Kidney Failure

[tobie]

We have just found out that our old boy has kidney failure and is not expected to live beyond 6 months We are devastated and want to do whatever we can to make our boy comfortable.

I am hoping that others who have experienced this maybe able to offer their own experiences and advice/tips on what we should expect and any ways we can make our boy feel as good as possible.

Thank you :)

[Staffyluv]

Oh, I am sorry to hear that..

I can't offer any advice on kidney failure and what you can and can't do but I am sure someone with knowledge in that area will see this and offer advice.

Good luck

[Sheridan]

Hi tobie, sorry to hear about your dog's kidney problems. I had a dog die of a kidney related disease. It depends on the cause of the kidney failure, sometimes. My dog's was a protein wasting disease. There are some kidney related forums that you may wish to join, such as the Yahoo K9kidney email group, who can help with diet and supplements (though, be warned, the Americans are very into supplements). The trouble with kidney failure is that a dog loses around 85% of its kidney function before symptoms show, so by the time you notice, things are already bad.

The thing is that your dog must keep eating and drinking. It is vital your dog keeps weight on and his fluids up. Some dogs don't like the prescription kidney diets, which makes it a bit harder. There are some places online that will make up a diet depending on the blood test and UPC ratio but if your dog's results change, this means the diet may also need to change. Has the vet recommended the Hills K/D? And what medications have been recommended, if any? Your dog may show signs of shivering and extreme tiredness at times, and they don't like being bothered. Quiet and comfortable, warm and happy, because stress makes it worse.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I can't comment on treatments. My last BC, Emma, had to be PTS due to kidney failure but we only found out that was what was going on when I had to make that decision. The one thing I can tell you is that she wasn't in pain although she likely wasn't feeling very well (probably felt tired, and just that "not 100%" feeling). Because of how advanced she was there was no point starting treatment, but fluid therapy would have been the only thing that could have made her feel better.

Good luck with your boy & enjoy your time together, I hope that he decides to ignore what the vet says and gives you lots more time together!

[honeybun]

We had to say goodbye to our little fellow 2 weeks ago today, as a result of kidney disease.

He was on sub cut fluids every second day in the last month, having been on twice a week to begin with..

He did last over a year from diagnosis which I am thankful for..

The major factor I found was an issue with nausea and bleeding ulcers in his stomach caused by the urea levels and so it is important that these symptoms be addressed to keep your one comfortable.

He wouldnt touch any kidney diet food, so he was to have good quality protein, which is the newer thinking for kidney patients.

Mine was on Zofran, and Carafate and for a while Losec, but he found that too hard to take despite it being compounded.

He was also on Avanza towards the end to help with his appetite and I sprinkled potassium binder over his food .He had started on Vitamin B shots just a 3 days before we died. He had times where he needed to go into the vets for fluids from them if he had been vomiting and for anti nausea injection.He also had Tramil , which I had made into a derma cream for ease of application, for pain, as there was nothing else he could have because of his kidneys, and he needed this as he developed eye ulcers towards the end. I sought specialist treatment but this was the least of his worries.

He stopped eating 3 days before he died, and just vomited up anything I syringed into his mouth, so I knew it was his time to go, which was devastating for us.We had him for over 10 years and he was around 14.

I wish you well and hope you have your dog as long as possible.

Edited to add......there will also have to be blood tests to monitor the levels ....urea, pcv,creatinine etc done every couple of months or so

Edited December 12, 2012 by honeybun

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I had good results with use of Chinese herbs from the All Natural Vet at Russell Lea. A little old rescue dog I took on was already sick with what turned out to be kidney probs and they said she'd onlyhave a few weeks.

Took her to the ANV at R.Lea with her test results etc and they prescribed Chinese herbs as well as the special diet she was on. I had her for a whole year and she was amazingly well.

I don't know if it would help but it might be worth considering.

[honeybun]

I had good results with use of Chinese herbs from the All Natural Vet at Russell Lea. A little old rescue dog I took on was already sick with what turned out to be kidney probs and they said she'd onlyhave a few weeks.

Took her to the ANV at R.Lea with her test results etc and they prescribed Chinese herbs as well as the special diet she was on. I had her for a whole year and she was amazingly well.

I don't know if it would help but it might be worth considering.

I tried natural therapy items as well, but they were very bitter and it distresed him each time I had to give them to him, no matter how much I tried to disguise them,plus he didnt seem to be any better than when he was not on them. Of course these were not from Russell Lea.