Jasper (12 yr old Mini Schnauzer) is now at peace

[Tina]

Hi Everyone, and happy Superbowl Sunday!! I just spent the last hour or so reading and getting caught up on everyone's threads. I will have to do some posting later as I have TONS of chores to try to get done before the game.

Jasper has been fully transitioned to the kidney diet Hills k/d since the dinner meal on Friday, and appears to be tolerating it. He had one really soft poop yesterday (got a little nervous ), but it seems that may have been a one time thing. I am on tight poop patrol now, LOL! He did so well on the low fat GI diet, I am hoping we don't get any problems since the fat content of the k/d is quite a bit more than that was.

As I said he started the Enalapril on 1/31 pm. He is getting 2.5 mg (1/2 tab) once daily for a week, then we will recheck a kidney panel. This dose is half of the dose he will be getting if all goes well. My vet said she wanted to start slow to make sure his kidneys can handle it. The med itself can apparently cause problems with the kidneys, so she is being ultra cautious since Jasper has been so sensitive to everything else. If the kidney bloodwork is still ok after a week on the half dose, then we will double the dose to where it should be.

She said that if the medication makes his kidneys unhappy, then he won't be able to take it and treatment will then be with diet and the fish oil supplement only. (I haven't started that yet, one thing at a time). She said the Enalapril is key to slowing the progression of the disease, and from what I have read, it is our best hope. She said she has had good luck with it with other dogs, so I am hoping for the best even though my Jazzy one has proven to not read the textbooks!

So I am asking for everyone's prayers and positive thoughts that he will be able to tolerate this medication, and that he will be able to continue on it long term to slow the progression of the damage to his poor little kidneys. Thank you everyone, I believe in the power of prayer and positive vibes, and we truly need it now.

My vet said that while this is a progressive disease and can progress quickly , she has several dogs that she has been treating long term, and one for a couple of years. Although none of those dogs have all the issues that Jasper has had, that gave me a lot of hope. He is certainly due for a break I think!

I have not even had a chance to do any reading in the k9 kidneys group, but certainly plan to. I think I have just needed to give my mind a rest, and to be honest, I am a little afraid of what I might read there.

Today he seems to be feeling good, and I am appreciating that. Last night we snuggled in a blanket while watching TV. He wanted to be on my lap most of the night, so that is why there are no posts from me on my usual Saturday night rounds!

Thank you everyone, and please keep the prayers coming about the medicine. He goes in on 2/7 for the follow up bloodwork.

Love and hugs,
Tina and Jasper

[molly muffin]

Yay Tina! Glad to hear from you. I thought you were probably swamped again at work and maybe, just maybe actually getting to enjoy your down time. Wouldn't that be a treat!!

Totally sending you all the good vibes and prayers I can for Jasper to tolerate the kidney medicine well and for it to slow the progression. Now do they look for the numbers to actually decrease while on this med? The ones that sent the world into a tailspin when they came back as high, over 2.0 I believe was when they looked at treatment options.
Jasper is really due for break and so are you. So hoping for great blood work results on 2/7.
How is Shelby doing btw? We'll be needing an update on her thread too.
Enjoy the super bowl.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[NoonelovesmelikeNorman]

Hi Tina,

Certainly will be praying for your Jasper...to tolerate the meds and that the blood work comes back good and to have Jasper Healthier and Happier.

Sending Healing vibes of Love and Hugs,

Sharon and Norman

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi Tina,

Sometimes a dog may do better on a different ACE Inhibitor, maybe ask your vet about Benazepril if the Enalapril doesn't work out.

You and Jasper are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[addy]

Im saying prayers too and hope it will be as Lori said that if one does not work maybe the other med will.

Holding you close, sweetie, as always.

[Trish]

Yay it's Tina!! Always happy when I read your posts to let us know what is going on. I am not paying any attention to that bit about how it can progress quickly la la la la la la fingers in ears! That is not going to happen to our babies!! I have always think a bit of healthy denial can be a good thing!! As long as you are treating appropriately of course

Jasper is going to do well on his new enalopril, his new diet and soon his new fish oil pills! That's what I shall be concentrating on and sending a million good kiwi vibes up to you!!! I like the vet is being cautious, I also like the stories about her long term successes!!

So pleased to hear of the snuggle fest on the couch, you so need that with all the hard work you have been doing!

I had a bit of a moment tonight, Dad is laid up with some gout in his foot... gone out in sympathy with his cat who lost her claw I think so he could not take Flynn for their usual walk today. So when I got home tonight I was a bit knackered and thought it won't hurt for him not to have a walk for a day But he kept giving me the look and if I walked anywhere near his leash he would get so excited thinking we were about to go, so I had to take him, sigh... so off we went up the beach AND it was so beautiful. Warm night, sun setting and giving off this gorgeous light through some sun showers with a little sprinkle of rain, rainbow out over the ocean. We were walking along and this guy says "Oi you got Basil's (my Dad) dog!" So I replied that actually he is my dog haha. Turned out he was Dad's reflexologist and they also meet up quite often on their walks! So we had quite a chat while his dog who was a young 1 yo and Flynny played. Flynn and Luca romped and chased and rolled and wrestled and were just having the best time, the guy could not believe he was 11 and been through so much lately. I watched them playing with Flynn so happy and thought this is exactly why I fought so hard to get him the treatment and it was totally worth going through what we have to see him enjoying his life like this...so there you are that is my long winded moment Tina! I guess what I am trying to say is to totally enjoy the happy times and try to clear your head from the worry to allow yourself to do that and hopefully we will have many many more moments with our babies to share

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for your 4am pitstop

[SoggyDoggy]

She said she has had good luck with it with other dogs, so I am hoping for the best even though my Jazzy one has proven to not read the textbooks!

I can tell you right now, you don't have to read the text book to fluke the exam! I have enough kids in my classes that will tell you that, so like Trish, I will stick my fingers in my ears while loudly singing Lalalalalalalala! Jasper will do brilliantly, how can he not with all of these good vibes going out to the heavens

[Bo's Mom]

Tina,
Positive thoughts and prayers sent to Jasper from Texas!!!

[mcdavis]

Positive thoughts and prayers coming your way from me too

[Tina]

Hi All,

Thank you for all the prayers and positive thoughts. Please keep them coming. I just have a minute to post, I haven't meant to be absent, work has just been horridly busy as I expected, but I am on the downhill side now!

We have had a few somewhat minor (I hope) issues with Jasper over the past couple of days. A bit of soft poo, and intermittent poor appetite. The vet said to hold his Enalapril last night, though not sure that is the problem. He goes tonight after work to get his blood drawn for the kidney panel re-check. I hope holding the med won't affect the accuracy of that, the vet said it wouldn't, but my vet was out yesterday so this was a back up vet who doesn't know Jasper. He gets the med in the evening so by time he gets the blood drawn tonight, it will essentially be 2 days without the Enalapril. Hopefully that won't affect the results.

I will post more tonight, just wanted to check in so no one would be worrying.

Hugs,

Tina and Jasper