Jack Patterns: Trying to Save My Dog from Kidney Disease
This is the continuation of Jack’s Patterns and Part 2: Jack’s Kidney Dog Patterns—August 2026 Vet Visit & Beyond
Weds. November 4, 2026
Morning: Cerenia in ⅓ chicken pill pocket (7.7 cal).
12:00 PM: Lapped liquid from morning slurry, taking ice cream, oils, and dissolved food. Added ½ tsp ice cream (3 cal) and began syringe feeding.
1:30 PM: Ate ¼ Madeleine (22.5 cal). Had trouble with it sticking to teeth/roof of mouth.
Afternoon: Consumed approximately ¾ of morning slurry.
4:00 PM: Began scavenging. After sniffing several plates throughout the day, ate 1 Tbsp Hill’s Digestive kibble (20–22 cal).
Later: Initially resisted slurry but eventually took approximately ⅘ of the same morning slurry. Encouraged by talk of upcoming ride and walk.
6:00 PM: Ate 1 Tbsp chicken (15 cal).
Before walk: Ran up the stairs eagerly when I went upstairs to get ready.
Evening: Walked 3,200 feet, then another 200 feet at a second pet store. Needed a warm-up, planted briefly, then moved with purpose. Enjoyed the walk. First pet store: Refused two treats. Also refused Fruitables brought from home.
Second pet store: Refused all treats offered.
Pizza Hut: Ate 2 Tbsp pizza crust (approximately 30 cal). Purchased personal pan pizza for the crust.
Evening food offerings: Cake, dried liver, homemade biscuit, Sandies, and other treats; refused them. Also refused treats offered by clerks at two stores.
Bologna: Offered but refused.
10:30 PM: Ate 1¼ Tbsp chicken (approximately 18.75 cal).
Entyce: Not administered.
Bowel movement: During walk. Most stool blended into mulch; small visible piece on sidewalk looked normal. No diarrhea.
Walking total: 3,400 feet.
Estimated calorie total: approximately 144–146.
Thurs. November 5, 2026
Morning: Cerenia in ⅓ chicken pill pocket (7.7 cal).
12:00 PM: Lapped liquid from morning slurry, taking ice cream, oils, and dissolved food. Added ½ tsp ice cream (3 cal) and began syringe feeding.
1:30 PM: Ate ¼ Madeleine (22.5 cal). Had trouble with it sticking to teeth/roof of mouth.
Afternoon: Consumed approximately ¾ of morning slurry.
4:00 PM: Began scavenging. After sniffing several plates throughout the day, ate 1 Tbsp Hill’s Digestive kibble (20–22 cal).
Later: Initially resisted slurry but eventually took approximately ⅘ of the same morning slurry. Encouraged by talk of upcoming ride and walk.
6:00 PM: Ate 1 Tbsp chicken (15 cal).
Before walk: Ran up the stairs eagerly when I went upstairs to get ready.
Evening: Walked 3,200 feet, then another 200 feet at a second pet store. Needed a warm-up, planted briefly, then moved with purpose. Enjoyed the walk.
First pet store: Refused two treats. Also refused Fruitables brought from home.
Second pet store: Refused all treats offered.
Pizza Hut: Ate 2 Tbsp pizza crust (approximately 30 cal). Purchased personal pan pizza for the crust.
Evening food offerings: Cake, dried liver, homemade biscuit, Sandies, and other treats; refused them. Also refused treats offered by clerks at two stores.
Bologna: Offered but refused.
10:30 PM: Ate 1¼ Tbsp chicken (approximately 18.75 cal).
Entyce: Not administered.
Bowel movement: During walk. Most stool blended into mulch; small visible piece on sidewalk looked normal. No diarrhea.
Walking total: 3,400 feet.
Estimated calorie total: approximately 144–146.
* Friday, November 6 – Jack
Morning: Slept slightly later than usual. Schedule has been running late due to user's medication. Jack slept unusually deeply; user gently woke him and let him continue sleeping until she was ready to go downstairs.
Everything else normal; activities normal.
Morning: Took Cerenia with little objection in a small piece of chicken pill pocket (~2–4 cal).
12:00 PM: Entyce administered.
Morning slurry: Initially offered in a bowl. Jack took only two or three licks, then stopped.
1:00 PM: Short outing to pick up food from the food bank. Visited his favorite shopping-center light pole and sniffing spot for 4–5 minutes.
