Why did my dog with kidney failure get black diarrhea after fluids?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nyla. The diarrhea is unlikely related to her kidney disease. If it continues though, she will need to see her veterinarian. It will be easier for her to become dehydrated given her kidney disease. I hope this information helps!

I'm glad that Bella is recovering well. Hopefully her kidney levels will continue to improve as she is on the medication. You will probably want to recheck the levels about a week or so after discontinuing the antibiotics. Some dogs with kidney damage/insufficiency benefit from a kidney diet. These typically have lower levels or protein and salts which can be protective for the kidneys over time. There are other medications for kidney disease as well but are not really indicated in a dog that is doing clinically well like Bella is. Additionally, some dogs also will benefit from fluid therapy periodically throughout the week. Typically the owner gives the fluids subcutaneously (under the skin) a couple of times a week to help prevent dehydration and promote renal blood flow. I would recommend talking with your vet about options for a kidney diet and possibly giving Bella fluids at home. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

So sorry that Lola is having this problem. IV fluids are usually helpful in cases of kidney disease. The best thing would be to have an abdominal ultrasound done to evaluate her kidneys and determine if she does have kidney cancer. There are other possible causes of a high red blood cell count and bloody diarrhea, like a disease called HGE (hemorrhagic gastroenteritis) so, without more information, it is difficult to know she has kidney cancer. If your vet can not do an abdominal ultrasound then you could take her to an internal medicine specialist and have one done. Hope she feels better soon!

I'm so very sorry to hear this. Sometimes cats in renal failure start to develop other issues concurrently, his guts are likely upset leading to diarrhoea. Depending on the cause the vet may be able to treat it with antibiotics and probiotics if an infection or inflammation is present. I think it certainly would be worth giving treatment a try for a few days. Unfortunately renal failure can be very hard on cats and you both have my utmost sympathy.

I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. Unfortunately, chronic renal failure is a common problem in elderly dogs, and is often in the late stages already by time it's diagnosed. The situation was likely complicated by the fact that your girl also had CHF, because the treatment for renal failure (lots of fluids) is essentially the opposite of what dogs with heart disease need to control their symptoms. So we are often stuck between a rock and a hard place, when it comes to trying to treat dogs who have both of these problems. It sounds like your girl had a wonderful life, to have made it to 17 years old. It doesn't sound like there's anything at all you could have done differently - these are both just bad diseases, that are unfortunately common in older pets. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Poor girl. I would certainly consider at least getting her checked again and fluid therapy (IV or subcutaneously). If her values are not too bad, she may be able to be managed at home with subcutaneous fluids that you yourself give. That is if you are up to the task. Also I am not sure if she is on a prescription kidney diet. If not, then she needs to be transitioned right away. The vet can also prescribe some anti-nausea medication for her to help with her condition. And lastly, I would highly recommend a supplement called Azodyl, which is a natural way to help lower your pets kidney enzymes. Their toxic levels in the bloodstream are directly correlated with how sick your pet will feel, so focusing on lowering these values can improve your pets condition greatly. Here is a website link with more kidney therapy options --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952670 I hope that these additional treatment suggestions help Chloe stabilize and perhaps hold off the euthanasia talks for a while. Best of luck moving fowrard and take care. : )

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear about Leo. The most important part of treatment when an animal has kidney failure is to give adequate fluids. It would be best to keep Leo at the vet to stay on IV fluids until his creatinine comes down - if the kidneys are not receiving adequate fluids, you are not likely to get him to improve. If you must have him home, then ask your vet if they would be comfortable teaching you how to give subcutaneous fluids at home (injecting an appropriate amount of saline under the skin) to help him stay hydrated and keep flushing his kidneys. If he is eating, then you can add extra water to his food to encourage more fluid intake. However, if he's not eating, he REALLY needs to continue getting fluids, either intravenously at the vet or subcutaneously at home. If neither of these is an option, and he's not eating, then unfortunately euthanasia should be considered. I hope this helps, and again I'm sorry Leo isn't doing well.