Dogs with Kidney Disease

[Bigs23]

Hello Everyone! I am new to the community so please let me know if you need any other information. I will try to keep this short. My poor rescue dachshund mix, Nevaeh, has not had a good year. We greeted her 11th birthday with multiple surgeries from trauma; surgeries for infection; a hematoma (from wearing her cone of shame for so long); a skin infection; and is now diagnosed with kidney disease. Thank goodness we caught it early since we drew blood work for other reasons. From her preliminary blood work results her BUN was slightly elevated, but her Creatinine was high. Nevaeh had kidney stones when she was 3 or 4 years old so the vet took x-rays and did not find any.
On Saturday night (6 days ago) she was rushed to the Vet ER because she leaked a few drops of urine on my tile floor that looked like there was blood in it. Saturday's blood results showed BUN within normal limits, but the Creatinine was elevated more than before. They said she could have been dehydrated, but as a pup parent I am losing sleep over this. I was giving Nevaeh subcutaneous fluids every other day for the first week and now everyday since Saturday to ensure she was hydrated properly for her blood draw yesterday. She had blood drawn yesterday to recheck her levels and as I patiently wait I am researching everything possible to make sure she lives a long, but healthy pain free life. I am open to whatever has been proven effective and is safe for my fur baby.
Her energy has been high. Still greeting me at the door wagging her tail, prancing/running around like normal. She is shaking a little at night, but I also have been sticking her with a needle to give her fluids so I am not sure if it is from pain or kidney disease.  Some days she eats like a horse and others she barely picks at her food (but eats a minimum of 4-5 ounces a day). Her drinking habits vary like her eating habits. She is 23 lbs and looks like a dachshund, but corgi size. She is currently on Hill's prescription diet k/d Kidney Care dog food. She doesn't like the hard food so I have been giving her the soft food. So now that I feel I have told you her whole life story I have a few questions:
1. If the vet recommends giving the subcutaneous fluids for the rest of her life, has anyone seen success with this? Nevaeh has been drinking a lot of water on the days she is not receiving fluids, but my heart breaks when she shakes (Literally convulses sometimes) in my arms when I have to give her fluids. I try talking to her and holding her tight like a thunder shirt, but am almost in tears because she is so scared. I tried distracting her with a bone filled with peanut butter and she wanted nothing to do with it. OR does anyone have suggestions on how to calm her or make this process less traumatic on the both of us.
2. After researching I have seen people recommend Azodyl and Kidney Support Gold - Dog Kidney Disease Support drops. Thoughts? do they work? have you personally seen success? if not, what would you recommend?
3. Since she will only eat the soft food right now I am concerned about her teeth health. I have found a dental bone she likes so she has something hard to chew on. Nylabone Nutri Dent Adult Filet Mignon Small Dental Chews. https://www.chewy.com/nylabone-nutri-dent-adult-filet/dp/105788  The crude protein is 2% and I think she is not suppose to have a lot of protein. The chews I give her are for dogs 15 lbs or less. Is it safe to give her one of these a day?

I think these are all the questions I have. Any help is much appreciated. Thank you for your time.

[ginger899]

You may find some advice and help here:
http://www.medhelp.org/groups/chronic_kidney_failure_in_dogs

This group was started in 2014, and I am not sure how active it still is, but there are bound to be lots of posts there which you might get tips from.

I personally am not experienced enought with kidney failure to offer you the help you need. My own dog WAS diagnosed with very early stage kidney failure back in 2011, but she was showing hardly any symptoms and so our journey through that was quite easy. Her blood results improved greatly with the kidney diet plus Benazadryl tablets (ACE inhibitors), In only 2 months her values came back to upper normal. But she was a different case, a very early-stage case, and never showed any symptoms of kidney issues.
She passed away the next year from something entirely unrelated.
So that is my only experience you see.

I don't know how difficult this next idea of mine will be for you, but it is an idea if you can, to speak to a veterinary nutritionist.
In my dog's case I was lucky to find a contact number for one, and had a telephone consultation with her. She was very helpful.

Try not to be afraid of the subcutaneous fluid injections. I do know someone who has been giving their cat these sub q's for a very long time (at least 2 years!), and the cat is still going strong. Of course it may not last forever, but their cat is still enjoying life.

One thing you can try to do for your girl is remain as calm as you can with her. Be reassuring and gentle and loving but try not to panic or be afraid. She will sense that and it might make her nervous. Try if you can, to be as upbeat as possible, yet calm for her. I know that can be hard to do sometimes when you are so worried....but try your best.

[Kodak2017]

I am truly sorry for your hard times you are experiencing with your 11 year old baby.  I completely understand and hope for the best for you and Navaeh.  don't give up on her.  Take her to the vet, but make sure they just help her manage it - kidney disease, which is also known as renal disease. I don't think there is a cure for it. Whatever you do, do not let vet prescribe her any kind of Baytril - injection or tablet.  Based on what I have researched regarding my dog's symptoms, and the vet we vistited wasn't much help, he administered Baytril injection to my 11 1/2 mix lab-terrier dog, Kodak.  And two days later, he died.  Baytril (enfrofloxacin) can have adverse reaction - be fatal, if a dog has kidney disease.  I am so angry with myself, and vet, not to mention depressed and feeling guilty.  I feel like I should have done a better job at researching my dog's symptoms, and asking the vet better and more commanding recommendations and answers, and second opinions.  I am unbelievably heartbroken.  Hence, why I am communication on this community.  Just looking for answers, and understanding, and closure.  God Bless You and Navaeh, and the best of luck and health to your baby.