Nov. 25th, 2007 - Jaffa Update (by mum)

I received an e-mail from Janice this morning in regards to Jaffa's blood work taken yesterday, after he's been off fluids to see how his kidneys were functioning. In the e-mail, Janice said she was "VERY HAPPY" with the results, and that she would call me later to discuss.

I assumed, because she was happy about it, his numbers were actually better. My heart sank after I opened the attachment with his blood result. His kidney number Creatinine had increased yet again, from his last blood work taken a day and a half ago. His Urine Specific Gravity was low, which meant his kidneys aren't really concentrating urine. However, there were no proteins in the urine analysis (which is good). One of his liver values that was previously elevated is now normal, the other one is still elevated and higher than before.

I wasn't really sure how I should be happy about these results.

Here are the results:




Then I spoke to Janice, and she thinks that there is a possibility his liver malfunction might be effecting the reading of his Creatinine. Which I guess would mean the Creat reading you see right now, might not be a true indicator to the exact state his kidneys are in right now. Her reason being, yes his kidney indicator - Creat is up, but his other kidney number (BUN) is normal and has always been normal. Also, usually compromised kidneys would cause the Phosphorous level in blood to be elevated, and Calcium to be low. His Phos is normal, Calcium is elevated. Janice also mentioned something about not seeing any casts in urine, which meant kidneys aren't damaged. I'm not quite sure what casts are, forgot to ask.

So I guess Janice feels that the rest of the results are inconsistent with malfunctioning kidneys (I don't want to use the term "Kidney Failure", but technically, once the reading is out of the normal range, the dog is considered to be in Chronic Renal Failure. There are different stages of CRF of course, and Jaffa would be in the very early stage..).

Jaffa is still acting quite normal. His poop firmed up as soon as I added cottage cheese and cooked chicken with eggs to his meals. Janice thinks his stomach might not like the grains in the Gastro canned food because he has been raised on a no grain, raw diet since he was 8 weeks old. I can slowly wean him off the Gastro and have him on cooked chicken and cottage cheese. Janice still doesn't want him back on raw until his blood work looks better, or at least stabilizes.

I started him on a few kidney and liver support supplements since Thursday. I don't know what else I can DO...

Here's my BRAVE HAPPY BOY!!


You can poke him a thousand times, and he would still greet you with the same happy face and enthusiasm on that 1000th time. He is just so happy go lucky, loves and trusts people.

It's Sunshade's birthday, and for the first time, I didn't feel like doing anything. I feel guilty I felt this way, and she is my special girl. But everything that's happened in the past week has been nothing but draining. I've been quite emotional and I know Sunshade feels the effects of it. This really has been an unfamiliar territory for Sunshade - not being my # 1. However, she has been so patient (even tho she might not want to admit LOL), just hanging around at home. I can tell she's disappointed she's not getting her walks as everytime I walk towards her harness, she gets all perky. Then I tell her noooo, and the tail levels off, and she goes back to her bed.

Both of them did have a little something to eat with a little celebration and opening presents. Will post when I'm able.

Thank you for all the support you've given me, I'm very touched and grateful.

Elaine