Puppy update.. any vets in here?

niknak1128

Took my Sam to his vet appt. tonight. He's lost 11lbs since his last visit just over a week ago.  Although, I have only noticed him not eating the last two days.  He had a fever today.. higher than it was last time.  They drew his blood.. liver is ok.. or almost ok.  Kidney levels are bad.  BUN is at 78.  Crit is at 2.9.  Basically, the vet said that he's in early kidney failure and once his BUN levels get to 100 he will start throwing up and we should keep him comfortable and make a decision.  

he offered admitting him and doing iv anti-biotics and fluids and he said it would most likely help but we'll spend $600-$700 and he'll go right back to where he is once he's off.  He said he doesn't think there's an ulcer so he doesn't think there's any point in doing any other testing. He said we could send out for a CVC blood panel but he has never seen a dog come back when crit levels are at 2.9.  

He said he's not in pain. So we can keep him home until whenever we want to.  I totally lost it. I mean it's one thing to talk about your dog possibly being that sick but when they actually tell you that he IS that sick.. it hit me like a ton of bricks. I just bawled in the vet's office.

Get home and DH is being a prick about it.  He loves dogs but he doesn't get attached like I do. He's sad and wishes he was ok but he's not like I am. 

My mom is at the airport with a vet friend of hers and that vet said to do an xray and get a 2nd opinion.. that the levels are barely above normal??  Any opinions? (DH is totally against it by the way)  

Gregermis

My heart goes out to you.  I am no help, but I definitely get attached and can't imagine having to go through this!!  Sounds like the x-ray couldn't hurt, and a second opinion never does either.  Fx they find something fixable

pb&fluff

My concern is why aren't they doing anything to find the REASON for the renal failure.  In humans, creatinine is around 1.2 (at the highest).  At that point, his kidney function is probably at about 50%.  Not sure about dogs, but I'd imagine they're about the same.  Renal failure can be acute or chronic, and it doesn't seem like your dog has chronic renal failure, it appears pretty acute to me.  If they can figure out WHY Sammy's kidneys are failing, they can fix it.  And if they can't, at least you have an answer.  ARF (acute renal failure) is often reversible, depending on the amount of damage done.

Please find a second opinion.  If you do, and they say the same thing, then you've done the very best you can by Sammy.  If not, you'll always wonder if you could have done something to help him.

I'm not a vet, but I'm a nurse.  Those are my medical opinions based on what I know for humans. 

niknak1128

The vet said that normal crit for dogs is 1.6 and BUN is like something up to 25. over 3 weeks ago.. his BUN was at 51. It was at 57 a week and a half ago and now it's at 78.  

Initially, he thought he had a bad infection that was affecting his liver and kidneys. So he was on 3 weeks of anti-biotics. His liver went back down but his kidney never did.. just got worse.  He sent some labs out to test for lepto.. 5 strains.. all came back negative. He did fecal samples.. all negative for parasites.  

The weird thing to me is that I've heard with kidney failure that animals just keep drinking and drinking and drinking. He's not doing that. If it rains, he will sit under the house and let the roof just drip all over him and come in the house soaked. When we shower, he's sticking his head under the water and drinking it. But I cannot for the life of me get him to drink water out of a dish. I give him his own special bowl with fresh water in it and he'll smell it and walk away. But then he wants to drink out of the toilet??  

pinktrojanbride120107

I have no insight, but wanted to offer a big *hug*. I'm so sorry.

JuddandJessica

First, I am so sorry. Dogs are family members and I really feel for you.

Do you have a veterinary hospital/ teaching hospital/ clinic near by? When Lucy has been really sick we've skipped her normal vet and gone to a veterinary hospital. Like a real hospital, you can get second opinions and doctors with other areas of speciality quickly. We live near a university with a vet hospital and I've always been more than thrilled with them.

tracyfromnh

I'm so sorry, I am EXTREMELY attached to my animals as well.  Probably 8 or 9 years ago we changed our cats food to purina indoor cat formula, and one of my cats fell ill, very very ill.  We thought he was going to die, he was limp and had these strange sores all over the place.  It took probably 6 weeks to figure it out, once our vet gave up, said he had no idea what to do next I found an alergy specialist for animals, grasping at straws, finally it ended up being the food.  It just took another Dr to ask different questions and think of different tests to do.  Maybe it's time to at least make a phone call to different vets and see what they have to say.   I'm very happy to say that little kitty is sitting on my lap right now at the ripe age of 14.5!   ((Hugs)) for both you and Sammy.

behapy2day

Did they end up doing any xrays or an unltrasound of the kidneys? I know they hadnt as of your last post. I asked a knowledgeable friend and she said kidney stones can occur in dogs and if large enough can block urine flow, and cause acute renal failure. It can be chronic if the stone(s) are not removed.

niknak1128

Nope. I asked the vet about ultrasound and xrays and he said he didn't think it would matter. He felt that he had early failure and that he likely would not get better.  I don't know if I just call another vet and go through the symptoms and tests that have already been done and ask advice or what?  I mean we've spent $630 already.. I don't have any more money this pay period to put toward it.. I just can't.. I have to pay preschool and bills and etc.  But my mom said she would cover it if we can't..  which isn't an awesome option but it's an option at least.. 

bananers

niknak1128:

Nope. I asked the vet about ultrasound and xrays and he said he didn't think it would matter. He felt that he had early failure and that he likely would not get better.  I don't know if I just call another vet and go through the symptoms and tests that have already been done and ask advice or what?  I mean we've spent $630 already.. I don't have any more money this pay period to put toward it.. I just can't.. I have to pay preschool and bills and etc.  But my mom said she would cover it if we can't..  which isn't an awesome option but it's an option at least.. 

You shouldn't have to redo the same tests. Get his file and lab results and take it to a new vet. As a pp mentioned, the fact that they don't seem to be offering any explanation as to why he's in renal failure is concerning. I think you owe it to him to seek a second opinion, and if they tell you the same, you'll know you've done all you can for him. ((hugs))