My 8 year old began last week drinking everything he could get his mouth on. Then the peeing started, tripled his frequency. Things got worse as the week finished up so I figured UTI. Took him in and nothing strange in his urine sample but it was pretty diluted since he was drinking so much. We did blood test and only things that came back elevated was red blood sell counts (9.8) and high Bun Urea results (which is normal in raw fed dogs) he was low in sodium and chloride. His ALP was low as well. First thing we thought was water intoxication. It has been very hot and he has been chasing the ATV. Trouble is it has been getting worse over the last 3 days. he is now peeing in the house, even though out at least 15 times a day. The urine stream is pulsating but there is volume. His energy level is fine and he is still eating. Anyone have a clue?
How high was the BUN, can you post the number and normal range from lab? Was creatinine elevated too? Also, what were potassium and calcium levels? Did the vet have any concerns with the results...my first thought was maybe reduced kidney function? Yet the urinalysis was normal? Did they check proteinuria levels? No chance your pup got into something that might make the kidneys work harder?
Bun was 22.0 and reference number is 2.5-9.6 mmol/L. Creatine was fine 148 normal was 44-159.Potassium was normal 3.9 normal is 3.5-5.8.Calcium was 2.72 normal 1.98-3.00.
Only thing I thought he got into was he was chasing me at the horse farm on ATV. When we got out of trails he was extremely thirsty. At the farm he laid in a dirty puddle, lots of feces and urine. He drank it for a couple seconds. This is all I can think about. He was definitely working hard and does not stop for water till after a few miles.
This happened to my old male one time, out of the blue 9 years old waking me up to take him to pee all night long. Urine very diluted but nothing else really the vet could find. I think I figured out he was eating some plant in the yard that was causing it, I am trying to remember.
Okay, that helps, BUN is high above normal, but you do raw feeding, plus stress of blood draw, and dehydration will cause elevated levels. Same with red blood cells (dehydration will affect the RBC count). The low sodium and chlorides sounds like an electrolyte imbalance, did the vet suggest maybe giving your pup some IV fluids for the dehydration? If not, might be worth asking, or you can try pedialyte for children (unflavoured). The extra peeing, and in the house, stumps me. Other than you mentioned it was super hot, and I recall with my older GSD, we'd get "leakage" when he drank a lot. Some plants can be toxic to dogs, it was a bit of a longshot asking if he got into something that might cause kidney issues, but I think the other blood levels being normal cancels out that possibility. Wish I could help more. I do feel getting the electrolytes back in balance might help overall, which may result in less drinking, then less peeing:fingerscrossed:
My first thought was diabetes - there are two types the one most know with the increase of blood sugar and another type: Water Diabetes in Dogs | petMD
Since your dog has low sodium, I'm wondering if you can add a little broth to your dog's water. Maybe ask the vet about that.
Our dog recently was diagnosed with urinary incontinence, but she only leaked her pee and didn't drink a lot, so I doubt if its related to that.
Hope everything gets figured out soon. It must be very frustrating.
Why ultrasound, GSDS AR? My old dog when this happened, it was probably less than 6 months till we lost him to a huge tumor in his abdomen that we didn't know was there at the time. don't know if there is possibly any correlation.
An ultrasound can look at the kidneys and adrenal glands. It can also see smaller cavitations or tumors. Can look at the Bol ducts and congestion in the liver. More sensitive than radiographs.
So we got second blood work back, his RBC had gone down to the upper side of normal 8.7 from 9.5 (normal5.4-8.7). His BUN decreased to 17.4 from 22 (normal 3.2-11) Creatinine down to 140 from 148 (normal 44-133) For urine test for protein was negative and colour was up to straw from clear gravity up from 6.5 to 1.09. This was a SDMA test and it came back at 19 (normal 0-14). Is it common for two labs to present different values for normal? The first lab said Creatinine normal was 44-159 mol/L and the second said 44-133mol/L. his results were 140 which is normal if you go by first lab.
So all these results have led me to believe Kidney disease. We are running one more test for Lepto. He has been vaccinated yearly for it but because he spends so much time at the farm around wild life there is always a small chance. I still go back to a few days before symptoms arose he laid in a large puddle by the horse barn after a severe rain storm and drank. God knows what was in that puddle. Rats is the number one thing I think of. there are rats in the barn of course and I know they are a carrier of Lepto.
Yes, different labs have different normal ranges, that's why it's good to post the lab result and normal range. The SDMA kidney test is new since I've dealt with kidney disease in my pets, but from what I understand, it is supposed to be more accurate than BUN and creatinine readings alone. But I wonder why the BUN and the creatinine have gone down since last blood test? Yes, BUN is still high. Urine specific gravity would be low if there was kidney disease. A value of 1.09 is high. Again, maybe a result of dehydration, but someone else mentioned diabetes... You'd have excessive drinking and peeing, and the specific gravity could be elevated due to that, might be worth asking the vet to check glucose levels? They might still have enough blood or urine from the recent samples to run it. Is your pup still drinking and peeing a lot? Any other symptoms? I don't know much about lepto other than the bacteria can affect kidney function, but it's worth ruling out. Hope things get sorted out for your pup soon.
Well an update. My big boys lepto test came back positive but for a strand that he was vaccinated against, so we are guessing there is a good chance the positive return has to do with the vaccination shot 8 weeks ago. His tongue and gum color has changed from cherry red to pale. Now I maybe sensitive because when I compare it to my other GSD it is very similar. He seems to be drinking less then 2 weeks ago but a little more then I can remember. He is peeing about normal. We had a urine test and his gravity was still very low (first pee of the morning). H is still active and eating fine. We are going to continue the antibiotics for another 2 weeks then do BW to test his kidneys. Anyone have any input. **** I hate worrying about dogs.
First and foremost: this sucks, and I'm sorry it is happening to your dog.
When did his gums get pale? IF HIS GUMS BECOMING PALE IS A RECENT CHANGE, ER VET NOW!!! Do not pass go, go spend $200(+). Pale gums are a late change that means nothing good. This is if his gums are actually pale. When it doubt, just go to the vet. Tell them he may be positive for lepto if you bring him to an ER, and try to bring all of the values you posted of his bloodowork and etc. That color change from cherry red (injected) to pale means the body is switching from one type of shock to another (first the body overcompensates, then it wears out and dying begins)
Consider these things as well...
Positive lepto: It may have been the vaccine, see what your vet thinks...but your dog was at risk for getting it (it is spread by urine of infected animals). It is both a infectious (to other animals) and a zoonotic disease (which means he can spead it to any people around him as well). Because of this, try to keep him isolated and be careful handling his urine - look up lepto and and PPE you would need (i suggest gloves, face shield, separate shoes, waterproof apron as a minimum). Research lepto! If you get it, you may think you have the flu and thn you are dealing with your own kidney failure and other lovely things.
Low specific gravity means the urine is not concentrated. This CAN indicate kidney disease - sick kidneys cannot concentrate urine.
Polyuria (peeing a lot) and polydipsia (Aka: PU/PD) tend to occur together with diabetes. Rule this out, as well as other more common endocrine disorders (such as Cushings).
Keep in close touch with your vet. I hope your boy recovers, or at least feels better
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