Eileen's Mildred

[eileen]

Re: Eileen's Mildred

Oh you're welcome Patty...I too always like to hear what others are doing.

Her actual diet for the moment is white fish and a mixture of cauliflower, broccoli and pure pumpkin. I'm debating over whether to add potatoes or yams so to help with the peak. Currently I am 'snacking' her mid afternoon if need be.

Do you have any thoughts on white potatoes?
How do you fix the yams for Ali?....I would imagine cooking and squashing or dicing?

Thanks for the thought of passing on the coupon for Humalog pen cartridges. I'm sure the clinic will be very happy to receive it.

Eileen/Mil

[eileen]

Re: Eileen's Mildred

oh boy Tami, was it ever. Especially after the first few days when she wasn't improving and her vet actually threw his hands in the air and said he had no idea as to what to do short of sending me to get an MRI. In all honesty I thought it was the end.
At this point he said we'd do blood work and low and behold this is what it apparently was, high fat levels yet she had been on a low fat diet.

I love Soaphie's photo, Mil too is a BC mix...I'm trying to figure out how to get her picture on my posts...I'm computer challenged ;-)

Eileen/Mil

[Patty]

Re: Eileen's Mildred

Do you have any thoughts on white potatoes?
How do you fix the yams for Ali?....I would imagine cooking and squashing or dicing?

Right now her food is pre-mixed. It's one of the Primal formulas: http://www.primalpetfoods.com/product/detail/c/7/id/3 She's on Pheasant for 1st meal and Chicken for 2nd before the insulin peak.

I have in the past added a number of things to her 2nd meals when we were just using Pheasant and it didn't have enough carbs/fiber to carry her through. I added mango for more immediate sugar (they are kidney friendly - but mangos are not very ripe right now) and white rice for longer lasting.

Also tried sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and brown rice...all gave Ali a high on the tail end of her curve but didn't keep her up in the middle. When I used the sweet potatoes, I peeled and quartered them, boiled them in a bit of water, drained then mashed and kept in fridge for a week.

I never did try white potatoes, although it was suggested. I tried the other foods first since white potatoes are known to aggravate arthritis/inflammation. Ali doesn't have arthritis but I was afraid of the inflammatory response with her allergies. Oatmeal and buckwheat were 2 other trials in the beginning and both made her very itchy.

Right now I'm using green lentils when she needs a bit more "lasting power" on a more active day. I add them to her chicken meal and they seem to help quite a bit. I found I need to weigh them in grams as 1 T didn't always come out the same and gave a varied result. I had more consistent results when I started using the scale.

Quinoa was another suggestion, I have it sitting in my pantry as an option but haven't tried it.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do

Take care,
Patty

[eileen]

Mildred

With bloodwork results showing an elevation in Mildred's BUN being at 35 with reference range, 7-27, her vet wants to start supplementing her with Azodyl.

I'm wondering if there are any other 'users' that can offer input.


Thanks.

[Patty]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Eileen,
It doesn't look like it could hurt to try. It looks like a probiotic type blend with psyllium husk:
Ingredients
Ingredients: Kibow Biotics® [E. thermophilus (KB 19), L. acidophilus (KB 27), B. longum (KB 31), Psyllium husk].

The Amazon reviews looked good for the product for what it's worth. The negative ones seem to be related to the company's handling of the product. http://www.amazon.com/Azodyl-60-Caps...DateDescending

More info: http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/pages/pro_azodyl.html
Patty

[eileen]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

OH, Dear Patty...THANK YOU for bringing the need for this to be shipped cold to my attention...I had no idea.

I had just ordered it from entirelypets.com online so just called them and before I could get my question out as to if it is shipped with cold packs the fellow said it is shipped priority, with packs.

Whew...THANKS again so much!

Vet's price was 45.00...entirelypets including shipping and tax, 32.00.
Vet actually suggested that I look online.

[Patty]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Good deal Eileen. Let us know if it helps
Patty

[Jaye]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

I have two cats with kidney failure issues. I've been using Azodyl and they've been maintaining for two years. In fact, one's numbers actually dropped. (Can't remember specifically which test...BUN and creatinine?)

I'd be wary of ordering it on-line, however. It has to be cold and even with cold packs or dry ice, sitting in the hot sun in a UPS truck or in your mailbox can't be good. Maybe I'll try it this winter, but until I can be sure it will come still cool, I'll bite the bullet and get it from my vet.

