Guest RegalGreys Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I took Jewel (3 yrs old) to the Vet yesterday with a fresh urine sample. The results of the urinalysis showed a bladder infection and a low specific gravity. So they did blood work to check for a kidney problem. Her CREA level was high (even for a greyhound) but her BUN was normal. The vet highly recommended that I adjust her diet to "low protein, low phosphorous, and low sodium). I will be taking her back in one month for follow up bloodwork to see if anything has changed after the UTI clears up. Has anyone had a similar problem? Is there any hope that she doesn't have kidney disease? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 When Goldie was four, she got a horrible UTI, which became a Kidney infection. They finally cultured the urine, and after six weeks of Clavamox, she was okay, BUT, this did cause acute kidney failure. I have had her on a Renal diet ever since, per the vets. She likes Purina NF, or Royal Canin Renal MP, NOT Science Diet KD. Most of the dogs hate that one. Maybe while you are treating the UTI, one of the above diets would be a good idea, then, re-run the kidney numbers and go from there. Love, hugs and Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 If she's got a UTI, all bets are off on that analysis. If BUN is normal, I'd simply treat the UTI and retest @ a week after antibiotics are finished. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgreymom Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I agree with Batmom! With a UTI it can throw off the blood work. How high was the Creatinine level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundgang Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Low protein is NOT the answer to a kidney compromised dog. And from this, you do NOT have a kidney compromised dog. Greyhound Gang has info - click on LEARN, MEDICAL, KIDNEY Order Dr. Stack the Deck for Greyt Health - only $4 and give to your vet Also use Acidolphilus to replenish the good bacteria killed by the antibiotics. Hope this helps. Quote Claudia & Greyhound Gang100% Helps Hounds GIG Bound! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SusanP Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 This just happened to us with Dr.Doug. The problem was not with his kidneys, but with the blood test. Since BUN was normal and CREA was over 40, greytalkers suggested the reading was suspect. I didn't like the idea of leaving a possible UTI ( there was protein in urine) untreated for a month and giving him a kidney diet if he didn't need it. I asked for another blood test, and it showed normal kidney values, so we have treated for a UTI this week, with improvement in symptoms. It was quite a scare, and all so unnecessary. I'm hoping the same will work for your pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RegalGreys Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I agree with Batmom! With a UTI it can throw off the blood work. How high was the Creatinine level? The Crea level was a 2. The info that I have says that a 0.8 - 1.6 is normal. I have no idea if 2 is just "slightly elevated" or "really high" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Is the info you have general info, or your lab's specific scale? A 2.0 on a scale that tops out at 1.6 is pretty much greyhound normal, provided BUN is normal. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Goldie's was verified as acute kidney failure, by the vets, but again, hers was BAD. They always retest, or should, retest, after the UTI is cleared up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RegalGreys Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Thank you for all of your wonderful help and suggestions! I feel much more confident that Jewel will be okay once her infection clears up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 I took Jewel (3 yrs old) to the Vet yesterday with a fresh urine sample. The results of the urinalysis showed a bladder infection and a low specific gravity. So they did blood work to check for a kidney problem. Her CREA level was high (even for a greyhound) but her BUN was normal. The vet highly recommended that I adjust her diet to "low protein, low phosphorous, and low sodium). I will be taking her back in one month for follow up bloodwork to see if anything has changed after the UTI clears up. Has anyone had a similar problem? Is there any hope that she doesn't have kidney disease? Definitely treat the infection and then re-test. I wouldn't adjust her diet until after the abx and the re-test. Good luck. Will keep you and Jewel in my prayers. Quote Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 3greysinPA Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Sending hugs to you and your hound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mcsheltie Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Definitely don't panic! Boomer had a bad UTI. His blood levels were BAD, his urinalysis was BAD, his prostate enlarged and he relapsed a couple times. I've already done enough panicking for both of us He is fine now. Everything is back to normal. What I learned is that with the BUN normal, it isn't kidney disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RegalGreys Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I just had Jewel retested last night since the UTI has cleared up. Her CREAT level was exactly the same, but her specific gravity had gone back to a more normal level. I'm so glad! My Vet thinks that the specific gravity is still a little low, but everything I've read says that a 1.015 is just fine. So, I'm thinking that Jewel's CREAT level is just a teeny bit over the 'greyhound norm' but that it's just her and she's fine. I'm so glad that I didn't panic and put her on a restricted diet right away! Everyone here really helped me feel more in control of the situation. