And another.


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Ok so we just got back and we scared off the substitute vet asking her so many questions, and we didn't get to say bye since she "disappeared" off to an appointment.

To sum it up quickly: her levels are just about the same. Which can be taken good or badly.

So I recorded the past weeks levels and am trying to analyze them and what we should do. The two kidney levels are called Creatanine and BUN (Blood/Urine/Nitrogen) and go as follows:

3/26
BUN 130
CRE 9.7

3/27
BUN >180
CRE 8.4

3/29
BUN 160
CRE 6.7

3/30
BUN 161
CRE 6.4

I found a few people online with pets that had levels similar to these and pulled out of it. They mentioned it took a few weeks to get them back to a somewhat normal range. Just so you all can get an idea, Lucy in October 2006 her normal levels for BUN were 22 and CRE 1.5. Now they are skyrocketed. I hope that they keep going down, but I know that with permanent damage it is just as likely that they stay the same which means Lucy will have to be put down soon. I can't help but hope they keep lowering. She had been vomiting last night, which is not good either and worries me (she is on Maalox & Pepcid now) BUT she looked alot better today and wagged her tail when she saw us. I feel hopeful but I know that the outcome of this is pretty much a 50/50 chance of going either way.

I was stunned at that video they had of the testing facility!
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I used their form to send off letters to Iams and Menu Foods about it too...Disgusting and shocking fail when you see the way they treat those poor animals. Thank you for posting the link to that story with the testing facility video Doody. I had no idea it was that horrific.
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The vet called today to say that even though her BUN and CRE levels seem to be going down, her phosphorous levels are remaining the same, at a very toxic level despite doubling the IV drip. So she is at a 15.8 when she should be between 3 and 7. He suggested putting her down today because he said he wasn't sure how humane and ethical this is anymore, since the finances keep building up and Lucy is very toxic all over (rancid smelling, yellow skin, infected eyes, stomach ulcers, vomiting still). So I made the decision to wait until Monday and see what happens over the weekend (they are closed Sundays). Do any of you know about phosphorous levels?

(((Wish))) I haven't been able to stop thinking about you and your Lucy. I just feel so bad for you.

I know the first link is a pet food web site, but it discusses phosphorus levels and kidney failure. I also realize that your problems isn't related to feeding him the wrong dog food over a long period of time and is entirely different. But they do explain how the phosphorus levels work.


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((Wish)) and others. Here is information for you on the kidneys.
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Please also look at this page where you can report your stricken pet.
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And, their homepage has lots of valuable information.
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Hugs for everyone.

Thanks, Doody.
That's great information you've posted.
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I'm still confused about the melamine issue. I was just checking out the WHO site about melamine and the info. they had on there just doesn't add up to why these cats and dogs would die suddenly. It seems to me to point more at long term issues and exceptionally high doses.

I know this might sound weird, but I just decided to see if I could buy some Melamine online just trying to see more about it. One supplier from China "imports and exports chemical products, mainly organic and inorganic chemicals, medicine, pesticide, dye intermediates, feed, food additive and other refined chemical products." Sorta makes me wonder and also hope they're not all stored or manufactured in the same place.

You're welcome ((Wish)). Yes, Pet Connection does look like a good site to keep updated. It says on one of their pages:


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Thanks Doody, I am going to check out the websites now. I have been spending hours and hours, every free second I have trying to learn more about this. It is a bit exhausting, but really important to know whats going on. Lara, you would be amazed at what kind of things can be bought over the internet.

I am nervous about tomorrow. I am eager to know if her levels have gone down. I am frightened they haven't and the vet will again suggest me end her suffering- and my gut tells me to wait and wait and wait. I can't help but worry how tomorrow will turn out, how this week will conclude.

I am also tired of preaching. I have done hours of research, days of reading. I am exhausted by this entire pet food recall. I have learned more about kidney failure than I want. I can speel (sp?) off any information you need to know about this on a whim, I can list to you all the brands recalled and all the ones not on the list. I can tell you on the hour updates the second they are announced. And well, I am tired of trying to convince others of the urgency of this situation. I feel it is hopeless. So many of my friends and family members keep thinking that this just can't happen to them. They don't care to realize that it can. And I feel it is pure ignorance. Maybe they don't understand what I am going through, or have empathy towards the situation. Whatever it is that makes those people continue feeding their pets dog foods that are causing renal failure, or just simply ANY commercial pet food. I just don't understand WHY anyone would risk it. Yes I am getting on my
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now. I don't wish this on anyone, really. I just wish everyone could understand how close to home this national problem is. My brother doesn't even know what food he gives his cat and doesn't even care less. My aunt is giving her dog food that is recalled but the dry version which has unofficial reports of kidney failure. I tell them, but why listen to me? They thank me for my information and keep feeding it to them. While I am here cooking homemade dog food for 2 hours long. I guess it just boils down to how much you care about your pets. I guess.

Its just frustrating when I am going into $2000 of debt, going to the vet's office everyday thinking I am putting Lucy to sleep, and worrying about if she will ever get out of there alive. I would give anything to rewind time and change what has happened, had I known. And some of you know now already, you know what is going on-but you continue to do it. And this is not aimed at anyone in particular on this site. Just everyone I come across in my life who continues to tell me that *their* pet food is safe, even when it really isn't, because no pet food is safe anymore. Why would you trust any company with the life of your pet when soo many are out there dying?