Update on Ursa...

[Berna]

I am so sorry to hear that. Cookie had kidney disease during the last year and a half of his life. From what I know, fluids really help, Cookie couldn't have them because of his enlarged heart. I also gave him supplements that reduce the amount of uremic toxins and he was on antacids because he was feeling sick and lost his appetite.

[Black Labbies]

Thanks for the info on Cookie, Lena. I remember Cookie having kidney disease, the poor boy .

Way back in the '70s and early '80s we had a stray that walked into our lives at about 4 months old, we named her Nellie. She was a Lab/shepherd cross - blacker than black can be, and a sweet, gentle girl. Nellie died of kidney disease at 12 years old. I don't remember much of the details of her disease and back then, vet medicine wasn't that advanced.

Yes, Dr. Wanda talked about fluids, even putting Ursa on IV fluids, but Ursa is drinking water well (not over drinking) and her homemade food is very soupy. Ursa's heart and lungs sound good as of last Wednesday's vet appointment. The Chinese Herbs are to help with the uremic toxins and the homeo-cocktail for the cleansing and strengthening of her kidneys. Ursa's numbers on bloodwork are not super high, but since last March's bloodwork (10 months ago), where the only slight increase was the urea. Also, low are the RBC, HCT and HGT, not sure what all of this means, but we see no signs of Ursa bleeding. Ursa has a good appetite and vomits occasionally, so that's hopeful at this time. We just need to get some weight on her, so now she's enjoying cottage cheese with her meals.

I'm definitely reading and learning more about Kidney disease in dogs and what we can do to keep Ursa comfortable, healthy and happy. We're not writing Ursa off yet, until she tells us she can't go on anymore.

[Berna]

Anemia is a symptom of kidney disease, if I recall correctly, kidneys excrete a hormone that tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells, when the kidneys don't function properly, bone marrow does not produce enough red blood cells. There are supplements for this, you can ask the vet about iron supplements and if severe anemia occurs erythropoietin supplements are used (but these have side effects so used only when there is severe anemia).

[amyb]

Hands on your backs!

[Black Labbies]

Thanks for all your well wishes, we need more, pls.

Another update on Ursa. A new twist on her newly diagnosed kidney disease.

So, Ursa is almost impossible to catch a pee sample from, none of our past dogs combined were as hard to catch from as Ursa. But, my sis managed to finally catch a sample last week!! Dr. Wanda phoned last night to tell us that Ursa has a BAD bladder and kidney infection! Luckily, Ursa is already on antibiotics for her ear and these should help Ursa's bladder infection. She'll be on antibiotics for 14 days and then 1 week later we have to catch another sample and recheck it, if it's good, and then another sample 2 weeks after that. If it's not fully cleared up, then more antibiotics.

Does this mean that Ursa doesn't have kidney disease? No, but her numbers on her blood test may not be as high once this infection clears up. Another blood test will be done at the end of February.

Obviously, this infection has been around for a couple of months (bad on us!), because of Ursa's declining health, but hopefully, she'll improve very soon!

[Berna]

She will definitely feel better once the UTI is resolved, poor girl.

[Snowshoe]

More healing thoughts. Poor girly.

[Jeff]

Sending lots of good thought for Ursa.

[barry581]

Good vibes sent.

[SoapySophie]

Poor girl - hope she feels better soon!

In case anyone else needs to collect a pee sample from their pup...I had to get a sample from Sophie last year, and to aid in this, I duct-taped the handle of an old (black plastic) ladle to an extendable back scratcher and followed her outside while on a short leash. I also had with me a small plastic container to dump the pee into rather than trying to walk around with a full ladle! It worked perfectly.