I have an old dog, he is 9, he is a very non-active golden retriever.

The Vet says his urine PH is too basic, and specific gravity is too low.
She recomends blood work, buying special acidic food from the vet, starting
him on Antibiotics.

She says this could be a sign of kidney problems.

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself. Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an infection
for sure.

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

--Falooley

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

As much as it takes to give your dog the quality of life you yourself would
want.

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to
spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself.

That's quite a risk to be taking on a senior dog with compromised kidneys.

Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an
infection
for sure.

Sometimes veterinary medicine is science of ruling out. Has the vet
mentioned why she recommends the antibiotics?

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

It sounds like you need to have another conversation with the vet. Write
down your questions and thoughts. If need be get a second opinion. Kidneys
that need special food is a natural progression of aging in many pets.
Sometimes the right prescription diet alone can make a lot of difference.
Sometimes not.

-Sharon

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

As much as it takes to give your dog the quality of life you yourself would
want.

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to
spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself.

That's quite a risk to be taking on a senior dog with compromised kidneys.

Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an
infection
for sure.

Sometimes veterinary medicine is science of ruling out. Has the vet
mentioned why she recommends the antibiotics?

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

It sounds like you need to have another conversation with the vet. Write
down your questions and thoughts. If need be get a second opinion. Kidneys
that need special food is a natural progression of aging in many pets.
Sometimes the right prescription diet alone can make a lot of difference.
Sometimes not.

-Sharon

Sharon too wrote:

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

As much as it takes to give your dog the quality of life you yourself
would want.

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to
spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself.

That's quite a risk act=rate.hotnewto be taking on a senior dog with
compromised kidneys.

Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an
infection
for sure.

Sometimes veterinary medicine is science of ruling out. Has the vet
mentioned why she recommends the antibiotics?

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

It sounds like you need to have another conversation with the vet. Write
down your questions and thoughts. If need be get a second opinion. Kidneys
that need special food is a natural progression of aging in many pets.
Sometimes the right prescription diet alone can make a lot of difference.
Sometimes not.

-Sharon


Well, I guess I have a natural suspicion of vets. Just like I have a
natural suspicion of car mechanics.

My vet said that she wanted to start the antibiotics just in case my dog had
some kind of blatter infection. I also have a natural suspicion of using
drugs for a "Just in Case" reason.

I do not think I will take any steps until I get results of the blood test
in (~ end of the week).

A second opinion sounds nice, but I barely have enough money for one
opinion.

--Falooley

Sharon too wrote:

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

As much as it takes to give your dog the quality of life you yourself
would want.

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to
spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself.

That's quite a risk act=rate.hotnewto be taking on a senior dog with
compromised kidneys.

Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an
infection
for sure.

Sometimes veterinary medicine is science of ruling out. Has the vet
mentioned why she recommends the antibiotics?

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

It sounds like you need to have another conversation with the vet. Write
down your questions and thoughts. If need be get a second opinion. Kidneys
that need special food is a natural progression of aging in many pets.
Sometimes the right prescription diet alone can make a lot of difference.
Sometimes not.

-Sharon


Well, I guess I have a natural suspicion of vets. Just like I have a
natural suspicion of car mechanics.

My vet said that she wanted to start the antibiotics just in case my dog had
some kind of blatter infection. I also have a natural suspicion of using
drugs for a "Just in Case" reason.

I do not think I will take any steps until I get results of the blood test
in (~ end of the week).

A second opinion sounds nice, but I barely have enough money for one
opinion.

--Falooley

Well, I guess I have a natural suspicion of vets.

Why?

Well, I guess I have a natural suspicion of vets.

Why?

Every once in awhile, there is a post here looking for home recipes for
Kidney Disease, but I have not looked at them.

Some of the prescription pet foods are short term use. Although most all
here are not impressed with Science Diet as a regular food, most are agreed
that the prescription diets are pretty good. Certainly easier and may be
cheaper than preparing the meals at home. Until a diagnosis is made, it
would be worth the food from the vet.


"Bob Falooley" wrote in message
...
I have an old dog, he is 9, he is a very non-active golden retriever.

The Vet says his urine PH is too basic, and specific gravity is too low.
She recomends blood work, buying special acidic food from the vet,
starting
him on Antibiotics.

She says this could be a sign of kidney problems.

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to
spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself. Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an
infection
for sure.

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

--Falooley

Every once in awhile, there is a post here looking for home recipes for
Kidney Disease, but I have not looked at them.

Some of the prescription pet foods are short term use. Although most all
here are not impressed with Science Diet as a regular food, most are agreed
that the prescription diets are pretty good. Certainly easier and may be
cheaper than preparing the meals at home. Until a diagnosis is made, it
would be worth the food from the vet.


"Bob Falooley" wrote in message
...
I have an old dog, he is 9, he is a very non-active golden retriever.

The Vet says his urine PH is too basic, and specific gravity is too low.
She recomends blood work, buying special acidic food from the vet,
starting
him on Antibiotics.

She says this could be a sign of kidney problems.

My question is, how much money should I actually spend at the vet?

I am going to go ahead and get a blood test done, but I do not want to
spend
the money on Vet dog food. I should be able to do some research and find
out what is in that dog food and make it myself. Also I do not believe in
just throwing antibiotics and something you don't even know is an
infection
for sure.

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do? Any help would be
appreceated.

--Falooley

"Bob Falooley" wrote in message
...
I have an old dog, he is 9, he is a very non-active golden retriever.
The Vet says his urine PH is too basic, and specific gravity is too low.
She recomends blood work, buying special acidic food from the vet,
starting
him on Antibiotics.
She says this could be a sign of kidney problems.

...........Could be. Does your dog drink a lot of water? What caused you
to seek out a vet in the first place? Did you take in the first urine of
the day? Did they find bacteria or crystals in the urine or just run the
pH? If they didn't do the rest, I'd take in a first AM pee sample and have
them run the whole shebang. Then I would go ahead and get a CBC and full
chemistry panel run. This is the only way you'll be able to tell if there
are actually kidney problems - with a combination of bloodwork and
urinalysis. If the BUN and Creatinine are OK, then it's might be a bladder
infection. If your dog does have kidney problems you can join K9kidney at
Yahoo and get lots of help there.

buglady
take out the dog before replying