My constant education with Maggie…

Wow…I have to say the education Maggie has taught me with first cancer and now

kidney disease is mind boggling to me.

Just a few things to blog about today….

A month or so ago, Maggie refused her food(again) – I had added a supplement in hopes

to help her gurgly stomach. I have read that kidney disease dogs have stomach issues,

which she is no exception, often having a very noisy stomach and also having episodes

of high respirations during these times of gurgly stomach. But after refusing her food, I

had to switch her food because even with NO powdered supplements in it, she was still

hesitant to eat it. So, I have yet to add back in her kidney support powders(Epakitin

and Renal Advanced) for fear of her not wanting to eat again. I have managed to get

back into the food eggshell powder as read that has no taste. Then, this week I decided

to add in Wholistic Pet Digest All powder after listening to her stomach gurgle just

WAY too much. That and some loose stools. The powder is very powerful in that I

only need to add 1/4 tsp. per cup, so figured I could add that with no issues of her not

wanting to eat her food. All’s well..she’s still eating and in fact, her stools have made

a complete turn around and the very next morning, was 100%. I am also listening to

a less gurgly stomach and I have also noticed since starting this she seems RAVENOUS

even more than normal(due to Pred). Well, I just read this on a www.thrivingpets.com

regarding digestive enzymes/probiotics for kidney dogs:

“Pets with kidney disease may have digestive problems. Digestive enzymes help
pets digest their food more easily. Breaking down nutrients is thought to help
decrease the workload on the kidneys. Probiotics are designed to help with
digestion and may be beneficial as an appetite stimulant.”

Well, well….isn’t that intesting! Appetite stimulant….hmmm….!!! New one to me

and it sure seems like Maggie is proving that to be true with her RAVENOUS way

of eating since I’ve been adding it!

Then, on this same website ( www.thrivingpets.com ) I went to order some subQ

fluids from them so I wouldn’t have to get at the vet’s office…and low and behold,

look what they say about IV fluid bags:

“Lactated Ringers comes in 2 different bags- the old style is PVC (Poly-vinyl
Chloride) and contains a chemical, plastic softener called DEHP. DEHP has been
linked to cancer and the FDA requires a written disclosure on products
containing DEHP. The new style of fluid bags are DEHP-Free, Hospira’s brand name
for these bags is VisIV.”

So, I go look at my fluid bags I got from the vet(where I’ve been getting fluids since

April)….and guess what, my fluids have the DEHP in them!! Maybe it doesn’t matter

in the least, given the fact Maggie already has cancer but it’s BEYOND ME as to why

they even make the fluid bags with it?? Think of all the hospitals that I’m SURE use

that type(cheaper than the other without it). WTH!??!?! Ok, so had to vent for a minute..

So, I ordered 24 bags of the DEHP FREE fluids for Maggie. Which cost me .60 cents

LESS per bag AND free shipping vs. getting at the vet’s office(and having to drive 1 hour

one way to go get them).

Sooo…..to anyone else dealing with kidney disease ( or any other of the diseases they

carry meds for) I highly suggest www.thrivingpets.com ! They’ve given me an education

and have good prices.

So, just a few words about Maggie’s health as it stands right now. She seems to be

‘holding her own’ still. Weak and doesn’t do much for exercise – I try to give her a little

bit but it’s like a double edged sword – she’s so weak from her disease but the laying

around and doing nothing just makes her muscles all that more weak. Have upped

the daily fluids amount some in an effort to help with that weakness but I don’t see

much change yet. Her appetite is awesome at present – she’s eating Stella and Chewy’s

raw and Essex Cottage Farms Kidney diet mix cooked up with boneless meat/squash/

egg/oil added. She LOOOOOVES that at the present as that is the most recent addition.

Gina has switched her homeopathic remedy to Merc. Sol 30C, 2 times a day and that

seems to be helping Maggie as well.

Here’s a little video I took of her on Sunday…still showing some “spark” 🙂

Guess that’s all for now…

Tracy & Maggie