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I haven't posted anything in forever. And I know why. For years LiveJournal has been where I can post things that are really personal, a place where I could be honest even if I wasn't with folks that I see every day. So while I've mentioned this on Facebook and Twitter, I haven't mentioned it here because to mention it is for it to be real.
My 12-year-old dog Chester is in chronic kidney failure. Since April he's lost 11 pounds. That's a huge amount on a dog that started out weighing 37 pounds. This weekend he's at the vet because he stopped eating Wednesday night. When he was diagnosed, his BUN level was 124 (normal range maxes out at 24, at 60 they're supposedly near death), his CREA level was at 8.4 (compared to the BUN level, this number is even worse). I've been giving him fluids at home (thank god for the wildlife center and my experience there), and he's been on kidney food. Overall he seemed to be fine, despite losing more weight, until Wednesday.
I was terrified that with him not eating, that was it. My dog isn't normal. There's supposed to be lots of vomiting at the end (he threw up once Wed. night), but if there's nothing in the system, I'm not sure that'll be how it goes for him. I thought he was going to be euthanized today, to be honest. My dad was with me for moral support (and as a loan shark, since a weekend at the vets is going to cost $530).
The vet just called to let me know Chester's doing fine. He's been perky as all get out over there, but like I told them, he thinks the vet is the most awesome place ever. There are people and animals. What's not to love? They worried me, though, when they said he went outside to the bathroom and when he came back in, he trotted right over to his crate without any fuss. They found it cute. I didn't tell them that Chester hates a crate and for him to willingly go in one means he doesn't feel well. So now I'm going to worry that in the morning he'll be way worse off.
My 12-year-old dog Chester is in chronic kidney failure. Since April he's lost 11 pounds. That's a huge amount on a dog that started out weighing 37 pounds. This weekend he's at the vet because he stopped eating Wednesday night. When he was diagnosed, his BUN level was 124 (normal range maxes out at 24, at 60 they're supposedly near death), his CREA level was at 8.4 (compared to the BUN level, this number is even worse). I've been giving him fluids at home (thank god for the wildlife center and my experience there), and he's been on kidney food. Overall he seemed to be fine, despite losing more weight, until Wednesday.
I was terrified that with him not eating, that was it. My dog isn't normal. There's supposed to be lots of vomiting at the end (he threw up once Wed. night), but if there's nothing in the system, I'm not sure that'll be how it goes for him. I thought he was going to be euthanized today, to be honest. My dad was with me for moral support (and as a loan shark, since a weekend at the vets is going to cost $530).
The vet just called to let me know Chester's doing fine. He's been perky as all get out over there, but like I told them, he thinks the vet is the most awesome place ever. There are people and animals. What's not to love? They worried me, though, when they said he went outside to the bathroom and when he came back in, he trotted right over to his crate without any fuss. They found it cute. I didn't tell them that Chester hates a crate and for him to willingly go in one means he doesn't feel well. So now I'm going to worry that in the morning he'll be way worse off.
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