Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in my dog – it's progressing

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Isabelle79 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

My little Lolita, an American Cocker Spaniel who is nearly 13, has had kidney disease since this winter. We found out during a routine check-up.

At the time, her levels were still relatively low (creatinine 1.47, urea 0.76, and urinary proteinuria 0.32).

However, since then, the levels have just kept rising with every blood test.

I’ve tried everything: renal dry food, home-cooked meals, on top of all her medications (Ipakitine, Fortekor, Duomega, Porus One).

Her latest blood test is bad again. Everything has shot up since the previous one.

Her current levels are creatinine: 1.94, urea: 87, phosphorus: 2.6 mmol, and urinary proteinuria 0.64.

The vet doesn’t give her more than a year to live.

I’m devastated, absolutely terrified...

I can’t imagine losing her...

She’s my best friend...

As of today, she’s started taking Chinese herbs.

I’m hoping so much that they’ll help bring these levels down, or at least stabilise them.

She’s in great shape otherwise, except that she’s becoming very incontinent (she already had a bit of spay incontinence before).

She’s also lost a lot of weight, but the last blood test showed her thyroid isn’t well managed (she’s gone from an underactive thyroid to becoming overactive), so we’ve reduced her thyroid medication and she’s already put a bit of weight back on.

Apart from that, she’s full of beans. We still go for 6-mile walks regularly.

Has anyone else been through this? Levels that just keep going up? Did you eventually manage to stabilise things?

I’m so scared and really need to hear some reassuring stories.

Thanks so much

Translated from French
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12 answers
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    • Anna-Nouna
    Anna-nouna Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, My post might be coming a bit late, but hopefully it might help some other people and their pets especially! :-) My little girl was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) back in May 2024. She was hospitalised for two days and put on a drip (fluid therapy). When she came home, she was prescribed Fortekor, but she reacted really badly to it and stopped eating altogether. Six weeks later, she had another flare-up and had to spend another three days in the vet hospital. I was devastated... In the meantime, a holistic vet suggested a herbal treatment—Ergyvet Renal—which did seem to have some effect. While searching online, I came across a plant called Lespedeza capitata, which had some great reviews. She’s been on this supplement along with Omega-3 for two weeks now. I’m also giving her subcutaneous fluids at home every other day, after the vet showed me how to do it at the surgery. Since then, she seems to have stabilised. She’s eating less than she used to, but she’ll eat anything I give her, and she’s in great shape—full of life and running around like a mad thing! I really think the Lespedeza capitata has played a massive part in her improvement. This plant is recommended for kidney failure in both dogs and cats. Initially, I tried a supplement called Lithamine, but it made her really itchy (it contains other ingredients like acerola and blackcurrant). For the last two days, she’s been on a pure Lespedeza capitata supplement and the itching is finally clearing up... what a relief! I’ve got nothing to sell here, but I honestly think this supplement is worth a try. You can find it from various different manufacturers. Anyway, I hope this might give some of you a bit of extra insight into the condition. If it helps even just a few of you—and especially your four-legged friends—I’ll be so happy! :-) Best wishes, Anna-Nouna
    Translated from French
    A
    Actd Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone,

    @isabelle79, have you seen any improvement with the Chinese herbs? I have a 12-year-old little Yorkie who was diagnosed with CKD last December. Unfortunately, her levels just keep rising; she went from 15 for creatinine and 1.5 for urea in March, to 35 creatinine and 1.5 urea at the end of April (she was put on a drip for a week to help her), and now it's 45 creatinine and 2.25 urea today... so she’s had to go back into the vet's to be put on a drip again, even though she'd only been home for a fortnight. She’s on Fortekor 5mg (half a tablet a day) and a renal diet. I’ve got an appointment with a homeopath next week to look into some herbal treatments. Does anyone have any advice on how to get these levels down? I’m at my wits' end and I’m really not ready to lose her yet (she’s still so bright, she just goes off her food a bit when her levels spike like they have over the last few weeks).

    Translated from French
    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    It’s the same with things like garden peas, chickpeas, lentils and bananas – give these in very strict moderation, or even cut them out completely for dogs with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). (Just a reminder, for all dogs, aubergine, avocado, radish, quince and elderberries are a no-go.)

    By swapping them for melon, pineapple, kiwi, mango, beetroot, celery, a small amount of cooked chicory, fennel, tarragon, nettle, oats, kamut, spelt, quinoa, teff, amaranth and millet, she’ll get more than enough vitamins and calories to maintain her weight.

    If you have a moment, why not pop over to the BARF forum?

    http://www.b-a-r-f.com/

    You can have a chat with Jazz and Ruju about Lolita; it’ll give you some different perspectives on feeding and care.

