Help! I discovered this site a few days ago, just in time for a crisis. I had to leave Silly (Drusilla) at the hospital today. She is 19 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes about 3 years ago. She has been in moderate kidney failure for about 8 months, and with mild kidney disease for a year or so before that. She had lost about 70-75% of kidney function by January of this year.
Over the past five days, everything has gone haywire. She has lost 2 lbs (down to 6 1/2 lbs. from 8 1/2 lbs.), is extremely dehydrated despite sub q fluids, had blood in her urine today, and her test results today were as follows: Phosphorus 9.6, BUN 114, Creatin 5.7 (doubled since last check in January). Strangely enough, her blood sugar has been normal for the last 5 days, although she hasn't had any insulin for the first time in 3 years. She has gone through three times in as many weeks of her monitor reading "Lo" & had to be given sugar to bring it back up. She's eating and drinking, although not enough.
She is now in Acute Kidney Failure. They are giving her iv fluids along with phosphorus binders overnight, and are going to let me know tomorrow afternoon if they are helping her kidney values. The vet has said that if this works in 24-36 hours, she may make a recovery, but if not, then we may need to consider putting her down. I can't do anything more for her until the results tomorrow, but need more input from someone else if I'm going to get any sleep tonight. I've had her since I brought her home in my pocket from the humane society, so obviously 19 years later, she's my baby. I am so torn that I may be faced with making a very hard decision for her over the next day or two.
Thank you for your response,
Shannon
I have taken the 911 icon off this post since Silly is no longer in critical condition. I would still appreciate any advice, suggestions, or comments as we nurse her back to health once she comes home tonight. Thanks!!
Over the past five days, everything has gone haywire. She has lost 2 lbs (down to 6 1/2 lbs. from 8 1/2 lbs.), is extremely dehydrated despite sub q fluids, had blood in her urine today, and her test results today were as follows: Phosphorus 9.6, BUN 114, Creatin 5.7 (doubled since last check in January). Strangely enough, her blood sugar has been normal for the last 5 days, although she hasn't had any insulin for the first time in 3 years. She has gone through three times in as many weeks of her monitor reading "Lo" & had to be given sugar to bring it back up. She's eating and drinking, although not enough.
She is now in Acute Kidney Failure. They are giving her iv fluids along with phosphorus binders overnight, and are going to let me know tomorrow afternoon if they are helping her kidney values. The vet has said that if this works in 24-36 hours, she may make a recovery, but if not, then we may need to consider putting her down. I can't do anything more for her until the results tomorrow, but need more input from someone else if I'm going to get any sleep tonight. I've had her since I brought her home in my pocket from the humane society, so obviously 19 years later, she's my baby. I am so torn that I may be faced with making a very hard decision for her over the next day or two.
Thank you for your response,
Shannon
I have taken the 911 icon off this post since Silly is no longer in critical condition. I would still appreciate any advice, suggestions, or comments as we nurse her back to health once she comes home tonight. Thanks!!
Her BUN is down to 76 (94 yesterday & 114 the day before), and Creatin is 4.1 (4.3 yesterday and 5.7 the day before). She is eating a little more, and accepting the additional food by syringe without much protest. She has had about a liter of iv fluids, so she is finally rehydrated. They are going to wean her off the iv fluids over the afternoon, and will be ready to come home tonight just before the vet closes. She will need lots of extra care and love over the next few days, and the vet and I agreed that she would rather have it in the comfort of home than staying there one more day.
