dog with kidney issues

[mrsstats]

My 15 year old Chihuahua is having issues with kidneys. The doctor put her on K9 Prescription canned and dry food. The cost is high and I am not sure we really need to keep her on this food. Does anyone have a dog with kidney issues and what type of food to you use.

In addition to the food she is 3 medications. 1 an anti inflammatory for her issues with her legs and the other 2 are supplements for her senility issues. They are helping her but again the cost is high. That is why I am at least trying to reduce the food costs if possible.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

She's 15. Are u prolonging the inevitable?
I had a beagle go into kidney failure. I did all the vet advised: special diet, no treats , no table food.
Im not really sure it did anything but make her miserable. I dont think she lived any longer than if I would have done nothing.

Your veternarian is there to treat your pet. Its your decision how far u want to go.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Renal diets are different from regular diets in two ways: They are low-protein and low-phosphate. Failing kidneys cannot handle protein and phosphate the way they used to, so it is important to keep those to a minimum in order to not tax the kidneys beyond what they can handle. In short, the diet is one of the most important things you can do to prolong a renal patient's outcome. The other main thing you can do to support the kidneys is fluids. You can talk to the vet about SQ fluids if you're interested but, either way, encourage your little guy to drink frequently by placing extra bowls around the house. This is why wet food is ideal but if he will only eat the dry renal diet, so be it.

My renal failure dog (and cats) were/are on Science Diet k/d canned. I know the costs can add up quickly but luckily for you, your kiddo is tiny so he shouldn't go through too much food.

 

[bsblady01]

if you don't think it won't be long, let her eat what she wants.

 

[ckay87]

if you don't think it won't be long, let her eat what she wants.

I agree. But when my dog had kidney failure at age 14, I would have made her prime rib every night and she wouldn't have eaten it. Oddly, the only thing she would eat was the special kidney diet food. Eventually she gave up that. Just wasted away poor thing.

 

[weeniecat2442]

agree with TipsyTraveler...and you can always sneak a little water into his/her 's dry food too to get some extra fluids in

 

[SharonZ]

Shop around. Check to see if you can buy her medications cheaper online. Also don't buy the food at the vets, check online, many places sell medicated food with a valid prescription.

 

[mrsstats]

Thank you for al your replies. We bought the last round of meds and food online. She is not failing at this point, her kidney function is not yet that bad. Numbers are only slightly off. Not at a point that I would not keep trying. She still eats, still barks, she is just getting old (like me)

The mark up on the food and meds at the vet is crazy - some marked up more than 30%.