kidney failure

[blue toon]

hi could anyone help i have a 14 year old jack russell i have just been told that shehas kidney failure they could take her in and put her on a drip but no garantees it will work.dont want to put her through all that stress she gets all woried and upset when she goes to the vet and she would have to stay in for 2 days.or they can put her on steroid injections and change her diet,so thats what i opt for.most of the time shes quite bright and lively and sometimes quiet and her stomach gets quite gurgley the question i want to know .is there anything i can give her to settle her stomach discomfort and make her more comfortable without upsetting her kidneys.she had her first steroid last weds and she is eating better but dont know how long we will have her for.

[cruella]

Hi blue toon
I am so sorry to hear about your Jack Russell.
Afraid I cannot help, but I do agree that you are doing the right thing. Think I would be going down the same road as yourself.
As long as she is eating, but probably drinking too much I would have thought, but we all try to do the best for our animals.
Hope she is okay.
Wishing you both all the best.
Keep us up to date.
Maybe a light diet would help.
I am sure there is someone on here who will give you great advice.

[lankeela]

My oldest Heeler is fifteen and a half and has been on steroid tablets (prednisolone) for about 18 months now.
They do make her want to eat all the time and although drinking a lot is a sign of kidney damage, the steroids also make her drink loads. She is happy enough in herself and goes for a walk with the others, although she just potters about behind us. I put a quilted coat on her in the cold weather as she does not run around like the young 'uns. She too has a gurgley tummy sometimes and also coughs quite violently on occasions. It is a case of one day at a time, and when her quality of life becomes too poor I shall let her go with dignity - better a day too soon than a minute too late. I am sure you will know when the time has come to say goodbye, until then make the most of every day, and give her a cuddle from me.

[fairkatrina]

Please take her to the vet's. Kidney failure is the biggest killer of older dogs, and the longer you leave it the more likely it will be incurable. In some instances it can be cured totally (if the kidneys have shut down as a result of an infection etc) or managed through tablets and dialysis. I lost my whippet/collie X to kidney failure last year, he was only 8 and went very suddenly. At the vet's they would put her on dialysis which will help clean the blood and give the kidneys a break, and has been proven very effective.

[lankeela]

I am sure she is aalready under the vet, as she is on steroid injections.

Also she is 14 years old, so any treatment is going to be a short term consideration, just to keep her comfortable. I doubt it the vet would be considering dialysis in this case.

[lovelylea]

Hi try using Famotidine 10mg 1 pill once a day for voimiting, you can get it at your vets or over the counter. good luck.

[cloggs]

You are right not to stress her, you know her best and she is looking to you to save her from suffering. We lost our terrier at that age through kidney failure after messing about trying to save him. He was well looked after all his life and we thought it couldn't happen like that, but I think he wanted to go three weeks before we eventually let him. Be strong and she will thank you.