Liver and kidney failure in 7-year old Frenchie

[Tim210228]

Hello

I am new to the forum, but I wanted to share a devastating experience with our 7-year old Frenchie, Gus; in one week's time he became lethargic and depressed; I took him to our vet, and he gave Gus medicine for nausea (he had been vomiting that day), but instructed me to bring him back the next day if he did not improve; he did not improve, so the next day the vet did blood work and told me I had a very sick dog with liver and kidney functions dangerously low; I took him to an emergency facility, and despite the facility's best efforts, his liver and kidneys had become so damaged that he would never recover; at that point, we had him euthanized.

We had no knowledge of any poisons Gus may have ingested; both our family veterinarian and the emergency facility veterinarian thought Gus may have contracted leptospirosis, but we live in Arizona, and that seemed not quite to ring true; we had our other French bulldog as well as two dogs we are temporarily fostering tested, but the blood panels revealed normal kidney and liver functions on all dogs. We ordered a necropsy, and the examiner's report indicated that although Gus' conditions "were consistent" with leptospirosis, it was not conclusive.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of situation?

Thanks.

Tim

 

[Alice Kable]

Tim, I am so sorry for your loss. I have had no experience with liver and kidney damage in my dogs--it has always been the heart.
Someone with knowledge in this area should respond soon. Meanwhile :smileywelcome: to FBN!

 

[Fosta Mama]

Tim, I am very sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your Gus.

I have a somewhat similar story. Shortly before Christmas, my very healthy 12 year old Boston terrier Trevor had stopped eating for a couple of days so I took him to the vet. A blood test was run and the vet called me in the morning to report the highest liver values that she had ever seen on a living dog. I rushed him to the emergency hospital for IV fluids and further testing. Through it all he was in fine spirits. The internist wasn't sure what could have caused it- her best guess was some form of poison, possibly mushroom ingestion; or an infection of some sort. Following a liver biopsy, Trevor crashed, and even with CPR could not be brought back. Totally devastating. We still don't have an answer (I didn't have the liver sample biopsied following his passing.)
I checked the yard thoroughly and never found anything, although I do remember seeing some small mushrooms in the yard the week before. I pull them out as I find them.

Now, any time one of my existing dogs loses his appetite, a part of me freaks out, remembering that was the first symptom of my Trevor's illness.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Hugs to you.

 

[MaplesMommy]

Liver & kidney failures arent always caused by ingested poison(rat poison,paint etc).Infacf the majority is caused by toxins that the environment and we as human pump into our dogs. Its sad,but true. I am in NO WAY blaming you for your situation, I just want to make everybody aware to always do some research on what goes in your dog. Just recently there was a huge public law suit on Beneful because it had recently caused several death or permanent damages. Same story with the chicken jerky made in China that they sadly still sell at some store even though thousands of cases are known where pets became really sick or died.

As for the liver . Milk Thistle is a great great herb that detoxes and also repairs liver cells.
Of course there are many other ways to support/detox the liver/kidney.

I wish you all the best and am sending good vibes your way.
May the little baby rest in piece!

 

[2bullymama]

I have no experience... so very sorry for the sudden loss of your boy Gus.... rest in peace sweet boy.

 

[davidh]

Sorry for your loss, it is a heartbreaking thing to have to put your baby down, but sometimes we have to make that decision that is best for them. I have no experience with leptospirosis, so I am of no help there.

 

[Kris Thomas LaBounty]

Do you have field mice or are you near a steam or water where wild animals can be drinking? I live in Utah and Lepto is the one vaccine I am careful to always give separate and always be on time with. Lepto is something that a dog or other animal can give humans too.I won't even let my dog walk in the garage to our car because we catch about a mouse a week in the garage, at certain times of the year more, I always carry him. They say the Lepto vaccine isn't real effective but it's better than nothing. If you buy from a warehouse situation for your family always make sure you wash cans and containers with soap and water. Mice urine carries Lepto and humans get as sick as animals and die. Never leave your pet food or water outside if you live where other animals or rodents can get to it. If you hike with your dog never let them swim or drink from a pond or a creek. Most of the time you'll see hunting dogs get Lepto and a lot of vets only recommend the vaccine to hunters but you can put any dog into a situation of exposure if you do or have any of the above that I mentioned. Sorry for your loss and I am very sorry your vet didn't recognize the signs earlier.

