Dogs with Kidney disease -good information on this site:

[ginger899]

This site is exceptionally good I think for providing a great deal of information and help for all stages of Canine Renal Disease:

http://dogaware.com/health/kidneymedical.html

[Ghilly]

OK, I DID IT!  I uploaded a photo of Adam to my profile, so if you want to see his handsomeness in the flesh, check him out on my profile.  :)

Ghilly

[Ghilly]

LOL!  It's tomorrow, but how I WISH it was today!  I am SO excited!  As of right now there's 20 hours to go!  I'm out of my mind with excitement!  No sleep tonight, I can tell you that much.  And I have to work tomorrow from 7 until 3, so I'll be a zombie at work from not sleeping and then miraculously I will get all kinds of energy at 3 when it's time to leave for the airport!  LOL!

Ghilly

[ginger899]

I'd love to see him. Good luck for tomorrow (today??....no idea which way is up with all these time zones we have to contend with and that big "pond" in the way!)

[Ghilly]

If I look at it that way, it makes me feel a lot better.  He really IS a good little boy, he's just a good little AUSSIE boy and because of that he has needs that could not be fulfilled living here with me, ESPECIALLY me with my bad legs and spine!   At least now he has three kids (10, 15 and 17) to play with and they play with him CONSTANTLY, he has two acres fenced in where he can charge around until he's ready to collapse, and because of that he is a lot more relaxed and easier to deal with.  It was just very important to me to find someone who would truly love him, and I got lucky that it happened so quickly!  My new little guy is just what I wasn't going to get - a carbon copy of Katie!  But I just can't help myself!  I am so drawn to collies I cannot picture my life without one and for me, no other breed even comes close.  I will post a picture as soon as I figure out how to copy one to a file that I can link to.  :)

Ghilly

[ginger899]

Oh never mind. Brian will be great in his new home I am sure. I know Aussies, a very good friend of mine used to have one. But yes, their energy levels are something else!
I can totally understand, after the loss of Katie, it was a bit of a "rebound" relationship with Brian. Those can often go in a direction we hadn't thought of. No harm done I'm sure. Brian had good, loving owners, even if for a short time, and that means so much to a dog.
Goodness sake! Don't be the slightest bit angry with yourself. Just think -in some way Brian came to help you with your grief....and I'm sure he DID give a lot of healing. Maybe his job was done??

[Ghilly]

That's wonderful to hear!  As I said, though, I KNEW you'd be right on top of things and I was right!  :D

I have some news, I was keeping it under my hat until things actually worked out, but here goes...

As it turns out, Brian was NOT happy living here in the apartment.  No matter how many times a day we walked him, he just never calmed down and never seemed to e content.  He actually even started developing an attitude with the kitties and I think it was because he wasn't able to run out his energy like he needed to, so thinking about what was best for him, I contacted a friend of mine who loves Aussies and who has two fenced-in acres and I re-homed him.

Tomorrow, as soon as I get out of work at 3:00, I head for Hobby Airport in Houston to pick up my collie boy!  I should have waited and gotten a Collie back when I got Brian, however I was SO depressed over losing Katie that I jumped at the chance to get a puppy and committed the cardinal sin of getting a dog, I didn't consider what the dog was going to need.  At least I was able to get him a good home and I will still see him occasionally.

I am meant to live with a Collie.  Adam, my new little boy, is arriving tomorrow evening from Davenport, IA on Delta Airlines.  I know what to do with a Collie.  I know how they think.  I know how they act.  I know what to expect.  I can deal with Collie needs, Aussie needs are too fast and furious.  I'm just glad that I was able to realize that and correct things before things went too far wrong and too much of Brian's puppyhood was gone.  I'm actually quite angry with myself right now for having done it, but  at least he's happy now.

Ghilly

[ginger899]

Thanks for saying such nice things about me!
Misty's doing OK right now. Pretty strict Renal diet canned and dry, plus ACE inhibitors at this stage. And no need for sub-q fluids as she's keeping herself pretty well hydrated.  I add a little water to her food as well to make sure she stays hydrated. As it's darn cold here I add warm water, and she seems to love that.
She gets the odd scrambled egg or small amount of chicken breast, and I always add a pinch of ground eggshell (phosphorus-binder...although her blood phosphorus is normal. The vet said that was fine because her blood calcium is normal too.) Her last bloodwork was very encouraging. BUN and Creatinine had come down to borderline "upper normal". Fingers crossed her stabilization will continue. Her energy is excellent. She is eager for her 2 walks a day (which includes one heck of a lot of running around!) Great for her age!

Haha! I always say anyone living with me has to be tough!

[Ghilly]

I didn't read the site thoroughly, I kind of glanced through it, but it seems to be a WONDERFUL reference site for the average pet owner dealing with Canine Renal Disease!  What a great find!  Thanks for posting it!

It's written in language that the average person can easily understand and should be of lots of use to folks in that situation.  

How are things going on your end with your doggie's health?  If I know you, you are right on top of things and she's A-1 due to your vigilance and caring!  Every dog should be so lucky as to live with you!  

Ghilly