at passers by!! Nobody can understand it!!
However, in the past 24 hours she has started to refuse her food again, is having tremors, smells uraemic (which had improved somewhat) and sleeps all the time.
There is no cough, she is opening her bowels normally and passing urine. She does have polydypsia but that isn't new.
My great dilemma is how do I know she Is not suffering? How will I know when to call the vet to put her to sleep? I want her here but I don't want to prolong her stress.
I am spending all my time with her since February and rarely leave the house. She has been beside me at the worst times of my life and so the least I can do is be with her so I don't want her to suffer.
With hindsight I kept all of my other animals far too long clearly for my selfish reasons but it's so hard!!
Any words of advice would be appreciated
I've stumbled across this site whilst looking for answers .
My 14.5 Jack Russell was born with a heart murmur and eventually developed CCF. She has been on medication for years: Vetmedin, Prilactone, Fortekor and Frusemide.
Several weeks ago she became unwell and refused her normal food. I spent weeks trying various foods to tempt her to eat with minimal success; this was a very stressful time for me since the only way she takes her medication is with her food.
Our vet did a blood profile which showed that she was also in stage 3 renal failure.
At that I decided that I wasn't going to fight with her to take get tablets so I stopped them - all but the Frusemide and within 2 days she was back to eating normal food, pottering about outside and barking at passers by!! Nobody can understand it!!
However, in the past 24 hours she has started to refuse her food again, is having tremors, smells uraemic (which had improved somewhat) and sleeps all the time.
There is no cough, she is opening her bowels normally and passing urine. She does have polydypsia but that isn't new.
My great dilemma is how do I know she Is not suffering? How will I know when to call the vet to put her to sleep? I want her here but I don't want to prolong her stress.
I am spending all my time with her since February and rarely leave the house. She has been beside me at the worst times of my life and so the least I can do is be with her so I don't want her to suffer.
With hindsight I kept all of my other animals far too long clearly for my selfish reasons but it's so hard!!
Any words of advice would be appreciated
Do you know what her levels were? Specifically BUN and creatinine?
For a 15 year old dog, I would not go through with the anethesia for the surgery. I tend to worry too much and would be scared to put my baby under for a dental procedure at age 15. Too risky if you ask me.
Moving forward, I would treat the heart and kidney problems. Although CRF can elevate the blood pressure so upping her dosage of enalapril might be an option.
I'd ask the vet about giving SQ fluids daily, depending on her levels. They can really help flush out her kidneys. Rather than epikitin for phosphorus, substitute Tums. It's cheaper that way.
Diet - can you give her KD canned? It has more water and will help keep her hydrated. Otherwise, if she is losing weight, pasta might be a good alternative.
I'm sorry, I know how frustrating it is and scary not knowing what to do. It may be time to find a vet who will treat your pet not just her number. What worked for Daisy might not work for every dog.
For a 15 year old dog, I would not go through with the anethesia for the surgery. I tend to worry too much and would be scared to put my baby under for a dental procedure at age 15. Too risky if you ask me.
Moving forward, I would treat the heart and kidney problems. Although CRF can elevate the blood pressure so upping her dosage of enalapril might be an option.
I'd ask the vet about giving SQ fluids daily, depending on her levels. They can really help flush out her kidneys. Rather than epikitin for phosphorus, substitute Tums. It's cheaper that way.
Diet - can you give her KD canned? It has more water and will help keep her hydrated. Otherwise, if she is losing weight, pasta might be a good alternative.
I'm sorry, I know how frustrating it is and scary not knowing what to do. It may be time to find a vet who will treat your pet not just her number. What worked for Daisy might not work for every dog.
I feel so terrible for you. I did get a second opinion and let me just say...he really has not helped. I am now overwhelmed with trying to decide between the two treatment plans and hope that I make a wise decision...
Emma is 15 in August. Young in the mind, healthy, energy...overall in excellent shape. she was dx with an enlarged heart two years ago, placed on enalapril 2.5 mg twice daily and Lasix 12.5 mg twice daily. I reduced her lasix on my own to 12.5 mg total daily...thank God. No labs were ever drawn in the five visits she was seen since being placed on medication and nothing about kidney failure was mentioned.
I requested labs to see if she could handle anesthesia for a dental and discovered my precious is in kidney failure, right CHF and collapsing trachea. So...confused....
treatment plan
Vetmedin
1/4-1/12 the dose of lasix
Epikitin- supplement -supposed to bind phosphorus
fluids SQ when necessary
I still do not know what is the best for her.
new diet--rice and turkey
Just hoping anyone out there can give a treatment plan that worked for their dog in a similar situation.
Emma is 15 in August. Young in the mind, healthy, energy...overall in excellent shape. she was dx with an enlarged heart two years ago, placed on enalapril 2.5 mg twice daily and Lasix 12.5 mg twice daily. I reduced her lasix on my own to 12.5 mg total daily...thank God. No labs were ever drawn in the five visits she was seen since being placed on medication and nothing about kidney failure was mentioned.
I requested labs to see if she could handle anesthesia for a dental and discovered my precious is in kidney failure, right CHF and collapsing trachea. So...confused....
treatment plan
Vetmedin
1/4-1/12 the dose of lasix
Epikitin- supplement -supposed to bind phosphorus
fluids SQ when necessary
I still do not know what is the best for her.
new diet--rice and turkey
Just hoping anyone out there can give a treatment plan that worked for their dog in a similar situation.
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