Stanley (lab) has acute renal failure - help !

Shysmum

Shysmum

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:(:(:(

My beloved lab (one year old neutered male) has just come out of the vet hospital after a week, where he was diagnosed as having had an attack of acute renal infection. This has followed a very nasty toe infection, and the vet thinks that the infection has travelled to his kidneys and caused them to start shutting down.

His symptoms so far have been - severely infected toe (infection travelled via claw), vomiting, not eating or drinking, depression and just "not stanley at all ". He saw the vet three times before he was admitted, at first working on the basis that the toe could be broken as he was on three paws. Until he was admitted for xrays - then it was clear that the toe was badly infected.

I will try and put a photo on of the toe, but it seems to be pretty irrelevant given that this infection has now travelled to his kidneys, and the toe itself is healing. The vet said he has only seen this happen in one other lab, and has asked us where he came from.

I don't understand the blood issues, other than one reading was 850, now down to 650, and should be at about 50 (not much help, sorry). We were told two days ago that a prognosis couldn't be given at this stage, and although home, he is certainly one very ill dog - now on Baytrill, drinking some water. eating a bit of chicken and rice, but tried to make himself sick earlier eating grass (stopped straight away !). Wearing a lampshade to stop him licking his toe. Very sad to see him like this - we are distraught. Is there anything else we can do to help him ?

Would be so very grateful for any advice...our vet has been fantastic, but any opinions or suggestions most welcome.

Thanks so much ! Sorry so long... Photo of my boy -


stan.jpg
 
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He is a stunning boy. Vet says it may take many months for him to heal. He's just managed some chicken with difficulty (keeps spitting bits out)... ho hum....
 
He may be urinating and drinking alot........ with kidney damage this is totally normal please keep providing him with the water he needs (dogs drink the right amount to rehydrate themselves!) as if you withdraw it he will be really dehydrated v quickly (sounds stupid but some owners do it coz they dont like them urinating a lot!!!

Keep offering food, you will notice when he is picking up as he will start to eat again. :) Is the chicken warm? as the smell can often make them want to eat it more?

What about buying the hills/Royal canin/purina medical diets for kidney failure/damage/compromised dogs....... these are also plain but also ahve the correct electrolyte balance to ensure minimal strain on the kidneys... not cheap but good!

and just keep giving him tlc!! if you want help with the bloods feel free to PM me the stuff you don't understand and I will see if I can help. or just say to your vet you don't understnad and ask them to talk through it with you.... Im sure they will be more than happy to!

hugs and vibes yours and his way!
 
Thanks so much ! he's been back to the vet this morning and had more bloods taken. The vet is pleased with his progress, albeit slow. The toe is healing up, and he is drinking (as much as we can encourage him to get down). the only food other than chicken he'll eat is ferret nuggets (a major treat usually).

He is peeing well but not the other. And so far he's lost 4 kilos (but that's quite good I suppose, lol). We are slowly getting our Stan back, but the vet confirmed that just a few hours longer, and he wouldn't have made it.

The vet did mention scarring on the kidneys - will this compromise him for life ?

Vet bill so far £600, think that's really good for the fab care he's had.

Tea and chocolate cake if you've got this far ;)
 
Aww that sounds good that he is returning to his normal self then! :)

Ye the kidneys have been damaged and so there will be scar tissue which will limit the kidneys function however, for an animal to be in kidney failure (basically where the kdiney cannot support the body) they need 70-75% of the kidney tissue to be lost (and i doubt his has been this severe! this is generally, in an acute case, from toxin ingestion or something similar... bacterial infections are chronic and take time to cause damage!) So although his kidneys will be limited they should be fine! :)

My mum only has one kidney and she is 100%! :)
 
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