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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

worried about my dog, possible kidney failure, need advice please

39 replies

laundryelf · 15/03/2015 11:29

Hi, our much loved Labrador is poorly, currently hospitalised at vets, on fluid & antibiotic therapy. He's lost 5kg in last 10 to 14 days, can't eat or drink much without vomiting - vet says dog has vomited again overnight but bright enough.

Blood test showed elevated kidney levels and low white blood count, he also has a low resting heart rate. I have been googling and it has scared me. Vet says not sure what is wrong, may be kidney infection but may be kidney failure, so upset, poor dog is only 6 years old and is part of family.Sad

Has anyone any advice, reassurance to offer please ? Trying to be positive but feeling very anxious.Sad Sad

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 15/03/2015 11:52

I'm pretty sure kidney problems affect the heart? So that isn't a bad sign or a separate issue.

My experience is with cats, but I think it's similar for dogs, if it's kidney failure and they can get him stable, it's a case of a special diet, possibly with medication as well and yes, it will shorten his life, but, they can stay healthy for quite a few years like that.

He's in the right place, they'll take good care of him and I hope he's feeling better soon.

Original poster
laundryelf · 15/03/2015 12:18

Thanks for that information, I hope that they can keep him going for another few years if it is kidney failure.
Did you find that your cat was back to normal behaviour? we are so used to him being a big bouncy happy dog, enjoying life to the full, the recent depressed lethargic dog has been strange.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 15/03/2015 12:28

It's my friend's cat - I'm just his babysitter, lol, but yes, once he'd recovered from that illness he's pretty much himself, possibly sleeps a bit more...though that's hard to tell with a cat, but he still goes off out doing cat things and is alert and active inside.

MitchellMummy · 15/03/2015 14:25

Don't have any experience - but at six years old your dog has youth on his side, so hope for a speedy recovery.

IAmNoAngel · 15/03/2015 14:37

I had this with my spaniel when he was 2, the vet gave him a 20% chance of survival and he was kept at the vets for 7 weeks and had 2 operations. This was in Spain and cost 1600 euros, so I would imagine much more expensive in the UK, but 6 years on he's not had any more problems and is very happy and healthy. It took him about 2 weeks of being home to return to his normal personality.

Good luck, hopefully your dog will recover too.

Lonecatwithkitten · 15/03/2015 16:18

Has anyone mentioned Addisions disease low heart rate and high kidney values would make me very suspicious in a middle aged dog particularly with vomiting.
It is very treatable, but urgently.

DunelmDoris · 15/03/2015 19:31

What lonecat said.

noddingoff · 15/03/2015 20:41

Yeah, what Lonecat said!

Original poster
laundryelf · 15/03/2015 21:47

Actually Addison's disease was mentioned but I can't remember now if it was vet or Google, I thought it was strange as MIL suffers from it. I will ask the vet tomorrow morning when the phones open. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
laundryelf · 15/03/2015 21:54

Thanks also to IAM, I am just so relieved that we have him insured as would hate to be worrying about the money for treatment as well. Nearly didn't renew this year as we have only used it once, a long time ago. Will update tomorrow after speaking to vet.

OP posts:
pinkbraces · 15/03/2015 23:35

I also thought Addisons. Our dog was diagnosed a couple of years ago, we were initially told it was kidney failure.

She is now on medication daily but is perfectly normal and has full life expectancy.

I hope your boy is better soon.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 16/03/2015 10:54

Our cat had kidney failure years ago. One of the first signs was her general condition went downhill. Her coat looked awful. It was quite obvious.

Hope your pooch is ok, you must be so worried. Flowers

Original poster
laundryelf · 16/03/2015 14:19

Yes, Msadora his coat has developed that dry, harsh look. Vet called me this morning, no change, still trying to be sick when anti-sickness meds start to wear off. On a positive note he has eaten small piece of chicken and kept it down so far.
I asked about Addison's disease but she thinks very unlikely due to previous bloods, no indicators apparently.

Vet says its looking more like kidney problem, she will repeat bloods tomorrow and may do ultrasound of kidneys also.

I'm so worried and missing him, finding it hard to walk home past other dog walkers today and coming back to empty house. Really hoping he will start to recover soon.

OP posts:
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 17/03/2015 00:12

Oh well, not bad news entirely just yet.

Fingers crossed it's better news tomorrow.

