Update On Monte, vet visit and question with about anemia Options

[monte]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for their support, prayers, advice. It is greatly appreciated. I took monte to the vet thursday. They kept him over night and flushed him with fluids. They said he refused to eat or drink for them. When I went to pick him up and they showed me how to tube feed him. He was excited to see me. We have never been away from each other for his 2 years of life. After they showed me he went right to the can and started to eat n his own. He ate it all. I opened another can and fed it to him. They couldnt believe it. I really was hoping that he wasnt eating because of being apart and it was. They gave me meds. for him to control his protein intake and phosphorus. They gave me another for vomiting even tho he hasnt vomit yet from the disease, it was a precausion. They want to see how he adjust with the meds for a week before they try the shot for his anemia. His creatinine is still high. She said he still has a chance to control this, but makes no promises. When I got him home he drank. I went to the store and bought foods that were 3grams or less in protein to mix with kd since he hates it by itself. Today he ate his kd with peaches. then ate a can of soup. She said feed him if he will eat since he is thin, but I still watch because he has been very thin from the beginning. I dont want to over excite his system. He still gets excited to go bye byes. He gets up and go outs no problem. After that he goes back to laying down. He sucking his blanket again. Has anyone who has been through this know if the shot they give for anemia brings back their energy when replacing their red cells. He wants to play but just relaxes and lays. I dont mind,but I dont know if I should try to get him excercising or let him lay. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated. I know the shot is expensive, but if he is doing everything else normal besides exercising It wuld be wrong not to give him the shot. The first vet I went to didnt even consider giving him a chance. The 2nd vet said their is always hope. She told me she would be honest if their wasnt. So always get 2nd opinions. Thanks again.
Monte

[goliath]

I am so glad to hear that the second vet was able to provide you with hope for Monte's future with you. It sounds like you found a vet who is able to approach your situation with a more optimistic approach without making any false promises. Miracles do happen when we least expect them.

I know you will love Monte with all you have inside of you for the rest of your days together.

Love and hugs

[freddie]

That's' fantastic that you found another vet with some hope for your Monte.First of all I am not a vet but I am a Personal Fitness Trainer and from what I know about exercise is that if you don't do anything at all for example if you are bedridden for 3 weeks or more you can loose one third of your muscle mass and bone density .You should consult the vet on this ,I look after my 97 year old grandmother and do little exercises to at least maintain her muscle mass and more importantly her bone density. What is in the shot you where talking about do you know what is in it ?, from what I have experienced here in Australia is that shot's for anemia is no more than vitamin b and iron which does give you energyI hope Icould be of some assistance but please consult your new vet if you can do a little bit of exercise at least a walk around the yard nothing to strenuous
Please keep us posted
.

Warren ***

[Beaglegirl]

I didn't exercise my dog (with chronic renal failure) because it elevated his creatinine levels.
I also didn't opt for the epogen injections, they burn really bad. Also, I was warned of a deadly side effect that could occur from it, I can't remember exactly... Maybe hemolytic anemia??? Whatever the cost I would have done it if it were promised it would work BUT, it doesn't always work, and, if it does, the effects are temporary at best. So, I didn't do it because of those reasons. I don't remember it being expensive though. But I've seen pets get the injections, and a few seconds after they get the shot (so it isn't the needle poke) they seem very irritated. I was told it does burn.
Did your new vet show you how to give subcutaneous fluids? I gave them to my dog twice daily. They didn't really work, his blood values still got worse, but they seemed to keep him comfortable. I wanted him to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
It did get to the point he didn't want to be poked anymore, but that is another story.
I also had my dog on phosphate binders (aluminium hydroxide) but when he was having a bad vomit day he would most often just vomit that right back up.
He got injections of centrine, because they can get symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome as ulcers develop in their GI tract from the kidney failure toxins and altered pH.
He also got injections of famotidine, because of acid stomach, another side effect of the renal failure.
Most medications I had to give as injections (subcutaneous injections are EASY) because he was so nauseous there towards the end anything that hit his stomach came right back up.
My dog was also young when diagnosed, five years old.

[myhrtisbrkn]

I knew there was some hope for Monte. Ask you vet about the GIF, the Greta Implantable Fluids tube (there's another system very similar but I can't think of the name). It allows the delivery of alot of fluid ( plus meds, epogen etc.) in a very short time WITHOUT NEEDLES. My my 23 year old cat has one, and I know dogs are different but, my vet has used them with great success in felines and canines.

You and Monte are in my thoughts and prayers
Mack and Sadie's mom,
Dayna

[LoveThem]

I'm so glad to hear what your 2nd vet had to say and the rest of your post sounds very good. Each day we can keep these precious souls is a gift to us and by doing all you are saying...you will always know you are doing everything you can to help Monte.

I think, just like humans, each animal is different and may react differently to the same treatments. Please do not let anyone else's story discourage you from trying what feels right to you to do for Monte.

I loved his picture with his toy. At age 2 he may have some strengths an older pet would not have. I think your new vet telling you she is being honest about what is being tried and that she would tell you the truth about everything is a very good thing.

If you have any questions about any of the treatment...do ask the vet. I have found that you can call a vet and speak to them with a question and not have to run down for an office visit. When my boy was having a problem, I would call the vet and leave word with the office people that I would like her to call me when she has a moment as I wanted to ask a question and also give her an up to date report on my boy's condition. She always called me the same day and this helped me a lot.

Please keep us posted and give that boy of yours a big hug from all of us here!

[myhrtisbrkn]

I wonder if Monte has been tested for Addison's disease, which can be an underlying cause of renal failure, but is quite manageable if you know they have it. MY standard poodle Amos has it, and was not diagnosed until he displayed some early symptoms that sound like some of Monte's. Anyway, I'm concerned about your baby. hoping for good news.


Hugs to the dobie,
Dayna