Kidney disease- help
 

Well, Bentley went for routine blood work before a dental cleaning. The vet called with bad news. Bentley has kidney disease. The vet wants to meet right away on Thursday to decide our next move.

Bentley is now 2.73 lbs and 14.5 years old. I am terrified.:icon5::cry:

Kidney disease
 

I am so sorry that your boy has this problem, it can be scary I know.
But kidney disease can have various stages and please don't get upset but wait for the vet visit and full diagnosis. It can be mild and treatable so praying that is the case. Please let us know how the vet visit goes , and good luck.

Thank you
 

Thank you so much for your support.

dog
 

My spud had pancreatitis not long ago the vet said his kidneys had problems so spud is on a low fat low protein diet. He only eats hills zd. He gets one zd biscuit a day. Spuddy is 13 and doing ok. I will pray for little Bentley to get better soon. Possibly a diet would help him.

I would try not to panic until you see the vet. Many senior dogs have some loss of kidney function. It may be mild and age related. There are several stages of kidney failure, and many treatments that are available to support the kidneys. Since Bentley wasn't showing any symptoms you likely caught it early and there are interventions you can put in place to slow the disease. Once you speak to the vet and have the information you need, you can get a treatment plan in place. My last yorkie was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 13 and lived happily on for over three more years. We lost him at 16.5 due to an issue that was not even related to his kidneys. So hang in there and try not worry too much yet.

Diana

what test did they do and what were his numbers.

Bentley
 

HI.
How did the vet visit go? Hope the diagnosis was such that Bentley could be treated and that he will be ok. Please update as soon as you have information and time to post.

Bentley
 

Any news yet on Bentley, hope he is OK. Please update, and praying for good news.

Update!
 

Ok, the vet wasn't really encouraging about Bentley, but he said we will take it a day at a time. Bentley's standard blood test revealed that his BUN is 92 and creatinine is 1.9...a ratio of 48. Platelet...645 ( in the danger zone). Bentley is such a picky eater that the vet sent me a Hill's Science home made diet. So far, he is acting very spunky most of the time he is awake and alert, but he sleeps a lot. He doesn't eat much no matter what we do.

The vet says he has seen it go both ways. Bentley could have 5 days or 2-3 years. I guess that is the best to hope for!!! We will recheck his levels in a couple of weeks to see if there is any improvement at all, which would indicate that what we are doing is going in the right direction.

No matter what, we have agreed we will not let him suffer. There is no cure for this disease, and it is progressive. We will do what we can to keep him with us for as long as possible, but we will not go to the point that he suffers.:( I could not stand that!!!!

Bentley
 

Thank you so much for the update on Bentley. Sorry the vet visit did not give more positive news. But at least he gives some hope that he could go on for years as many with kidney disease do. Is he getting sub Q hydration at home or at the vets to keep him hydrated? Hopefully the special food that contains plenty of liquids should help him.
I fully understand that you do not want to see your baby suffer and that you will cease treatment if he is doing badly.
However if he is still lively and behaving mainly normally, he is probably going to be ok for some time. You will know when the disease has become critical as he will become very sick and it will be time to relieve him of his suffering. When my dog had total kidney failure it came on suddenly and he was so very sick, we could not let him suffer a minute longer. There was only option.😥
So take heart, you may have him for a long time with him feeling pretty good.
He has grown to a very good age so far so that is great news. Hope you are able to enjoy him feeling good for years to come.
Praying the treatment keeps your baby with you for many months to come. Please let us know how he is doing and how the diet is working.
Hugs.

next blood test
 

We go back in exactly a week from today for another blood test to see how Bentley is doing and at what stage he is. We have had him on home food, but today got small cans of Science Diet k/d, beef stew. Hoping for good news.

Bentley
 

The canned food should be good for him and it will provide hydration as well. Hope he likes the food and does well on it.
Wishing you good results with the tests next week. Look forward to good news.
Thanks for the update.

not good
 

:( It is Sunday and it seems Bentley has taken a turn for worse. He won't eat and has drunken very little. He is also throwing up white foam, and he is walking around hunched over. Right now he is sleeping, but I feel he really isn't feeling good. He also isn't peeing much. OMG...it is my worst nightmare.

Bentley
 

Oh no, poor Bentley. He does sound in bad shape and needs to get in to see a vet ASAP. What you feared may be happening and he is having a bad kidney attack. Sometimes it is combined with pancreatitis as it was with my poor baby.
I hope you have an emergency vet that you can take him to for hydration and treatment. So sorry. I feel for you and Bentley. Praying for better news soon.









No

Sounds like pancreatitis. He needs to be at a vet NOW. His symptoms are that of an emergency nature.

I agree. ER vet for sure. If nothing else, IV fluids will help.

Diana

Bentley
 

Hi.
Any news on Bentley? At less than three pounds he needs to be seen if he is still sick. He does not have the stamina to handle this illness for long.
Praying he is ok.

My husband disagrees with money spent.
 