Original poster
laundryelf · 18/03/2015 16:05

Well, some good news yesterday when we went to visit,(which was heart breaking as I am sure he thought he was going home) that his second blood test has shown levels going down a wee bit, less than double digits.

Vet said she is repeating bloods to day to see if levels (BUN and creatinine, I think) are continuing to go down. She has also sent off a urine sample for a more detailed test which will show his prognosis.

The worrying thing is that he has now not eaten more than a small piece of chicken in over a week. He was shaky, panting and drooling a lot while we were there. We tried to coax him to eat with some food we brought in but he kept avoiding it. He is thin but not too bad, IMO, as he had a bit of weight to lose.

So vet says if urine test is good, he will need to be transferred to specialist vet hospital to have a feeding tube inserted. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Did your pet tolerate it well and eventually recover?
I still get the feeling from the vet that it could be a euthanasia decision soon & my DH who had visited the day before thought Dpup looked worse. Sad

OP posts:
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 18/03/2015 22:16

No experience of that at all but glad to hear you've got some progress. Hopefully the detailed test will give you a bit more information.

Always best to be prepared for the worst, just in case, and then anything else is a bonus.

Fingers crossed. Flowers

SunshineAndShadows · 18/03/2015 22:32

Hi OP I'm sure your vet has checked electrolytes but it might be worth possibly performed an ACTH stim if any electrolyte abnormalities - addisons can be a subtle disease.

A NG tube sounds serious but it can make a massive difference to how pets feel once they get adequate nutrition - its usually straightforward to fit
Assume he's on antibiotics?

LokiBuddyBoo1 · 19/03/2015 11:19

Hope your dog gets better soon. I lost my ddog to kidney and liver failure in July 2013.

EveryFrickingNameIsTaken · 19/03/2015 15:20

I have experience and know what you're going through. I lost my dog December 2013 to kidney failure but he was 12 (which is old for his breed), hid it well and didn't show any pain. But as someone already said, your dog has youth on his side and the vets are doing all they can. I hope he is better soon

Original poster
laundryelf · 19/03/2015 16:43

Well, not so good today although urine test shows he has a reasonable prognosis, his kidney levels are rising again on the blood test. Vet is lovely and trying to arrange urgent referral to specialist vet hospital but one has offered next Wednesday Shock and another may be able to fit him in on Monday!

I am so surprised that they cannot offer earlier and vet is going to push for an earlier appointment.

I am really concerned that he is fading away and his internal organs may start to fail from lack of food. I asked if they had tried syringe feeding Dpup with special recovery food (like complan for dogs) but I was shocked to hear they have not been able to as he is getting aggressive and they thought he would bite. He is such a lovely, sloppy dog normally, this is another indication of how sick he feels, which I explained to nurse with apologies if he had been snappy with them.

We are getting him home for an overnight to see if he will settle and allow us to feed him. If not then he will have to go back to vets for fluid support over weekend. Fingers crossed and thank you to all you lovely people who have taken the time to read and respond to my post Flowers, Cake

OP posts:
Original poster
laundryelf · 20/03/2015 21:13

Got emergency apointment at hospital today.

Crap news, he has cancer, spread through most of body including bone marrow, stage 5 vet said. He is staying in for fluids and feeding though tube they have fitted and drugs to make him comfortable.

Have to decide if we PTS now before starts to suffer more or if we have a couple of days at home then take him to our own vets for PTS. Thats if he makes it to Monday. Kids are devastated as are we, not sure what to do for the best, he only has a couple of weeks left vet thinks.

Sorry guys I so wanted this to be good news.

OP posts:
DunelmDoris · 20/03/2015 21:41

Oh no :( so sorry to hear this - very sad news. Your poor DC as well. Flowers

Kleptronic · 20/03/2015 21:52

I've just seen this, I am so sorry. I know what I would do, but that's not the question. It's such a difficult choice. Either way you will lose him. What do you want to do?

tabulahrasa · 20/03/2015 21:56
Sad
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 20/03/2015 22:03

Can't you take him home and have the vet come and see you at home? So he's comfy and in familiar surroundings and relaxed?

I'm so sorry. I know it's not easy, this was us a few months ago but if I could offer any useful advice it would be to let him pass away in his own home. If that's possible with your vet, obviously.

God I'm so sorry. Is he very old? Sad

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