Well, it’s been 3 weeks since diagnosis of Maggie’ CKD or CRF, whatever you want to call it.. kidney’s are failing. I’m fighting hard for Maggie but don’t always win with her…in the eating department… Morning’s are the worst for eating. I’m told because of all the toxins building up during the night. Our last visit to the vet on Tuesday, her bloodwork revealed her numbers a tad worse BUT her phosphorus number has actually improved. That is, due to the Epakitin(was Renal Adv. at beginning of this) supplement she is on as a phosphorus binder. She is getting pickier and pickier. It was suggested by the vets to do daily subQ fluids on Maggie. I was instructed on how to do it the past couple times at the vet for laser and fluids.(which had been doing 2X a week for 3 weeks).
We’ve tried a couple of homeopathic remedies to help with the eating issue; Nux Vomica and Sulphur but not much improvement. So now, I have her on a remedy that her homeopathic vet, Dr. Charles Loops, sent me. That remedy is called “Serum Anguillae”, in 30C potency and is to help early renal disease. I am to give it 2X per day, every other day(she is also on two other cancer remedies and has been on them since 2009).
Here is a little bit about Serum Anguillae:
The serum of the eel has a toxic action on the blood, rapidly destroying its globules. The presence of albumin and renal elements in the urine, the hemoglobinuria, the prolonged anuria (24 and 26 hours), together with the results of the autopsy, plainly demonstrate its elective action on the kidneys.
Here is a listing of what Maggie is on right now:
Serum Anguillae 30C – just added this today
Epakitin – has been on this phosphorus binder for a couple weeks. This replaced the Renal Advance phosphorus binder she was on.
Azodyl – has been on this since shortly after diagnosis. This is a mixture of three viable bacteria that are strongly urease positive. This means they actually utilize uremic toxins that diffuse into the bowel from the circulatory system thereby reducing the uremic toxic load.
Standard Process supplements:
Renafood – has been on since original diagnosis
Arginex – has been on since original diagnosis
Catalyn – added this week. This is a general multi vitamin, multi mineral, phytochemical support. Also acts as an enzyme support.
Cataplex ACP – added yesterday. For kidney disease support.
Cataplex B – added yesterday. For kidney disease support – Vitamin B.
And some pictures of Maggie on her walk today and of other ‘boring’ stuff like fluids….
I think you can tell(or at least I can) the look in her eye is ‘off’….
Still a ‘good girl’ and will ‘wait’ on command ….
I found a facebook page for “CRF” dogs – and found this great meatloaf recipe. Made a new batch today –
Bravo boneless salmon, mashed up black beans, sweet potatoes, bread crumbs, eggshell, egg whites.
Calls for more veggie’s but Maggie isn’t into much veggie, so I didn’t dare put any more.
She ate a good portion of this tonight with great gusto!(more than what is missing – that was just a teaser
taste for her earlier to see if she’d eat it).
Maggie is a good girl when I put the needle in for her fluids.
You can see I hang her fluid bag from a lamp post…Maggie is such a good patient….
Stop fooling me, Mom, I don’t see Aunt Gina coming…
Well, I guess that’s all for now… I am trying to feed her the best I can but sometimes the best doesn’t cut it and she’d rather eat nothing or eat high phosphorus foods… So be it…Maggie will get what she wants…I’m not going to force into her something she doesn’t want…. After all, I wouldn’t want someone doing that to me…
I love you Maggie.
‘Til next time, keep on hoppin, says Maggie..
Tracy
Nothing wrong with that Maggie, you look pretty good to me 🙂
Love the woofing! Keep it up! <3
Auntie Gina
Maggie looks great she has such a good Human..mom.. Thinking of YOU both.. and the joy you bring to each other..
Dee , Jax and Flip…. say eat Maggie eat…
Tracey and Maggie! I agree with everyone else…at least in the photos she looks good…alert, erect,sniffing all the great scents of the outdoors.
She is a very loved girl and feels every ounce of your devotion and exquisite care.
Thank you soooo much for taking the time to share such valuable information. You have a really good plan and I know the UB fluids will definitely help with her appetite. I’ve used some Dr. loops in the past also and felt like it made a positive difference
The very best to you and sweet Maggie. You are both soldiers!!
With healing love, Sally and Happy Hannah
Maggie, your Momma loves you lots. You look great! But you gotta eat some for your Momma, please.
Maggie is so lucky to have someone who takes such good care of her. Love to you both!
Maggie, you are such a good girl! I hope you had a nice time on your walk today. Sending all of my good wishes to you! Stay strong and keep eating!!
