• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Renal (kidney) Failure

Status
Not open for further replies.
DawnMack

DawnMack

New Born Pup
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
12
Reaction score
5
Points
95
Location
Lancashire
We were told this morning that Pip (nearly 6yo) has renal failure. He's very, very wet and his poop isn't normal. He's also quite swollen underneath at the back, but feels like he's losing weight, feeling quite bony down his back. He's still fairly lively, but he's always been the most sociable piggie I've ever known, liking cuddles and play. The vet said that there's nothing we can do, except keep him comfortable. I've never had a piggie with this before. Has anyone got experience of this? I know we have a decision to make
 
Sadly, there is very little you can do in terms of kidney failure for the medium or even long term, especially if it is well advanced. Any rather expensive treatment can only buy you a pretty short time longer. I have had to pts piggies of mine for kidney failure. :(

Make sure that he has got painkiller (not necessarily metacam/loxicom which is impacting on the kidneys) and has syringe feed top-up as long as he has a will to live and is willing to eat. Give him regular bum washes with hand-warm water, cream the bum with a suitable cream your vet may prescribe to deal with any urine scald and change his bedding daily; in the sleeping are even twice daily if necessary.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

It is a total blow to the guts when you are confronted with the news that a much beloved, special pet has got an uncurable issue and that you have got only a limited time left with it. Spend that time well - love transcends time; it is amazing just how many precious moments you can pack in a short space of time! You will know when the time has come and the last - and greatest - gift you can give a suffering pet is to let it go.

Pip is a good age; sadly like with us humans, when you come to the end of the normal lifespan, one or more organs are starting to weaken or fail. :(

HUGS
 
Wiebke said:
Sadly, there is very little you can do in terms of kidney failure for the medium or even long term, especially if it is well advanced. Any rather expensive treatment can only buy you a pretty short time longer. I have had to pts piggies of mine for kidney failure. :(

Make sure that he has got painkiller (not necessarily metacam/loxicom which is impacting on the kidneys) and has syringe feed top-up as long as he has a will live and is willing to eat. Give him regular bum washes wish hand-warm water, cream the bum with a suitable cream your vet may prescribe to deal with any urine scald and change his bedding daily; in the sleeping are even twice daily if necessary.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

It is a total blow to the guts when you are confronted with the news that a much beloved, special pet has got an uncurable issue and that you have got only a limited time left with it. Spend that time well - love transcends time; it is amazing just how many precious moments you can pack in a short space of time! You will know when the time has come and the last - and greatest - gift you can give a suffering pet is to let it go.

Pip is a good age; sadly like with us humans, when you come to the end of the normal lifespan, one or more organs are starting to weaken or fail. :(

HUGS
Click to expand...
Thank you. We've had several piggies before and lost them to a variety of typical illnesses, where this seems to be more to do with age. There've been several other little things that haven't really troubled him, but this feels more like we're nearing the end. We go on holiday next week and I can't bear the thought of leaving him with my friend, but looking at how wet and swollen he is I fear I may need to cancel the sitter before then anyway. He's still quite chirpy in himself, but he always is. He's had bladder stones in the past and behaviour didn't really change. He really is a little trooper. Thanks for listening and your earlier reply.
 
DawnMack said:
Thank you. We've had several piggies before and lost them to a variety of typical illnesses, where this seems to be more to do with age. There've been several other little things that haven't really troubled him, but this feels more like we're nearing the end. We go on holiday next week and I can't bear the thought of leaving him with my friend, but looking at how wet and swollen he is I fear I may need to cancel the sitter before then anyway. He's still quite chirpy in himself, but he always is. He's had bladder stones in the past and behaviour didn't really change. He really is a little trooper. Thanks for listening and your earlier reply.
Click to expand...

Poor you - it is always so much worse when you have got a major human commitment coming up and you have to make any decisions with more than deciding factor in mind. Wishing you and your little boy all the best.
 
Wiebke said:
Poor you - it is always so much worse when you have got a major human commitment coming up and you have to make any decisions with more than deciding factor in mind. Wishing you and your little boy all the best.
Click to expand...
Thank you. We'll see how he goes over the next few days. I just don't want him to suffer. He's been a brave and resilient piggie and deserves dignity and to be pain free when the time comes.
 
aww its heartbreaking when the time comes, but i have lost one of my previous girls to renal failure, to be honest she was gradually thinning down & drinking lots more water, the vet said it would be a gradual process until the kidneys were at a point when they could no longer cope & then things would happen very quickly &i would know it when the time came.
unfortunately he was right after a few months, because within hours she went from coping to rapidly deteriorating & the final act of love had to be taken :bye:

is the vet sure its renal failure & not just a bout of cystitus/urinary tract infection? has he been tried with antibiotics to see if it will clear up?
if he is very wet, i used to give mine daily bum baths & just trim away her hair near her genitals to stop the hair being wee'd on & smelly (needs to be clean this weather with extra flies about).
make sure he is thoroughly dry before going back outside though.

