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Kidney Disease - Advice/Opinions please

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Sunflower

Sunflower

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One of my piggies Darf has been diagnosed with Kidney disease. Despite having a healthy appetite and being very lively he was losing weight, the blood results came back on Tuesday and the elevated enzymes show he has kidney disease. I know there is no cure but the vet has put him on a course of antibiotics (Baytril) incase he has an infection which may be adding to the problem of his kidneys not functioning properly. Since he started the antibiotics last night his appetite has reduced. I noticed blood in his urine around Christmas and when on the same antibiotic the same thing happened with his appetite but he picked up after about a week. He was doing fine and then I noticed he was losing weight. I am not sure that it is the right thing to do to have him on the antibiotics as he really can't afford to lose any more weight. I know the outlook is not good for Darf, I want him to have a good quality of life for the time he has left so am wondering whether he should stay on the antibiotic. I will be speaking to the vet again but any advice gratefully received.
 
Are you giving a probiotic in addition to the antibiotic? This can often help with keeping the flora in the gut balanced. If his appetite is poor a top up feed will be wise - some pigs will happily eat softened pellets. Add some hot water to a small bowl of pellets (2 tablespoons) allow to absorb the water (10 mins) and offer, if he refuses to eat then you can add a bit more water to make it suitable to syringe instead.

You can add the probiotics to the food given 1-2 hours after the antibiotics so that the gut flora is not inactive for too long.

HTH

Suzy x
 
I'm so sorry to hear this - however whilst the blood results show his kidneys are not functioning properly have you any idea as to why this is? Dependng upon the cause a good care package could be worked out for Darth to give quality of life for whatever remains.

Causes of kidney disease include the following:
a) heart probs - manageable for months/years with frusemide and fortekor
b) kidney stones - inoperable but manageable with high dose metacam or tramadol pain relief (helps them start eating again and put on weight until the kidneys finally fail).
c) lymphoma/leukamia (this would probably have shown up in the blood test) - treatable short term only with steroids or chemo
d) kidney infection - treatable with antibioitics

Whatever the cause, it is most likely that he is in considerable pain as kidney disease is not pleasant. I have had pigs with kidney disease from all the above 4 causes and we have managed their pain/weight loss with metacam or tramadol (or both) and syringe feeding. Sometimes we have also given fluids to keep the kidneys flushed (and in one case we needed to give subcutaneous fluids for a few days to stabilise after an infection that was also treated agressively with high dose septrin). In one further case of leukaemia we gave prednisone steroid (leaving time to get metacam out of their sytem first as the two drugs are contrainidcated) and we had good results.

I think you need to go back to the vet for pain relief if you do not already have authorisation to give some....and start syringe feeding in the short term to keep his guts moving and get his weight up.

Has he had an xray? That would help rule out kidney stones and heart disease. A culture of his urine would help rule out infection. As to him being on baytril - give this is a urinary condition and baytril is affecting his apetite it might be worth switching to septrin as it is better for urinary infections and kinder on the guts.

One last thing - if his kidneys are failing you need to discuss with the vet an "end point" and be aware of how to recognise the symptoms. These will differ from piggy to piggy and you know Darth best so you need to ensure you monitor him closesly for changes in behaviour. End stage kdiney disease is really horrible and painful - I have always managed to recgonise the signs and get the vet to help my piggies to the Bridge before they suffer the terminal stage.

Whatever the cause - I have had piggies enjoy a really good quality of life given the right care package (sometimes for over a year) and we have always had a good "quality" last day together before they have been helped to The Bridge.

HTH
x
 
I'm really sorry to hear about little Darf :(

SENDING LOVING WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Thankyou Pebbles for your reply also. The vet did not say what could be causing the kidneys to fail but we are due to go back next week so I will defintely ask more questions then. He has not had an x-ray. Darfy is a rescue as are all my piggies so I also have no idea of age, we have had him for 18months and he was fully grown when we got him. Thankfully he does not appear to be showing any signs of pain as he is lively when out on exercise with my other piggies but I agree about the metacam because its also an anti-inflammatory I believe. Last night after my post he was in his nugget bowl having a munch and he was having ago at his veggie breakfast this morning. Thanks once again Pebbles for your kind advice xx Ps I've just picked him a bunch of fresh grass and he nearly took my hand off...bless him x
 
I am heatbroken to report that my little Darfy passed away yesterday. Forever in my heart my little Darfy and always on my mind x
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. We are losing so many of our little ones recently. RIP little Darf. Popcorn free in the sunshine at the bridge, your mummy will miss you so much. :0

x.
 
Thank you for your kind words Abi_Nurse. Hubby and I loved him so much as we do all our piggies and we keep saying could we have done more? We try to give them the best life, they all live indoors with us all year round, they have indoor runs and outdoor runs for the warmer months. They are our children. Non-piggie people don't understand how you come to love these little creatures so much. Darf was always the first one to jump on his house at breakfast time wheeking away and hubby said he knew when I was coming home even before I put my key in the door as Darfy used to start wheeking. I hope he's happy now and that he's found an endless supply of fresh spring grass at Rainbow Bridge x
 
So sorry for your loss of your piggie. They are part of your family and it is heartbreaking when the leave. *big hugs*

RIP Darf
x x
 
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