My dog is in the end stages of kidney failure. What to do?

Question

I took my 13 year old dog into the vet 3 days ago because she hadn't been eating for awhile and had lost weight. Come to find out she's lost 2 lbs. and gone from 15 lbs to 13. The vet tested her blood and said that she was in kidney failure so I left her there so they could give her fluids and try to get her eating again. I picked her up from the vet yesterday since she had eaten her breakfast and hadn't thrown up. She ate her dinner last night with no problem, but this morning, she won't eat again. Right now she is lying on her pillow shivering and the vet is out of town until Wednesday. I feel so helpless! The vet put her on the Purina kidney diet and she won't eat that. I called today and got some high calorie food to mix with the other. She took a few bites and then wouldn't eat anymore. She peed in the floor today (SO not like her), and pooped twice in the floor (somewhat like her). All I can think to do is put a diaper on her and take her to a different vet on Monday, but what to do until then??

Answer 1

We had to put down our 15 year old mixed breed not too long ago. Its the best thing to do, but very hard, they won't be suffering anymore. She peed on the floor three times then we took her to the vet, she was having heart failure and fluid was building up, she couldn't walk anymore it was hard to go through but she went over the doggy rainbow bridge and is all better now!!!! Hard not to have her here though!!! =[

Answer 2

I am so sorry to hear about your dog.

13 years is a long time to love a friend.

You know I'm sure that the end is not far away.

Stay with her and remember all the good times.

Call another vet Monday or call an energency clinic in case they can make her passing easier.

I'm very sorry.

PS  As hard as it is you could consider having her put down so her struggle is ended.

Answer 3

I was faced with this two months ago today. You need to put her down. She is suffering, and I'm sure you're crying along with her. I know I bawled my eyes out for a week before I finally realized I was hurting her more than losing her would hurt me.

Looking at the place where her food & water bowl used to be made me feel the loss even worse. I went to a pet adoption place and offered to be a foster mom. The food bowls went back in place and 'Jack' quickly took over my heart.

She was black, Jack is white. She was gentle, Jack is fiesty. A totally opposite dog, I thought that just helping a dog in trouble would help me get through the loss. It really WAS cathartic. I remember my Bimbo now because of the joy we shared and how I now have to get used to Jack's totally different personality.

I know it's hard, but putting your baby down is probably the best thing for her. She's suffering. My vet told me my options (the same ones you opted to take up on), but I knew that at 16, Bim was wanting to give it up.

God Bless & be brave.