Kidney Problems?

[annie_so_pink]

I took Theo, my 12 year old hound mix to the vet about a month and a half ago, and they said he had kidney failure and to change his diet to as low as protein as possible....But I have been reading about dog health and it seems to me that a dog with kidney failure should be getting high protein...is that true?
Also, as I said I have been reading dog health books and his symtoms sound more like he might have kidney stones...he lost bladder control and has blood in his urine. What does that sound like? I am not sure if I trust the vet that I go to because previously they had given him the wrong ear medication which made him very sick and they had told me that Wesley, my black lab puppy, was "fear-biter" and we might have to get him put down when he was just a little baby even though he is the sweetest puppy....But anyway, What do you think Theo has? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[elegy]

no, you do not want high protein for a kidney diseased dog. you want a moderate amount of a high *quality* protein and, even more importantly, a low phosphorus amount.

check out the yahoo group k9kidneydiet. there is a bunch of very knowledgeable people there and they were a ton of help to me when i was trying to feed my renal diseased dog.

[Leon]

I don't know what he could have, but it's a good idea to see a second vet.

[calgal]

Here is what Dr. Pitcairn recommends feeding a canine for kidney problems:
1/2 cup (1/4 pound) regular-fat hamburger
2 3/4 cups cooked white rice, enriched
1 egg
2 tablespoons cold-pressed safflower, soy or corn oil
600 milligrams calcium
1/8 teaspoon iodized salt
2 tablespoons parsley, finely grated carrot or other vegetable (optionsl)
1/2-1 clove garlic, minced (for flavor)
Dog vitamins (as recommended on label for medium-sized dog)
20-milligram-level B complex
5000 IU vitamin A
1,000 milligrams vitamin C (1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate)
Mix all ingredients together and serve raw if the dog will accept it. Otherwise, mix all but the vitamins together, bake about 20 minutes in a moderate oven and then wait until it cools to mix in the vitamins. Occasionally, subsititute 1 to 3 teaspoons of liver for part of the meat. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, pure water (filtered or bottled) at all times.

I must add that in Dr. Pitcairn's book; NATURAL HEALTH for DOGS & CATS, he said kidney failure is curable and gives you step by step on what to do. I really think this book is worth having.

[elegy]

kidney failure is *not* curable. kidneys do not regenerate. kidney failure can be managed, but it's a progressive disease that will not go away.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

As Elegy already mentioned, renal failure is not cureable but can be managed. I'm not a fan of Dr. Pitcairn for the very reason stated below, he fails to give a definition of "reversable" and gives many false hope.

The true meaning of "reversable" in kidney failure simply means that due to both the reserve capacity of the kidney and the ability of the kidney's nephrons to grow larger, the kidney can still function. If damage to nephrons occurs gradually and the surviving nephrons of the kidney have enough time to hypertrophy, a kidney can continue to function with as few as 25 percent of its original nephrons. This does not however mean that the damaged nephrons will return to normal, once damaged beyond repair they stay that way.


There are two types of kidney failure - Acute kidney failure is a sudden loss of function and Chronic kidney failure which is an irreversible loss of function that occurs gradually over months or years. High protein diets are not a good idea for a renal dog and yes, by all means get a second and even third opinion for your dog so that your able to have as many answers as possible and begin treating your dog. Best wishes

[annie_so_pink]

Thank You Everybody! I am gonna try to get him to a different vet for a second opinion...Thanks for all the help