Dear Dr. John,
My previous canine, 14, is nearing the tip of his life. Less than every week in the past, I sensed one thing was improper and took him to a veterinary hospital the place blood checks confirmed that his kidney values had been getting very unhealthy. My canine had values of BUN 92, Creat 5.6, and Phosphorous of seven.7. They admitted my canine and gave him fluids and anti-nausea treatment. The subsequent day the bloodwork was repeated, and the identical values had been 111, 7.3, and 9.5 respectively. I used to be instructed my canine had a poor prognosis and that I may take him residence for hospice and to offer him fluids and extra treatment for nausea. I introduced my canine residence to be comfy.
Yesterday, my very own vet repeated the bloodwork, and the identical values had been 158, 7.2, and 9.6. In July, the values had been 29, 1.4, and three.6. What ought to I do? My canine is consuming a low protein weight loss plan and doesn’t appear to behave that weak or irregular. Is kidney failure reversible? S.B.
Dear S.B.,
The typical therapy routine for all types of renal failure is infusing the affected person with fluids to flush the kidneys, low protein diets to assist decrease the workload of the kidneys, and numerous dietary supplements to enhance kidney operate if relevant. What you need to do is precisely what you’re doing in giving fluids presumably subcutaneously, anti-nausea treatment, and a low protein weight loss plan. Keep him joyful and cozy. Normal BUN is 6-30, Creat 0.5-1.5, and Phosphorous 2.5-5.6.
Renal failure could be reversible relying on the trigger, age of the canine, how lengthy it has continued, and plenty of different components. In his case, it seems fairly clear that the important thing indicator values are going within the improper route daily and that issues are solely getting worse.
No veterinarian, myself included, can provide you a timeline however I believe that, given the values, your canine’s lifetime could be very restricted. Clearly you’ve gotten executed all you can for him so get pleasure from this time collectively. You will know when his time is up as he’ll seemingly turn into weak and torpid, appear uncoordinated or disoriented, lose his urge for food, have pale gums, and fail to thrive. Good luck at this tough time.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He could be reached at 781-899-9994.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”