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8335135 tn?1397679400

Oliver - Maltese

My 15 year old Maltese Oliver was diagnosed with kidney failure on April 7th, 2014. He spent two in a half days at the pet clinic being flushed of all the toxins and hooked up to IV's. His BUN was 157 at the time he was admitted, but bloodwork was done the morning of his release- BUN now is 75 (still too high), leveled back to normal. Vet told me to make him comfortable and that he basically had 2-3 months left. I am heartbroken.  Since I brought  Oliver home on April 9th, he has been eating, drinking water, walking and acting normal. He is more active than ever before.  He even looks better. He is only a KD diet, and a supplement. He will see the vet this weekend for a recheck. I am also taking a holistic approach to this and already have a script drawn up for him for the vet to review.   He is not throwing up and does not have ulcers. The day I actually rushed him to the vet he was looking sick and limp.  Realistically I understand that Oliver is 15 and I have been blessed to have a dog this long. I want to take the holistic approach to make him more comfortable and for the progression of this disease to slow down.   I have been doing major research since he was diagnosed. It breaks my heart to read the stories.
Best Answer
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi Elsa. Yes, a phosphate binder relates to phosphorus. The thing about employing a phosphate binder is, the actual phosphate blood level needs to be normal, otherwise it can't be started. I think this is something very worth discussing with your vet.

The blood levels are quite amazingly good, for now, so I think the diet is spot-on. You might want to consider adding some natural supplements ... omega-3 oil is one useful thing - and a spoonful of chopped cabbage every other day (fermentable fiber) which acts as a nitrogen trap. Things like this can be really positive in the early to mid period of canine kidney failure.

Stay with us here on the forum ... we are all on a learning curve here, and occasionally someone else's experience rings a familiar bell, which means we help each other with information and support. So far, I think Oliver is doing very well.

Tony x
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. That's brilliant. I am so pleased with his blood results. Oliver is truly a little miracle. As for food and gaining weight, my favourite is of course green tripe - ideally the frozen natural blocks made for working and racing dogs. Green tripe has the advantage of adding weight (and energy for working dogs), but it is also low in phosphorus and protein, so great for kidney failure dogs. The drawback is it stinks to high hell when it's cooking, but dogs generally absolutely love it.

Other good foods for adding weight are fatty meats - so pure hamburger (no additives, herbs or onions), lamb and beef. Other things are sweet potatoes, but sparingly, as they can cause loose stools. The other way is to increase the food intake, obviously, so even if you increase the daily intake by 20% but spread it out over say four meals (if possible), then this will add weight too.

Anyway, a few ideas there ... give the little guy a huge congratulatory hug from me.

Tony x
Helpful - 0
8335135 tn?1397679400
Oliver's latest blood test all blood levels at normal range. His BUN even went from 25 to 24.  Dr. Schultz was very pleased with his numbers. Recheck in 3 months :)  Now, I need to figure out how to have Oliver gain some weight. He currently is 3.7. Would like to see him at 4.0 lbs. Any suggestions?  As you know need to make sure any additional food added to his KD canned food does not make his kidneys work harder.   Oliver has a good appetite so I am sure he will be content with just about anything.
Hugs.
Helpful - 0
8335135 tn?1397679400
Thank you for the feedback Tony.
I remember the possibility of a page being started regarding Chronic Kidney Failure.
Yes, I will absolutely, look it up and join the group.
Until then
Hugs
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. I honestly can't think of anything to ask the vet about, other than obvious things ... such as whether that original prognosis has now improved? I suspect Dr Schultz will be cautious, knowing how this disease can suddenly take hold again - and perhaps the best way of looking at things is, so far so good. If the kidney disease and blood panel is stable, then there should be no changes expected to the regime. However, if any of the results are abnormally high or low, then minor adjustments may be needed.

Given Oliver's age, I just think your story is fantastic - and Oliver is a little marvel. It gives hope and reassurance to everyone.

Can I just mention very briefly that I have now started a Chronic Kidney Failure support Group. Just go to Groups, then type in Chronic Kidney Failure in Dogs, and the page should come up. I really hope you will become a member and contribute if and when you can. We all learn so much from our experience - and I have no doubt whatsoever that you have valuable information to supply others, which I hope you will provide when time permits.

Keep us informed and fingers crossed for the 21st. Big hugs to you and Oliver.

Tony x
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Tony,

Oliver will have a complete blood panel done on June 21st. Eating & drinking is fine.  Can you think of any questions I need to ask the vet when I take Oliver on the 21st ?  I want to be sure I cover all my bases. Dr. Schultz seems to be very good and cautious with  everything she has done with Oliver. I am very comfortable with her and so is Oliver. She even called me last night to discuss how Oliver was doing and again she mentioned she was AMAZED how well he is doing :) Look forward to your advice.  
Hugs from Oliver :)
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Yeaaahhh ... brilliant. Tony x
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462827 tn?1333168952
YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Good News !!!! Oliver was weighed today....drum roll please.....
He now weighs 3.7 lbs.  
The vet called him "THE MIRACLE MALTESE"

I can't believe how well he is doing. I ask myself is this a dream, is this really Oliver. He went from a frail 2.9 to a energized 3.7 mighty Maltese :)

Will see how much he weighs when he sees the vet on June 21st.
Hugs
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
I'm delighted to read this, too!!!!  Made my day, again!!!!  :)  "GO OLIVER GO!"

