Kidney failure

Question

I have a 7 year old weste her name is grace. She came down with a very bad sore throut. And would not eat or drink. she was seen by the Vet 4 weeks ago. He gave her 3 shots 1 to fight the cold. 1 for pain, and 1 to ease her up set tumme. I had he back the next day because she would not take her pills. So he gave her a other shot. 3 day later she was back at the vet because she was still very sick. They did her blood work and it showed her bun was 45. And they started her on IV onter the skin. Will she when back Wendays for her IV and they took her blood week and the bun was 46. I think she is doing better. She is back to eating home cooked meals 3 times a day. She is drinking water very good. She is back to taking her 3 walks each day. I'm 63 and I'm having a hard time keeping up with her. What I would like to know is the bun at 46 that bad. and did we find it in time to help her. I just started her on fish oil for dogs, and Aventi KS and Aventi KP Powder for kidney support. I talked to my Vet about the items and he said I would be good to try. She Is keeping her food down now for 6 days and she is going to the bathroom if. and it is good. she set to have the IV 3 times a week and the last one they let me do it so if I need to do it at home I can. She will have her blood work redone in 3 weeks. Hope someone can help me out. happypapa

This discussion is related to Kidney Failure & Infection.

happypapa · Answer

is a reading of bun 46 and the creatinine 2.7. Is that very high. I'm taking her to get the Iv fluids this morning at 10:00. She is eating when she when ever she likes and drinking good. I just hope we can help her. I know at some time I will need to but her down. jr.

happypapa · Answer

Thanks for getting back. Her bun was 46 and the creatinine was 2.7.

Aleda Cheng,DVM · Answer

For a patient's kidney's to be affected adversely the BUN and Creatinine must be elevated, or even just the creatinine.  An elevation of BUN alone is not enough to rule out kidney disease.   Only when the kidneys are malfunctioning 75% or more does Creatinine and BUN become elevated in the blood.  Your dog only had an elevation of BUN so kidney function cannot really be assessed. 

Your vet can perform a Urine Protein-Creatinine ratio which checks for early kidney disease even before the kidney disease shows up in blood work.  If there is protein in the urine and no urinary tract infection than your vet can treat your dog for early kidney disease to help prevent additional damage.  However, protein can show up in the urine if there is a urinary tract infection.  If there is a urinary tract infection, that should be treated with antibiotics, obviously.