My 6 month old puppy is at the vets with severe kidney failure.
Presented as slightly depressed Sunday morning.
Vomited twice Sunday afternoon and evening. Vets on Monday morning. X-rayed for obstruction. Nothing visible.
Bloods showed increased creatinine. Put on fluids and meds. Bloods repeated Monday afternoon – higher creatinine levels. Increased Tuesday am/pm and now increased today. Creatinine levels now up to 300.
Apparent effect of toxin, but no clues as to what.
Other than kidney failure, no other symptoms of lepto, although the antibiotic he’s on is the one they’d use for lepto anyway.
White cell count in normal range.
Definitely no access to grapes/raisins or anti freeze.
No harvest mites.
No skin lesions.

The vets are ringing again after lunch with a decision needing to be made if his creatinine levels are still rising.
Spoken to other vets and no further suggestions.
I am clutching at straws here with the smallest hope that someone on here may have a suggestion. Any suggestion.

I’m losing my boy.

I am so sorry. Unfortunately I can't offer any suggestions. Toxins I such a nebulous subject .could he habe eaten anything e.g. fungi? Food from dustbin ?

Thanks for replying.
We have literally scoured the garden and can't find anything. It is mushroom season but can't see any in the garden.
Nothing in house. 
Definately hasn't got access to the bin.
He hasn't been on the raod so can't have drunk out of puddles.
We have a bottle of screen wash but that is on a shelf in the shed and is untouched.

Any other thoughts?

The worst part (?!) is that he seems fine. Waggy and happy so I don't think he's suffering per se.

I feel sick.

Wish I could maybe others may have some ideas . Thinking of u . I certainly wouldn't give up yet bodies are amazing things

What about mouldy bread, dropped by a bird perhaps? That can make a dog very poorly, and is easily snaffled without you noticing.

I hope you get it sorted, keeping all fingers and toes crossed for him. xx

I can't help but I am so very sorry.  I can feel your distress.  Sending positive vibes for your boy.

Could he have eaten a mouse or rat that's been poisoned?

Totally sympathise, I've just lost my Flatcoat at 9 1/2 years to Kidney Disease :(

I wish I had something useful to suggest ..... before I'd do anything final, I would be taking a second opinion, unless I really trusted my vet.  And even then, I had a really super vet who I def.trusted.   When one of our Bassets went off his back legs (spondylitis) she wanted to call it.   I knew he wasn't 'ready' and that provided we could get the pain under control he deserved more time.   I was right although I had phoned her to say I was bringing him in.   He was in the room, licked himself and STOOD UP on all 4.

I did pick up on the bird food connection - mine go after fat ball droppings which can't be good for them so I have a barrier around where the feeders are.    I had another who years ago now, went down with what could have been said to be Parvo which wasn't known at the time.  He can only have picked something up via droppings.   Birds carry E-coli.

I hope you can save him - tragic.

ps   Have there been any cases of Alabama Rot locally - your vet should know?

Perhaps Seasonal Canine Disorder? The east side of the country in woodlands seems to be a feature.

Alabama rot seems to affect the kidneys so as mamabas says it could be that sadly

east and south eg new forest . gundogs says he has no lesions but still worth considering from a vet who has experience

So so sorry, fingers & paws crossed for you all.

Has he been swimming - thinking blue algae. Or in the sea where too much water ingested can cause problems.

Thank you all for your replies.
I do trust our vets. They sent all his case details to a specialist who thought, looking at all his blood results from 3 days that it was unlikely to be a toxin. They questioned alabama rot, but neither they, nor my vet have ever heard of a case without lesions.
They have checked his kidneys on ultrasound and they look "Ok".
They are running some more tests today, but made it clear not to get my hopes up.
I spent a lovely hour with him last night. Had a little walk in the field next to the vet's, then sat on a blanket in the field with him for cuddles. He spotted a pheasent and wanted to chase it. I told him that if  he gets better, we'll come back up, find that pheasant and he can chase it :-)
I don't think I have ever cried so much.

I sent all his blood results to a vet friend of mine last night, and he said not to lose hope yet and he would let him have another 24, even 48 hours of fluid therapy.

Please keep any thoughts coming. We must be missing something.

