MY DOG WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH RENAL FAILURE. WHAT DO I DO?
1. Get a copy of your dog�s blood work from the vet. BE SURE TO GET THE NORMAL VALUES FOR THE LAB THAT WAS USED.
Critical �renal� numbers are:
BUN Creatinine Phosphorus Calcium Protein RBCs Hemocrit Sodium Potassium Urinalysis - including specific gravity, protein, bacteria, blood, glucose Any other labwork that was done
2. Chances are your dog�s levels are all elevated. Speak to your vet about subcutaneous fluid administration immediately. This is something you can do at home and will help your dog immensely. The fluid used depends on the lab values; your vet should decide which subcutaneous fluid to use. This will require a prescription for: the fluids, the needles, and the tubing. *NOTE: You can purchase from your vet, but there are online suppliers who are much more economical. You WILL need to fax or mail your prescription (script) to these pharmacy/suppliers, but using these resources will save you a LOT of $$$$$.
3. Supplements: Go to a health food store (get human vitamins - they have much better quality and variety and are much more economical):
Vitamin C Multi-B Fish Oil (with the highest amount of DHA/EPA you can find) (do NOT get cod liver oil - you do not want anything with extra Vitamins A & D). Vitamin E Phosphorus Binder: If your dog�s phosphorus levels are elevated you will need to get a phosphate binder. This is given either WITH your dog�s food OR immediately afterwards. The premise of giving a phosphorus binder is that it adheres to the extra phosphorus in the food, binding it so it does not go into your dog�s body, exacerbating an already elevated phosphorus level. It is very important to keep the phosphorus level within normal range, as elevated phosphorus level will cause your dog to get very ill, very fast. (See �files� section for more information about phosphorus). Some commonly used phosphate binders are:Alternagel (aluminum hydroxide) (non-script) Alum-Caps (aluminum hydroxide) (non-script) Phoslo (by script, a calcium acetate binder) Renagel (by script, a non-aluminum/non-calcium binder - expensive and relatively new on the market; not much is yet known about side-effects)
4. Ulcers/Nausea: Many renal dogs develop ulcers. Pepcid A/C or Tagament are given about a � hour before eating (or some just dose their dogs once or twice a day as needed). If your dog is not getting any relief using the Pepcid or Tagament, ask your vet for a script for Carafate (liquid). Carafate coats the stomach, cuts down the acid and helps heal ulcers. Reglan or another type of anti-nausea medication may also help.
5. Dietary Modification. Chances are your vet has given you a bag of Hills KD or some other type of renal diet. There are various renal foods on the market (Eukanuba, Waltham, Triumph) - you are not limited to just the one brand. You may also want to do a homecooked or other diet with your renal dog instead. Renal dogs become very picky in what they will eat (especially if they are nauseous). This will be on-going. But while it�s important to get your renal dog on a lower protein/lower phosphorus diet, it�s more important that he EATS. If your dog is not eating, then anything goes� give him ANYTHING that he will eat at this point (of course try to keep it healthy for him, but sometimes they just want what they want and that is it).
6. High Blood Pressure: If your vet did not do it, insist on a blood pressure check. Many renal dogs have high blood pressure and meds may be needed to get this under control.
7. Anemia: Renal dogs become anemic. Sometimes adding the B vitamins and an iron supplement will help. Epogen is a human treatment that sometimes works on dogs, but only for a limited time before the dog�s body rejects it. Once the dog�s body has generated antibodies to Epogen, however, it can cause anemia to return and become worse, a type of �rebound� effect as the dog�s immune system fights the epogen and any intrinsic erythropoeitin of his own.
Cornell is conducting an experiment/study right now on a �canine� version of Epogen. It may be worth your while to contact them.