old geriatric e-dog

April 1, 2007

Old e-dog is really aging fast and I have been trying to deny this to myself.  She is at least 15.5 years old in human years  and I just want to make sure I am not attributing her fairly recent health changes to old age rather than something that is treatable.  She doesn’t exhibit any signs of pain but she is pretty deaf, can’t see that well, has little bladder or bowel control, etc.  Certainly her kidneys are not working very well and she is probably in the beginning stages of renal failure.  I know as soon as I bring her to a vet (which she hates and stresses her out) there will be all sorts of investigative tests, etc.  to rule out factors other than old age.  Today, for the first time, I did a google on old dogs and what to expect and what is normal in terms of their functioning.  The below references are helpful and we will put her on the renal support diet mentioned and see if that helps (in the short term anyway).  Poor old dear. 

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog." - Sydney Jeanne Seward

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1650&articleid=614

below description and recipes from http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/reviews/kidney-disease-in-dogs.html

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs

  • drinking excess amounts of water
  • frequent urination
  • dilute urine with little color or order
  • leakage of urine
  • vomiting
  • weight loss
  • anorexia
  • lethargy
  • muscle weakness
  • elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine
  • significant protein in the urine

Treatment of Kidney Disease in Dogs

Treatments for the symptoms of kidney disease in dogs include a low protein and low phosphorus prescription diet. The predominant effect of the low protein diet is to minimize production of uremic toxins so that the dog with kidney disease feels better. Low protein diets may help extend life in dogs with kidney disease.

Phosphorus is more important in this regard, since high phosphorus accelerates renal failure, and restricted phosphorus slows it down. K/D is low in phosphorus, so it remains a good food for dogs with kidney disease in this condition. In addition to diet, IV fluids can be administered to correct disturbances created by the retention of uremic toxins. Epogen can be prescribed to treat the anemia of chronic renal failure, resulting in improving the quality, and probably the length of life.

Kidney dialysis for dogs is offered at several veterinary medical sites. The University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical School is performing kidney transplants, but transplanted kidneys in dogs are commonly rejected, and involve an extraordinary expense and commitment. UC Davis will only do a renal transplant if the red cell cross matching and blood type is a perfect match. and if the tissue typing is also a perfect match.

Recipes for Dogs with Kidney Disease

Dogs with kidney disease may be fed using the following renal diet recipes:

Recipe 1

1 egg, large, cooked
3 cups potato, boiled with skin
1 tablespoon chicken fat
1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 milligrams calcium)
1/2 mulitple-mineral tablet


Recipe 2

1/4 cup cooked chicken breast
3 cups potato, boiled with skin
2 tablespoons chicken fat
1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 milligrams calcium)
1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet

Recipe 3

Rice, white, cooked*** 237
Beef, regular, cooked + 78
Egg, large, boiled 20
Bread, white 50
Oil, vegetable 3
Calcium carbonate 1.5
Salt, iodized 0.5
Total 390

Recipe 4

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
6 Tblsps. low sodium, low fat chicken broth
1/2 cup cold water
1 cup cooked vegetable (green beans, carrots or mixed)

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