I can't believe this. Having lost my beloved Blue in Dec 2002, little Red in November 2003, my lovely 11and a half year old mongrel Elsa has now been diagnosed with chronic renal failure. It hit me right between the eyes. She's been off colour for a few weeks now, and was treated for a suspected bladder infection. Took her to the vets again tonight, as I just felt she's not right, we did some bloodwork and they phoned me half an hour later, saying it was bad news, she has chronic kidney failure. She's referring the results to a specialist vet, so hope to know more on Friday, and they have asked me to call in and collect a low protein diet in the meantime. I'm devastated, I knew she wasn't right, but I never in my wildest nightmares imagined this. I understand there is no treatment except by diet, and perhaps fluid therapy. They can't or won't give me an indication of how long she might have, though a cautious remark was made 'not too long'.
HELP has anyone out there got a dog in her situation, on any meds or fluid therapy helping?

Kat

Hi Kat, no experience with it in dogs but had a cat with it a while back. Sorry to hear about your dog tho.
I can only give you some links for alternative help, if thats any good. One thing I`ve found is that my dogs love to drink water with honey added to it, they can`t seem to get enough of it & will drink as many bowls as I`m prepared to make up for them :) so you could try that as a way of getting enough fluid down him.
http://www.alternativepethealth.com/kidney-failure.html
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/2167/#dietary
http://www.bowchow.com/kidney.html

Christine, Spain.

Dont know too much but diet is a way to try to minimise any pain. You need a low protein gluten free and diary free product so theres not too much other stuff for them to digest making it that little bit easier to digest so not putting to much pressure on her. I personally use Quantum choice, but it can be quite hard to get as there are only 11 shops that sell it around the country.  There are other foods that are just as good like JWB nutrudiet? etc.. Also have you tried fasting her once a week? i know it sounds horrible but vets do sometimes reccomend it. It all depends if its safe to do so. It might help?

Thanks Christine and Sonny

Christine I think the honey water is a fantastic idea. I set a lot of store by honey as a natural food, I'll just need to check the protein levels first, but I will try it. Funnily enough Sonny's idea of fasting has a link with honey, as many years ago Buster Lloyd Jones who founded Denes foods recommended a day of fasting and on that day to give honey water - so as coincidences go, this is a good one. Mmmm I feel a visit to Dene's website coming on.

Thanks for the links, I'll have a look. I have searched loads so far but will keep collecting information. Does anyone know of a pet food company that does things like specialised treats for dogs? And any ideas how I can find out the protein/phosphorous  content of things like tripe sticks?

I'll check out Quantum Sonny, at the moment she's been prescribed Hills k/d, which is low protein, and low phosporous. I'm not a great fan of Hills really, so would like to find an equivalent from a 'clean' company. She does have Burns at the moment, and so I might get in touch with them too. Apparently low phosphorous is really important. I am waiting to speak to a specialist, who can give me a better overall picture than I have now. I'm hoping with careful management I may still have her a long time yet. However, that will ONLY be if she has quality of life too.

Thanks everyone - please keep any ideas/info coming.

Kat

Hi Kat, if you have a look at the links I`ve given you they will give you the answers to your questions regarding phospherous content of commercial diets/treats as well as homemade diet/treats & the importance of high quality protein as opposed to low protein. Also the bowchow sites says Hills is the only commercial food still going with that low protein k/d diet now as the general thinking is it can be dangerous. Also a whole stack of other info on renal failure. Good luck :)

Christine, Spain.

http://b-naturals.com/default.php

If you look at this link as well as the kidney page on the bow chow link you will see that it is not necessarily the protein level that is critical but the phosphorus level.