Just a long shot as I know you said you had checked the garden, but have you planted any daffodil biulbs recently?  I had a pup years ago who almost died after digging one up and eating it.  He did recover though.  I feel for you and you must be going through hell just waiting.  I sincerely hope that he recovers soon. X

No, no dafs in the garden, but thanks for the suggestion. This and any others are appreciated.

Hang on in there. Sounds like he is in good hands and not suffering x

Update from the vets. Creatinine levels up, urea down. Blilirubin up to 46(!) so looks as though his liver is going now too.
Worst of all, he didn't eat his breakfast, so he must now be feeling ill.

Thinking of you x if it helps keep.posting people  here understand

Facebook Replies:

Sue Parr says:  Ask your vet about Amyloidosis...Fingers crossed you find some answers and your puppy makes a full recovery x

Karen McDougall says:  This information was posted on Facebook by a owner earlier this year about the seeds of some fruits. His puppy had eaten fruit fallen from a tree.

The seeds (also known as stones, pits, or kernels) of stone fruits like apricots, cherries, plums, and peaches contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. And, yes, hydrogen cyanide is definitely a poison. Not an old wives tale or myth. The high sugar levels in fruit can also cause problems xox

I really hope your wee puppy pulls through xxx

Sue Harris says:  I hope he pulls through x

Heather RJ  says: Have they scanned kidneys to rule out renal dysplasia?

Sue Parr says:  Ask your vet about Amyloidosis...Fingers crossed you find some answers and your puppy makes a full recovery x- SAA levels normal

Karen McDougall says:  This information was posted on Facebook by a owner earlier this year about the seeds of some fruits. His puppy had eaten fruit fallen from a tree.

The seeds (also known as stones, pits, or kernels) of stone fruits like apricots, cherries, plums, and peaches contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. And, yes, hydrogen cyanide is definitely a poison. Not an old wives tale or myth. The high sugar levels in fruit can also cause problems xox yes, i saw this. He's definately not eaten fruit

I really hope your wee puppy pulls through xxx Thanks

Sue Harris says:  I hope he pulls through x Thanks

Heather RJ  says: Have they scanned kidneys to rule out renal dysplasia? yes, kidneys look "ok"

Keep going guys, someone must have the answer....

So sorry to hear about your pup. I have no suggestions but just wanted you to know I know exactly what you are going through. I nearly lost my pup to kidney failure at just over a year. He'd had a little lump removed from front leg. No problems then few days after went totally off food and went hiding under a bush to sleep, no life in him etc. Vets kept saying he was having bad reaction to the general. Then they did blood tests and it showed kidney failure and he may not last the day. He was on fluids and antibiotics. He pulled through thank goodness.

From what you've said your pup sounds to be more active than mine was so I'm hoping that's a positive sign, just wanted to share, keeping fingers and paws crossed for you.

"So sorry to hear about your pup. I have no suggestions but just wanted you to know I know exactly what you are going through. I nearly lost my pup to kidney failure at just over a year. He'd had a little lump removed from front leg. No problems then few days after went totally off food and went hiding under a bush to sleep, no life in him etc. Vets kept saying he was having bad reaction to the general. Then they did blood tests and it showed kidney failure and he may not last the day. He was on fluids and antibiotics. He pulled through thank goodness.

From what you've said your pup sounds to be more active than mine was so I'm hoping that's a positive sign, just wanted to share, keeping fingers and paws crossed for you. "

Thanks Schnauday. How long was your on fluids for before they saw an improvement?

Sorry if already asked...any access to human meds? Ibuprofen, for example, can be very bad for kidney disease in apparently relatively small doses.

Also - can dogs have haemodialysis? I ask as I have two humans in the house with end-stage kidney failure on dialysis.

Sorry if already asked...any access to human meds? Ibuprofen, for example, can be very bad for kidney disease in apparently relatively small doses.

Also - can dogs have haemodialysis? I ask as I have two humans in the house with end-stage kidney failure on dialysis.

Alway worth asking. No, definately no access to any medications.
Dogs can have dialysis, but the referal vets did not see it as beneficial in this case.

Speaking to some people here (non-professionals, purely anecdotal but just in case anything helps you), it seems sudden onset kidney failure, often through poison but not always, is usually considered a good candidate for dialysis as it cleans the blood quickly and prevents damage being done to other organs. I am absolutely sure your specialist knows best, but may be worth double checking. It is ridiculously expensive, for humans or animals, so that may be a factor.

