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Originally Posted by lross  I took Sassy to get her teeth cleaned this week and my vet stated her LAB results were indicative of kidney disease (mentioned "46" which I assume is the BUN???). I asked HOW could this happen in 6 short months and he stated her numbers "were getting up there" six months ago when her teeth were cleaned and that 6 months to a dog is 3-1/2 years. WHAT A RUDE AWAKENING FOR ME! She looked so small and frail when I picked her up and it took her longer than usual to recover from the anesthesia which scared me. He put her on K/D (today I finally got a small amount of the dry K/D in her but after adding a few Vienna sausages crushed up which she should NOT have). She has always been a picky eater but we manage and she's been healthy and spunky and ADORABLE since I got her at 6 weeks of age. I am devastated - I guess I've been in denial that she would "ever" get old. Ignorance is bliss when things are going well.  I know it'll be a battle to get the K/D in her w/o adding anything and she's already little (8 lbs.). My vet clinic says the goal is that she eats ONLY K/D products for the rest of her life....yeah, right! Tell Sassy that! My friend's vet said the goal "is to keep getting K/D in her, even if you have to dress it up with something else to do it" - WHO IS RIGHT??? I CAN NOT LOSE MY LITTLE GIRL - ESPECIALLY FROM IGNORANCE ON THEIR OR MY PART. I want to care for her properly to ensure she lives as long as possible. My thoughts are there has to be some SAFE "people food" (like veges or whatever) that I can add to keep her interested in eating. Any concrete evidence of safe foods to give a dog with renal disease would be greatly appreciated. I can't bear to think of coming home w/o her her waiting for me - she is PRECIOUS and has been my little girl since she was 6 weeks old. |
I'm so sorry your precious little one has been diagnosed with this dreaded disease. Your going to hear many opinions concerning the care of a CRF dog. The vets typically want the dog on the renal food but if the dog won't eat it, which many of them won't, then there are other options. It depends on how much you want to do......I highlt recommend you look at this link for a lot of various info. It adresses diet, wether it's script. or home cooked, supplements, phosphorous binders, etc. etc. it also other helpful links .....
DogAware.com Health: Kidney Disease in Dogs
This is also a very helpful group. You have to join but it is a great place to go to to have any questions answered for you......
K9KIDNEYS : for owners of dogs with Kidney Disease
This is the diet forum. You have to join this one too....
K9KidneyDiet : K9KidneyDiet
I also just found out my Jack has kidney disease. I know how overwhelming and shocking this news can be. You'll probably find yourself going back to these links to read and reread, and reread, just to try and get an understanding of what is going on.
Personally after doing some reading *I* choose to use the supplements that both groups highly suggested, even though my vet was clueless about them. Ultimately, *I* have to decide which routes my Jack and I are going to take with his care. Which is the same you'll have to do.....
I wish you both luck and I hope you are get many more years with your precious one.........