I don't have the energy to write a blog entry tonight but I want to update everyone about our sweet Kirby. We spent the afternoon and early evening at MSU vet clinic for repeat visit to run blood tests. Kirby had been coughing and they did extra tests and chest xray. His creatinine level is edging up again. It's up to a 4.2 and had gotten down to a 2.5 in the hospital. It was a 6.1 when we began all of the SARDS and kidney failure two weeks ago. The vet was concerned and added a binder to try and take some of the toxins out of his system and is talking about adding another medication next Tuesday when we return.
Today after we got into the car to come home, he vomited in the car. First time since we began all of the kidney problems. We took him back to the vet clinic since we had just left less than 20 minutes before. They gave him some meds for nausea and figure he was just worn out from the tests. He slept hard all the way home and was still limp when we were doing his IV before bed.
We want to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Kirby just around the bend...like the day when he was still in ICC and was bouncing all over the place--pulling on his leash and checking everyone and everything out. There were moments today when he barked and was really interested in his environment but today has shown us that he can't spend all of his time having tests run and using his energy for that. It is important for the vet to check his BUN and creatinine levels to see how to adjust his fluid intake and try to keep the proteins as low as possible in his blood. But how long do we chase this? We are seriously thinking we are moving to a hospice type approach and not wear him out checking to see what his blood levels are. We know they are going to keep climbing if they have already done so since he went from regular IVs to subcutaneous IVs. So, I think we are going to try to let him rest as much as possible the rest of the week and return on Tuesday for our appointment and if the creatinine level is elevated beyond the 4.2 of today...I don't think we are going to opt to add the other medication. He is already taking 4 or 5 pills a day and that can't be good for him either.
He has not been out of ICC except since Sunday. He was and is a very sick little dog. When we ask the vets how long we are talking about of course they don't know but the best guess is months. We believe in miracles and know all things are possible with God. So, I think my faith says anything is possible and God's will be done regardless of what Russ and I do or don't do. We are going to love on him and feed him his special kidney diet and keep him hydrated and comfortable at our home instead of on the road between Booneville and Starkville. We have grown to respect and appreciate the vets who have fallen in love with our Kirby. They are bending over backward to try and find any and everything they can to help him. They see the look in our eyes and know how much we love him but we love him enough to let him go peacefully without being poked and prodded anymore.
Pray that we are making the right decision and if we are not that God will impress upon our minds to do things in a different way. We have grown to love this little guy for the past 9 1/2 years. We are dedicated to taking care of him. If his only problem was the blindness, that would be a difficult transition but it would not come with health issues. He doesn't have the energy to pay attention to Kasidy or Kada-Joy but he knows his people and takes comfort in being close. I wish life came with a manual for things like this but it doesn't. We would appreciate your prayers and your feedback. This is our first dog ever and the first one to become critically ill and know that his life is numbered in weeks or months. Share your experiences with us, please.
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