Hi. My girl has been drinking more & weeing more lately. Some may have seen my previous posts regarding her GME & cough syncope both of which are under control. When she started producing puddles overnight I got some dipsticks from work (im an RN) thinking it may be diabetes, from her long term prednisolone. On dipping her wee there was no glucose but a high level of protein which im very worried about. She seems too perky to be in kidney failure. I am going to redo the test in the week & if its still the same i'll have her to the vet of course.
I just wondered if any of you has experience of this, perhaps you could relieve my extreeme worry. I dont know if i should try a low protein diet now.

One of my dogs had kidney problems last year, it built up over month (one of the symptoms was increased drinking) until he ended up on a drip for a week-end to flush his kidneys! I did a lot of reading up then, and the best article I found was this one: http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html

Unless your dog is feeling physically sick, there is no need to feed a low protein diet! Lower phosphorus will be beneficial though as well as some supplements like salmon oil.

But first of all, your dog needs a blood test as there are many other conditions as well that cause increased drinking. There is no need adjusting the diet or anything unless you are sure what you are dealing with.

You will be pleased to hear that my dog has made a full recovery and has not had any relaps at all since it happened in May last year. His bloods have been fine too.

Remember that bacteria are made of protein too.
Multistix (or equivalent) give a positive reaction to red blood cells, white cells ( sign of infection) and are more likely than proteinuria (due to kidney tissue being sloughed off) ie destructive kidney disease.

I spoke to my vet yesterday and she wanted bloods done a s a p, so my girl had them done this morning. I've got my fingers crossed while i wait the results.!
Thanks for the replys.

My vet phoned with my girls blood results this morning and it seems its not good news at all. The liver enzymes were very high, ie ALT is 600, Alk Phos is 3000 ! Don't know what a dogs normal values are. Bilirubin is up a bit as well. So a diagnosis of Iatrogenic Cushings was given. its down to all this causing the high protein in her urine.
I'm totally devestated. She seems so perky and full of herself. How can her liver be so bad. She's been on Samylin to protect her liver because of the long term prednisolone. Well it doesn't seem to have done much does it, at £38 per 15 days ! So she's got to be weaned off the pred over the next 2wks and then have the bloods repeated. So I suppose the fainting will start again and then i just don't know what i'm going to do. She was doing it 10-15 times a day and thats no quality of her life. She means the world to me but she's been through so much, Now i wonder if the chemo she had for 16mths has contributed to her liver now. Of course i'll always do whats best for her but i don't know what i'll do without her. I'm writing this through tears yet i mustn't let her see me upset coz she picks up on my moods and she gets stressed.
Does anyone know about milk thistle. I've read it helps the liver but don't know anyone who's used it. Please if anyone has any suggestions!
Sorry to gabble on. I've just been so upset all day, i can't get my head round it.

Really sorry to hear that the results weren't what you had hoped for :-(

Hi Peanut
So sorry to hear this. One thing to beware of is that if a dog has been on prednisolone long term, they cannot stop taking it entirely, since the body has long ago given up producing any steroid of it's own, and it does need a certain amount to function. This is usually produced by the adrenal gland, but pred given over a long time convinces the adrenal gland not to produce it at all any more. I didn't really want to add to your woes, but please check this out with the vet. It might be that they plan to put her back on the pred instantly after the blood test, but do please check.

Don't know about milk thistle, but I have had very good responses from natural remedies, and usually they don't interfere with anything else.

I really hope that you find a solution to keep everything under control, don't give up - google everything like mad, there might be something out there to help. I will be thinking good thoughts for you both.

Thank you Chinablue. Yes I know about prednisolone and long term effects. She was on 1 mg morning & night, so she's down to 1/2mg am & pm for a week then down to 1/2 mg once a day for a week then redo the bloods. I did think the reduction should be slower but its what my vet has instructed so im sticking to them. I don't think vets will allow any more pred after these results and she (vet) did say she'd look at what else my girl could have to stop the cough syncope. So fingers crossed !She does also have a steroid inhaler once a day which of course isn't systemic so she can carry on with that.  I've calmed down now and whatever my girls future is, im going to enjoy the time i have with her. My priority will be whats best for her. At the moment she's bright and happy. Thats all i ask for.
Thanks again.