Bloodwork Shows Start Of Kidney Disease

[Guest Alichou]

Hi guys,

Im wondering if there are any experienced grey owner's that have or are going through this situation. We get my now 13 year old's bloodwork done every year and this time it showed the start of kidney disease. I've got him on all the prescribed food (which he is not eating very much of since he was getting a half a chicken breast a day mixed in a lamb formula and doesn't like this new renal health formula). Any suggestions on making food more interesting? Also is this something that can be maintained under good diet? Or will this rapidly get worse? I'll be talking to the vet more on Saturday, but would like some advice ahead of time. It's much appreciated.

 

Ali

[GreyPoopon]

With Jessie, we used Benazepril (a heart drug used for kidneys), Renal Advanced (a probiotic), a multi-vitamin, Zantac (she was vomiting a lot), sub-q fluids (weekly at first, and increasing in frequency to daily at the end), and, when her appetite disappeared, anabolic steroids. She couldn't eat the usual kidney diet, but I found an alternative. When she decided not to eat that, my vet said I should feed her what she would eat. She was 13 when diagnosed and lasted over a year.

 

I have two more kidney dogs now, one grey and one non. Both are on Benazepril and Renal Advanced, one on Zantac and the other on steroids. Both are already being fed whatever they'll eat. Both are 15.

 

There are a lot of things you can try putting on your boy's food to help him eat, like grated cheese (parmesan), ground up beef liver, broth (be careful of the other ingredients), a bit of canned meat, and so on.

 

Dogs with kidney disease don't tend to last a long time, but some--like Jessie--do fairly well. It's good that you caught it early.

[macoduck]

Is your vet using greyhound lab values? Info here: http://www.greythealth.com/blood.html

 

My mutt Pudge (age 12) has had failing kidneys for a few years now. She eats Royal Canin's MP. We add in some Beneful wet food. She's been losing weight but there's no significant changes in her test results. My vet said at this stage it's important that she keep eating, even if it isn't the best stuff. If she was much younger and had bad kidneys, she'd have a different diet.

She's also on Atenolol.

Edited December 13, 2013 by macoduck

[Guest Alichou]

Thanks guys. Now that he's on the Hills K/D we have to bring him back for bloodwork in another month to see if there are any further changes. He was always a picky eater and prior to this week his regular food consisted of lamb/rice formula with a half a chicken breast. So needless to say he isn't happy with this K/D food and the hardest part for now will be getting him to eat it and stay a healthy weight. I'll probably try the parm cheese on top, along with anything else that would be ok in order to get him to eat it. I really appreciate the responses, helps me keep calm and realize I'm not alone.

 

Ali

[TheFullHouse]

There are several home made kidney diets out there if you don't have a problem cooking for him. I have several if you would like them.

[GeorgeofNE]

I hate to point out the obvious, but 13 is OLD. Problems are inevitable.

 

That being said, my last dog had suspicious kidney values and he did just fine for a few years on the special kidney food. He was quite a bit younger though. With a 13 year old, I do anything I can to make them happy and comfortable. There is no "long term."

 

I found that the Purina kidney diet was a lot better received by my dog than the Hill's. You might ask about it. I believe it's Purina NF.

[Guest Alichou]

Thanks guys. Jillysfullhouse yes I would love to see them. I don't mind cooking at all. So far no luck with KD hard food but he is eating the KD soft.

 

I agree, 13 is old but at this time he isn't showing any signs, and is a healthy weight. I'm just hoping to maintain that as long as I can.

 

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate all your comments.

[Batmom]

It would be useful to know what his values are. Some (many?) vets are not aware that greyhounds often have a slightly elevated creatinine when compared to other dogs.

 

In the early stages of kidney disease (blood values elevated a little bit but not much), it may not be worthwhile to change the dog's diet. In the middle stage -- definite kidney disease, well-elevated blood values -- the kidney diet can help the dog feel well. In the end stage, the problem is more often that the dog doesn't want to eat at all, and it that case you usually feed whatever you can get them to eat.

 

Over the years, I have fed kidney diets -- canned KD (not the dry) and homecooked. Just depends on what the dog wants to eat, how the dog feels on the diet, your tolerance for cost and trouble, etc. I've found homecooked a good bit cheaper and more palatable, but it is more trouble.

 

Whatever the case may be with your pup, I hope he continues to feel well for a long time to come.

