Can I ask-how did he recover?
Thanks for the details- I know chemo is poison, so I wasn't sure what you meant,because sometimes it cures.
That's a pity, the only treatment they can offer is commercial, processed dog food for a sick animal.

He's putting weight back on and his energy and stamina are coming back. He was miserable with gas and constipation and now thats all gone. He was scratching and digging at his ears, licking his feet. Things that he never did on a raw diet. He had bladder stones so the option of disolving them with the food was better then surgery. But for your dog at 18, there has to be a better option and as you look at some of the studies that are on the links Connie sent you it completely contradicts the Science Diet.

Sorry Sherry, I kinda babbled and didnt really answer you. He's back on a raw diet.

Babbling is good..........the more the better.

I'm sorting through the studies-Connie-I'm a little brain-tired , but feeling a lot more peaceful & confident.
Smokey is still steadily sparkling along.I say that because I always look for the sparkle in a dog's eye. Maybe sounds silly, but it tells me a lot.
More later-more reading ---

 Quote: sherry lester

I'm a little brain-tired , but feeling a lot more peaceful & confident.

:smile:

 Quote: sherry lester

.... I'm sorting through the studies--I'm a little brain-tired , but feeling a lot more peaceful & confident. ....

 Quote: sherry lester

I'm going to give him more raw green tripe to cut back the protien somewhat.

I want to be sure that you see these. These are why it has been suggested that the vet who said "He needs to go on Science Diet kd" while "She didn't even ask any details about what I feed him" would send some to get a second opinion.

The debunking of the across-the-board-low-protein-for-renal-functioning idea is presented here in 16 authoritative articles:
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#protein

and
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#diet
QUOTE: When developing a diet for your dog with kidney failure, the goal is to feed moderate to high fat, moderate amounts of high quality protein, low phosphorus, and low phosphorus carbohydrates to fill in. END

From http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#prot
QUOTE: The myth that high-protein diets are harmful to kidneys probably started because, in the past, patients with kidney disease were commonly placed on low-protein (and thus low-nitrogen) diets. Now we often put them on a diet that is not necessarily very low in protein but contains protein that is more digestible so there are fewer nitrogen by-products. END

and
QUOTE:'For years, physicians and veterinarians have treated renal failure by reducing protein levels in diets,' said Gregory Reinhart PhD, an Iams researcher. 'After working with leading universities, we have now found that restricting protein in a dog's diet may do more harm than good by potentially putting the companion animal at risk of protein malnutrition.' END

and
QUOTE: . . . at least one study has taken several groups of dogs in kidney failure and fed them diets that varied in protein level and phosphorus level. The groups with severely restricted phosphorus lived longer than the groups with normal or high levels of phosphorus. The protein intake made no difference at all in longevity. . . . "It is important to remember that phosphorus is more important than protein -- feeding vegetables or salt-free crackers to a dog in kidney failure will not add protein but it will add phosphorus." END

The complication of pancreatitis is what made me ask how it was diagnosed and how acute it was, because while there is overlap between ideal diets for kidney failure and pancreatitis, there would have to be consideration given to both by, IMO, a vet who has waaaay more nutrition knowledge than yours has demonstrated.

In fact, MHO is that you, carefully reading the links supplied, are going to be a far better advocate for your dog's nutrition than the vet you saw.

All JMO, and I'm not a health professional.

Thanks for your attention to detail- in reading through the material & comparing with the blood work-it was pointed out-
1-)-he was not fasted, which could skew the #'s somewhat
2)-Seems the supplements are the right ones-except he could benefit from coq10-
3)- maybe he could use a little more fat- because of worrying about pancreatitis- it's all lean-lean-lean.
I don't feed vegetables -
We're holding steady here---Monday- I hope to connect with a more holistic vet- & Wed. he goes to his Chiro-who is a better nutritionist than the 2 vets I'v beeen to.

Smokey saw his canine chiro- I showed him the blood work, & told him the dietary advice I'd been given from the vet. Even though he didn't really agree with it, he couldn't advise me -except to go to his website, which, is the same link that Connie had given me...great minds?
He did advise against accupuncture at this time & referred me to a more holistic vet that he thought would suit me better.The nutritional part & the vaccinations- thats where Smokey's vet & I part ideas,not on a personal level.
Luckily, I'm finally remembering to ask for copies of all lab work - so I have that to take with me.I'm going to try to remember that every time from now on--you never know.
Friday-new vet--- oh,& the chiro said he's still got that sparkle that I see.

Smokey's got the sparkle---just to be clear(yikes).