Chronic Renal Failure

[Archie07]

Just want to hear from those who have had/ have dogs with this disease?

My 10 year old has it, I've only had her a year. She's on a special renal diet food and one tablet of fortekor with her dinner.
She's still her usual happy bouncy self, eating and general health is good. She wee's and drinks a lot because of the condition and a recent urine and blood test shows her kidneys have deteriorated further since the last set of tests a year ago.
I just want to know if there's anything else I can do, give or feed her to help? It's chronic therefore there is no cure but I care for her a great deal and I just want to look after her as best I can for as long as she's happy.

Any experience/ advice appreciated.

 

[stargirl88]

This is what we lost our old dog to earlier this year.

There are all sorts of claims on the internet for alternative therapies but I'm not so sure!

The best known way to manage it is via the diet. Food-wise.... Look at the quality of the protein. It should be from a good source and not a high quantity. TBH although the protein levels in the food designed for renal failure were low, I still didbt feed it. There was still alot of crap in it - which defeats the point!

Our dog was so far gone though , we just fed him a good senior diet (he was a foodie, would've hated the special diets) and just kept him happy. I read a whole stack of stuff on the internet about herbs and other such ideas but there is no evidence to support any of it.

Not really been much use, Im just going down memory lane! I'm sorry that your dog has been diagnosed with it its difficult when you know that there is nothing you can do to reverse it xx

 

[Archie07]

Thanks. She was literally diagnosed with it one week after I got her, however she's here to stay and all I want to make sure is she enjoys her golden years!

I'm wondering what are good things to feed her as treats?

 

[Alexart]

It sounds like you're doing all the right things, as it is chronic and fatal all you can do is make sure their last years/months are happy and they're well loved, i've lost cats and my grandpa to chronic renal failure so not much you can do tbh, but a lower protein diet will help delay things a little and take some of the strain off the kidneys. At least you have a diagnosis and can prepare for things to come, treat wise - whatever they want really once it is at the chronic stage.