Support Blu Reversing Kidney Failure with Dialysis

We first met Blu when he was eight weeks old and instantly fell for his big eyes, sweet soul, and oversized paws he had yet to grow into.

That might have been around the time you met him, too. Maybe you first saw his face smiling out the truck window on his daily drives around the Snoqualmie Valley or followed his adventures on Instagram (@bluinthepnw)

For others, you might just be tuning into Blu's story and asking - What happened to Blu? How can a dog recover from kidney failure?

Standing 3 feet tall and 80 pounds at best - Blu lives to tell the story. Blu is a lover and a fighter when he needs to be.

Our 2-year-old Border Collie Chow mix started feeling ill in October of 2022 after a weekend trip to the Oregon Coast.

We learned Blu was exposed to a bacteria attacking his kidneys - A rare but lethal zootopic disease called Leptospirosis (Weills Disease).

While the origin of exposure is unknown, we suspect Blu came in contact with contaminated soil, water, or species while traveling. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, an outbreak was first recorded on October 28th, 2022, affecting Sea Lions in California and Oregon.

Blu was first brought into his primary vet on October 5th, admitted with concerns of low appetite, energy, and 'depression-like' symptoms. He was quickly cleared to go home with antinausea and pain medication noting no remarkable findings.

After slow improvement - we decided to keep pushing for answers. Blu continued to lose 6 pounds before our follow-up appointment on October 29th for bloodwork.

We proactively started antibiotics, appetite stimulants, and anti-nausea medicine while we waited for the test results.

On October 31st, we received results indicating Blu was in kidney failure. Our vet transferred us to Seattle, where Blu was placed in the ICU.

The following test results ruled out chronic conditions such as cancer, which brought us closer to our positive Leptospirosis diagnosis.

After Blu tested positive, he was isolated in a quarantined unit.

At 10PM his first night in quarantine, I received a call that Blu's IV bag had punctured and was administering unsterile fluids, and they noticed fluid was building around his kidney and lungs. I followed their recommendations to switch antibiotics to prevent sepsis, but Blu's condition worsened as the days went by.

After we surpassed the initial $5,000 deposit, I asked "are we doing everything we can?" The technician said "No, but we aren't equipped for alternative treatment if he isn't responding to traditional therapies."

Here came the Google searches.

"Homeopathic foods for azotemia an kidney failure"

"Can dogs have kidney transplants"

"What is dialysis"

Due to the positive bacterial infection, Blu became a candidate for dialysis to treat his acute kidney injury and allow time for his organs to heal.

I made several phone calls before I found one doctor in Washington State that was certified to perform dialysis on dogs.

But... We needed board approval, payment upfront, and the doctor to return home from his vacation.

Blu was transferred to Blue Pearl on November 3rd where he received a feeding tube, and two dialysis sessions. On November 8th, we decided to continue supportive care at home on an outpaitent basis.

Supportive care has consisted of water and low-protein smoothies administered through his feeding tube every 4-6 hours and medicine every 12. We began daily vet visits to check his blood levels every morning, staying roughly 3 hours for results to tell if we needed to drop him off for another dialysis day.

Blu has improved and is eating on his own. On November 14th, Blu's kidney function began normalizing, and his dialysis catheter was removed.

Unfortunately, Blu does not have pet insurance, so he depends on us for 100% of his treatment. While we are grateful to have made the payments thus far, this has caused a significant financial burden on CJ and I.

Blu has an estimated 4 weeks of outpatient treatment remaining, where his feeding tube has yet to be removed, and he will continue on medication. Once his kidneys fully heal, Blu will require a prescribed renal diet indefinitely.

As of November 17th, Cj and I have spent over $28,000 to receive the treatment necessary to save Blu's life. We anticipate an additional $5,000 to complete his outpatient treatment and around $400/m for his prescribed renal diet.

We hope to raise $20,000 to cover outstanding balances and provide Blu with the necessary support he deserves to live a long, healthy life.

No amount is too small, and no share goes unnoticed. Thank you for helping spread awareness about leptospirosis and your efforts to support Blu's recovery from acute kidney failure.

Thank you to the veterinary specialists who worked day and night to diagnose and save Blu's life.

What is Blu's prognosis?

Statistically, 60% of dogs and cats with acute renal failure disease either die or are humanely euthanized because of failure to respond to supportive care.

Dialysis is usually reserved for those patients in whom medical treatment has failed, and the chance of death without dialysis is almost 100%. In those patients, 50% may recover with dialysis, depending on the underlying cause of kidney failure.

While we won't know Blu's complete prognosis until his body fully heals, our veterinary team expects Blu to have an 80% likelihood of fully recovering without premature chronic kidney disease.

We will share updates on Blu's condition as he continues to recover.

What is Hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis involves putting a large IV catheter in a vein and using the catheter to remove a quantity of blood, which is then sent through a machine that cleans the blood. Hemodialysis is effective, but only a handful of veterinary hospitals are equipped to do hemodialys is. Both peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis are very expensive treatment options.

What is Weills Disease?

Leptospirosis (Weills Disease) occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. There is always a risk of infection for people who have contact with infected animals or soil and water where the bacteria are present.

How rare is Leptospirosis?

According to the Washington State Department of Health, between zero to five cases of leptospirosis infections are reported each year. Most infections are due to recreational water exposure in Washington or during travel.

What are the signs of leptospirosis in dogs?

The clinical signs of leptospirosis vary; some animals may show no symptoms. Common clinical signs in dogs include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, stiffness, severe muscle pain leading to anorexia, and kidney and liver dysfunction. If untreated, Weil's disease can cause kidney, liver, or heart failure.

How much does hemodialysis cost?

We have included screenshots of a portion of medical bills we have paid for out-of-pocket below (in other words, split between all our cash and credit cards). Please note this is not a comprehensive list of all costs associated with Blu's recovery.

Could this have been prevented?

Yes, in some instances, leptospirosis can be prevented. Blu is up-to-date on his required and recommended immunizations.

According to the Center for Disease Control , a vaccine exists but does not provide 100% protection. This is because there are many strains (types) of leptospires (the bacteria that causes Leptospirosis), and the vaccine does not provide immunity against all strains.

Your primary vet may suggest additional vaccinations based on your location, lifestyle, and other risk factors. Some veterinarians may warn that the vaccine can have adverse reactions and be linked to premature kidney disease.

Currently, the Leptospirosis vaccine is not a legally required immunization in Washington State.

Leptospirosis is not a required or core vaccine in many US states. Please consult your primary veterinarian while considering adding the Leptospirosis vaccine as part of your annual shots.