[dante2zoe]

Brady's kidney values were slightly elevated at age 11 and my vet had me start him on Renal Essentials. He wasn't at the kidney disease stage yet and she wanted to keep him away from there as long as possible. He had blood work run a month ago and his values had dropped back into the normal range. So, whether it was a blip on the radar or the medication helped, I cannot say. But, I won't fix what isn't broken, so he stays on them until we need to change. I haven't touched his food.

 

Sending good thoughts that you can find a food that he likes!

[carronstar]

Aquitaine has been dealing with this for 16-18 months now. We are still on the Azotemia side of the scale, not crossing over to the Uremia side and I am fighting that tooth and nail. She is on K/D and Purina N/F. She also gets dried liver treats since she has only 5 teeth at this point. She gets some Fresh Pet in her dinner several nights a week. I reached out to the company to check their phosphorous levels since they listed all the other levels on the package and they are within the acceptable range.

 

Her blood and chem levels have remained remarkably level this whole time. Her albumin is really low. That said, it was low 2 years before she was diagnosed so it does appear that she runs low in that area. I am not downplaying that, it is not a good thing, but until it dips below its long time "normal" rate, I try not to hyperventilate.

 

She is on a bucket load of supplements as well as some essential oils. Something, everything, we are doing is working. My vet is happy and her specialist commented at her last blood test that he was surprised she was still here. He isn't callous, we had a bad dental emergency in August where she managed to not only get an abscess, but the roots of that tooth wrapped around a vein and she hemmoraghed quite badly and had to have a complicated dental surgery as well as some teeth removed.

 

I don't know about Renal Advanced or Renal Essentials but I plan to look into them. My girl is on - among other things - COQ10, Fish Oil, Rhemannia, Raspberry Powder, Cranberry Powder (as a preventative), Zantac (following splenectomy 2 years ago), Coconut Oil, Denamarin.

 

My girl will be 11 in March.

 

After my initial panic, I did learn that this can be managed. As my vet said when I told him I was going to fight this as hard as possible, we can't cure it but we can hold it back for as long as possible. She doesn't seem to be aware that there is any problem at all so I do my level best to take my cues from her and act as though everything is just as it should be.

[duncan41]

First, I am sorry that your boy has been dx'd with kidney disease. If you can, please get a copy of his last blood work and urinalysis and post the results to this thread. "Kidney disease" is a very generic term for many things that can be going wrong. Lorinda (3DogNite), Carron (Carronstar) and I all have/had dogs with the same type of kidney disease (there are different types) yet all three dogs have/had different manifestations necessitating different treatments. Prescription kidney "food" isn't a "one size fits all" solution.

 

"Optimal Nutrition" by Monica Segal contains home made diets for kidney disease and she also has a website with more information and consulting. Dr. Rebecca Remillard (petdiets.com) is excellent. All the other recommendations are good and there are a host of others. Again, diet modifications depend on the type of kidney disease and the documentation of blood test results and urinalysis done over time - once a month for three months - as recommended by Dr. Remillard. Those results will establish a baseline and make sure that there isn't something else going on, or lab errors or just a one time fluke.

 

If I was facing the same situation with a 13 year old, (my dog was only 7.5 when dx'd), and knowing what I know now, I would have to take a step back and ask myself if it would be good for him to make dramatic dietary changes at this stage of his life. Food, shelter and you are his basic wants in life. I would want to look at other treatment options (and there are a ton of them out there that do not fall under traditional veterinary medicine protocol) before causing him the distress of a diet change that he obviously dislikes.

 

Maybe Lorinda will chime in with some words of wisdom.

[Burpdog]

At 13 I'd feed him what he wants. K/D is not a good food (smells like bunny farts) If you have to change his diet, go with a good senior food.

[3DogNite]

There are many ways to tackle Kidney Disease, I'm sorry you are dealing with this for your old Boy.

If you find the right combination, your dog could live out his days with a wonderful quality of life.

 

At the ripe age of 13,, I think I'd tend to feed my dog whatever he wants!

I did this even at the age of 5, when my boy collapsed from complications to PLN (type of kidney malfunction). I chose to add supplements, essential oils, prayer, acupuncture and traditional medications - all before i changed his diet! in fact the only thing i could get my boy to eat was Raw Hamburger. a Balanced diet - NO - but he kept weight on while we worked with the other issues.

