She is still with us and is eating, but not dog food and she can't keep it down. Anyone have any suggestions? She is getting so frail and weak. No more runs in the yard. :mecry:

Hang in there Andi, its a tough time - thinking about you. :hug:

Oh, Andi, Jack and Flash and I are sending you and Doug big hugs and love.....which of course is what we know you are giving to Maggie!!

We called the doctor..she is in kidney failure. The doc says it is time. We want her with us a bit longer. Doug has run out to get things to make her more comfortable.

The doctor says to give her double strength pepcid ac, aluminum hydrocloride and some pills for something else and to feed her baby food 4 times per day. He may give her shots of epotin if she isn't better by Tues.

Why didn't he prepare us for this so we could have started doing this for her earlier?

Andi & Doug, I'm sooooooooo sorry for what you're going through right now.

I'm really sorry to hear about Maggie's condition. All I can say is you've had some wonderful time with her since you first thought you might lose her. Cherish that. And if you're not sure it's time, look in her eyes, she will tell you.

I agree with Wendy all the way. It is so hard.

Poor Maggie :( I sure hope she recovers.

Andi, my thoughts are with you and Doug. :hug:

:mecry: :mecry: :mecry: :mecry: :mecry:

Wendy said it best. I love the Rudyard Kipling Poem:
The Power Of The Dog
by Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But...you've given your heart for a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart for the dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long--
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

I'm so sorry to hear about Maggie, will keep her in my thoughts. Our two little ones are so special, I can feel your pain.

Oh Andi & Doug. I hand fed my 15 yr. old Lab when she was so ill - she managed to lick my fingers with the food on it. Their precious eyes will tell you everything. Don & I are praying for her.

edit to add: I just read where Wendy also said to look into her eyes. Maggie is a very special doggie.

I am so sorry for you. I remember all too well when I had to make the same decision about my beloved Nicki after 17 years, and all I did was what I thought was right for her and it mad it a tiny bit easier.'Lynn

Thanks so much. The eyes are not yet dimming..even when she was feeling so ill this morning that she could not move, her eyes followed us.

She did greet us tonight at the door and is still mentally alert. She is so thin and weak...we got some food down her tonight...very small amounts hand fed. She doesn't appear to be in any pain. I hope for a bit more time with her. We are hoping for a miracle.

Andi And Doug
I so feel for you right now. We lost our Sadie (lab) 2yrs ago and I still can't let her go . I always said her soul went to her son, Blue because he became so protective of me. Unfortunately, Blue now has CHF at only 6yrs. We have him on a number of drugs from US and on Vetmedin from Canada. ( had to appy to get FDA approval to for, but they sent it before approval anyway without prescription ! Had My dear vets approval and application. She knows our dogs are our like our children and we treat as we would our family if ill. ( Our Children say the dogs are favored in our will! Maybe?!!! )
Just love her and look into those beautiful eyes and cherish every moment. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Even just a shoulder to lean on. My Prayers and love to Maggie. Just love her and let her know everthing is okay, as she is probably more concerned about you than herself.

Kathy
That was wonderful. I had not heard that one by Kipling. Thanks

Andi - don't give up hope! This is exactly the situation that Ahi was in a month before MUSH and he pulled off a complete recovery (admittedly, he's relatively younger than Maggie). We were also on aluminum (to lower phosphorus) and cimetidine (to prevent ulcer formation - like pepcid) - unfortunately, there probably wasn't any way to tell as to when Maggie might be likely to go into kidney failure so as to start the meds early. Ahi was the one that we were doing the subcutaneous fluids on - have they talked about doing an IV for Maggie? Sometimes hydration does help with reducing the amount of kidney failure. Sometimes you can't tell whether it's permanent kidney failure (which is fatal eventually) or temporary kidney failure initially.

We did consider putting Ahi down during the worst days of his condition and SO glad that we didn't. As long as you see that light in her eyes and she doesn't seem to be in pain, don't give up on her!!!

Masaki

Andi - I'm so sorry to hear to you are going through this with your dear Maggie. Masaki has just mentioned the treatment our daughter-in-law did with her cat for more than a year when he went into kidney failure. I think it was subcutaneous fluids every three days. I would certainly ask the vet about this.