 

[Tim210228]

Tim, I am very sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your Gus.

Erika, I am so sorry for your loss, too; I have thought that maybe Gus picked up something poisonous on our morning walks; and I also thought leptospirosis as being the culprit, perhaps being contracted through contact with feral cats, coyotes or javelina, but I am told that there are no reported cases among those animals in Arizona; it may always be a mystery, but I must admit it gnaws on me a bit!!! Thank you again for your concern. Tim

 

[Tim210228]

Kris, no, no field mice that I am aware of; we live in a very urban area; occasionally see coyotes and javelina, and Gus didn't have much of an opportunity to drink water from an uncontrolled source; thanks for your post and additional information. Tim

 

[Squishy Walnuts]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Jakeyjake]

Although we have not had experience with your situation, just wanted to say so sorry for your loss. I know how difficult it can be.

 

[Kris Thomas LaBounty]

Kris, no, no field mice that I am aware of; we live in a very urban area; occasionally see coyotes and javelina, and Gus didn't have much of an opportunity to drink water from an uncontrolled source; thanks for your post and additional information. Tim

It can come from wild animals too. It happens when they drink from an infected stream. We have feral cats too that I worry about because they come into the fenced part of our yard. Lepto is passed through urine, vomit and blood.

 

[blushy]

So sad... im so sorry for your loss...

 

[bubba]

I'm sorry about your loss sincerely. I am going thru the same situation right now with bubba he 7 now too. And he caught leptospirosis. My wife and I are very holistic. No vaccines no chemicals at all. He had the same symptoms as Gus. I rushed him to vet when vet did his blood work his bun and creatine levels were astronomically high. I rushed him to the ER. They told me the option of ethunize and I had an breakdown. I than told them they better Save my baby let's do everything we can he was hospitalized for five days. And now he has come home since the 17th. My baby was a healthy boy. All his organs and everything is ok except his kidneys. I spent 10000 in just for five days in the hospital. He is in the greyzone for dialysis. But he is home now with me he is not eating like he use to and needs to be fed thru a nasal tube for now. He been home a week he energetic when he goes outside for his walk. He still looks low. I'm going to take him to hollistic vet on Monday for acupuncture and some herbs. To release the toxins. I give him his medicine they prescribed which is just a penicillin to kill the leptospirosis. And he is on subconscious fluids. I just wish he would eat and drink more. That's my concern. Leptospirosis is very dangerous and now it's becoming an epidemic please becareful. It does come from rat poison if you live in urban and wild animals in suburbs. Bubba has a tendency to lick urine on his walks I always tried to stop him from that but it got the best of us. It's heartbreaking how this disease can instantly take a life without warning. And getting vaccinated is not enough for this disease but if your like us and do not believe in vaccination this is the one vaccine you want to get. If anybody has an idea how to stimulate his appetite I'm open for any suggestions thanks. And keep those Frenchie babies safe from bubba's family.

 

[Tgirl]

I am so truly sorry for your loss.

 

[Honeys Owners]

Sorry to hear about Gus ! You can try giving him cannabidiol for dogs, Cannabis For Your Dog: How It Can Help - Dogs Naturally Magazine, or mirtazipine, a Rx antidepressant that also increases appetite. You need to follow up the penicillin therapy with doxycycline therapy according to Merck Veterinary Manual:

Current recommendations are to treat with doxycycline (5 mg/kg/day, IV or PO) for 2 wk. For dogs that cannot tolerate doxycycline, initial therapy with a penicillin is appropriate, but this should be followed by a 2-wk course of doxycycline to eliminate the renal carrier phase of infection. Dogs recently exposed to leptospirosis may be treated prophylactically with oral doxycycline for 14 days.

 

[Honeys Owners]

Also, make sure to give Gus probiotics while he's on the antibiotics and for at least a week after. eg. Proviable DC, Herbsmith Microflora Plus, Probiotic Miracle