quite often heart & kidney issues are linked, is there a possibility this could be happening in his case?
what tests or observations did the vet do/see to conclude with renal failure?

i read somewher that cornsilks (stringy bits off of maize/corn on the cob)were good for kidney problems also cleavers or the sticky bud plants goosegrass whatever you want to call it - preferably before they get the little white flowers on them.
give him foods such as cucumber to increase his fluids & try some dandelions/celery if he is starting to retain water , unless he is really bad & the vet or diuretics are needed.
its a fine line to balance all the levels.
@Adelle has had experience with this & has some great information on potassium levels etc that may help your little man :wub:

@helen105281 has a good diet for IC piggies would this be of any use to try for him to see if he improves?

good luck & hopefully he will go on with a good quality of life for a bit longer yet, but please dont dismiss the UTI possibility of it

xx
 
Last edited:
GPTV said:
aww its heartbreaking when the time comes, but i have lost one of my previous girls to renal failure, to be honest she was gradually thinning down & drinking lots more water, the vet said it would be a gradual process until the kidneys were at a point when they could no longer cope & then things would happen very quickly &i would know it when the time came.
unfortunately he was right after a few months, because within hours she went from coping to rapidly deteriorating & the final act of love had to be taken :bye:

is the vet sure its renal failure & not just a bout of cystitus/urinary tract infection? has he been tried with antibiotics to see if it will clear up?
if he is very wet, i used to give mine daily bum baths & just trim away her hair near her genitals to stop the hair being wee'd on & smelly (needs to be clean this weather with extra flies about).
make sure he is thoroughly dry before going back outside though.

quite often heart & kidney issues are linked, is there a possibility this could be happening in his case?
what tests or observations did the vet do/see to conclude with renal failure?

i read somewher that cornsilks (stringy bits off of maize/corn on the cob)were good for kidney problems also cleavers or the sticky bud plants goosegrass whatever you want to call it - preferably before they get the little white flowers on them.
give him foods such as cucumber to increase his fluids & try some dandelions/celery if he is starting to retain water , unless he is really bad & the vet or diuretics are needed.
its a fine line to balance all the levels.
@Adelle has had experience with this & has some great information on potassium levels etc that may help your little man :wub:

@helen105281 has a good diet for IC piggies would this be of any use to try for him to see if he improves?

good luck & hopefully he will go on with a good quality of life for a bit longer yet, but please dont dismiss the UTI possibility of it

xx
Click to expand...
Thank you, and unfortunately the vet is sure. Whilst he was on the vet table this morning, he produced three really big puddles. He tested the urine and there was no infection. He's been losing weight gradually for a little while, but the last few days he's weeing lots all the time and he's very swollen underneath. He was sat on my knee when we got home and I got very wet, very quickly. He's just had a bitvof dandelion, which he loves, and I'll give him a bath in a bit. It's just scary how rapidly they can go downhill once something serious happens. We have a really good vet, but he's not holding out much hope. Thanks for your reply. It's been a help.
 
DawnMack said:
Thank you, and unfortunately the vet is sure. Whilst he was on the vet table this morning, he produced three really big puddles. He tested the urine and there was no infection. He's been losing weight gradually for a little while, but the last few days he's weeing lots all the time and he's very swollen underneath. He was sat on my knee when we got home and I got very wet, very quickly. He's just had a bitvof dandelion, which he loves, and I'll give him a bath in a bit. It's just scary how rapidly they can go downhill once something serious happens. We have a really good vet, but he's not holding out much hope. Thanks for your reply. It's been a help.
Click to expand...

Sadly once you get to advanced stages of renal failure, it tends to go quite quickly. Personally, I think it is kinder on the animal involved although it is harder on any loving owner. Just make him as comfy as you can while he can still enjoy things.
 
Wiebke said:
Sadly once you get to advanced stages of renal failure, it tends to go quite quickly. Personally, I think it is kinder on the animal involved although it is harder on any loving owner. Just make him as comfy as you can while he can still enjoy things.
Click to expand...
Thanks, we will. He loves a bath and a bit of carpet time. He also loves the cat, believe it or not! I know she'll miss him, they're very bonded. She's been around piggies since she was a kitten and is quite maternal with Pip. He'll be loved and spoilt rotten for the time he has left.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top