Hailey's Kidneys Are Failing---She's Only 8 :(

[AstasMinion]

Sending good thoughts for your Hailey (and you)!

[NeylasMom]

Any updates on the vet visit? I forget which way the time change goes of course so not sure you've had it yet.

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Any updates on the vet visit? I forget which way the time change goes of course so not sure you've had it yet.

 

Yes, sorry, I took her yesterday, and the news is not good (I would have posted sooner, but I've been a bit leaky ).

 

There are still a few tests outstanding, but basically she is in Stage 4 renal failure. There is also still the presence of an infection (as I suspected), and we are waiting for the culture to come back to find out what it is so they can put her on the right antibiotic.

 

But based on the ultrasound the condition is chronic rather than acute, and essentially her kidneys are just old and worn out. She is on Clavulox until the cultures come back, and Omepral to protect her stomach.Once all the results are back we have to tweak her diet and possibly put her on additional meds. But she is so miserable, and seeing her like this---instead of her usual irrepressible self---is devastating. Since you are one of the only people on GT who has actually met her, you have seen first-hand what a whirling dervish she is---or was. The deterioration has been so rapid in the past few weeks, and now she barely moves from her bed.

 

And since she got back yesterday afternoon, Mokkah won't leave her side. He is so lost without her. This sucks.

[GreyTzu]

[Wonder]

[racindog]

Hang in there. Miracles do still happen. Praying for Hailey.

[Guest dmt]

Praying for Hailey and sending many hugs.

[NeylasMom]

Oh Mo, I'm so sorry. I am still holding out hope that the right antibiotic can turn this around. Even if there is permanent damage, there are a LOT of things you can do to improve the kidney function and to aid in the removal of toxins (which are what are making her feel so sick) since the kidney can't do that job as well anymore.

 

I think I would want to wait for culture results and see if the AB does anything before adding other things in, but after that some things I would do right away would be to add a generous amount of fish oil to her diet, start her on Pepcid and Azodyl and possibly another kidney support supplement, and depending on her blood work values get her on a phosphorus binder in addition to a low phosphorus food. There are other bloodwork values that need to be monitored (outside of creatinine and BUN) that may also require something to adjust them. And if that doesn't fully address it, you can consider in home subQ fluids if she tolerates them well.

 

This website is for cats, but the treatment of kidney disease in both animals is pretty analagous so I think you can get a lot of good information if you are up for some "light" reading. I even got suggestions there like adding multiple food bowls around the house so they don't have to go as far to drink, which Cisco has really enjoyed.

 

Please let me know if I can do anything - I went through these with Neyla as well, both an acute case that she recovered from when she was younger and then a "chronic" case as a side effect of one of her osteo treatments before I lost her. I know it can be tough to deal with.

[Remolacha]

I am so sorry, I have been through this with several cats Once the infection is dealt with , there are things you can do to make her feel better. I hope she is able to stay with you for awhile yet

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Oh Mo, I'm so sorry. I am still holding out hope that the right antibiotic can turn this around. Even if there is permanent damage, there are a LOT of things you can do to improve the kidney function and to aid in the removal of toxins (which are what are making her feel so sick) since the kidney can't do that job as well anymore. I think I would want to wait for culture results and see if the AB does anything before adding other things in, but after that some things I would do right away would be to add a generous amount of fish oil to her diet, start her on Pepcid and Azodyl and possibly another kidney support supplement, and depending on her blood work values get her on a phosphorus binder in addition to a low phosphorus food. There are other bloodwork values that need to be monitored (outside of creatinine and BUN) that may also require something to adjust them. And if that doesn't fully address it, you can consider in home subQ fluids if she tolerates them well. This website is for cats, but the treatment of kidney disease in both animals is pretty analagous so I think you can get a lot of good information if you are up for some "light" reading. I even got suggestions there like adding multiple food bowls around the house so they don't have to go as far to drink, which Cisco has really enjoyed. Please let me know if I can do anything - I went through these with Neyla as well, both an acute case that she recovered from when she was younger and then a "chronic" case as a side effect of one of her osteo treatments before I lost her. I know it can be tough to deal with.

 

Thanks so much for that, Jen---and everyone else who is sending good thoughts.

 

The specialist was worth going to, as she has been absolutely *brilliant*---and while the news isn't great, at least she is giving me the information that the other vets didn't. She is so thorough and supportive, which is exactly what I need. She explained all the test results, as well as what numbers could be controlled by diet vs. meds, then followed it up with a written report and treatment plan that includes all the things you mention.

 

She wants to have Hailey on a low phosphorus diet for at least 4 weeks to see if that brings her levels down before starting her on binders. And I believe the Omepral works similarly to Pepcid. And as far as additional meds, she wants to wait until the cultures come back so she can address the infection and what its role is in all this. Hopefully they are back today, and hopefully there will be some answers there.

 

And I know she's really unwell when she goes without doing at least 1 furniture-re-arraigning zoomie a day---and it's been at least 2 weeks. I miss that mischievous glint in her eye before all hell breaks loose

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Crap. The culture came back negative. The specialist gave me 3 reasons why that could be, but in any case wants me to take her off the Clavulox and get another culture in 2 weeks time. She is going downhill so fast that 2 weeks seems like a scary amount of time to wait.

 

She has been completely flat today and had hardly touched her dinner tonight, so the specialist also wants to put her on an anti-nausea/appetite stimulating medication, and also talked about the possibility of doing subQ fluids if she doesn't perk up.

