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Post by barley on Feb 27, 2017 18:38:49 GMT
Thought I'd start (yet) another new thread rather than adding to the other one, sorry! Alfie had his bloods repeated today and there is a ''marked but not extreme'' deterioration since the ones he had done in December. I'd taken him back as he is still drinking & drinking & drinking. Vet has diagnosed him with kidney disease now  He's been put on Benazecare 5mg, half a tablet twice a day and Pronefra liquid, not sure on the dosage on that yet as vet had none in stock and has ordered me some in for tomorrow. Vet said that Hills k/d is definitely the best food for him now. Bit worried about the fat content but vet said pancreas has been stable long enough now and the acute form is less likely to return. Also worried about the ingredients and general crapness of the food, I try to avoid wheat & maize for Alfie's skin, but I guess this is the biggest issue now! Got 2kg of dry and 12 cans of wet to pick up from vet tomorrow but will definitely research tonight to see if there is anything else worth mentioning to vet. At 13 I know these kinds of things are going to be common, but still sad. Hate him getting old! Any kidney disease advice welcome! |
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Post by cazypops on Feb 27, 2017 19:16:06 GMT
Sorry can't offer any advice but I can send you a {{HUG}} I really thought that thing would now be more stable with Alfies health for a while. Hope the meds and food help. X By the way I've just remembered that Natural Instincts do a special diet complete raw food you could have a look at to see if it's suitable. Good luck.  |
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Post by caz2golden on Feb 27, 2017 19:59:14 GMT
Sending Hugs, sorry to hear about the deterioration in his health.
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Post by alfiemummy on Feb 27, 2017 20:00:55 GMT
Sorry to hear about Alfie barley I don't have any advice either, but know that Nutriment do a low purine variety which is good for dogs with kidney issues. I know you have limited freezer space so probably wouldn't be able to feed that as a main diet - but you could maybe feed a bit to accompany the Hills? |
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Post by barley on Feb 27, 2017 21:21:58 GMT
Thank you all ... Alfie has got the memo  he's happy, bright, active, eating fine... literally only thing you'd know wrong is the drinking/peeing, so that's good news  Open to any diet suggestions, I would make room for the raw if needed! Will check that out thank you! |
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Post by alfiemummy on Feb 27, 2017 21:50:18 GMT
Thank you all ... Alfie has got the memo he's happy, bright, active, eating fine... literally only thing you'd know wrong is the drinking/peeing, so that's good news Open to any diet suggestions, I would make room for the raw if needed! Will check that out thank you! Good job Crufts is so soon, plenty of food brands to check out! I'm sure Hills isn't going to be the only appropriate food for him. |
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Post by caz2golden on Feb 27, 2017 22:49:20 GMT
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Post by caz2golden on Feb 27, 2017 22:50:54 GMT
Crufts would be ideal place to ask lots of companies about their foods, will have to think up a series of questions that you can ask to them all |
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Post by orpheous87 on Feb 27, 2017 23:00:02 GMT
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Post by barley on Feb 27, 2017 23:10:50 GMT
There's so much conflicting info and I'm terrified of following the wrong advice  Thank you all so much for the links though, I really appreciate them and definitely food for thought. I really hate the idea of feeding Hills k/d but am being brainwashed by the claims on their site! I just want what's best for Alfie but so difficult knowing what that is. |
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Post by orpheous87 on Feb 27, 2017 23:22:27 GMT
I have another idea for you barley - applied zoopharmacognosy. I attended a workshop on canine self healing yesterday with Isla Fishburn and have had an AZ practitioner come out and do consultations for both Pepper and Ellie. I have seen a big improvement in Ellie since her consultations, and a slight improvement in Pepper. The idea is that the dog will select remedies (from powders, essential oils and fats) that it knows it needs. I'm just thinking that it might be worth you looking up a practitioner in your area. They treat the dog as a whole, so wouldn't necessarily focus on the kidney disease, but Alfie would select the remedies he needs for his biggest issue at the time, meaning he would eventually select things that would work for each problem he has i.e. his skin, pancreas and kidneys (plus anything else). Or, you could apply to Caroline Ingraham for him to be used as a demo dog. I know that she has a workshop this coming weekend that may be short of a demo dog as a friend's dog was supposed to be going down but unfortunately she's not able to go now. |
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Post by caz2golden on Feb 28, 2017 9:44:11 GMT
As orpheous87 knows I am thinking my two could do with seeing an applied zoopharmacognosy practitioner.
It is something that might be worth looking into or learning about.
At the moment I am having a good read about it all so that I understand the principles a bit better.
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Post by caz2golden on Feb 28, 2017 9:59:13 GMT
There's so much conflicting info and I'm terrified of following the wrong advice Thank you all so much for the links though, I really appreciate them and definitely food for thought. I really hate the idea of feeding Hills k/d but am being brainwashed by the claims on their site! I just want what's best for Alfie but so difficult knowing what that is. I would be terrified too. My head would be going at 1000 mph and in a total spin. From what I can gather the amount you need to restrict things like protein, phosphorous and sodium depends at what level the kidney disease has reached. The advantage of the hills over other foods is they state the values of phosphorous and sodium on the packet / tin which many do not. I have seen burns mixer (obviously not complete) and natures diet senior/lite mentioned on a few pages so maybe these are companies you can add to your list to have a chat to at Crufts. I am still waiting on dad to do a scan on his PC for you and I will get it to you I am here to listen and hope I can help in some way or other (and I am sure other forum members feel similarly). |
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Post by lotsofcats on Feb 28, 2017 10:23:44 GMT
Poor Alfie. Another worry for you - old age certainly doesn't come alone. Lots of good info from the others for you so hopefully you will find a suitable diet for Alfie to help with his condition.
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Post by barley on Feb 28, 2017 20:37:40 GMT
Thank you all so much orpheous87 I have seen bits & pieces on your Facebook about the applied zoopharmacognosy and it's certainly worth bearing in mind caz2golden Burns mixer & Naturediet would be something I would be quite happy feeding so that's definitely something I need to look into. alfiemummy be prepared for all the dog food company chats at Crufts Thank you lotsofcats and cazypops... love this forum and all the help/advice/support that you guys are all so good at! I have found a really good Facebook group on kidney disease and am feeling much more positive than I was. I've posted Alfie's results and a couple of people who seem very knowledgeable have said they do not think they seem too bad at all and are wondering if the tiny amount of steroids Alfie is still getting (via eye drop, although we're phasing it out slowly now) could be causing an issue. One bloke said he wouldn't even change diet yet, just to mash my head further But anyway for now Alfie did have Hills k/d tinned food for tea, and I picked up his other medication from the vet. A liquid called Pronefra and OMG it is the most VILE thing ever! Comes in a little bottle and you draw the medication up with a syringe. It brown & putrid and looks like well, I don't even need to say! Doesn't smell much better either. Alfie on the other hand LOVED it and couldn't get it down fast enough, think it's going to be his new favourite treat |
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he's happy, bright, active, eating fine... literally only thing you'd know wrong is the drinking/peeing, so that's good news 
Thank you all so much for the links though, I really appreciate them and definitely food for thought. 
