I believe there is also a Royal Canin renal diet. In Canada, both Hill’s and RC offer money back guarantees. I would guess that it’s the same in the US. You’ll receive a full refund on an opened bag of food from your vet clinic if your pet won’t eat it. Best of luck to everyone and their pets.
So sorry!
In contrast to cats, once dogs are in serious renal failure it is far less manageable for long term quality of life.
I would check out http://www.iris-kidney.com which is the authority on staging and gold standard treatments.
While BUN/Creat are the most often looked at indicators of disease, the urine specific gravity (and any infection), and electrolytes (specifically potassium and phosphorus) are important too. The electrolytes being off is often a cause of inappetance and nausea. Hypertension and anemia are also a part of this process. The renal diets are not only protein restricted, but usually balanced in such a way as to offset these electrolytes as well.
I’ve had the best success either “going big or going home”. Partial treatment is rarely successful–several days of IV fluids with medications and diet as suggested on the iris kidney site to “normalize” things as much as possible (see here: http://www.iris-kidney.com/_downloads/003%20N378.008%20IRIS%20Website%20Treatment%20Recommendation%20PDFs%20DOGS_041113.pdf), followed by aggressive management at home can be successful–but this is defined as months (sometimes years if caught early) of good quality of life, not “cure”. If you can’t do the aggressive treatment, then I consider anything else basically hospice care–make them comfortable for as long as possible and don’t prolong any perceived suffering.
Sorry if this has been said above, I didn’t have time to read other replies. Good luck and I am so sorry. We are lucky that this is not as prevalent in dogs as in cats, because it is a heart breaker of a disease process. 
what does the bloodwork look like? Specifically things like sodium, potassium, neutrophils, and lymphocytes?
Thank you all for the information and well wishes. Belly and I really appreciate it! :yes:
Rudy - no specifics, but the vet said everything else in his bloodwork was normal.
He’s definitely feeling better with the fluids. The vet called yesterday and told me to up the amount to 400ml/day if he’ll tolerate it. He’s just such a good boy, he doesn’t even flinch when I put the needle in and just lays there wagging his tail while the fluids are going in. :sadsmile:
Last night I made him a brat (sausage) and gave it to him with the roll and he scarfed it down. :applause: Probably not the best thing for him, but at this point, I get so excited when he eats anything, I can live with it. This morning I gave him some leftover ham cut up with small pasta shells and he cleaned that up too. :yes: I’ll be stopping by the vet in the morning with a urine sample and to pick up more fluids for him. He definitely seems more comfortable, so I’m happy. Love this dog. 
Jingles & AO ~ ((hugs)) for your heart
Jingles & AO for your dear friend ~
((hugs)) for your heart ~
** Specialty Clinic in Chicago ~ dialysis …
Find Dr. Jerry Thornhill ``` a genius in kidney failure ! :yes:
a busy man … transport dog there ~
** he helped one of our cats … told our vet what and how much “human” med to use to re- open our dear, Minky’s kidneys up and saved her life ~
I’m sorry I don’t have contact number available … Google & if you can get dog to Chicago and/ or if your vet is willing to call to ‘help’ some vets are not willing to get additional ‘specialty help’
Again Jingles & AO !
Thank you so much Zu Zu! 
Just saw this. I may be off the wall, but Beardies are prone to getting Addison’s Disease which is often mistaken for renal failure. Have they checked his cortisol and electrolyte values? Atypical Adogs cannot make cortisol, Typical Adogs cannot make cortisol or aldosterone (which manages the electrolytes).
That is very interesting, especially the Beardie connection. The first thing I noticed in diagnosing this, however, was a high white blood cell count. Belly’s WCC was normal. I have to go pick up two of my other babies at the vet tomorrow after they were bitten by a copperhead :eek: (they’re going to be fine TG!) so I will ask the vet about it.
Thank you so much! 
Jingles & AO continue for your dear dog ~
Jingles continue for your dear dog ~ ((hugs)) for you ~
We had to let Belvedere go. I had been giving him 400 ml SQ fluids each day because he just wasn’t drinking very much and I was cooking for him as he wanted nothing to do with dog food. He loved scrambled farm-fresh eggs with cheese, cold cuts with cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, basically anything with cheese. But he continued to lose weight and was giving me the 1000-yard stare yesterday and refusing to even take american cheese slices, so I knew it was time.
He went peacefully, which is comforting, but I will miss my beautiful Belly.
Here’s a pic when he was the picture of health. <3
Thoughts and prayers & tears & ((hugs)) for Belvedere’s family ~
Thoughts and prayers and tears and ((hugs)) for the family Belvedere leaves behind ~ :sadsmile:
RIP ~ Belvedere you ‘handsome lad’ `` knowing you will always be loved and remembered ~
I’m So sorry
Thank you Zu Zu. :sadsmile:
I’m so sorry. What a gorgeous happy looking dog he was!
Thank you Bells. :sadsmile:
((Hugs)) on the loss of your sweet Belvedere. It is always hard to let them go but lucky are the dogs who’s owners give them that peaceful passing.
We just had to let our 15 1/2 year old JRT go last week. I had the vet out to the house and it was perfect for him. Still, we feel the sharpness of his passing here in the house because of all the things we did for our sweet old man.
Many {{{HUGS}}} to you Fessy’s Mom. I know exactly how the ache in your heart feels.
RIP Belvedere, one loved pup.
I’m so sorry. Undoubtedly, “Belly” thanks you for the wonderful life and extraordinary efforts at the end.
Hugs to you.
I’m so very sorry for you loss. RIP much loved Belvedere.
Belvedere was surely cherished by you and I am so sorry for the loss. It is so hard to keep them comfortable and coax eating when they have an illness of this type. May you find peace in knowing you did everything for him.
