ROTTIS KIDNEYS

Question


I WAS HOPING YOU COULD HELP US ON OUR ROTTI, BRUNO WILL BE THIRTEEN IN JUNE. HE HAS SEVERE HIP DYSPLAISA, LOSING MUSCLE TONE SO I HAD THE VET COME AND SEE US TO GET A BLOOD AND URINE TEST. THE BLOOD TEST WAS ,
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE  144 HIGH
CHOLESTEROL                    330 HIGH

URINE TEST
URINE SPECIFIC GRAVITY     1.018
MICROALBUMINURIA WAS    3.3                            

THIS IS WHAT I GIVE HIM EVERY DAY
ACIDOPHILLOS  2 BILLION  2 TIMES ADAY
VITIAMIN  E   400IU             2 TIMES ADAY
BROMELIAN    500              2 TIMES ADAY
MILK THISTLE   1000MG      2 TIMES A DAY
GREEN TEA EXTRACT   200  2TIMES A DAY
SELENIUM  200MG              1 ADAY
GRAPESEED EXTRACT 100MG  2TIMES ADAY
B COMPLEX                       2 TIMES ADAY
ESTER C 500MG                 2 TIMES ADAY
FISH OIL 1000MG                3 TO FOUR TIMES ADAY
FLAX SEED                          1 TABLE SPOON

BRUNO'S  WEIGHT 105
HE GETS COOKED MEALS  CARROTS GREEN BEANS CREAM CHICKEN SOUP MIX IN, CHERRIOS  FOR BREAKFAST WITH DOG FOOD NAMED INNOVA SENIOR PLUS DOG FOOD, HE DON;T GET A WHOLE LOT OF DOG FOOD JUST A SMALL HAND FULL IN HIS MEALS AND FOR A SNAK WHEN HE IS BEGGING FOR FOOD, HE ALSO GETS SOME JERKY TREATS, 2 EGGS ON SUNDAY'

THE VET WANTS TO PUT BRUNO ON RIMADYL, FOR HIS HIPS, I WAS WANTING TO TRY TO GET HIM SOME WATER THERAPHY TO FAR TO GO, I'M LOOKING INTO ACCUPUNCTURE, DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN YET ! MY QUESTION HOW CAN I GET HIS KIDNEY'S BETTER HIS BLOOD TEST BETTER !! DO I NEED TO BACK OFF SOME OF THIS STUFF ?? HE WAS TAKING ANTI INFLAMTORY HERBS , IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM RIMADYL I HAD TO TAKE HIM OFF THEY STOPPED WORKING,        ANY IDEALS

THANKS BECKY

P.S. I LIKE MY VET BUT HE IS NOT INTO HERBS, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS  ON MY OWN !!!!

Answer
Hi Becky,

Ok, first of all, I understand that you are doing everything you can naturally to give your dog a long and painfree life. I want to say that I am not being critical here, I see the love and care you have put into this. So, when I say there are many things you can be doing to help, I want you to take that as supportive and not negative. There are MANY things you can do to help your boy.  How about if I just make a list and you can ask me for clarification after you've had a chance to look it over?

The very first thing I see here is problems with diet. You are giving a long list of supplements, some are too high (milk thistle, Vitamin E,selenium) some not high enough (bromelain) others not helpful for inflammation (flax oil) and a couple of glaring ommissions (glucosmaone/chondroitin/MSM/Devil's Claw).

Ok, we can tighten this up for you.... but first, no matter what supplementation regime we devise, it will not be optimal if the diet isn't better. (Here's the critical part, sorry!)

I would advise you to stop with things like cream of chicken soup and cheerios, and look at a properly balanced home made diet - or if that's not a option, then a quality premium dog food that will supply all his special senior needs. This diet is not meeting his basic requirements and will be adding things he definitely doesn't need.  SO my first suggestion is let's talk diet. Would you like a balanced home made diet, or some comerical dog food suggestions, or both? I'd be happy to help with either/both. And why ont start on a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement? I like Cosequin Ds available from your vet.
A few quick ideas on the supplements here:

1) That's too much milk thistle. Stop it completely for a few weeks. Try adding in Devil's Claw, I prefer tincture, and use 1/4 tsp per 20 lbs body weight. Start with 1/4 tsp once a day, then twice, then four times. That should do the trick and alleviate a lot of pain. Dosing herbs is highly individual, I would give the 3/4 tsp a few weeks and if it doesn't help, add another 1/4 tsp. Herbs work best in small doses throughout the day. You can use a powdered extract as well, 500 mgs three times a day, but tincture is more fully absorbed.

2) WAY too much selenium! Cut that to 50 mcg per day. Does he have heart disease?

3) 400 IU of E a day is plenty.

4) Stop the flax it will do more harm than good right now.

5) Add MSM, 1000 mgs three times a day to start.

6) Double the bromelain.

But really, you want an anti-inflammatory diet. Let me know where you would like to go from here - if you would like one developed for your dog, contact me privately at catlane@thepossiblecanine.com. If you wish some commercial dog food ideas, and things you can supplement with (foods) write me back here.

I look forward to hearing from you,
and hang in there.

PS - Ask your vet about tramadol for pain instead of the more worrisome Rimadyl, too.
All the best, Catherine
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