Thanks, Maskaki and Kathy, Kim also recommended sub-q IV. I will call the doc about this tomorrow am.

Right now, she is on Pepcid AC, aluminum hydroxide, epakitin over food 2 X per day, sulcrafate tabs, metoclopramide.

She had a restful night, but is very weak this am. Still has no appetite. I got about 20 tablespoons of pedialyte into her and a tiny bowl of tuna with the epakitin. She was 44 pounds in 2004 and is 29 pounds today. Though, in May she was only 26 pounds.

You have all given us such good advice over the past few years. It's honestly, your advice and support that is the reason I think she is still with us..plus our love and her will to live. I am taking all of it.

Just sending you more hugs and love... :hug:

Andi,
I am thinking about you! You and Doug have been WONDERFUL "parents" to sweet Maggie!!
HUGS!! :hug:
Sheri

Sending all our best thoughts to Maggie! Hang in there!

Hugs to Maggie, Andi and Doug. :hug: Depending on whether the kidney failure is acute or chronic, you may have some options. We managed chronic renal failure in one of our cats for almost two years with sub-q fluids every other day along with epakitin and a potassium supplement. When we started this regimen, he'd lost about 70% of kidney function but what was left remained pretty steady with this treatment. When he eventually passed away, it was not due to his kidney failure.

Through our sweet cats, I went from someone who had never handled a needle (other than for sewing on a button) to being able to do injections and sub-q fluids! It's not hard at all with some practice.

{editing to add, I found lots of great resources on the internet - I would give you links but they are all feline CRF - but there are probably comparable sites out there}

Dena

Thanks. Things were no worse today..but I really can't say they were better. The only good thing was that she ate an entire cooked egg on her own without being fed. Thank you all for your wishes. Doug left for Europe tonight, so I am on my own. I have to keep her with us ... can't let anything happen to her while he is gone. He would be devastated. Keep Mags in your prayers.

Sorry to hear that Maggie isn't doing well. Hang in there, Andi.

We always have good thoughts for Maggie!

Masaki

Dear Andi...I am so sorry Maggie is struggling, but she's come back from moments like this before and I pray that she will do it again.

Sending all of you lots of love and hugs. I feel your pain.

Sending positive thoughts and prayers Maggies way!

Oh my heart is breaking...sending lots of strong thoughts and hugs to all of you, especially Maggie. It is so hard to let go and say good bye...but as others said she will tell you when it is time.

:hug: :hug:

Andi, I came to this thread late. My heart is breaking for you and Doug but you know we're all sending loving thoughts your way. We were just on this road ourselves prior to MUSH and lots of tears were shed. So happy to hear that the light is still in Maggie's eyes. Please keep us updated.

Thinking about you, Andi and Doug..........how's our girl doing? :hug:

She is failing. She cannot hold food down anymore.

Bert and I send our best wishes.

Andi, we're holding Maggie closely in our prayers out here. Sending hugs to you right now.

Andi,

Thank you for the update. We'll continue to keep you all in our thoughts. Sending a hug to you and a scratch behind the ears for Maggie.

Andi,
I can't say anything to make Maggie better, but please know that I am thinking about you, Doug and Maggie. Hang in there!
Hugs! :hug: :hug: :hug:
Sheri

Andi, our thoughts are with you - we know first-hand how difficult it is to lose a pet to a long-term illness and how heart-wrenching those final days/hours are. We lost our little mini-dachshund Kirby on Christmas Day two years ago, and I still tear up when I think of that horrible day.

Just know that your precious Maggie will be in a better place and she will always be with you in spirit.

Andi, we're wrapping our arms around you, Doug and precious Maggie
:hug: :hug: :hug:

Andi and Doug,

I'm so sorry Maggie is failing. These are the hardest moments for all of you. I wish I could send you something more than prayers and hugs - our Maggie is there to greet your Maggie when she gets to the Rainbow Bridge. I know they will be instant friends!

Words can't express how sad we are about Maggie's progress. Sending you even more hugs out your way.