 

So I sat cuddled up on the couch and had a long chat with Hailey tonight, and told her that she's really going to need to help me out here because I'm not sure what to do. All of a sudden she stood up on the couch and stared down at me, and in a something like a scene from "Lassie", started whining at me and kept looking towards the back door. I let her out and she started sniffing around near where her food bowl had been, so I took her leftovers and put them out for her---and little bugger.ate very last bit, then came back in, went over to where the coats are and demanded I put hers on. Then she stood at the closed door of my bedroom until I opened it, and laid down on the other bed I've been keeping in there for her. So clearly she senses weakness and going to milk this for all it's worth .

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Oh, and I also asked her about Calcitriol and Azodyl. She is open to putting her on Calcitriol, but only if I can get her phosphorous levels down.

 

She is leery of Azodyl because, from what I gather, it is relatively new and lacking in supporting studies, but would probably agree to it if I insist on it. I have to look into it a bit more, but I am a firm believer in pre/probiotics and as far as I know, they certainly couldn't hurt, so it would be worth a try. I just hope it is available here in Oz.

Edited October 11, 2012 by JerseyGirlInOz

[Charlies_Dad]

More good thoughts for Hailey I am glad that she ate for you and keeps milking it!

[Batmom]

Couple days / week of fluid therapy would certainly be worth a shot.

 

If you think the antibiotics are affecting her appetite, then I might consider taking her off of them. If not ... hard to say.

 

FWIW, my Gidget (acute kidney failure incident couple years ago, out of danger zone by the time I adopted) came to me on Azodyl. At worst it's a "can't hurt, might help." It isn't going to save your girl's life but might help with longterm management.

 

Really hoping you and your vet can turn things around enough to *have* a long term.

[NeylasMom]

 

FWIW, my Gidget (acute kidney failure incident couple years ago, out of danger zone by the time I adopted) came to me on Azodyl. At worst it's a "can't hurt, might help." It isn't going to save your girl's life but might help with longterm management.

Those are my thoughts. But I can also tell you there is a good bit of anecdotal evidence supporting it's use on a cat kidney group I'm on. And with Cisco, we added things one at a time and I tracked everything on a calendar. There was a significant change for the better once he was on it. On the other hand, I also put Neyla on it and can't say I noticed improvement specifically as a result, but her situation was complicated by her osteo, which was the primary issue. In any event, I suspect it won't help all animals, but it will help some and it's worth trying to see. It's not cheap, very expensive through your vet, but cheaper online - but it does need to stay below a certain temperature so you'll want to find someone who will ship it with ice packs.

 

Glad you have a good specialist on board. Can't advise one way or the other about the ABs, but I would do the low phosphorus food and perhaps fluids immediately to give her some support while you wait out the 2 wks if you do. That's my totally uneducated opinion.

[Remolacha]

Well, crap on the negative culture! I would really consider starting the sub-q fluids, I don't know how much they actually help the condition, but I do know all my cats felt much better on fluids, even my grey who was in acute kidney failure did feel a bit better with the fluids.

[JJNg]

I use Azodyl with my renal failure patients. Even if the published studies aren't strong, it won't hurt. A while back, I attended a talk by a vet who worked at a big cat sanctuary. Turns out that kidney disease is fairly common in lions and tigers and other large cats too. Because of practical difficulties with treatment and medication options, the only treatment these cats received was Azodyl added to their diet. From what I remember, it made noticeable differences in their bloodwork numbers, and many of these cats did well for quite a while (over 1-2 years after diagnosis, IIRC).

[NeylasMom]

I use Azodyl with my renal failure patients. Even if the published studies aren't strong, it won't hurt. A while back, I attended a talk by a vet who worked at a big cat sanctuary. Turns out that kidney disease is fairly common in lions and tigers and other large cats too. Because of practical difficulties with treatment and medication options, the only treatment these cats received was Azodyl added to their diet. From what I remember, it made noticeable differences in their bloodwork numbers, and many of these cats did well for quite a while (over 1-2 years after diagnosis, IIRC).

Total aside, I just realized for the first time what IIRC means.

[greyhead]

Total aside, I just realized for the first time what IIRC means.

Then your hip-girl license will have to be suspended!

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Total aside, I just realized for the first time what IIRC means.

Then your hip-girl license will have to be suspended!

 

[JerseyGirlInOz]

I use Azodyl with my renal failure patients. Even if the published studies aren't strong, it won't hurt. A while back, I attended a talk by a vet who worked at a big cat sanctuary. Turns out that kidney disease is fairly common in lions and tigers and other large cats too. Because of practical difficulties with treatment and medication options, the only treatment these cats received was Azodyl added to their diet. From what I remember, it made noticeable differences in their bloodwork numbers, and many of these cats did well for quite a while (over 1-2 years after diagnosis, IIRC).

 

I feel the same: even of it doesn't help, it won't hurt to try. The tricky bit is going to be getting it. I don't know how widely available it is here, and even if it gets shipped here from the US, there may be problems getting it through Customs. Need to look into it.

[JerseyGirlInOz]

Double crap. It looks like Azodyl isn't available here . Does anyone want to come visit me and smuggle it in in their luggage?

 

So now I have to see if I can find other probiotics that contain the same strains, or see if a compounding pharmacy can mix up something similar.

 

Does anyone know how much fish oil and CoQ10 she should be getting daily?

Edited October 13, 2012 by JerseyGirlInOz

[galgrey]

I'm sorry to hear this. I'm going through the same thing with my galgo, Cruz.

[Guest kess]

so sorry your poor doggie is having so many problems

[galgrey]

Have you joined the K9kidneys Yahoo group? They have tons of info there.