Finally, Some Good News From The Vet

This Chronic Renal Failure is a bear.  Especially in a pet since you can't really do Dialysis or a Kidney Transplant. 

On the other hand, sometimes you get a pleasant surprise.

Lettie was in the Vet's office for two days of fluid replenishment via IV.   When she first got there they did blood tests.  Her "Blood Urea Nitrogen" levels were three times higher than normal at 120.  

Today they were in Normal range of below 40. It wasn't even listed on the "Exception" report I saw.

She snapped back.

Of course it still takes me 30 minutes to under-feed the dog.  That's by her choice, not mine.  I'd give her cans of the stuff if she'd eat it.  My understanding is that there isn't a dog alive that likes "I/D" food.

So today I get to bake a can down to "Dog Food Jerky".  Slice the food down to under 1/4 inch thickness.  Roast at 350 until the thinnest pieces are crispy.

Only then will Lettie eat the damn stuff willingly.

That's what Chronic Renal Failure does.  It makes you have to eat food that you don't like.  At the end of it, you have to be forced to eat it.  One can is 10 syringes.  If it is roughly 700 calories per can, that's 70 calories a syringe - about 1 1/4 ounces each.  She should get 5 in the morning, 5 at night.

Last night I managed to get 4 into her and 3 this morning.

If you are reading this because you're researching feeding your older dog, that is why I am writing this down.  I'm also writing it down because I can be absent minded.

What happens is because the dog will starve themselves, literally, to death, you have to make allowances.   Push food at them.  When your dog is at the point that you are taking them in for IV Fluids, the gloves are off.

Today I got the following recommendation.   Since she's starving herself, the "Creatinine" levels are high.  That indicates that she is "eating" her muscle mass.   To reverse that, feed lean meats - raw or cooked.   Just make sure that if it is cooked, it is cooked without salt.  If it is raw, make sure that it is clean.

Cook the chicken, cooked or raw meat from pork or beef. 

Chicken bones only if they are uncooked - Personally I will avoid that due to the risk of salmonella.

So Mrs Dog gets another day or so at the spa.   It will buy her some more time.  Maybe a month, maybe more, maybe less.  We just don't know.

I strongly doubt I'll put her through this again.  Her demeanor is much less "fiesty" than she had been.  Right now, on day three, she seems to be much more passive, as if she's giving up.  This is an alpha dog, or a strong beta dog.   She's also very fearful.  So to see her personality just "flatten out" says a lot.

For now, my friend will be sleeping next to my bed.  She will be waking me up no doubt since they're
leaving the catheter in her leg and I'll have to keep the blue "Cone Of Shame" on her.

But for now, we're hopeful.