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Discussion on Questions re: IV treatment for Kidney failure
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 - 12:20 pm:
Hi Dr.O, I have another question re: my old girl. After reviewing your article again, I'm confused about IV treatments. I was advised by the vet in Las Vegas that at my mare's age it would be a very temporary fix and given the distinct impression that I shouldn't bother with it. He said that if she were in foal and we wanted to keep her going long enough to get the foal, it would be worth the try. Leaving me with the conclusion that otherwise, in her case, it wasn't worth doing. Now I'm wondering about that.
She is still bright eyed and comes to the door to great me in the a.m. She is eating a little better than she was, although it is still small amounts and she's very picky. No one has diagnosed desease, just given me her blood work and implied "old age" and maybe a result of her being cushings was mentioned. According to your article, it doesn't sound like renal failure is a normal result of age, at least not at 28.
Aside from the lack of appetite, her biggest symptom is fluid retention; her legs are again "stocked up" the entire length of the leg this a.m.
I posted her blood work under "Pigeon Fever" I think it was. The BUN was 99 (normal 10-25) Creatinine 13.3 (1.2-2.0 normal) BUN/creatinine ratio 7 (normal 5-21) Phosphorus low, calcium high, portasium high, WBC,RBC,HGB, HCT all low.
RBC morphology was normal
I'm not trying to "grasp as straws" but trying to make as well educated decission as possible about what to do. Thanks.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 - 12:35 pm:
I forgot to mention that she also has a very strong heart murmur - the heart beat is regular, but you can hear a lot of sloshing and the vet said her valves weren't working right. My dad has a similar problem, but is given medication to help with fluid retention. Would lasix help her with the fluid build-up?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 - 7:07 pm:
Sarah, I think your confusion is because the statements in this article apply to cases of acute renal disease and failure and would not apply to a horse with chronic renal disease, which is what I think your horse has. Instead you should read the recommendations at Diseases of Horses » Urinary System » Chronic Renal Failure.
DrO
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 - 7:45 pm:
Thanks. I'll read that.
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