 

My advise - for whatever it's worth

Keep your boy full and happy!!! Feed him what he loves. Give some supplements to support his kidneys and medications that your veterinary prescribes. He will enjoy life more on a full stomach!

 

My boy just had his 2 1/2yr check up - His blood work is almost perfect!! considering he came back from the dead - it's pretty amazing! He is happy and playful and I expect him to live FOREVER!!! he still eats WHATEVER he wants!!! He never went on a 'kidney' diet. he is a picky eater anyway, so as soon as i see him loose weight i start to worry.

 

But this is my story - you have to choose how you want your boy to live and I hope he will live forever!!

Good luck - keep asking questions - there are many of us, unfortunately who have had to watch our babies with this disease

 

lorinda - mom to Lazer the miracle boy and exlamation-mark abuser!

[Guest Alichou]

Thanks guys, I'm really enjoying reading all the great advice from experienced grey owners. He has been eating the kd soft ok so far (3 cans a day and i see no weight loss). I also sneak him a few snacks so he isn't missing out. I am waiting to talk to the vet today to find out the gravity of the test results, which I will post the values for on here. Dantes bloodwork was always perfect each year and his creatinine levels were always a bit higher than normal, and my vet knew greys were suppose to like that (he owns a mixed breed which is part greyhound). I'm definitely going to try some of the homemade meals and supplements. I'm sure I'll have a few more questions for all of you in the next few days as I'm doing a lot of research.

 

Ali

[3DogNite]

Great.. can't wait to hear/see what the blood values. sounds like you have it under control and are doing the very best you possibly can for your boy!

 

I'm glad you didn't get scared of with all of our posts: I was looking for your reply.

[Guest Alichou]

I will actually be talking to the vet tomorrow now as I missed his call. He did say in his voice message that last year Dantes creatine level was 149 and this time it is 250.

[Batmom]

Yeah, that is elevated. Not awful but not normal either. Didn't say what the BUN was, did he?

[Guest Alichou]

He didn't say. I talked to him again yesterday and he said it was more on the milder side at this time, however right now he has to be on the k/d strictly for a month. In a month's time we will be doing more bloodwork to determine the levels again. He seems to be doing ok on the k/d soft food. He is 77lbs and I'm feeding him 3.5 cans a day mixed with milled chia and a probiotic. If he gets finicky on the food, I will add in some kidney friendly options to encourage him to eat. As of right now he seems pretty normal, still eating, drinking etc. This last bloodwork also got me thinking about a few things. See back in Jan 2013, his bloodwork was great. In June he had to go on a few doses of meloxycam as he was experiencing some neck and shoulder pain. After we administered the meloxycam things changed as he had bad diarhea which took a really long time to get rid of (on and off antibiotics and probitotics to regulate). And now, whenever he is nervous at the vet, or panicked at all, he has horrible diarhea (that never happened until after the meloxycam). I'm wondering if those few doses (two doses in June and five doses in July) also affected his kidneys as I know it's not good for pets with kidney problems.

 

 

I will keep this string updated as we progress.

 

Ali

[SarahsBlackPack]

I'm sorry to hear your guy was diagnosed with Kidney disease. My 10 and half year old female was recently diagnosed with the early stages of Kidney disease. So I'm curious what people have to say.

[brandimom]

My gh Tawny (bridge baby had kidney disease years ago). I believe one of the reasons she lived longer than expected was acupuncture treatment on a regular basis. Acupuncture treatment has a jing and a yang that can provide oxygen to the kidneys. While she was receiving acupuncture treatment I had her levels checked routinely.

[duncan41]

Can you get a copy of the blood test results and a urinalysis, if possible? There are many forms and manifestations of kidney disease that go way beyond Creatinine.

 

Basing a decision to make such a dramatic change based on one value, one time may not be in Dante's best interest. I understand the concern to protect the health of a 13 year old, but in my experience, most Vets suggest prescription food because they don't know what else to do.

 

Perhaps this link will provide more information. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/low-protein-dog-foods/

[carronstar]

Can you get a copy of the blood test results and a urinalysis, if possible? There are many forms and manifestations of kidney disease that go way beyond Creatinine.

 

Basing a decision to make such a dramatic change based on one value, one time may not be in Dante's best interest. I understand the concern to protect the health of a 13 year old, but in my experience, most Vets suggest prescription food because they don't know what else to do.

