We did the full range of tick tests and they all came back negative. We did an ultrasound earlier today and the internist said that it looks like Wolfie has renal disease due to renal dysplasia (not formed properly) or poor vascularization (blood supply) in the uterus. This diagnosis is driven by the fact that Wolfie is only 6 months (his weight today was 53.7lbs). His urine is very dilute and he has been prescribed Azodyl, which is a new product to lower phosphorus and kidney values. The vet called it "dialysis on a pill". He is supposed to take 3 pills a day for the next 20 days to see if his urine gets any less dilute. Also, the internist suggested that we replace about one third of the protein in his food with either rice, pasta or veggies. I will start by giving him some beets, pumpkin and potatoes over the next few days. He has been on Proplan thus far as that is what he had been eating at the breeder's but I will switch him over to the holistic types food brands (I bought the Canine Caviar to start with). I fervently hope he likes that better as he has been turning away from Proplan completely these last few days.
Wolfie Update
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UConnGSD
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I just got a partial written report from Cornell. They changed Wolfie's diagnosis to Stage 3 Chronic Renal Failure... They are still actively pushing the K/D diet but my feeling is if he hates the food (which he clearly does) then why force him. Poor guy has enough problems without having to deal with bad food in a shortened life... The Cornell vet has also prescribed Welactin (a fatty acid supplement) which supposedly helps kidneys.
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I'm so sorry to hear this news
![Image]()
I don't know a lot about kidney disease, other than what I posted above -- about the spirulina and the 0-3.
It looks like the Welactin is a NutraMax product, which is a trusted company. I might look at the concentration on the bottle, and compare with some of the other 0-3 products out there.
http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/products/animal/wellness/wellness_welac.asp
FAQ: http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/products/animal/wellness/documents/WelactinDogBrochure.pdf
It says that it contains a higher amount of DHA -- I would be interested to see a label, which I haven't found yet. In kidney damage, I don't know if you want more EPA, DHA, or the same amounts.
Okay, found this: http://www.entirelypets.com/welactin1.html
So my two questions: what parts of the 0-3 are best for kidney disease (this one is higher in DHA, which typically benefits neurological function, the EPA typically suppresses inflammation better, kidneys, I dunno?) My second question is that this supplement appears to be only 27% O-3 -- I wonder if there is a more condensed product out there. I would think that folks on the kidney list (yahoo group) might have some good products, as do some folks here.
I did just read about the use of ginkgo in kidney disease from someone on another board. When I do a search, it appears that it is protective against a number of substances that are harmful to the kidneys, and I did find this: http://tinyurl.com/9fzwt9
I don't know if this has been posted yet, maybe it's helpful:
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html
I don't know a lot about kidney disease, other than what I posted above -- about the spirulina and the 0-3.
It looks like the Welactin is a NutraMax product, which is a trusted company. I might look at the concentration on the bottle, and compare with some of the other 0-3 products out there.
http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/products/animal/wellness/wellness_welac.asp
FAQ: http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/products/animal/wellness/documents/WelactinDogBrochure.pdf
It says that it contains a higher amount of DHA -- I would be interested to see a label, which I haven't found yet. In kidney damage, I don't know if you want more EPA, DHA, or the same amounts.
Okay, found this: http://www.entirelypets.com/welactin1.html
So my two questions: what parts of the 0-3 are best for kidney disease (this one is higher in DHA, which typically benefits neurological function, the EPA typically suppresses inflammation better, kidneys, I dunno?) My second question is that this supplement appears to be only 27% O-3 -- I wonder if there is a more condensed product out there. I would think that folks on the kidney list (yahoo group) might have some good products, as do some folks here.
I did just read about the use of ginkgo in kidney disease from someone on another board. When I do a search, it appears that it is protective against a number of substances that are harmful to the kidneys, and I did find this: http://tinyurl.com/9fzwt9
I don't know if this has been posted yet, maybe it's helpful:
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html
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Thank you, LisaT, for the suggestions. I will check them out. I will be starting Wolfie on the Liver Support supplement that you had mentioned earlier. I'm afraid to try too many things at once, not knowing how things will react.
No, doxycycline was not tried. We are maintaining close contact with Cornell however. They are going to do 2 more tests on Wolfie on Jan 30 -- a pyelocentesis (where they will take urine from his kidneys) and another where they use some form of a dye to track the bacteria (I know I am misrepresenting some of this -- they explained all this over the phone, but it was kind of hard to comprehend, given the prognosis I had just heard). Both of these require general anaesthesia. The objective is to get enough concentration of the bacteria to culture it in the lab to see what drugs respond best to it. Cornell said that they have seen many cases where the bacteria are hidden only in the kidneys and nowhere else in the urinary tract, making it hard to get a good concentration when doing a urine culture. It also makes the infection reappear over and over again as a result, which is what had been happening with Wolfie. I have made changes to Wolfie's diet -- rice and meat primarily (Canine Caviar or Wellness 95% or Instinct) and small portions of the Prairie kibble. I am consulting a Cornell nutritionist for a special home-made diet for Wolfie. He also gets multivitamins everyday.
No, doxycycline was not tried. We are maintaining close contact with Cornell however. They are going to do 2 more tests on Wolfie on Jan 30 -- a pyelocentesis (where they will take urine from his kidneys) and another where they use some form of a dye to track the bacteria (I know I am misrepresenting some of this -- they explained all this over the phone, but it was kind of hard to comprehend, given the prognosis I had just heard). Both of these require general anaesthesia. The objective is to get enough concentration of the bacteria to culture it in the lab to see what drugs respond best to it. Cornell said that they have seen many cases where the bacteria are hidden only in the kidneys and nowhere else in the urinary tract, making it hard to get a good concentration when doing a urine culture. It also makes the infection reappear over and over again as a result, which is what had been happening with Wolfie. I have made changes to Wolfie's diet -- rice and meat primarily (Canine Caviar or Wellness 95% or Instinct) and small portions of the Prairie kibble. I am consulting a Cornell nutritionist for a special home-made diet for Wolfie. He also gets multivitamins everyday.