Well, he perked right up on Monday, devoured his home cooked Hill's diet food, drank water and was very responsive. Now it is between my husband and me. It seems the first thing he asked when we went to the vet last time was... How much is this going to cost? I understand that I am nearing retirement age. He is disabled. While he doesn't want to put Bentley to sleep, he argues with the vet about the charges. He is so confrontational with my vet, whom I have known for almost 40 years. My husband and I have only been together 4 years. He wants the vet to give a specific dollar amount total that this is going to cost. My vet answered that he can't tell that right now, but that for the next 2-3 months we could expect the same expense. Bentley is currently getting an antibiotic shot that lasts 2 weeks. We have to go back every 2 weeks for either another shot or choose oral liquid or pill. This includes a blood test and an office visit ($244). Has anyone else had similar disagreements with their spouses? I can not look into my Bentley's eyes and decide he is ready to be put to sleep. Please send advice.:animal36

Bentley
 

First, thank you for the update. I am so pleased he was a little better on Monday and eating and drinking.
It is so sad that you and hubby are at odds over the cost of treatment, you do not need this as well as a sick dog. You are aware of the nature of Bentley's illness and that it may be costly to treat. But of course the vet cannot tell what the future costs may be. As you have not been together for that long with your husband do you still maintain your own source of funds? If so, and you can afford it, perhaps you could see the vet alone so that there are not arguments between the vet and your hub? You have had this dog for a long time and you are very attached to him and want to keep him as long as he is still enjoying life.
Really, in my view, it should be your decision as to what you pay out to keep him and when it is time for him to go to heaven. It is such a shame that you have to have arguments about him when Bentley is fighting this disease. Dogs are sensitive creatures and pick up on discord.
I pray that you can come to some amicable agreement with your hub that allows you to make decisions on your baby's care.
Hoping Bentley responds well to treatment and that he is with you for some time.
Hugs and good luck .

Please don't put him down just to keep your husband happy about not spending money on him. You will look back and regret it and your relationship with your husband will not be the same. I have seen this happen.

I will pray that you find a way to get Bentley's needs met and to make your husband understand.

Wishing and praying for Bentley! Bentley has been with you and given you his unconditional love and devotion for many years!

dog
 

My spud had pancreatitis. The vet cleared it up with med and a very strict diet. Only hills science diet zd dog food. I can add a little boiled egg white and steamed carrots to flavor it. I also get the zd special bag of biscuits. He eats one after his walk. I hope little Bentley gets better. Nothing like the love of a dog. I would do all I can for that little fella.

Thanks
 

I totally agree with you. I have finally told my husband that he will not go with me to the next vet visit on Thursday. I was so embarrassed in the vet's office about the argument in front of him. I only hope my vet will overlook this. Yes, I have my own income. I am a teacher and have been for 24 years. I will take him to the vet and take care of the bill myself. Also, Bentley has totally snubbed the canned Hill's KD food, even the little cans of beef stew, which looked good enough for me to eat. Therefore, I am cooking the home diet from Hill's sent to me by my vet. Some days he eats it up; other days he won't touch it. We go Thursday for his next blood test.

Bentley
 

I am glad that you decided to deal with the vet alone and that you have independent funds for your boy's care. I can imagine it is embarrassing arguing with the vet over charges! Also it will make for a happier life with your hub without this topic causing issues!
I am sorry Bentley is picky over the prescription food. Usually most dogs love the canned food. Good that he will eat the home cooked at least some of the time. Perhaps he is feeling nauseated sometimes and that is why he does not want food. You might ask if an anti nausea medication might help him? However it may be he can't have such meds with his medical condition? I know Cerenia is a godsend when my dog gets sick and won't eat.
I know you are very concerned for your baby and I hope that he continues to eat and drink and stay happy. Good luck on Thursday with the tests, and praying for good results. Hang in there:)

Good for you!

As for the food, when pups have renal issues they feel nauseous and don't want to eat. You might want to ask your vet about the mediction, Mirtazapine. It is an anti depressant...it helps with nausea, anorexia and is an appetite stimulant. It also is very inexpensive. It can be like a miracle in some dogs! It does not always work, but when it does, it is simply wonderful.

As for your vet, I am sure he totally will understand. I am SO sure it is not the first time he has dealt with issues like that. Some people have a very hard time accepting the cost of care for pups.

Keeping you and your baby in my thoughts and prayers....

Diversion! mirtazapine
 

I have heard on YT that this drug is good for nausea etc in dogs, and in humans too. I needed an antidepressant once and as most AD s make me nauseous, I was prescribed M. However it did not have the good affects with appetite etc, but just put me to sleep. I don't know if I am alone or others have found what I did.
I guess it does not act the same in all people?
Sorry to divert the thread but wanted to know if M always had the good effects in dogs?

It does not work in all dogs but is amazing if it does work. I have had personal experience with it where it worked and where it did not. The first time I used it was with a pup in renal failure and I was thrilled that it worked. He was eating everything and anything!

Same thing with people...different results. It can make some drowsy, some not. Anti depressants are well known to have differing side effects in people.

Diversion
 

Thank you. I guess I was just one of the unlucky ones. Happy that it worked for your renal pup and allowed him to eat. :)

It has worked for few here on YT. One pup here in particular really rebounded on it. Her name is Lola and the user id of her mom is Manolos Mom

Here is a mention of the mirtazapine:


http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/3011854-post326.html