Help Luca Battle Chronic Kidney Disease

On December 11th, 2024, Luca was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. His BUN was 117 and creatinine was 6.2.

The diagnosis resulted due to a bad smell in his mouth, which the vet said was a dental infection. After blood work, followed by an ultrasound, it was confirmed Luca had chronic kidney disease and the vet said there was nothing I could do to help him, since it is irreversible.

I was in complete disbelief that my sweet boy, who is not even three years old yet, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. I left the clinic, completely heartbroken, and seeked a second opinion.

Luca is now seeing a different vet and staff, who have been extremely helpful, informative, supportive, and loving.

We repeated the ultrasound/bloodwork and the ultrasound specialist says this seems to be genetic and that he was born with the kidney disease. Luca goes every day for IV fluids to help get the kidney levels down, is on a renal support diet, will be starting supplements this week, and will be seeing a nephrologist as well.

I bought Luca from Petland Pembroke Pines in 2022. At the time of purchase, the Petland paperwork included a partnership veterinary clinic. As a first pup owner, I did take him for a wellness check, and nothing alarming was verbally shared with me. I continued to take him to that veterinary clinic for his annual check ups and vaccinations.

After finding out about his 2024 diagnosis, I did call the veterinary clinic he went to in 2022 for blood work AND his annual exams/vaccinations each year up until now, and asked they send me a copy of the 2022 lab work.

When I received the lab work (a few days ago), I reviewed it and found that the 2022 lab work did have an abnormal level in his SDMA index. Luca was only 5 months old at the time, and recently purchased from Petland.

Luca is a loving 2 yr 11 month old goldendoodle, who has made my life happier since the moment I laid eyes on him.

Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Even if it is just your personal story with how you helped your pup with kidney issues.

Thank you,

M