Our oldest dog in the rescue house, Candy has been different lately. She didn´t eat properly and and was just very slow and weak. She lost a lot of weight which got me worried. We know she has a history of kidney issues and chronic inflammation. So yesterday we brought her to the clinic to check on her.
To understand her issues I want to give you also some insights of her previous vet visits.
July 2022 – Early Signs: In July 2022, tests showed that Candy’s kidneys were under stress. Two important markers, creatinine and BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), were higher than normal. These markers help us understand how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. Elevated levels indicate that the kidneys aren’t working as efficiently as they should.
Another test showed high levels of total protein and globulin in her blood. High levels here can suggest chronic inflammation or an ongoing infection. Additionally, a specific kidney function marker, called SDMA, was also high, confirming that Candy’s kidneys were struggling.
January 2023 – Continued Monitoring: Six months later, in January 2023, we saw that Candy’s kidney function hadn’t improved. Her creatinine and BUN levels remained high, and she still had high levels of total protein and globulin, indicating ongoing inflammation or infection. On the positive side, her liver enzymes and blood sugar levels were normal, showing no new liver issues or blood sugar problems.
June 2024 – Worsening Condition: Fast forward to June 2024, Candy’s condition had significantly worsened. Her creatinine and urea levels were extremely high, signaling severe kidney problems. High phosphorus levels were another concerning sign, often associated with advanced kidney disease. Elevated bilirubin in her blood suggested possible liver issues or a breakdown of red blood cells.
Candy also developed anemia, a condition where there aren’t enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout her body. Specifically, she had non-regenerative anemia, meaning her bone marrow wasn’t producing enough new red blood cells to replace the ones she was losing. Additionally, high eosinophil levels suggested a possible allergic reaction or parasitic infection.
Current Care Plan: She is receiving IV fluids for the next 3 days at least to help support her kidney function. The vet will then check the BUN, CREA and Phospor levels again. (June 5th). They will also check the PCV daily cause of her anemia.
Let´s hope Candy can once more recover and join our gang in the house very soon. I will of course continue giving you daily updates on instagram.