Renal failure - what to expect.

[spanglyspaniel]

Hi - just looking for some advice from anyone who has been here before. We have just found out our cocker spaniel has renal failure. He's only 10 and while I know that's oldish, we thought we had a good few years yet, but vet has said that with a changed diet some dogs live for up to another year from diagnosis... which is just heartbreaking as we are clearly talking months at best.

I'm totally devastated, not least for my eldest DC8 who sees the dog as a big brother, and don't know what to say to him about it as need to prepare him and I know he will be in bits...

thing is how do we know just how close the end is?

He's clearly unwell, he's been in the vet overnight on a drip as we think he ate something that's upset his stomach yesterday and he was sick, off his food (v unusual, eats everything) and shaking, with bloodshot eyes. Vet initially gave him an anti nausea injection and sent him home, but then he was just standing in our house not moving, not lying down, swaying and looking like he was going to collapse, and then he did fall over (it looked like he was literally falling asleep on his feet) which was awful to see - so we took him back in and that's when he got the drip and the blood test and we found out from the blood test that his kidneys are failing.

He ate this morning at the vet, but when he got home he immediately had diarrhoea on the floor 🙈 and has been sleeping ever since.

I'm scared that we are assuming he's eaten something he shouldn't and that's why he's so bad, but what if it's the kidneys and he's actually further on in the disease than we think and we haven't even got months? How do we know? Also, when will we know he's near the end? I'm so so sad for him, he's a lovely dog and usually so full of beans. I just can't believe it tbh, but feel I really need to get my head around it and prepare myself so I can be there for DC when we tell him.
Any advice? Thank you

I know your heart is breaking, but it might be a good idea to have an honest chat with your vet. What did they say when you picked him up?

They way you are describing it, the time might have come. I'm sorry.

Sounds like he needs to go back to the vet for about 48 hours on a drip. I would usually also take x rays to check for kidney or bladder stones, ultrasound the abdomen having a look at the kidneys and do some urine tests. That plus (mainly) his response to fluids and maybe some B vitamins, anti-nausea medication and appetite boosters would give you the best idea of the outlook.

The vet seemed to think that the bloods (potassium levels are ok etc) mean that he's got months rather than just weeks left, but the way he is today I'm worried - but maybe he does just need to get something out his system and he'll improve once he has..? He sadly eats anything he can on walks (mostly other dogs poo 🤢) usually to no effect other than stinky breath, but maybe the poo he ate yesterday had something bad in it? It's just cause we don't know for sure, but it's just all so sudden. He was walking up a local hill the day before yesterday. He's been getting slower and lazier and had the v occasional toilet accident in last few months, but people generally think he's a puppy from his demeanour, so it's just such a shock. I don't think it's time yet, I just am not sure when we will know it is..?

He might have caught the virus that seems to going round as well.

@villainousbroodmare he had an ultrasound which is when the vet noticed his kidneys didn't look good - she said they were symmetrical (so no tumours etc) but I think she said 'undefined' so then she did a specific blood test which is what picked up the kidney failure.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon what's the virus?

It's a vomiting/diarrhoea thing, loss of appetite and going off their water as well.

Lots of dogs round here had it, my two included.

Really, sounds like he is currently rather ill and you should take him back to the vet. He could be in end stage renal failure or he could have gastroenteritis and a concurrent kidney story going on. Either way he needs more fluids especially if he is flat and not eating/ drinking.

oh @spanglyspaniel what a shock-

Just as a note of optimism my lovely cat had acute renal failure. They initially said it was so bad that she must have eaten antifreeze or something. Completely out of the blue. She was only 5 at the time. She was on a drip for a longer time-maybe 5 days?

Inexplicably she made a full recovery-the vet said they never had a cat with those values survive. She is on renal food but that was 5 years ago and she is still bossing us.

Much luck for your dog.

Oh very good point from PP's about the virus-my dog and 5-6 other dogs in my local areas had it.

Very similar symptoms to what your dog is having-diarrhoea, sick, lethargic, not eating

How long did it last? The virus?