My mom recently had a kidney infection (no previous symptoms of a bladder infection) and she ended up in the hospital with urosepsis. It turned out she had an e coli infection and it took trying 4 different antibiotic before they found the one that worked. We also gave her coconut milk which is good for natural electrolyte balance and has other good properties
We also had a corgi with a bladder tumor and he got chronic UTI's. when they cultured the urine they found the bacteria was resistant to most of the antibiotics. I think the ended up using baytril which cleared it up.
We also had a corgi with a bladder tumor and he got chronic UTI's. when they cultured the urine they found the bacteria was resistant to most of the antibiotics. I think the ended up using baytril which cleared it up.
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Did they discover the resistance when they cultured the urine or after actually having your corgi take the antibiotics for a while? In Wolfie's case, the infection seems to go away after administration of Clavamox and then it appears again after being off it for a week or so. The folks at Cornell think that the drug is not tissue-penetrating enough and that's why they want to do the pyelocentesis.
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Thank you, LisaT. By the way, the Liver Support Factors just arrived. I will start Wolfie on that from this evening. His weight is 62.5 lbs right now. I am thinking about 1/2 in the morning, 1/2 at night (same as your 75lb GSD). What do you think? Incidentally, Wolfie's calcium and potassium numbers were also high in his kidneys. Phosphorus was high too but the vet said that this could be because he is a young dog.Originally Posted By: LisaTKeep us posted on what they find -- sounds like you are doing everything that you can possibly do![Image]()
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I don't know enough about kidneys to be able to say much about those calcium and phosphorous levels. I've heard about the phosphorous and the young dog thing before though. High potassium? Isn't that one reason you might have thought he had Addison's originally, if I have that right? I don't know enough about it at all.
When are you going to recheck values?
I gave my boy 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening, but he was in the normal range (higher normal). You probably could go to a full capsule in the am and the pm. He could take a human dose.
When are you going to recheck values?
I gave my boy 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening, but he was in the normal range (higher normal). You probably could go to a full capsule in the am and the pm. He could take a human dose.
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Just caught the update and don't like it at all!
The reviews on this product are excellent. I have been very please with Vetri Science products and actually just ordered the similar renal product for my cat. http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Vetri-Science-Renal-Essentials-For-Dogs/125028.aspx
I found this on food. I would start adding in some of these things. I believe that Treats Unleashed does carry green tripe. If not they will order it for you.
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#diet
Hugs to you and your family.
The reviews on this product are excellent. I have been very please with Vetri Science products and actually just ordered the similar renal product for my cat. http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Vetri-Science-Renal-Essentials-For-Dogs/125028.aspx
I found this on food. I would start adding in some of these things. I believe that Treats Unleashed does carry green tripe. If not they will order it for you.
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#diet
Hugs to you and your family.
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Oh wow...Wolfie. Jeez.
Let me know if you want me to try to hook you up with two IMOM ladies-one has a Dalmatian (did I spell that right?) and another had a Rottweiler who had kidney issues. I am not sure if there is anything they could do to help, but it is nice to have support.
You go back at the end of the month?
Let me know if you want me to try to hook you up with two IMOM ladies-one has a Dalmatian (did I spell that right?) and another had a Rottweiler who had kidney issues. I am not sure if there is anything they could do to help, but it is nice to have support.
You go back at the end of the month?
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I have seen green tripe at Treats Unleashed -- didn't know about the benefits though. That dogaware article is great! Thinking about Wolfie's high potassium numbers -- I had been giving him bananas and pumpkin before Jan 5. I wonder if that might have unnaturally jacked up the numbers. I have stopped giving him those 2 foods since then. Thank you for your thoughts. As you can imagine, I was a complete mess for a couple of days after I heard the change in diagnosis. Had to change that attitude as Wolfie was getting affected by my moods.
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If you know anybody who has a dog with Chronic Renal Failure, I would really like to ask them what helped or didn't help with that problem, in their case. Especially, if they have a dog who is this young. We go back to Cornell on Jan 30 and Wolfie gets a urine culture done this afternoon at our local vet's place. That might affect what Cornell decides to do on Jan 30.
I don't know about those two food, but my parents had a corgi that we gave green beans to for extra treats. I told them to use frozen, but they got a bunch of canned greenbeans (which are loaded with sodium) This really screwed up his blood values and when they ran the blood a month later, everything was back to normal.
We had a rescue dog who was diagnosed with bilateral juvenile dysplasia at 18 months. He ended up in Kidney failure and they told us that by the time this is usually discovered and diagnosed the dog has lost significant kidney function. They did an ultrasound and both his kidney's were small and malformed which is why they weren't working properly.
We had a rescue dog who was diagnosed with bilateral juvenile dysplasia at 18 months. He ended up in Kidney failure and they told us that by the time this is usually discovered and diagnosed the dog has lost significant kidney function. They did an ultrasound and both his kidney's were small and malformed which is why they weren't working properly.
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I noticed you said something about a liver supplement above? I would go with that Vetri Science Renal supplement that I posted. From the reviews it looks like it has really helped some dogs with chronic renal failure.
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I will get the Vetriscience kidney supplement ASAP. I have also put Wolfie on an omega-3 supplement. We got back from the vet's office this afternoon -- he weighed in at 68 lbs -- so he gained almost 6 lbs since the beginning of Jan. We won't have the urine culture results for a few days -- will keep everybody posted as we find out.
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