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I just had Jewel retested last night since the UTI has cleared up. Her CREAT level was exactly the same, but her specific gravity had gone back to a more normal level. I'm so glad! My Vet thinks that the specific gravity is still a little low, but everything I've read says that a 1.015 is just fine. So, I'm thinking that Jewel's CREAT level is just a teeny bit over the 'greyhound norm' but that it's just her and she's fine. I'm so glad that I didn't panic and put her on a restricted diet right away! Everyone here really helped me feel more in control of the situation. Thank you! Excellent! Most of the Greys I have had run a little higher Creat. But as long as that BUN is normal, not to worry Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 As long as the BUN is normal, I don't worry about it. Many of mine run 2.2 to 2.3. Glad she is better Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greensleeves Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 A 2 is fine. When Nelly died, her creatinine was 10.4. I didn't know it could go that high. We would have rejoiced if we'd ever been able to get her down anywhere near a 2! Agree with everyone else: an infection can throw the kidney values off, and acute kidney disease can be reversed. She's just a baby, and I bet she'll be fine after the bladder infection is all cleared up. (OTOH, our Jasmine has had recurrent bladder infections and finally had surgery this summer to remove bladder stones; she's now on a prescription diet to prevent the stones from recurring. So you might keep an eye out for the same symptoms developing!) Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RegalGreys Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 It's been a few months and it's looking more and more like a Kidney problem. Last week's Urine Culture showed nothing. No infection at all. So the excessive drinking/peeing has been diagnosed by the Vet to be a kidney problem. His recommendation is to change her diet immediately and go from there. We will retest blood values in a month and see. Besides altering her diet, is there anything else I should be doing other than re-read all of the info you have all helpfully posted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicocat Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 It's been a few months and it's looking more and more like a Kidney problem. Last week's Urine Culture showed nothing. No infection at all. So the excessive drinking/peeing has been diagnosed by the Vet to be a kidney problem. His recommendation is to change her diet immediately and go from there. We will retest blood values in a month and see. Besides altering her diet, is there anything else I should be doing other than re-read all of the info you have all helpfully posted? Darlin was put on KD and retested in 2 weeks - her Creat value had dropped by half - back to the normal range. She has no problem eating KD but didn't like the Royal Canin. Quote Ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spider9174 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 (edited) As long as the BUN is normal, I don't worry about it. Many of mine run 2.2 to 2.3. Glad she is better <img src="http://forum.greytalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> ditto 2.2 can very well be your pup's normal creatinine. my male, Gable, runs 2.2 with a normal bun. For two years, I had him checked ever 2 months and it never changed. the only time it was a little higher was when he was a the evet with dehydration (sever big d and vomiting.) remember, the average of 1.6-1.8 for creatinine is an average--some are higher, some are lower. ETA: Gable has a lower specific gravity (lower than the norm.) He will gorge water, hence less concentrated urine. We've had him tested for a number of things...Cushings, diabetes, etc. He's never had protein in his urine. I monitored the number of cups of water he drinks a day, etc. After a lot of watching, it was obvious he drinks out of anxiety and from his diet. I feed one raw meal a day. If I don't have time to prepare the meal, I will feed kibble. On days he get more kibble, he drinks more water. I think this has a lot to do with salt content and the dryness of the kibble. Keep that in mind. What about trying a diet lower in sodium? What about a good senior diet that has a lower phosphorus content. What about a more natural or home prepared diet? I'm not sure that a low protein diet is necessary in cases where the pup isn't in late stage kidney failure. Edited February 1, 2010 by spider9174 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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