My Dog Pip is an Angel 08.30.13...

[pgcor]

Re: Pip's Story

I never thought I would be posting this question, but Pip refused to eat this morning.

If this was ANY other dog, I wouldn't panic, but he eats like a pig. When he was eating kibble I had to put a ball in the dish to try and slow him down. As some know, he's eaten his squirrel kills, whole.

First, I hand fed him until he would take no more food. I gave him 1/2 the insulin dose. My husband is home all day with him.

I brought all my books to work with me to try and figure out what might be wrong. His eye is much better since his second procedure and is fully open. So, I would be surprised if pain in the eye were the problem. In any case he has a follow up visit to the eye doctor tomorrow.

I read about kidney problems, and I have noticed he pees more in his male wrap (diaper). But he has had ups and downs with that, especially if he's hostile toward our other dog. He tries to mark everywhere.

A couple of weeks ago, he had a little bout of this "loss of appetite", but after a few minutes of staring at it, he ate all of it.

I haven't been able to come up with any issues other than pain or kidney problems that could cause his lack of appetite.

I'm not sure what to do? Would a blood workup show kidney problems? I think BUN/CREA is the marker correct?

If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks a bunch!!!!!!

[We Hope]

Re: Pip's Story

Pam,

I would try for a Chem 21/Full Panel blood workup when Pip's at the vet tomorrow because it should tell you if there's any kidney function problems and anything else that might need taking care of.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/what-do...s-2/page1.aspx

HTH!

Kathy

[k9diabetes]

Re: Pip's Story

I too would start with a blood panel and a physical exam - and have the vet take a look at the teeth and mouth.

Natalie

[pgcor]

Re: Pip's Story

Well, the eye still isn't healed More drops. The eye specialist said it takes time when you can't use steroid drops. I don't remember it taking this long the last time. But maybe I'm just anxious. Plus, there are so many drops I have a list made out on the cabinet. I can't remember anything anymore!

Pip still needs coaxing to eat, which really bothers me. We have a vet appointment for 9AM on Saturday. Maybe his eye hurts more than he lets on. I've heard that it's natural in dogs to hide illness or injury as it could kill them in the wild.

Will check his blood, teeth and mouth. Thanks Natalie and Kathy! Everything written down for Satuday!

Thanks for checking in on us Margaret and Dolly. Margaret, I'm sending good thoughts your way - I just know the surgery will go well! If I can do all the drops so can you!

[Margaret Boyle]

Re: Pip's Story

Thanks for your kind thoughts Pam.

I do hope Pip begins to feel better as it is a worry when they are not at themselves. It is marvellous how everyone knows their own dog's habits.

You just seem to know when they are not so good.

Try not to worry Pam i am sure his eye will heal it may take that bit longer but
he willget there

Hugs to you both.

[pgcor]

Re: Pip's Story

I just received a message from our Vet regarding Pip's blood work and urinalysis. While I don't have any numbers yet, she just said his kidney tests were normal, urine was properly concentrated so she know the kidneys are working. The only value that is different is the liver value or values. She didn't say which ones or by how much they are off normal. She wants to discuss that with us on Monday.

Pip has had a rough couple of months trying to get re-regulated and I'm hoping that his liver values may only be temporarily elevated due to that.

I guess i'll have to wait until Monday. Did I mention how much I hate diabetes lately? If not, let me reiterate that now.

[k9diabetes]

Re: Pip's Story

I hope it's just the "diabetes" elevations and not something more serious. I'll be looking for news on Monday.

Natalie

[k9diabetes]

Re: Pip's Story

You and Pip have really had a time of it lately. I don't know if Pip's had to wear the cone all this time but when Chris had to wear it for a long time we were getting really stressed and discouraged because it made him so miserable. We just about opted to take that eye out since he couldn't use it anyway as at least he wouldn't have to wear the cone any more.

I say cut yourself some slack on his regulation. He's had a lot going on and that's going to screw up his blood sugar. It's okay to get what you can get with the blood sugar even if it's not exactly what you want.

Natalie

[forloveofandy]

Re: Pip's Story

Pam just catching up on all this with our Pip.
I will be checking on Monday for more details.

I know what you mean about lack of appetite. This would scare me too since Andy would sooner chew his own leg off than miss a meal.

I will look in on Monday. Give that boy a big hug from us.

[pgcor]

Re: Pip's Story

Thanks for checking on us! Anne, I'm glad to see that you've gotten to the bottom of Andy's allergy problems! That's a big sigh of relief.

