Paul (Liverpool boy) has kidney failure

[SQ]

Paul is a Liverpool baby, born in the backseat of my car a year ago in May, the day after his mother had lifesaving surgery and two days after his mother and other family members were rescued from a shed.
Paul didn't grow into an adult sized rat like his 7 siblings and he as he aged he spent most of his time lying in a hammock .... just breathing ...
Earlier this year I put Paul on heart meds and the change was amazing!
Paul grew, lengthened, and became a very active boy - running, popcorning, climbing, & exploring.
Paul has always been painfully thin.
Last week he was near death from dehydration despite being hand fed food (baby cereal) and fluids (12 - 15 ml) twice a day.
Paul was given sub-Q fluids at the vet.

....................... Paul hanging out this evening

Today at his recheck, Paul was found to be less dehydrated and he has gained 40 g in a week so he now weighs 400g. :joy:
His urine was tested .... high levels of protien and Paul's urine is always very clear.
Paul's vet thinks Paul is in kidney failure and I am to continue what I am doing ..... :sad3:

......................... again this evening, Paul on the move

All the Liverpool ratties have always drank massive amounts of water as compared to my other ratties.
I suspect that they all may have a genetically based problem with their kidneys.

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Paul is currently on baytril, clavamox, benazepril, atenolol, and a small dose of predisone.
He will soon finish the clavamox.

 

[lilspaz68]

Renal failure is a part of the aging process and some get hit harder than others. He needs to drink all that water to flush his failing kidneys, and it sounds like you are doing everything you can.

 

[Godmother]

So sorry about Paul. At least you know what's going on now with the dehydration.

 

[Maple]

Poor little Paul. :heart:

 

[trexgorawrrrrr]

poor little guy...

 

[jorats]

Any chance you can lower his meds? Some meds can be really harsh on kidneys. He'll need a very low protein diet. And if you can give him subQ at home, that would probably help him a lot.

 

[mamarat]

Ben had kidney disease and yes very low protein and more fat in his diet. The vet also took him off Baytril. Meds can be very harsh on their little kidneys. Poor sweetie. :hugs:

 

[Godmother]

Yes, I think it would be worth asking the vet about reducing or cutting out the Baytril. I have an elderly rat on Baytril, and I keep her on the minimum dose.

Did he prescribe that powder for Paul? I remember that you had Adam on it (can't recall the name) for his kidney problems.

 

[SQ]

Thank you.

If I can get him off the pred - he went on it and stayed on it for his breathing, then he could come off the baytril.
Or perhaps he could go on a different antibiotic.
I can talk to the vet next week when they open and see about getting him off the pred and the antibiotics. (I started decreasing the pred last week to try to get Paul off it or else to find a low maintenance dosage.)
He has to stay on the two heart meds for life and they do negatively affect hydration level.

Should I stop syringing the baby cereal into him? I have been using the baby cereal as both a food source and a way to thicken the mls of water I have been trying to get into him? The type Paul is getting has 4g of protein per 28 g (10 tbsp) of baby cereal.
I am not sure that Paul is eating any of the mushed lab bocks or the regular lab blocks. He loves his daily vegs esp. peas - should I eliminate the peas?

Mamarat, by fat do you mean things like olive oil? He is getting his food and meds laced with that. Ideas?

Jorats, I'll try to give sub-Q fluids at home.
The vet didn't have any 27 gauge butterfly needles (and can't get any more) so I only have 25 gauge. Paul screams, fights and it has been impossible to do it by myself ... but I will start doing it. Had the vet give him sub -Q fluids yesterday. The only way the vet has been able to do it is by using iso to knock Paul out.

Godmother, thanks for reminding me. The powder is something I had read about and requested. I don't think it helped Adam. Looked back in my health records but it looks like I didn't write it down :doh:
Edit: Found the bottle. It is epakitin, a phosphate binder and it contains soy protein. I don't know about expiratory date ... it isn’t visible and the powder has been sitting on my shelf for about 2.5 years.
What is the min. dose of baytril?

 

[mamarat]

Ben didn't last long after the diagnosis but with Jacqui the vet made me buy the cat food for kidney disease.

 

[SQ]

Thanks mamarat.

 

[Godmother]

There is a range of doses for Baytril. Debbie D suggests the high dose (.1ml/lb of the horse Baytril), but the low end of the range is a fourth of that.

 

[SQ]

Tried to get Paul off the pred but his condition worsened.
He finished the clavamox.
Have been giving him cat food from the vet but he doesn't really care for it .. his cagemates like it tho.

Today Paul is conjested, wheezing and badly dehydrated.
Started him back on the clavamox.
Trying to get fluids into him sub-Q and orally, along with food.

Vet apt tomorrow ... this may be it :sad3:

 

[mamarat]

:hugs:

 

[Maple]

Awwwww, SQ its never easy when they get to this point. Your in my thoughts.