Mitzi needs your help---Kidney problems! (sorry, kinda long) Our 11 y.o Mitzi girl (one of the M&Ms...) was at the Vet's and the blood work and urine test shows that she has weak kidneys. I have all her test results... Mitzi has also an infection or tumor under her tongue and needs her teeth cleaned (last time cleaned 3/2007.) She is on anitbiotics now for 2 weeks. She eats good (home cooked lean ground beef with a little oatmeal) and drinks plenty of water, her digestion is good and she doesn't pee more often than usual (about 4 - 5 times a day.) She seems to be less energetic though with about 22 hours of sleep a day and little to no desire to walk or play. The Vet recommended Hill's k/d diet but she is also allergic to corn starch which is listed as the second ingredient on the label. If she gets ready made dog food with this ingredient she gets 'Schnauzer bumps', itches like crazy and bites the skin off her paws. Who has experience with kidney problems and what is the best way to feed her... low protein? high quality high protein? I'm confused by the controversial info I get from the web so I'd like to rely on the immense and condensed knowledge of my fellow Yorkie moms and dads! Mitzi sends kisses! :aimeeyork |
We don't have kidney issues, only pancreatitis. But, I would make sure she is getting some veggies along with the rest of her food and keep the protein on the lower side. We use The Honest Kitchen freeze-dried raw and LOVE it!!! The protein ratio is similar to kibble, but human grade and highly recommended by holistic vets. Hope she feels better soon. |
Can you post her BUN and Creatine levels? (any other high values too) ... Most people go with low protein diet. Depending on the levels, everything you feed you will add water to. Water is key to helping flush out the toxins that build up when the kidneys aren't doing their job. You may also be able to give sub-cutaneous fluid (under the skin) ... their bodies absorb the water. It feels weird the first few times, but it's really not that bad. Again, depending on the levels ... it's all about maintaining values and quality of life. They might keep her to give high IV fluids and flush the system? You will need to re-test often until you can establish that things have leveled off. Although maybe it's not that bad since you said they said that they're "weak". When their BUN is too high, they can get neaseaus. For some dogs they can get neaseaus at BUN 50, some 150 ... Kidney levels, when tested, can appear normal with as little as 25% kidney function. So the goal is to stay just ahead of the curve and help makeup for anything under the % that is affecting the blood tests. Sending good vibes ... |
on Sonja i am so sorry to hear this. I too would go low protien and stay away from the canned stuff they want to give you.... i know many on here have liver issues and they can probably help more. Just wanted you to know Layla and i will be thinking of her and hoping that all goes well! |
thank you all... ... for your input and support! Mitzi's BUN/Creatinine ratio is 96, Urea Nitrogen = 182 ... Magnesium and potassium are high... Please say a prayer for our little girl... Thank you! |
Sorry to hear about Mitzi. My only experience is with Dixie who had congenital kidney failure. Her Buns were 270 and a week later in the 400's. I had her under a nephrologists care and he said that he had a lot of success treating kidney failure in yorkies that had 25% function. Dixie was too far gone as her kidneys never developed. He treats with meds and fluid. I know low protein is better and I swithed to distilled water since someone told me it had less sodium. I met one lady at his office who had a 10 year old yorkie who he was treating with fluids only and she was doing great 2 years later. Maybe a specialist would help. I will keep her in my prayers |
sending love from the heart! Quote:
but I want you to know my heart is saying prayers for our beloved Mitzi. And I just know she will be fine. :xfingers: Monday and Friday are saying their little prayers in Yorkiese all day. :ghug: xxoo |
Gosh, I wish I had more experience in this area so I could make some suggestions - and I just don't, dang me. I *think* some good folks to PM might be Yorkieluv and EllieMay - if I recall, I think both of them are good with kidney issues. I think you'd want low-protein bc otherwise the kidneys would be quite busy and working hard. I would recommend PMing these folks bc often times they'll then get a notice in their emails that they have a PM at YT. I wish I could be of more help!!!!! If I think of anyone else who has kidney experience, I'll post it here... Thanks Marci, for pointing me over here. :) |
We had kidney failure in our pup when she was about 15 weeks. She had fluids weekly and did eat the canned Hill's k/d, but she did well on it. She is yearly 7 y/o now, and has not had treatment for about 4 1/2 years. I am sorry that the k/d diet won't work, but is there another company that makes k/d diet? Our vet wanted her on the canned just to be sure she had enough fluid since she didn't like drinking much water. Best of luck to you. |
Thanks a lot to all of you, every bit of info helps! Today Mitzi acts as if there is nothing wrong with her but my heart aches knowing that there is this lingering problem. What I learned so far is that hydration is very important and thankfully she drinks plenty of water (bottled, resp. 'pur' filtered water)... |
I have no experience in this but i do have lots of prayers and i am sending them out for you and Mitzi. |
Sonja, I'm sorry to hear about Mitzi! I wish I had some advice, but I don't have any experience. I just want to send my prayers and best wishes your way!! Kisses from Wrigley & Crosley!! |
I'm sorry.:( I don't have a lot of experience with kidney disease but I do know that kibble isn't a good option because it is too dry. The lower the phosphorus level the better (and when you have low phos., you usually have low protein which is good). Recent studies don't show a big connection between low protein helping kidney disease (as far as I know) but it still is probably the better way to go. All of the kidney diets will have corn derivatives in them. You could either have your vet help find a regular canned food that would meet her needs or talk to a nutritionist about balancing a homemade diet for her. That would be the best option but it will cost between $90 and $225. Did they say anything about giving IV or Subcutaneous fluids? |
The Vet likes to see what the antibiotics are going to do for her and the k/d diet. I'll have to talk to him on Monday about her corn allergy and what to feed her instead... IV's and Subcutaneous fluids were not mentioned... maybe it's not that severe??? |
NO info to share but I wanted to send you both a big hug. |
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