My dearest SuperGirl most Fabulous Tripawd Girldog ever, it looks like your personal chef is cooking up some great concoctions for you! Wow. Will you send her my way? I could use some of that grub, it looks tasty.
Can you hear us cheering “Maggie! Maggie! Maggie! Feel better!” Eat up my dear, you’ve still got lots of hoppin’ around to do.
We are thinking of you and sending all the pawsitiviity we got. xoxo
CRF is a frustrating thing–especially when they won’t eat. You KNOW they need to eat, but their tummies are upset and the won’t. But then, their tummies get worse when they are empty. And it is SO frustrating. Our 8 year old cat Momo (well, he’s 9 now) crashed last year, hard, with no warning. He was in hospital for three days, his levels were all off the charts, stage IV, count your minutes. We thought for SURE we’d lost him–our vet has no idea why we didn’t. He bounced back enough to come home–but for the first, oh, month?–it was a struggle. He just wouldn’t eat ANYTHING. Not the prescription food, not baby food, not tuna water, nuttin. He went from 17+lbs to 10 lbs. I was hand feeding him tiny bits of tuna and force feeding him nutrical.
In the end, our vet told us…get him to eat SOMETHING. I don’t care if it’s the worst food possible. Just eat. So I started hand feeding him Fancy Feast (aka Kitty Crack) a tiny smidge at a time. And eventually, he started eating again. (Oddly enough, now, with Sam and the OSA…the only thing he’d eat there for awhile was…Fancy Feast. )
FWIW, seven months later, he’s gained back most of his weight. Hes levels are still high–but not “imminent death” high. He is down to every other day for fluids (for the first three months or so, we did it daily), and is hale and hearty and his old self, more or less. He’s eating his prescription dry food now–but still gets a half can of FancyFeast daily. Not the greatest food…but it’s a compromise.
So, long story short…keep her eating, whatever it is. Get her in the habit, get her energy and enthusiasm up, and stabilize that tummy. THEN worry about the quality of food. The old CRF adage is “some really bad for you food is better than no really good for you food.” Eating Kitty Crack (or Doggy Crack) may not kill you; NOT eating definitely will.
Hugs to you…I TOTALLY get your pain and frustration. <3
Maggie, you’re such a good girl! You’re on some super supplements and mom is trying really hard to keep you comfy. Eat your good foods, little lady. We love you!
Thank you for your reply! I’m at that point of letting her eat what she wants and not worry about it being too high in phosphorus! She has to eat something…. Today’s highlight was boiled chicken thighs with skin on and the broth…yum, she said!
Thanks to each and every one of you for following Maggie’s blog and for all your kind thoughts and comments. I will say for SURE that Maggie is continually teaching me things in her lifespan!
Tracy
Hey Tracy,
Hang in there. There is also a kidney dog group on Yahoo- I joined when my Maggie was diagnosed, its called K9KIDNEYS. I didn’t remember it until I read about the FB group you found.
The eating part is so frustrating- one memorable day Maggie turned down chicken, her favorite food in the world, but ate turkey?? I had to work really hard at not showing her my frustration because then she wouldn’t even come to her food bowl. You might remember that I ended up syringe feeding her more often than not, especially the last 2.5 to 3 months. I found one flavor of Merick canned food that she would eat almost every time. I pureed it in the blender. I tried other varieties of that food, but she wouldn’t eat them. I’m not sure how long we could have gone on, or if she would have rebounded, but she held pretty steady the last 3 months. Then the second cancer…
Karen
Karen,
I do remember all of what you went thru with your Maggie….I had forgotten about the syringing food into her though.. I’m getting about the normal amount into her but it is not her regular food..she hasn’t touched that in a couple weeks. And what is good for today or tomorrow, may not be good the next day…
Dogs…*sigh*….
Tracy
Hang in there Tracy and keep on hoppin’ on Ms. Maggie Moo! You’re lookin’ good grrrrrlfriend……..
Sending you all our love,
the OP
Hang in there Maggie. Looks like your mom is one mean meatloaf cook. So glad you ate some of it. Sending all our good thoughts your way.
Shooter & Luanne
http://www.vet.upenn.edu/Research/BasicandClinicalResearch/CanineCancerStudies/BoneCancerStudy/tabid/2392/Default.aspx
Some new hope…
New vaccine for dogs with diagnosis of bone cancer in limbs..
Hugs to you Tracy. You and Maggy teach us all so much. Hope today is a great one.
We all love you, Maggie!! Hugs to you both!!