    Translated from French
    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    Swiss chard, watercress, leeks and Jerusalem artichokes for pets with kidney disease: keep the quantities to a minimum and they’re best served steamed.

    Translated from French
    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi,

    Leafy greens:

    https://www.vismedicatrixnaturae.fr/alimentation/fruits-et-legumes-barf/

    http://barf-asso.fr/insuffisance-renale-et-barf/

    http://barf-asso.fr/les-legumes/

    Regarding spinach for Lolita, it’s best to avoid it for the sake of her kidneys.

    https://www.pinterest.fr/Doudou229/le-barf-pour-chien/

    Translated from French
    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    Based on the results: For creatinine levels between 1.6 and 4.5 mg, it’s recommended to lower protein intake to between 2.0 and 2.2 grams per kg of body weight (roughly 0.9 to 1g per lb). Make sure to vary the meats and use as few raw meaty bones as possible to keep phosphorus levels down. To reduce phosphorus for Lolita, one egg yolk (including the white and the shell) per week will be plenty. Depending on her weight, have a word with your vet to see if they can calculate a limit of no more than 22.25 mg per kg of body weight (about 10 mg per lb) for a dog with advanced kidney failure. For a dog weighing 12kg (about 1st 12lbs or 26.5lbs), that’s roughly 170 to 450 mg. The further the disease progresses, the more you need to restrict phosphorus. Things to avoid: certain fish (especially large ones), cow’s milk and dairy products, offal (specifically pork liver), salt, legumes, any processed meats, and absolutely no cod liver oil. If you choose to go with a BARF diet for Lolita: You won’t be able to do without leafy greens, fruit, and certain grains to support her immune system and digestion (and weight) to try and slow down the progression of her levels. Depending on her digestion (keep an eye on her stools), you’ll likely need to increase the meat portion to compensate, as you'll be feeding fewer meaty bones due to her condition. Even if you increase her fat intake (vegetable oils, lipids) to balance things out, she might still struggle with constipation, given her age and the CKD (chronic kidney disease). To help her absorb and digest proteins better and stay active, ask your vet if they would recommend a supplement like calcium carbonate. Ideally, you should try to see a holistic or naturopathic vet.
    Translated from French
    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    With a home-cooked, wet raw, or BARF diet, it’s easier to manage protein intake since you have the flexibility to adjust the amounts of certain ingredients, provided that the protein you provide is high quality compared to other types of food.

    Astragalus can be really beneficial for boosting energy and vitality...

    ...but you can also try adding a good quality Krill oil (human grade) or small oily fish (like sardines or anchovies), or some kelp or a little raw butter (never cook or heat fats – oils and butter should always be served raw).

    When choosing butter, always check the sugar and salt content on the label.

    That could really help them...

    Regarding meats, once you’ve completed a transition period using poultry (see the BARF forum), you can start adding lamb, goat, turkey, guinea fowl, horse, or beef (note that lean beef contains less phosphorus than some poultry). You can also include sardines, anchovies, mackerel, powdered or crushed eggshells, virgin olive oil, borage, courgettes, cucumber, turnip, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potato, squash, apples, pears, watermelon, nectarines, peaches, and other fruit or veg... (have a look at the list on the BARF forum, it's useful for all types of diets).

    Translated from French
    I
    Isabelle79 Icon representing the flag French
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    What do you mean by leafy greens that are low in phosphorus? Spinach???? It's on the list for my pet's home-cooked meals, but I’ve been a bit hesitant to try it because when I look online, it says they're not recommended for pets with kidney disease...
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    I
    Isabelle79 Icon representing the flag French
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    Oh, and she hasn't got any blood in her poo and not much diarrhoea either (it depends on what I put in her home-cooked meals, as I've noticed that if I give her barley she gets a bit of a runny tummy). As for the nettle seeds, I saw that online actually, and since the start of the week she's been getting about a spoonful every morning. I bought them from a chemist (so they're human-grade) and just sprinkle them over her food.
    Translated from French
    I
    Isabelle79 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone,

    I actually wanted to switch to a raw diet, but my holistic vet—who drew up the nutrition plan and prescribed the Chinese herbs—told me she doesn't want me doing everything at the same time. She basically said it’s either the herbs or I do my own thing.

    I decided to go with the herbs since I’m off on holiday with my little girl this weekend for two weeks anyway, so switching to raw isn't really an option for now.

    That said, I am cheating a little bit. I'm supposed to be giving her a maximum of 15% cooked meat and at least 55% carbs in her home-cooked meals, but I’ve been giving her 20% meat (which I leave raw) and 50% rice...

    I’m not sure how to handle things while we’re away because I’m nervous about keeping raw meat in the camping fridge as it doesn't always stay below 4 degrees. So I think I'll stick to cooked meat and maybe use up the bit of renal wet food and dry food I have left.

    Translated from French

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