Twice
My Bully Gave Me Wings
- Feb 3, 2012
- 2,686
- 311
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Abby (my Sweetie Head 10.24.11-11.23.12) and Otis
[MENTION=322]LillyNBruin[/MENTION]
Here's the thing. Until the animal has lost 75% of its function, it's business as usual. There is nothing noticeable going on. It's only when 3/4 of the nephrons are dead or damaged do symptoms appear. So things could be fine and suddenly change. Abby was born with the disease so it was always noticeable but I have spoken to many people dealing with CKD and most say the bottom dropped out almost over night.
That cost does seem ridiculously high. Abby's IV flush hospitalization was less than 1000.00 and she was critical when she got there. She was having seizures and high blood pressure so it was more than just the fluids.
I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you what I did and what I experienced. Abby wasn't uncomfortable at all. It was only the last week of her life that she wasn't my spunky, spiteful little sweetie head. The last week is when the seizures started then came the hospitalization. I can tell you that she wasn't in any pain other than from the infection that triggered the end. She was in excruciating pain for a couple of hours, but once she was medicated she healed as best she could and the pain was gone. If she had been suffering in any way I would have stopped it sooner.
As for the subQ's, that was our special time. Even Otis knew to stay away. It was the end to all our days. Every night I would bring her up on the bed with me, start the IV and she would lay with her head on my lap for the half an hour or so that it took for the fluids to drip. I would talk to her, read to her or we would just sit and watch tv. I would feed her Cheerios and I KNOW that she was happy. There is no pain with administering the subQ fluids. The needle goes under the skin and as long as she lays still it goes pretty quickly. The size of the needle determines how fast the drip is but the bigger the needle the bigger the prick when inserting it. 20 gauge is the middle and what most people use. Abby was small so I preferred to use 19. The last month we did twice a day. That was a little more difficult but still not annoyingly so. She got her needle while I got dressed in the morning but by then she was an expert and knew not to move. The only thing to be careful of is to not give too much.
You would know if her kidneys were so far gone that it couldn't be managed. There would be skin discoloration, loss of hair and appetite. There would be vomiting, seizures and bloody diarrhea. Other organs would start to shut down. Death from kidney disease isn't pretty but life with it can be inspiring.
My computer time lately is very limited so I may not see any new questions unless I'm tagged or mentioned and get the notification. But my cell phone number is in my profile. PLEASE call or text me and let me know what they say today.
You're in my prayers today as you get new test results. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do.
Here's the thing. Until the animal has lost 75% of its function, it's business as usual. There is nothing noticeable going on. It's only when 3/4 of the nephrons are dead or damaged do symptoms appear. So things could be fine and suddenly change. Abby was born with the disease so it was always noticeable but I have spoken to many people dealing with CKD and most say the bottom dropped out almost over night.
That cost does seem ridiculously high. Abby's IV flush hospitalization was less than 1000.00 and she was critical when she got there. She was having seizures and high blood pressure so it was more than just the fluids.
I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you what I did and what I experienced. Abby wasn't uncomfortable at all. It was only the last week of her life that she wasn't my spunky, spiteful little sweetie head. The last week is when the seizures started then came the hospitalization. I can tell you that she wasn't in any pain other than from the infection that triggered the end. She was in excruciating pain for a couple of hours, but once she was medicated she healed as best she could and the pain was gone. If she had been suffering in any way I would have stopped it sooner.
As for the subQ's, that was our special time. Even Otis knew to stay away. It was the end to all our days. Every night I would bring her up on the bed with me, start the IV and she would lay with her head on my lap for the half an hour or so that it took for the fluids to drip. I would talk to her, read to her or we would just sit and watch tv. I would feed her Cheerios and I KNOW that she was happy. There is no pain with administering the subQ fluids. The needle goes under the skin and as long as she lays still it goes pretty quickly. The size of the needle determines how fast the drip is but the bigger the needle the bigger the prick when inserting it. 20 gauge is the middle and what most people use. Abby was small so I preferred to use 19. The last month we did twice a day. That was a little more difficult but still not annoyingly so. She got her needle while I got dressed in the morning but by then she was an expert and knew not to move. The only thing to be careful of is to not give too much.
You would know if her kidneys were so far gone that it couldn't be managed. There would be skin discoloration, loss of hair and appetite. There would be vomiting, seizures and bloody diarrhea. Other organs would start to shut down. Death from kidney disease isn't pretty but life with it can be inspiring.
My computer time lately is very limited so I may not see any new questions unless I'm tagged or mentioned and get the notification. But my cell phone number is in my profile. PLEASE call or text me and let me know what they say today.
You're in my prayers today as you get new test results. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do.
I'm so sorry, I didn't see this post before today, sorry I missed it. I'm so sorry for your loss of sweet Lily, my heart goes out to you having to make such a sad and heart breaking decision. Sending you big hugs, lots of love, and prayers. RIP sweet Lily.