 

Perhaps this link will provide more information. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/low-protein-dog-foods/

 

Agree completely.

 

I have to admit (and I am somehat ashamed of myself) that at Aquitaine's checkup following her dental surgery ordeal in August, the vet who did the surgery was agreeing with me that while her weight was fine, it was a tad low and in her situation, it wouldn't hurt to put a bit of weight on her. He then said that I would have to keep it low protein, at which point I just blew up and said that I wish they could all agree on the protein issue. Some say keep it low, some say keep it high/regular but of the best quality. And we poor pet parents are out here doing our darndest just to give our fur kids the best possible chance but could use some consensus! He did say that the protein/no-low protein continues to be an ongoing issue within the vet community.

[Guest Alichou]

I'll get a copy of the bloodwork and post it on here. I agree, it's all very confusing to me.

[Guest Alichou]

Hi guys,

So the BUN is 17.1 and the creatinine is 250. The urine concentration was a +3. Dante is doing ok on the canned kd and has bloodwork scheduled in a week (after that I may modify his diet). He wouldnt eat the soft kd alone, I had to put a spoonful of low sodium chicken broth in it for him to eat. He's also taking a probiotic, chia and glucosamine (glycofelx II). He seems normal other than the fact that he wets the bed a small bit at night now. The vet told me the glycoflex was ok for him take but im looking at the back of the bottle and it says in the analysis that the crude protein is 29% per tablet. He takes two tablets a day. Ive been giving him glucosamine and adequan injections for a while now due to arthritis, but im also a bit concerned that the analysis of the glycoflex is 29% a tablet. What do you guys think about this?

 

Thanks,

Ali

[Guest Alichou]

Hi guys,

 

Dante had his second round of bloodwork today and the creatinine level has jumped down to 187 (was 250). He's been off his regular meals of chicken and hard food (blue buffalo) for over a month now and on k/d soft food. We are now going to start trying some home prepared food that is kidney friendly (I got the Monical Segal book respecting kidney diets). I'm putting his bloodtest results below, so you can have a look.

 

Patient Info: Hospital: Lab:

Name:

 

 

 

Tes

Results Adult Reference Range L Normal H

Superchem

Total Protein 61

Albumin 33

Globulin 28

A/G Ratio 1.2

AST(SGOT) 27

ALT(SGPT) 43

Alk Phosphatase 37

GGTP 3

Bilirubin,Total 3.2

BUN 4.8

Creatinine 187 HIGH

Bun/Creatinine Ratio 26 Ratio

Phosphorus 0.92

Glucose 5.2

Calcium 2.45

Magnesium 0.7

Sodium 145

Potassium 4.5

Sodium/Potassium Ratio 32

Chloride 113

Cholesterol 7.36

Triglycerides 1.54

Amylase 549

Lipase 345

CPK 130

Comment(s)

Lipemia 1+ No significant interference.

Page 1 of 3

Accession No.

 

 

Results Adult Reference Range L Normal H

Complete Blood Count

WBC 4.3

 

RBC 7.9

Hemoglobin 193.0

Hematocrit 56

MCV 71

MCH 24.4

MCHC 345

Platelet Count 178

Platelet Estimate Adequate

 

Differential Absolute %

Neutrophils 2.71 63

Lymphs 1.20 28

Monocytes 0.34 8

Eosinophils 0.00 0

Basophils 0.04 1

 

T4

T4 12

The Total T4 result is less than 13 nmol/L. A Free-T4 by equilibrium dialysis may be helpful in supporting the diagnosis of

hypothyroidism in patients demonstrating clinical signs compatible with hypothyroidism.Please use test code 40283 for this

additional testing.

 

Urinalysis

Collection Method

Cystocentesis

Color Yellow

Appearance Clear *Clear

Specific Gravity 1.010 LOW

pH 6.0

Protein Trace Neg

Microalbuminuria testing is recommended (if sediment is inactive) to help determine the clinical significance of proteinuria.

Glucose Negative

Ketone Negative

Bilirubin Negative

Blood 3+ Neg

WBC 0-1 0-3 HPF

Results Adult Reference Range L Normal H

RBC 21-50 HIGH

Casts None Seen

Crystals None Seen

Bacteria None Seen

Epithelia None Seen

Culture, Urine (Pending)