Wishing you all the best, I truly hope things get better.

Thanks Katien. I will ask my vet to clarify what the referal vet said regarding dialysis.

Has the specialist vet actually seen your boy? Is there any way one could come to the practice where he is to evaluate him? Or if he can be safely moved to a specialist practice?

Still sending positive vibes from this house. 

18 pairs of paws crossed for him.

There was no change at all in the first 24hrs just laid out flat. When we visited the next day we got a tail wag and he crawled in to my lap. It was a good 48 hrs before he was standing up but still wasn't eating.

It looks like it might be the end of the road. His bloods are still getting worse and he is not happy now.
I'm going to go and collect him at lunchtime and bring him home for a couple of hours for cuddles.

I was there when he took his first breath and now I'm expected to be there when he takes his last.

What in the world could a beautiful puppy have done to deserve this?

I am SO very sorry.  Poor boy and poor you.  Haven't posted before as I have not had any helpful suggestions to make, but I've been following this thread and hoping for better news and that things would turn around for you both.

I wish you strength at this awful time.

Blay  XX

I am so very sorry.  Losing a dog is always dreadful and doubly so in such a young boy.  Heartbreaking! Give your boy a cuddle from me. I am actually crying as I type this, as I know the pain of losing . Thinking of you.

So very, very sorry to hear your news. I will be thinking about you and hoping for a miracle.

I am so sorry. I've been following this thread but had nothing to add. How awful to not know what has happened or why. I really feel for you.

Facebook Replies:

Julie Ellis says: Keeping everything crossed for you my friend recently heard about a sugar substitute maybe xylitol now toxic for dogs - clutching at straws here but desperately hope he pulls through xx

Debbie Bumblesmum Walker says: No access to conkers acorns or slug pellets?Sorry can't think of anything else but hope he pulls through. xx

Anna Hollis says: Ask for a referral to an internal medicine specialist. Hope he pulls through.

Suzanne Ellisson says:  Hope the puppy is alright and recovers quickly. May I ask, has he been chemically treated for worms or fleas recently?

Whiteways Whippets says:  Has he had the lepto 4 vaccination?

I am sort to jump on board this post so late on.

I'm sorry to read about your horrible problem, I have just had a quick read through the reply posts.

What breed is your puppy?

There is a nasty hereditary condition: FN (Familial Nephropathy) that can affect; Springer Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, Welsh Springers.

FN, (Familial Nephropathy ) leads to progressive and irreversible renal failure between 6 months and 2 years.

I am so sorry to hear this. Thinking of you.

I am so sorry xx

OK, so this may be prolonging the agony (mine, not his!) but I have asked that they continue on fluid therapy for another 24 hours.
I went to the vets to bring him home for a last love. He looked so sad last night and had stopped eating. Today he greeted me with a full body wag, sniffed out a bag of biccies in my pocket, grabbed at the bag and ate the whole lot. They had taken his drip out to I took him in the field where he ate a whole chicken breast then proceeded to play fetch with the tupperware tub.
Dispite his bloods being worse, he is obviously feeling a lot better.
I feel that I have to give him a chance.
Maybe, just maybe...

He is worth fighting for as long as he feels ok in himself.  Sounds encouraging that he is feeling better and lets hope that things get better and better.  Keep positive, everyone is rooting for you and your boy.

I have avoided posting because I really just don’t know what to say.Go with your gut feeling- neither he nor you are ready to let go yet. Don’t give up .Best of luck to you both .

Fingers and paws crossed

Keep checking in to see how things are, & like many others been thinking of you. Keep fighting.

Like others nothing useful to add, but hoping for him to turn around and get well.

Thinking of you and wishing you and your pup a good outcome.

Remember that every single one of us is rooting for you and your boy.

{{{{  HUGS  }}}}

Xylitol??

Could he have found some spat-out chewing gum and eaten it?

This is awful, I really hope he pulls through.

Peanut butter - some brands now contains something that is poisionous to dogs but I can't remember what the offending ingredient is. I know some people use peanut butter in Kongs. Wishing him a full recovery.

Just looked it up and it the Xylotil (sp) mentioned in a previous post - can also be found in some brands of toothpaste and yoghurt.

I think that might also be xylitol.

It is rozzie and turns up in more and more products. Particularly the diet type ones.  It's very toxic to dogs