Dog Community

Posted : 6/29/2007 11:29:13 AM

the pill i must give him 1 of everyday for the rest of his life around 9pm is called "enalapril 10mg generic"

OK, now I am confused. Enalapril is a heart medicine which can cause kidney problems, so you need regular blood tests. I don't remember you mentioning heart problems.

See this post for suggestions for supplements for heart problems:
[linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=384119[/link]>http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=384119]http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=384119[/link]

[linkwww.2ndchance.info/dogdilcardiomyopathy.htm[/link]>http://www.2ndchance.info/dogdilcardiomyopathy.htm]www.2ndchance.info/dogdilcardiomyopathy.htm[/link]

Another important group of drugs used in treating dilated cardiomyopathy are blood vessel dilators called ACE inhibitors. These compounds decrease certain chemicals that tighten blood vessels so more blood flows smoothly through them allowing the heart to pump blood more efficiently. The most commonly used drug in this class is enalapril (Enacard, Vasotec, Lotensin, Prinavil, Zestril). I give dogs 0.25mg/pound body weight once or twice a day. Since this drug can cause kidney problems it is wise to have a BUN and creatinine serum level performed two weeks after starting the medication and then every three or four months. When side effects of enalapril occur, they are usually lack of appetite, vomiting and an increase in toxic waste products due to decreased blood flow through the kidney (azotemia).

janet_rose

Posted : 6/29/2007 11:57:17 AM

the 3 pills i gotta give him everday until there gone then i dont give him anymore are "doxycycline100mg"

the 1 pill i give him everday until there gone and then i dont give him anymore is "doxycycline 50mg"

OK, that is 350mg of doxycycline. If Buster weighs 70lbs (about right for a Golden), then that is the dosage recommended on the site below. Do you give that dosage twice a day? Do you have enough pills to last until 6-8 weeks after the date that Buster went to the vet (until at least August 6th)?

If you can't answer "yes" to the last two questions, then you are not giving the dosage level of doxycycline recommended by vets with lots of experience with tick disease. This may be because of the heart problem, but I suspect not.

Talk to your vet and give him/her a printout of the site below!! You don't want to have to do this all over again if Buster relapses - yes, that does happen.

[linkhttp://www.minden.com/nowhereelse/canine_tick_disease.htm]http://www.minden.com/nowhereelse/canine_tick_disease.htm[/link]

Doxycycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline, is the drug of choice, the most effective against Ehrlichiosis and Lyme. It is given at 10 milligrams per kilogram (1 kg = 2.2 lbs.) of the dog's body weight every twelve hours for six to eight weeks. Another way to figure this, on the basis of pounds, is 5 mg. per pound of body weight.

This is twice the amount recommended in the Merck Veterinary Manual and is given for a longer period of time than the VMM recommends; however, vets who deal with tick disease all the time say that the higher doses and longer administration are successful far more often in treating this disease and preventing its recurrence.

janet_rose

Posted : 6/29/2007 12:20:13 PM

the dry food is called "hills prescription diet K/D"

Oh, yuck! Do you have a copy of Buster's blood work? What is his BUN number and his creatinine number? Those determine whether or not Buster's protein intake needs to be restricted - which is what K/D does. The newest research shows that protein does not damage kidneys, but that poor kidneys do have trouble processing protein when the kidneys get bad enough.

It is my understanding, based on research done in the last ten years, that the only time it is necessary to feed a low protein diet is when your dog is uremic, which generally means BUN is over 80 mg/dL (equivalent to approx. 28.6 mmol/L), creatinine is over 2.5 mg/dL, and the dog is showing symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, inappetance, ulcers and lethargy, which are caused by the build-up of nitrogen in the blood. Even then, feeding low protein will not extend life, but it will help the dog feel better.

Read over these two sites on kidney function:
[linkwww.b-naturals.com/Apr2003.php[/link]>http://www.b-naturals.com/Apr2003.php]www.b-naturals.com/Apr2003.php[/link]
[linkwww.dogaware.com/kidney.html[/link] >http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html]www.dogaware.com/kidney.html[/link]

Here is a site for further information on various tests to evaluate kidney function: [linkwww.marvistavet.com/html/body_chronic_renal_failure.html#RelaventDiagnosticTests[/link] >http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_chronic_renal_failure.html#RelaventDiagnosticTests]www.marvistavet.com/html/body_chronic_renal_failure.html#RelaventDiagnosticTests[/link]

janet_rose

Posted : 6/29/2007 12:58:37 PM

Hill's prescription diet K/D - for kidney failure, moderate heart disease

Prescription Diet® k/d® Canine is clinically proven to extend and improve quality of life in dogs with kidney disease.

When you read statements like the one above, remember to ask yourself "as compared to what?" Without the answer to that question Hill's statement means nothing.

From the Hill's web site:

Ingredients
Brewers Rice, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soy Fiber, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Citrate, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Tryptophan, Magnesium Oxide, Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Beta-Carotene.

[linkwww.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients[/link]>http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients]www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients[/link]

Ethoxyquin
Originally developed by Monsanto as a stabilizer for rubber, Ethoxyquin has also been used as a pesticide for fruit and a color preservative for spices, and later for animal feed. The original FDA permit for use as stabilizer in animal feed limited use to two years and did not include pet food, but it falls under the same legal category. It has never been proven to be safe for the lifespan of a companion animal. It has been linked to thyroid, kidney, reproductive and immune related illnesses as well as cancer, but so far no conclusive, reliable research results either for the safety of this product or against it have not been obtained. Monsanto conducted research years ago, but results were so inconclusive due to unprofessional conduct and documentation that the FDA demanded another study. There are currently several studies underway to determine whether Ethoxyquin is safe or not, and until those studies are completed, pet food suppliers may continue to use Ethoxyquin. This is how things stand after about 6 years, and no new details have emerged so far.

lymes disease and my dog!