Chronic Rather Than Acute Kidney Disease...

A very LONG two hours. We have the results of the kidney sonogram. It is Chronic rather than Acute which means the outcome is not as promising long term. However, the vet was very encouraged by how much he has responded to the IV therapy and we can do under the skin IV therapy at home. We will hear back from his blood work tonight. She said that the hope is that the values will come down a good bit from the fluids and get him out of the staging criteria that he is in now. The good news is that dogs can live a good life with minimally functioning kidneys with a kidney diet and IV therapy at home. We would do frequent blood tests to check the status.

Understand, this is NOT a long-term prognosis of being back to the Kirby we had a month or so ago. However, it is still a hope for a good quality of life for him. It might extend his life a few months (3-12) or it could go back to where he was last week. You know, that's pretty much how it is with all of our lives. We don't know what tomorrow is going to bring so we will just make the best of it and are so happy for a second chance with Kirby.
He will probably stay until Tuesday at a minimum. Monday, the doggie ophthalmologist will run tests to determine conclusively if the blindness is a result of SARDS or possibly a kidney related blindness that sometimes can be corrected. She feels, however that it is SARDS.
Kirby was so thrilled to have us visit and hold him. He got up on my shoulder like he loves to do for comfort. When he was a puppy, the breeders carried them around on their shoulders until we came to pick them up at 6 weeks. He still thinks he's a 3 lb. puppy although he's 29 pounds. LOL
We may be doing fundraisers soon but we are thankful to be to the point that we are now. We met other pet parents in the waiting room. A loving place to be. Thank you so much for your concern for our sweet Kirby and for Kristy McCord for making our captioned picture. We believe in the power of prayer and feel yours for our family. Please continue to lift Kirby's needs up to our Father who loves all of his creatures.