Talked with our Vet today and these are the levels she's concerned with:

ALKP 340 (range is 10 - 150)
ALT is 201 (range is 5 - 107)
AST is 61 (range is 5 - 55)

She did run the specific pancreatitis test but is treating Pip as though he has it. We are to give him Clavamox and check back with her on Friday and Monday. He was vomitting throughout the weekend, so she's hoping this will help.

His BUN/UREA was also high at 38 (range is 7-27). But she didn't think this marker was anything to be concerned with. But, if I'm not mistaken...I was told that if the PHOS is high than he is getting too much protein. His PHOA was 6.1 (with a range of 2.1 - 6.3). This is normal, but higher than the last time his blood was drawn.

I did not see these results until I got home from work so haven't asked her about it yet...

If Pip is not better by Monday she is recommending an ultrasound.

[pgcor]

Re: Pip's Story

Okay, I looked and looked and finally found where I got the phosphorus information from. My old friend Carla told me about that.

Does anyone know a good kidney supplement to add to his food or how to cut down on protein in his diet? What do I replace it with?

I'm getting so old it's hard to remember what I've learned and now who I learned it from!

If anyone knows, I would appreciate it!

[forloveofandy]

Re: Pip's Story

Pam how is Pip now? Is he still throwing up? Is it ok to give him some Pepcid AC? I remember a discussion with Carla about restricting protein because of kidney issues. She said it was not quantity but quality of the protein. We need to feed protein that is more digestible. I have Carla's email addy. I will send it to you in a private message.

This is an excerpt from Pet Education website.

Are high protein diets harmful to my dog's kidneys?

A. A rumor has been going around that high protein diets cause kidney disease. This rumor is false. High protein pet foods are NOT harmful to a normal animal's kidneys. As an animal's body digests and metabolizes protein, nitrogen is released as a by-product. The excess nitrogen is excreted by the kidneys. A high protein diet produces more nitrogen by-products and the kidneys simply excrete the nitrogen in the urine. While you may think this would 'overwork' the kidneys and lead to possible kidney damage, this is not true. The kidney's filtering capabilities are so great that even one kidney is sufficient to sustain a normal life. There are many pets - and humans - living perfectly healthy lives with just one kidney.
The myth that high protein diets are harmful to kidneys probably started because, in the past, patients with kidney disease were commonly placed on low protein (and thus low nitrogen) diets. Now, we often put them on a diet that is not necessarily very low in protein, but contains protein that is more digestible so there are fewer nitrogen by-products. These diet changes are made merely because damaged kidneys may not be able to handle the excess nitrogen efficiently. In pets with existing kidney problems, nitrogen can become too high in the bloodstream, which can harm other tissues.

Unless your veterinarian has told you your pet has a kidney problem and it is severe enough to adjust the protein intake, you can feed your pet a high protein diet without worrying about 'damaging' or 'stressing' your pet's kidneys. Also, you are not 'saving' your pet's kidneys by feeding a low protein diet.

[forloveofandy]

Re: Pip's Story

Darn I could not find her private email addy. Must have deleted my old messages. You could send her a message on Yuku. Just click on one of her old posts. Not sure if she checks it anymore. I have not seen her in a long time.

[k9diabetes]

Re: Pip's Story

As long as the phosphorus is in the normal range, even though it's on the high end, I wouldn't worry about it. Normal means just that so should not be an issue.

Those values are not extremely high either... does she feel it's a serious problem?

Chris' AlkP was around 250 just from his diabetes when he was first diagnosed and poorly controlled. Once his regulation improved, it came down into the normal range.

And his Bun/Urea in 2008 was 32-34 for a while in 2007-2008. At one point his BUN was 55. This was after an injection of Lasix.

They weren't particularly concerned about his kidney function since his urine was properly concentrated. The more we used Lasix, the diuretic for his heart disease, the worse his kidney values got. So we went to using it only sporadically if he was coughing and his kidney values improved.

I don't believe that any of these values are severely elevated.

How is he doing now?

Natalie

[pgcor]

Re: Pip's Story

Hi Natalie and Anne - Thanks for your responses!!!!!

I didn't want to contact Carla as I think she's quite busy with her practice now. Not much on line. We talked several months ago about a possible kidney supplement if his phosphorus levels kept rising. But Natalie, the Vet doesn't think there's an issue with his kidneys. She said what you said - the urine was properly concentrated. I just don't like those numbers consistently increasing.

The liver values took me by surprise as Pip has not had any issues with those since we added Sam-e to his diet. The Vet said we needed to watch those values - and to call her today and Monday and let her know how Pip is doing.

Pip hasn't thrown up since being on Clavamox, but he keeps waking me at around 3:30 to go outside. He urinates and then eats grass - so I think he still feels a little sick.

Having said that though - for some reason his face and general demeanor make me think he feels better. Just a feeling.