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<DIV>Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your dear Barnaby. It breaks my heart
that you're both going through this.</DIV>
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<DIV>There are many things that can be tried for kidney failure -- I'm an
expert, unfortunately, since my Blueberry had it. They all depend upon the
kind of kidney failure, and how advanced it is. I know of dogs who are
active and living good lives four and five years after the vet had said there
wasn't any hope. Heartbreakingly, I also know of others for whom all the
treatments in the world didn't work (like my Blueberry).</DIV>
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<DIV>My first and most important piece of advice is to bring him to a kidney
specialist. No matter how wonderful a regular vet is, there are new
treatments that they don't know about. (There is no cure, but there are
many ways of controlling the disease to restore quality of life.)</DIV>
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<DIV>So, above all, immediately (time is really critical), find a kidney
specialist. I found one at a veterinary school. This was a woman who
ONLY treats kidney dogs, and who does research, so she has seen everything, and
knows everything. There are so many things that can be done to at least
make him comfortable -- daily sub-q fluids that you administer (this is kind of
like an i.v., but it's easy for you to do); special foods; lots of medicines
that settle his tummy and make it easier for him to eat; nutritional
supplements; etc. The kidney specialist will tell you about all of
this. Please go. It was a long drive, but it was SO WORTHWHILE,
because I know that we tried everything, and gave her every chance we
could. Even if I had had to travel to another state and stay overnight, I
gladly would have done it.</DIV>
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<DIV>In the meantime, make sure he eats. He won't feel like it, but you
have to keep his strength up. The specialist said to give Blueberry
anything and everything -- human food, cookies, cheese, anything to tempt
her. Cook him chicken, and let him eat as much as he wants. If he's
not eating, get baby food and spoon it into his mouth, then hold his jaws shut
and stroke his throat to make him swallow. Get a syringe and syringe into
his mouth Ensure (it looks like you're in France? I don't know if that
brand name means anything to you -- it's a nutritious supplement/meal
replacement for people who are sick). Make sure you have a good
over-the-counter human liquid antacid (get your vet to tell you the brand name
of the one that's best, there are some that have added ingredients that aren't
good for dogs; the one they recommended is called Alternagel in the states) --
syringe that into his mouth too, if needed. Have your vet give him
anti-nausea shots and/or pills.</DIV>
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<DIV>Join this online group for owners of kidney dogs -- it's incredible for
information and support:</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><A title=http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS/ href="http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS/">Click here: K9KIDNEYS : for
owners of dogs with Kidney Disease</A> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>If you try everything and it still doesn't work, he'll let you know.
But in the meantime, try everything you can -- in my grief over losing
Blueberry, at least I knew that we had done absolutely everything to give her a
chance. And for a lot of dogs, those chances translate into returned
health and longer life -- the ideal is for kidney disease to become a condition
that's controlled, like diabetes.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Good luck. Hugs to you, because I know how hard and heartbreaking
this is for you. And hugs to your dear boy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Fondly,</DIV>
<DIV>Beth H. (Duchess ATB and Blueberry ATB)</DIV>
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