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Expert: - 8/2/2011


Question
Lilly
Lilly
Around October of 2009, my family bought me an English bulldog for Christmas (My dad had finally said yes, and we didn't want him to change his mind) We adopted my puppy Lilly from a breeder and took her home. In the past summer (2011) Lilly started losing weight, drinking a bunch of water, vomiting, and left wet spots while she rested. We took her to the vet, and he basically told us she was healthy, but might want to just try her food. He acted as if we were crazy, but asked if he should take a blood test, but said we should just watch how much weight we lose and to bring her back in a couple of weeks if her condition worsens. We decided we might just have been over worried about Lilly, so we decided not to have the blood test taken. In about three weeks, we took her back to the vet and she lost a lot more weight. She was about 40 pounds now. (I think she was about 60 before this whole ordeal started) She also vomited more, her wet spots had gotten larger, and she started having seizures. Well, he still suggested she looked healthy, but we MADE him take the blood test. He also said he wanted a urine sample. So, he took the blood test, and while we were waiting for the results, Lilly leaked urine as much as if she would have went to the bathroom. Well he used the urine, and after anxious moments of waiting, he called us from the waiting room. He explained that she had kidney failure, and that there is no cure, but he could only prolong her life. This shocked us, because we all just thought she had diabetes. He gave us special renal food, and gave her two months tops to live. He also asked if he should euthanize her there, but we decided she might pass away naturally... and we would prefer that. He finished off the visit by giving us antibiotics, and a pill to stop vomiting and leaking, neither would cure her, just to ease her pain. She started having more severe seizures. She also vomited more, and lost a lot more weight. Her stools became just globs, and she urinated uncontrollably. When she ran or played, or basically anytime she got vigorous exercise, her legs would lock up and she'd fall down. Sometimes it would take her about 10 minutes to get up. But on the morning of July 30, 2011 she couldn't get up until like 20 or 30 minutes. When she got up, she had a really hard time breathing, and multiple full fledged seizures. We decided we had to euthanize her. The vet said she was extremely  dehydrated, and agreed we had made the right choice. It broke all our hearts, but she had to be put out of her pain and misery.

My only question is if her kidneys could have been helped/saved if the vet had taken the blood/urine test the first time we went to the vet.?

Answer
Hello Jared,  Blessings to you and your family.  I am so sorry for the loss of your girl littly Lilly! To answer you question about your Vet and his treatment of Lilly,  No I don't believe the Vet could have saved her.  She must have been in renal failure for 8 months or longer.  Even if they found out 3 months prior to the tests it would not have made much of a change in her condition.  

There are so many ways that Renal Failure can occur in a English Bulldog.  
It may have been genetic because of her young age.  

You gave her the best last days you could give. She was very lucky to have you all.
You did the right thing by ending her suffering.  

Know that there was not much you could have done for your girl.

No guilt...


Blessings,

Marie Peppers LPN MA
ASK the Pet Nurse
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you a lot, it I never mentioned his to my family, but I'm pretty sure we all thought it. It sort of relieves me to realize that we couldn't prevent her suffering at that time... You really helped me and my family. God bless you. (P.S. I gave you all ten because you honestly deserved it. I rated you honestly, and you truly are amazing. Thank you again.)


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