I DOoooo LOVE good news!!!!   Karla
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1916673 tn?1420233270
You have made my day. I am so pleased for Oliver ... and for you. I can sign off from MedHelp for the day with a happy heart. You have done such a wonderful job and the effort you have put in has certainly paid dividends. This is so reassuring, because sometimes no matter how much we do, things don't always work out, but then there are occasions when things work out even better than we could have thought. Well done. Keep up the brilliant work. Oliver is so lucky to have you in his life. Tony x
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Hi Tony,
Hope you had a wonderful Memorial holiday weekend. I wanted to bring you up to date about Oliver. Oliver is now a whopping 3.5 lbs. Seems he is gaining an ounce a week. He is more active than ever, he has recalled all his housetraining and is even running on some days.  He is doing things he has not done in about two years. I know his health that his  health was declining but I thought it was due to old age but in reality it was all centered around his kidneys. He has been eating 4-6 small meals a day (KD) which he loves, and a renal essentials supplement, Pepcid  in the morning. At this time all is good.
Cyber hugs.
Xoxo
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Hi
I thought about Oliver's age and I am realiistic that there is a possibility if his demise beind csused by a totally different illness. I had another Maltese who had a hesrt condition.  We were so focused on his heart that he developed doggie Alzheimer's.  He wss given medication and passed away nine months later,  which was the life expectancy of Alzheimer's.  So, I am aware that at Oliver's age anything can happen. I'm just taking one day at a time. No one is promised tomorrow so we live each day to the fullest. Hugs
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675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
I also am so happy for you and Oliver, Elsa!

Similar happened with my Misty. She was diagnosed with early-stage renal failure end of summer 2011.
Our vet put her immediately on the renal diet plus ACE inhibitors. I kept to her diet pretty strictly, but as it was boring to give her the exact same food every day I asked the vet what was 'good quality protein' to give her, which didn't result in too much (what he called "Nitrogenous waste" for the kidneys to process) He suggested scrambled egg whites, white fresh-water fish, and chicken breast. Vegetables also were okay, so I sometimes gave her these things too, to keep some variety in her food. She was a food-hog!
Whenever I gave her anything other than her diet food I added about 1/8 teaspoonful of powdered eggshell to her food, to act as a Phosphorus-binder. Her blood Phosphorus wasn't elevated at that stage,only her BUN and Creatinine.

Well guess what? In one month, her values had come down, in two months they were down to 'upper normal', and by February 2012 all her blood values read as 'normal'. She was over 14 by that stage. But very active and defied her age -much like Oliver by the sound of it!
The vet was impressed. So were we!

She passed away some months later -NOT from kidney failure! Something else -Hemangiosarcoma... completely unrelated, and just bad luck.

I wish you and Oliver all the best, and hope he will continue to do really well! This is great news!
Helpful - 0
8335135 tn?1397679400
I am enjoying my little man for as long as he is with me.  I am very happy that he has done so well. Thank you for the well wishes.
Hugs
Elsa
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Avatar universal
What great news!  Kidney disease tears us apart at the end, but if you can control the symptoms for a while, you've done your job!  Enjoy Oliver :)  
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Tony, each day is cherished and is a gift with my Oliver.
We are so blessed.

Oliver sends cyber hugs to all :)
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1916673 tn?1420233270
No one can ask for more ... this is great news. I am so very happy for you and Oliver. Well done, both of you. Keep up the fantastic work. Give Oliver a hug from me ... and have a huge cyber hug yourself from me. Tony x
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Thank you !  I can't believe it nor can Dr. Schultz.  Will continue on this forum with my updates....thanks again.

Hugs from Oliver
I(I would post a pic of Oliver, but I don't know how )
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462827 tn?1333168952
Well, look at you!.......CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!     So HAPPY for you!!!!!!  Karla
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Oliver had his blood test yesterday and Dr.Schultz called me this morning with the results. All kidney levels are normal :) She is totally amazed.
His BUN is 23, Creatine is 1.1  He will continue eating the KD food. She said he is very hydrated, so the water he is drinking has been enough.
He is due for a blood test in about a month. She said Oliver is a poster child !  She is in total shock.  I am very happy that Oliver continues to thrive.  She also said at his age of 15 it is very impressive.
Thank you all for the support.
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. It's great to hear the good news. When forum friends and their best friends are doing well, it's inspirational. I'm so pleased. Keep up the brilliant work you are doing. Cyber hugs to you and Oliver. Tony x
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Hi Tony,

Day 21 since Oliver's discharge from the hospital.  He continues to eat, drink. He walks around the house and at work :) He growls when he sees or hears another dog. So far, Oliver is doing fine. Next Monday's blood test will provide me with more insight to his condition. I have all my questions lined up for the vet- Thanks to you I am more informed. Oliver gained 4 ounces since he has been home. Hoping for the best for my little man !!
Take Care....until next Monday.
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Oliver is so lucky. You have been extraordinary in caring for him - and the results must be so rewarding. You are right, this disease is exhausting, stressful and distressing. You must remember to take care of yourself, as well as for Oliver, because there will be times when things become intense ... so if you can, take some time out to relax, rest and distract your attention onto more peaceful things.

I'm delighted Oliver is asking for food. It's what we all want to see in our best friends. It's the perfect result and I'm so pleased. Have a lovely evening.

Tony x
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8335135 tn?1397679400
Hi Karla,

I am very happy as well. He just had his third meal. I've been doing so much research since he was diagnosed, that I think now I will continue with this great forum, keep working with the vet to provide Oliver all we can do at this time.  I was so drained from the day all this happened. The vet calling me when she got the blood results on April 7th, and she said "bring Oliver in now- he has severe kidney failure"!  I was so lucky that I work nearby the vet and it was in her hands to care for him.  Now, its just making sure he eats and drinks and takes his renal essentials supplements. Oliver and I went to bed early on Tuesday 8pm...I was mentally drained. Fine now.. I hope.
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