Senior dog kidney failure: What BUN level indicates end of life?

Question

My dog 13 year old papillon has kidney failure, last year his BUN was 60 now it is 142. He has lost weight, about a pound and a half, no real symptoms that could not be attributed to older age. What sort of number would I expect to see towards "the end"? Pet's info: Dog | Papillon | Male | neutered | 11 years and 7 months old | 12 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

In cases of kidney failure, it's not so much the BUN number, it's the quality of life that's examined the most. Some dogs can have only moderately high levels of BUN, but their quality of life has deteriorated to a point when it's kinder to let them go peacefully. Losing weight is a common problem of kidney failure, and given that Beau is a toy breed, a pound and a half is a lot for him to lose. I would make a list of five things that he loves to do, and if he isn't doing at least two of them anymore, then his quality of life has deteriorated to a point where euthanasia should be considered. Weight loss is another consideration, and if he's becoming very skinny, that's not a good quality of life for him as well. Because I can't see him in person, I would discuss with your vet as well what they think his quality of life is at this point, and their recommendations for him. It's never easy to make the decision to let a beloved pet go, and often they are ready to go before we are ready to let them go. I work for a home euthanasia company, so I face these questions all the time from clients, and I'd be glad to consult with you further if you'd like to talk more. Just click on the "consult online" button under my answer. Good luck with Beau!

Senior dog kidney failure: What BUN level indicates end of life?

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