How would you handle it

[coolbrze]

How do you know it's kidney failure? Do you see excessive loss of weight in the hind quarters? You mentioned loss of appetite, that's correct. How about excessive water consumption? It could be Lepto as well. Is the bottom side of the dog Shake bred by any chance? I'd take the dog in and have blood work taken if it's a good dog. If he comes back w/ a lot of Protein in his blood, he's done. How old is he? If you do decide to put him down, have a kidney biopsy done. Kidney failure is not the reason he's dying, it's the affect something is having on his kidneys and a biopsy will tell you what. Lastly, glad you didn't breed him, it could have caused more problems down the road.

[Chuck Terry]

Sorry Big Dog! I had to have my favorite female beagle ever put put to sleep with the same problem three years ago. It was a hard decision for me. However, I could not watch her "crash" - the vet said she would definitely suffer if I let that happen. She was seven and I had gotten the nod from Terry Suddeth to breed her to Homer that spring. I had bred her once but she had only two females and so I kept two males. I was planning to keep all the "Homer females"! The vet kept her and extra day even ran a third blood test (no additional charge) to be sure. The numbers were better but still way off and she was still not eating. When he called with the bad news, I was really down! The vet told me I could take her home for a few days so we could have a little more time together and then bring her back. I orginally thought that was what I wanted to do but decided that would just make it harder on both of us. I never took her home. Instead, I petted her up and told her, "good bye". I know it sounds weird but as I looked into her beautiful deep brown eyes that one last time, she seemed to understand (or at least trust me as she always had?). Then, I let the vet and his tech know we were ready. Despite my tears, I know I did the right thing and will do it again. The only thing I would do differently is that I would leave just before the needle is inserted. The feeling the life go out of her and that last deep "death breath" still haunt me a bit today. They put her in a burial bag with handles for me to take home so I did not have to look at her while transporting and burying her and that made it much easier. I had already dug the grave and that helped too. Gee, I miss her! Again, sorry for your loss Kim!

[Murphy's Kennel]

Sorry about your lost BIGDOG and I know how it feels to lose a good hound to kidney failure. My G-Daddy lost a Dual Grand Champion by the name of Sandman III he was as a nice as a hound that I ever seen on the ground. He was going down hill the last two years out of the 6 that he was alive. But now he is up in heaven running rabbits waiting on your hound so he can have some help running up there. Murphy's Kennel still misses old Sandman and wish it wouldn't have been his time but there is someone bigger than us.

[Big Dog]

To Coolbreeze - I sadly had him put down His mother died of Kidney failure at 6 years old as well as 2 of her littermates. They all died within a 6 month window and they were located in different parts of the US. His Grand Dam also died of kidney failure so it seems to run in his family. He had been slipping for the last year or so. He would take in a lot of water, but only eat a little. Sometimes he would only eat every other day especially in the summer time. Over the last month he would not eat dry dog food at all, and would only eat canned food here and there. He had gotten down really skinny especially in the back end and seemed to lack stamina at times. His bark had even changed.

To J Murphy - I ran against Sandman in the winners pack at wurtland several years ago. I believe he got NBQ that day, he was definitely a nice hound. Storm was the only 13 inch dog that I had in my kennel. In his younger day he was a jump dog deluxe and could run the snot out of one solo. I always went with him if we were gun hunting and had a split, because I knew he was going to bring it around. In a pack he would cut you, skirt and do whatever took to win in little pack trials. He carried a switch blade in both back pockets. LOL I will still miss him though as he was the friendliest dog I ever owned, and one of the better jump dogs I have ever owned.

Big Dog

[mihunter]

Sorry for your lose Big Dog. Eventhough it was a tough decision to make, you made the right one.

[chris herpin]

Kim, I just had to put down one of my Grand Champions. Bayou City Red Reanna. She was diagnosed with liver and kidney failure due to Lepto. After a $685 vet bill I did it myself. I know how you feel. Chris

[les guynn]

Been in your shoes,sorry for the lose

[Tony Jr]

That's tuff there now! I would have to put him down but I'd have to pay $$$$$$ to a vet for him to!