Large dogs and kidney problems

[GoooRooo]

I have a malamute crossed with a golden retriever. She was a rescue and about 18 months when we got her, she's now six.

Recently she's lost a lot of weight, started throwing up bile and has very very smelly breath and farts. She's never been a massive eater but she does drink well and continues to.

Took her to the vet who took blood and says she has low protein, low cholesterol and something else (can't remember what, I was quite upset by this point!) but that suspects kidney problems. Vet asked us to get a urine sample..... that has been fun. Took us HOURS today and it got to the point where we took her to the vet and they couldn't get her to pee either. In the end they told us to take her home and follow her to the garden every time she went but she sensed something was up and held her pee from 10pm last night until 6pm tonight when she was shaking and moaning - it must've been killing her to hold it! Eventually she gave in, we've got the sample and it's in the spare fridge in the garage until we can drop it off on Monday.

I made the mistake of googling dogs and kidney problems and it doesn't look good. Could it be anything else? I'm really worried this is the end of the road for her and she's such a gorgeous, friendly, gentle dog and my DS will be devestated if we lose her. Is there any hope?

[GoooRooo]

We ended up taking her to the emergency vet last night. They put her on fluids and sedated her. She had a massive glucose drop over night and high potassium levels. It's not looking very good. They're monitoring her today then we have to move her to our local vet tomorrow who will decide whether they can do anything else for her or if it's kinder to euthanise. I am heartbroken.

[Lokibuddyboo]

Hopefully it's something they can treat.
Finger crossed.

[GoooRooo]

Thanks Loki.

[GoooRooo]

So she was moved from emergency vet to our local vet this morning. They're saying it's likely to be liver and kidney failure but are doing more tests today. £2k spent so far - thank God for insurance although that only covers up to £4k. We have to call back at 4pm for an update but the vet has already mentioned putting her to sleep.

She's not in pain, but she's lethargic and depressed and the vet suggested she'd have a poor quality of life. Just have to wait until 4pm to see what that brings I guess.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Sorry your DDog is unwell, OP.

Hope it's good news at 4pm.

[GoooRooo]

Thank you. I don't know why I keep posting here to be honest - it's not like any of you can do anything about it, but it feels better to write it down.

I'm 31 weeks pregnant so already crying at the drop of a hat.

[GoooRooo]

So, it's her liver. It's a third of the size it's supposed to be and it's also causing fluid on her lungs. She's home tonight and will be put to sleep in the morning. It is the right decision - she is miserable and uncomfortable and things will only get worse but it's such an awful thing to have to decide to end her life.

I am absolutely heartbroken.

[twentyten]

So very sorry.

[GoooRooo]

Thank you twentyten.

Has anyone any advice on how to handle the death of a dog with young children? DS is three years four months. I have no idea what to tell him.

[GoooRooo]

No one?

[ladybird69]

Gooo I couldn't just read and not post. I'm so sorry for you. I lost my beautiful bull mastiff from liver cancer recently he was diagnosed in March and pts earlier in the month tho in hind sight I should have made the call months ago, it was just me not wanting to let go of my teddy bear.
I hope someone comes along with some advice about your little one but I would say is try and be honest but not too much detail. Hugs x

[Dizzylamb212]

sorry to hear about your dog, it'sso awful when they pass away. my little girl was 3 when our boy passed away, it was very sudden, he took I'll while she was in bed so he had already gone when she got up in the morning. they don't really understand death at that age. we told her that he'd gone to live in heaven with great grandma and that he was back to like when he was a puppy, chasing balls and getting under everyone's feet. she was very upset but we had another dog already and I told her that Missy was very sad too and she had to be brave for her. she's 5 now and she still talks about him and how he'llbe waiting for us in heaven one day. xxx

[GoooRooo]

Thanks ladybird and Dizzy. We tried saying she's gone on a long, fun journey with other dogs and won't be back but ten minutes later he was asking when Petra would be home and it broke my heart.

I'm wondering if the cold, hard truth is too much at that age or whether this is an opportunity to explain death. I don't want to say she got poorly and didn't get better and died because I'm worried that next time he is poorly he will think the same will happen to him. It's really tough!

And the house is very, very empty without her.

[twentyten]

So sorry goo. No words of advice on talking to dc just sending a big and .

[ladybird69]

Awh so sorry Gooo maybe a little gift for your little one to try and take his mind off your loss. Our previous loss was a shock and after promising to wait a while to get another pup we just couldn't take the silence! Hence driving miles on Boxing Day to pick up our bull mastiff pup, So I know what you mean. They fill our lives and our homes with their personalities. Just remember you cared and loved the best x

[Dizzylamb212]

my little girl did keep asking when he would be home at first but she accepted it eventually. it's really hard when they're little. we lost my grandma and grandad and the dog in the same year, it was very hard explaining it to a 3 yr old... we're not religious but I've told her they're in heaven and what a nice place heaven is. she used to ask if she could go to heaven to visit great grandma. when our dog passed away I told her he'd gone to live with great grandma. I think the truth is the best way, they accept it at that age even if they don't really understand.
we had a cat that was run over when my step daughter was about 6 and her dad never told her, he just said she never came home. for the next year every time she visited she wanted to go out and look for the cat and it was heartbreaking.

[trashcanjunkie]

So sorry for your loss.

I found it best to be honest with my dc when we lost our much loved pets. They seemed to accept it much better, and although they would be upset, they got over it. We've lost one dog, one cat and a myriad of small animals over the 19 years of dcs and animals. I always felt it was a really important thing for the dcs. Death is an unavoidable part of life, and I my children have had a modicum of 'practice' with it. They are still sad, they mourn, but now it's not an utterly alien, shocking and terribly traumatic thing for them. They understand death. We are atheist, and so that bit was hard. It would be so easy to say they'd gone to heaven, but I didn't want to take the easy road out, although I did offer up the different belief systems, as its up to the dcs what they choose to believe. This has led to some really thought provoking discussions over the years. Best of luck with how you choose to proceed, and once more so very sorry x

[GoooRooo]

Thanks everyone. He seemed to forget for a few days and asked again today so we actually used the word 'died' for the first time but I don't think he really understood. I don't want to say she's in heaven. We did say she won't be coming back... 'oh no!' he said.

We tried to keep it very matter of fact and not emotional at all and then we talked about our two cats and how much we love them and aren't they fun to play with too etc.

Hopefully he'll move on.

However I am finding it really strange. There are crumbs on the floor! This never happened when the dog was here. And I left a joint of meat on the side in the kitchen and rushed back in to save it from the dog and then realised there's no dog to save it from! I will get used to it, and I know it will make our lives much easier not to have a dog when our newborn arrives in 8 weeks.