[eileen]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

I have two cats with kidney failure issues. I've been using Azodyl and they've been maintaining for two years. In fact, one's numbers actually dropped. (Can't remember specifically which test...BUN and creatinine?)

I'd be wary of ordering it on-line, however. It has to be cold and even with cold packs or dry ice, sitting in the hot sun in a UPS truck or in your mailbox can't be good. Maybe I'll try it this winter, but until I can be sure it will come still cool, I'll bite the bullet and get it from my vet.

Thanks Jaye....I also have a cat with crf that is still (knock on wood) doing very well 1 year after her diagnoses and being maintained only by sub-q's every third day.

I have ordered TONS of pet supplies thru entirelypets so do trust them. After Patty alerting me to the fact that Azodyl needs to be kept cold I called them and they said that it IS shipped with cold packs and even tho I only paid for flat rate shipping they send it out priority.
I just checked the tracking of my package and I see that it arrived in my City this morning at 4 a/m so will be delivered to my house by my mail carrier today by noon....this less than 24 hours since I placed the order.
The listed weight was 3 pounds so I am sure they did as they said.

I was always leary too of ordering online but by golly, once I found a reliable source I must use them as the differences in cost on various meds is amazing.

Mildred also uses Epakitin which is 65.00 thru my vet and 43.00 thru entirelypets.....this is also a monthly expense along with everything else.

Off the topic entirely but I have an asthmatic cat too which uses inhaled meds....these ordered from Canada cuts the cost in about a third.

[eileen]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Jaye,

For the heck of it I called entirelypets and asked them, 'what if my package does not arrive today and has to sit until Monday with ice packs melted.'

I was told that the manufacturer, Vetoquinol, guaratees that the product (Azodyl) stays active for up to 5 days at 100 degree temps.
So, with the ice packs keeping it cold for 48 hours I should be good.
Of course not that I would like to see it arrive warm.

I tried to call Vetoquinol (800-267-5707) to confirm but they are closed as it is Saturday.

Thought you may be interested with this information.

[CarolW]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Hope it arrives today, Eileen - and cold! Good luck; it sounds like a really useful supplement.

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:29:48 (PDT)

[eileen]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Thanks Carol.

I joined a K9kidney group yesterday and posted Mildred's blood results as was asked by the group.
Two of the moderators responded by carefully looking over the results and concured with my vet that even with Mil's elevated BUN it is not necessarily an indication of kidney failure but possibly dehydration and/or infection.

Mildred was put on Cephalexin yesterday for a possible UTI as well as this Azodyl for kidney support.

I've been having terribly high glucose levels with her lately so had to take her in on Thursday.

I'm working out in the back yard and as much as Mildred wants to be outside with me I must leave her in the house so to alert me when/if someone comes to the front door...hopefully soon with my package.

[CarolW]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Eileen - I'm really laughing. You and I have an awful lot in common; that is, when our dogs have high glucose levels, so do we.

HAHAHA!

Camellia Camelo's cortisol levels are still very high; I can tell because she startles so easily - but the more rest I allow her, or encourage her to get, the less jumpy she gets.

Aha; same as humans.

Hope that package comes!

Hugs,

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:42:15 (PDT)

[Cornspot]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

There is a cat that boards with us that uses it. I bought it for my Dolly (severe arthritis and more likely than not, cancer) as she could not get by without taking an NSAID, even with lots of Tramadol. However, I never re-checked her blood levels to see how they were. She never started vomiting, so I am guessing her kidneys were still doing what they needed to do. Dolly was not diabetic; I do not know how it will affect BGs. It is basically a type of probiotic (hence the need to keep cool), so it may change how food is absorbed.

[eileen]

Re: Is Anyone Using Azodyl?

Well, received my package with the Azodyl from entirelypets today....HOT.

I contacted Vetoquinol directly to ask about the length of time it can be left unrefrigerated, this was the reply to my email.

" Under 80 degrees it is good for 72 hours. I hope this helps"

But yet on Saturday when I was concerned and called entirelypets they said the manufacturer gaurantees it in 100 degree temp for 5 days....shhheessshhh!!!

I just got off the phone with entirelypets and they gladly (haha) said they would reship a new bottle today and I will receive it tomorrow.

Bottom line is that if at the time I placed the order I had been aware that it needed to be kept cold I would have waited for a week day to order and not on a Friday afternoon.

Thanks Sonya for adding your positive comments to the great benefits I have been reading about this product for both cats and dogs.