Help Freya’s Owners Recoup Vet Bills After Losing Her to CKD

Back in March, my dog Freya was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at four months old due to being born with underdeveloped kidneys. I have been committed to giving her the best quality of life possible since then, and I’m really proud of how far she has come. Aside from her special diet and nightly fluid therapy, her day-to-day life is just like that of a healthy puppy.

Even after two appeals, my pet insurance has declined coverage for anything pertaining to her condition because I sought out necessary vet care the night before the waiting period on our policy had ended. Between the $4,400 for her initial emergency hospital stay, the cost of her veterinary specialists and frequent bloodwork, and the 6 bags of lactated ringers fluids we go through every month, the bills for her care are quickly adding up to much more than I can handle as a full time college student and veterinary assistant. With no reimbursement from our pet insurance, I am seeking help to be able to afford Freya’s continued veterinary care.

About Us:

Freya was born on November 3rd, 2023 and I have had her since she was 11 weeks old. She is a smooth collie, which was my dream dog for years before I got her. She is an incredibly gentle and friendly dog brimming with confidence and a love of people. This is exemplified in the way that she still comes into the vet’s office with a wagging tail and happy “airplane ears” excited to see all her friends (my coworkers) no matter how many exams she’s had or needles she’s been stuck with. She loves soft beds, long sniffing walks, and playing chase in the backyard.

I’m 26 years old and a full-time college student working towards my degree and certification in veterinary technology. I always throw myself into the hobby aspects of pet ownership, and my dog parent dream is to compete in sports and shows with my dogs. I’m incredibly fortunate to work at an animal hospital that has been so helpful and supportive through everything with Freya.

About Freya’s Condition and Care:

Freya’s official diagnosis is Bilateral Renal Dysplasia. It means that she was born with kidneys that did not grow and develop properly, and her chronic kidney disease is a result of that malformation. In her case, both kidneys are affected about equally. She was diagnosed via bloodwork and ultrasound, and her re-checks have been consistent with this being her condition.

According to what I have read, collies are not well-known as a breed that frequently suffers from renal dysplasia. When I was researching what health conditions to look out for when getting a collie, this was not even on my radar, and the Collie Health Foundation does not currently have a trusted genetic test that they recommend or endorse to screen for it.

Chronic Kidney Disease is a progressive, incurable condition that will eventually be fatal. Because renal dysplasia varies so widely between each dog, it is really tough to know exactly what that means for Freya and her life expectancy. I feel incredibly lucky to have made it to her first birthday, especially without knowing how many birthdays we will be able to celebrate.

The bulk of Freya’s supportive care is done at home. I give her 200mL of subcutaneous fluids every night to keep her hydrated and to help her body flush out the toxins that her kidneys are supposed to take care of. She understandably doesn’t love it, but we’ve worked out a system where she gets to eat her dinner on the couch while the fluids go in.

Her diet has been the other big part of her treatment. The prescription dog foods that are formulated for kidney patients are not nutritionally adequate for puppies because the ideal low level of protein is not enough to support growth and development. We tried a different food that was recommended by a veterinary nutritionist doctor, but when it didn’t agree with her, the nutritionist formulated a home-cooked diet and supplement plan. From about May to October, I spent hours every week cooking and blending her food and it totally turned things around for her. She was putting on weight, growing, and feeling good. Now that she’s a year old, we’ve transitioned her to the prescription kidney food, which has eased the time commitment, but not the financial one.

As time goes on, Freya will likely need some medications to help manage things like her blood pressure and phosphate levels, but for now, we’ve been getting by with as-needed antacids and anti-nausea drugs. Her ongoing treatment is informed by running regular bloodwork to monitor her kidney values.