Rimadyl and kidney problems.

Dr. Marie replied:

This is an interesting question.

You mentioned that her urinalysis was normal. Can you find out what her specific gravity was? This number tells us how well concentrated the urine is. A normal dog will have a specific gravity of around 1.030. If a dog has serious kidney problems then the specific gravity will be between 1.008 and 1.012. And if a dog is dehydrated we will often see a number higher than 1.045.

The reason why I am asking this is that BUN and Creatinine can be elevated because of dehydration as well. So, the specific gravity is quite important to know. If the specific gravity has not been in the 1.008 to 1.012 range then it's possible that all along there is something other than kidney disease going on.

Now to address your concerns about the Rimadyl. Rimadyl is an NSAID. Any NSAID can have effects on the kidneys or liver. However, in a healthy dog with healthy kidneys it is very unlikely for Rimadyl to cause kidney disease. On the other hand, if there was a pre-existing kidney problem then Rimadyl could make it worse.

So should she be on LP for life? This is a tough question to answer. If her specific gravity was initially between 1.008 and 1.012 and now it is back to normal then I would be inclined to let her eat a regular senior dog food.

However, if her specific gravity is still in this range then, even though the kidney enzymes are normal she can still have what is called renal insufficiency. This means that the kidneys are not working at full capacity, but they are not sick enough to be called renal failure. If this is the case then she really should stay on a food for dogs with kidney problems.

At Trixie's age there is a definite possibility that she has age related problems with her kidneys. If this is the case then we need to do everything we can to help her kidneys stay healthy.

There are other brands of kidney foods available through your vet so you can talk to them about trying a different type of food. You can also ask them about adding a medication called famotidine which is very helpful for increasing the appetite of dogs with kidney problems.

I hope this helps, and I hope she is feeling better soon!

Dr. Marie.


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Dr. Marie replied:

You're very welcome!

A specific gravity of 1.032 is quite good for a senior dog. It means that the kidneys are concentrating really well.

LP is a decent food for senior dogs because it is easy on the kidneys and liver. However, if your dog doesn't like it then I wouldn't be forcing her to eat it.

I do believe that the Wellness is a good food and should be fine. Now, if Trixie does not want to eat this food then I am concerned that something else is going on. But, if she is eating it then I think it is great for her to stay on it.

I would not advise buying a home urine test. There are too many variables that need to be interpreted. The most important thing to check on her urine is specific gravity and a home test won't tell you this. This test is likely a dipstick that can tell you if there is blood in the urine or a change in Ph but it won't be very helpful to tell you if there is kidney disease.

Dr. Marie.