@mumsiedarlingrevolta that's amazing! Sadly for us, this isnt acute failure, it's chronic - he had an episode before xmas where we was similar but bloods never came back with levels to show kidney failure then, but then he didn't have ultrasound or the special blood test then just a general blood test. They thought he had a urine infection then, but now say that it was probably the kidneys grumbling then.
He's just so miserable at the moment - has tuned down his tea just now too. Vet said he ate there though and seems brighter, but he's nothing like his usual self.

I should add he is clearly hungry - he's trotting up to his bowl and when we open the fridge he's there... but then he's not eating. Even wet food.

I've just picked my cocker up from the vet after he ripped his dew claw off and had to have it removed yet again ..... He's just eaten some poached chicken and a little bit of pasta. Maybe worth trying something really simple with him?

A dog walking friend nearly lost her two to this virus a few weeks ago.... said the decline was horrid to watch. They were at the vets for nearly a week on drips before being well enough to come home.

I hope your wee boy is better soon

@spanglyspaniel my dog was poorly the best part of a week with the virus.
It is so heartbreaking when they are poorly.
My girl was completely off her food which is very unlike her as she is a scavenger-although was much cheered by the offering of white fish when she got a bit better.

From a cat experience - going up to food but then not eating it often means nausea.

He was probably happier at the vets as he had the anti-nausea injection, now that's worn off he's miserable again.

He may feel better with a regular anti-nausea medicine.

My experience with a cat was a tired cat, who needed encouragement with eating but enjoyed her life for a long time until the end. She put up with some of the renal diet, don't know if this is a dog thing but it is for cats, but we took a view that any food was better than no food and finally that food that made her happy was best.

We had a couple of runs where we thought she was near the end but wasn't so fingers crossed for your dog who I suspect needs to go back to the vets.

Probably also needs some analgesia and anti-acid meds. Did they send you home with meds?

@villainousbroodmare no - we weren't sent home with any drugs. I think the feeling was that he seemed to get worse after the anti nausea drug on the first visit to the vet yesterday (so maybe a reaction?) and so they didn't want to give him anything unless absolutely necessary, but he's not happy poor pup.

Have you tried him on boiled chicken and rice?

I'm so sorry your boy is poorly.

He's brighter this morning and has eaten (a bit of wet food) and drunk some water and is getting up out his bed to come see us, so I think he is slowly recovering from the gastro thing - but I guess I still wonder what it's going to be like in the next few weeks / months. I just want to make sure that my DC don't have to see him horribly unwell for weeks, I want them to remember the happy doggy he usually is.

Glad to hear that.

It's not only the DCs seeing him ill, you also would't want him to be unwell. Have a open chat with your vet and listen carefully what they will say, they have ways of phrasing their opinion.

My Lab was diagnosed with Chronic kidney disease a few years ago- I have my doubt how bad it is but that’s a different thread.
I was feeding mine Royal Canin renal food. No treats at all.
Mine has never had an ultrasound only blood tests- that most vets don’t have /usually carry out.
Has your dog had any blood tests/ urine tests?

Mine is quite sicky, eats random stuff etc He also collapsed recently due to an ear infection, rather than vestibular disease. So it’s worth ruling out other things.

My DM’s dog died from kidney disease- I was a child at the time. I remember him being very lethargic and vomiting a lot and just very sad and down. Vet told us when it was time.

Worst thing in the world when they are sick

@ChardonnaysPetDragon yes, obviously there's how he is in himself firstly, last thing I want is for him to have a miserable life. He is so much better this morning I feel much kore positive that he has some good times ahead still.
@Suzi888 that's interesting what you've said about your dog - I'm sorry he's been poorly. I'm actually surprised you said 'a few years ago' as the vet seemed to think that usually when it's found that they don't have more then a year left, so you give me hope!

@Suzi888 sorry meant to say, the blood test that confirmed after the ultrasound was the SDMA test. The previous test showed slightly elevated markers for something being up with his kidneys but not majorly.

Sorry OP, I'm sure you only want to best for him and your family. I didn't want to imply anything or upset. It's just it's brought back memories of dogs I loved and had decide on when to let go.