Comments on: My dog is slowly dying from congestive heart failure and kidney disease. He has lost weight because ….?

By: dobiegang

dobiegang — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:31:59 +0000

Hi, First of all I want to say I am sorry your dog is ill & also sorry for the pain you must endure out of the love you have for him.I know exactly how you're feeling since I too have a dog that has Cardiomyopathy (heart problems) along with Wobblers Disease.She started showing signs of going down hill almost four weeks ago, but still has more good days than bad. She still wags her tail, gives kisses, plays with the other dogs on real good days, but her appetite is poor. I have been cooking white rice and mixing it with either cooked (deboned)chicken or hamburger. She loves it & does eat it. Try cooking him that, I'm pretty sure he'll love it. I know her days are limited so I have already contacted my vet on the subject of euthanazia, and she has agreed to come to my home when I feel the time is the right time. I also buy baby food (meat or meat & veggies mixed), and canned tuna. I will feed her whatever I can get her to eat. Again I feel your pain & I wish you many more days with your beloved friend!!!!
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By: heather j

heather j — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:47:59 +0000

there is a prescription food called k/d, it is made for dogs who have kidney disease. it comes canned or dry.
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By: Sonneblom

Sonneblom — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:29:59 +0000

He is eating and gaining his weight back – that is very good. Did you speak to your vet about the food, if it is not good he will tell you. My dog has kidney failure and on medication for the rest of his life. They just like to let us humans beg for them to eat their meat or cheese with the pill in. Good luck with your dog. And yes you will know when it is time to let go. But for know enjoy your dog as much as he is enjoying your company. I know when my dog was diagnosed he did not want to eat – so I gave him rice and chicken (no bones) and my dog was getting his weight back again.
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By: thambycart

thambycart — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:12:59 +0000

Do WHATEVER makes you and your dog happy!!! Enjoy him while he's still here, and allow yourself time to grieve him when he's gone. Remember you WILL see him again. Bless you!!
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By: PM

PM — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:28:59 +0000

Your friend may be seriously ill but obviously has the joy of life in him because he still likes his daily walks as well as your company. He will let you know when the time has come, and you will be ready to let him go peacefully then at the vet and hold him and tell him what a good boy he has always been. After all, the two of you have been partners in everything for 14 wonderful years!
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By: Freedom

Freedom — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:44:59 +0000

Hi, Feed him what ever he will eat. The cereal is not the best idea but it’s something and in my opinion better then dog food. At least you know you are not giving him a bunch of toxic crap in a bag. You can also offer him all of your left overs (use common sense… no chili or other spicey foods).
Check into a raw diet. He might be willing to eat some raw meaty bones and organs. Beef liver will be good for him. If you can’t do raw, there are plenty of sites on cooked diets for dogs. Raw is easier though since you don’t have to add supplements.
Given his disease and age.. I say feed him whatever he will eat and if you can get him to eat raw food… this will be very beneficial to his well being. Good Luck!
http://www.rawlearning.com
http://www.rawfed.com/myths/

PS. Contrary to popular belief… a raw diet is NOT any higher in protein then kibbles when you feed a good ratio of bone too. Many people think a raw diet is all protien and it isn’t. Do some research and don’t believe everything you hear on negatives. The only people who bash raw feeding are the ones who have never done it and never researched it.
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Raw feeder for 4+ years and very anti kibble!

By: ragapple

ragapple — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:22:59 +0000

GO for it malnutrition is not a factor here, keep him happy while you can. If it make you more secure there are actuall scientific papers that with things that can be recovered from, letting the convlesent have anything (within reason) that can coax the appitite even junk food speeds recovery. Keep him happy while you can ...
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By: tina b

tina b — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:13:59 +0000

You don’t say how old the dog is. You also don’t say if it’s on meds or if the vet has prescried a prescription diet. There are many foods that treat heart disease and kidney disease. Both kidney and heat disease are the normal course of deterioration for dogs as they get older, so don’t think that you have done anyting. wrong. As far as feeding him cereal, if he’s eating it and gaining weight, go for it. If it’s making him happy, then enjoy it. You don’t know how much longer you’re going to have him for and your memories should be happy ones. There’s very little that we eat that a dog can’t eat. Before we started feeding "dog food", and before dogs were domesticated, they ate what they killed or they foraged and ate vegetation. They instinctively knew what to eat and what not to eat. They also healed themselves. I’m not saying that’s what’s happening here. There’s an ingredient or ingredients in that cereal that the dog wants or needs and by eating it he’s getting it.
As far as him being in pain. Take a picture and look at him. If he’s in pain you’ll see it in the picture. If he’s not in pain it’s my oppinion that he should be left alone and allowed to pass at home. Good luck
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By: Jet & Karen

Jet & Karen — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:47:59 +0000

My heart goes out to you, I've been where you are with my spitz and had to finally do what was necessary when the time came and the vet was awesome. There are some special foods for renal problems that can be found online or at specialty dog food store. We have one called the Cared for Canine here in Southern Pines, if you call them they can give you the name of the best foods that are the most palatable.
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By: china

china — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:25:59 +0000

I am surprise that a vet didn’t tell you that this poor little baby needed to be put to sleep and you loving this dog as you say you do didn’t agree with him, but rather brought your dog home to watch it suffer. Anyone that can set there and watch a love one suffer like this doe not love their pet. I don’t care who they are. Trust me your dog is suffering. and no human being would ever let a dog suffer like that. We are in a place now that we don’t have to let our beloved pets suffer..I just can’t think how anyone can watch this. Please put your little one to sleep. Let him have peace .

PS
I have to add this for the sake of the earlier answers here that are getting so many thumbs down..We base our answer on the question that was stated before the Additional Details. All we went by is that her dog was dieing and suffering. If I would have seen the additional Details before I answer this question they I would have answer this question differently I think Chalice did a might fine job on her answer and she gets five thumbs down. Remember she added the additional details after the fact. So easy on the thumbs down alright.
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Breeder of Shih Tzu’s