After returning home: Immediately began scavenging. Ate 1 Tbsp Hill's Digestive kibble (~20–22 cal) and 1 Tbsp unidentified treat (counted conservatively as ~10–12.5
Slurry had been refrigerated during the outing; Jack licked up all the liquid.
Later: Ate just under ½ Madeleine (~40 cal).
Vet visit: Weight 4.2 lbs.
Walked 1,350 feet, then another 165 feet; rode in buggy for a rest before walking more.
Treats: 1½ Milk-Bone Minis (~7.5 cal) and a small sliver of jerky (~1 cal).
4:00 SQ fluids administered.
Banfield weight: 4.4 lbs, measured immediately after SQ fluids, on a different scale.
5:45 PM: Ate 2 tsp Krystal burger bun (~5 cal, estimated).
Slurry: Added ½ Tbsp ice cream (~9 cal) and ¼ Tbsp olive oil (~30 cal). Jack voluntarily lapped up liquid in two portions, then received additional slurry by syringe. Estimated total consumed approximately ¾ of the enlarged batch.
8:00 PM: Ate 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp rotisserie chicken (~20 cal).
Estimated daily calories: 162–171.
Measured walking: 1,515 feet, plus the short daytime outing (4–5 minutes).
Saturday, November 7, 2026
10:15 AM: Jack got himself up as I was getting ready to go downstairs. Sleeping very deeply, possibly because of the small heating pad under his dog bed. Morning otherwise normal.
Morning: Initially reluctant to take slurry liquid. Administered one portion by syringe; refrigerated the remainder. Took approximately ⅓ of the original slurry at first.
Took Cerenia in ¼ chicken pill pocket (~5.7 cal).
12:30 PM: Entyce administered.
Took Jack along on the trip. He had a good week of eating and activity, received SQ fluids and B12 Friday, and weather was suitable for keeping him in the shaded car.
3:00 PM: Declined Madeleine, meaty patty, and freeze-dried chicken. Also declined water.
4:30 PM: Ate ½ Tbsp Hill's Digestive kibble (~11 cal) and 1½ small French fries (~15–20 cal); surface salt removed. Declined fresh cooked catfish.
Actively searched for food but declined several treats and cookies offered in roughly tablespoon portions. Madeleine had also been refused twice.
Later slurry: Added ½ tsp ice cream twice, bringing total ice cream to 1¼ tsp. Full recipe: 1 Tbsp Hill's renal pâté, 1¼ tsp ice cream, ¾ tsp olive oil, and ¼ tsp fish oil. Jack eventually ate every bit (~65 cal).
Became cold and shivered after eating; plans to warm slurry next time.
Walking: 180 feet.
Evening: Ate approximately 1 Tbsp thin strip steak cooked in unsalted butter. Initially gobbled it enthusiastically, stopped partway, then returned and finished the entire portion. Estimated steak and butter: ~30–40 cal.
Set aside remaining chicken for a future meal and froze a thin steak portion for tomorrow.
9:00 PM: Offered 1 Tbsp chicken. Jack showed interest but declined. Possible reasons: fourth consecutive day of chicken, not heated, or fullness after steak.
Ate ½ Milk-Bone Mini (~2.5 cal) when settled in his dog bed. Possibly ate another half, but not counted.
Estimated daily calories: approximately 139–144.
Walking: 180 feet at gas station. 100 ft at VIVA.
Sunday, November 8, 2026 — Jack’s Daily Log
11:00 AM — Jack got himself up while I was getting ready to go downstairs. He was especially perky, tail up, flew down the stairs, and happily trotted outside. Did his business normally, with no grass-seeking. Enjoyed the warm sunshine for quite a while, mostly on the patio. Came inside hungry and clearly looking for food.
Tried 3 Gravy Train kibble pieces, broken into smaller bits with a hammer. Licked the pieces and crumbs and ate approximately ⅓ tsp before losing interest. Estimated: 2–3 cal.
Ate approximately ½ tsp Hill’s Digestive kibble. Estimated: 3–4 cal.
Took ¼ chicken pill pocket without much resistance. 5.7 cal.
Ate another piece of Hill’s Digestive kibble later; not counted separately.
1:30 PM — Made heated slurry containing 1 tsp ice cream, 1.2 tsp olive oil, ⅛ tsp fish oil, and 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp Hill’s Digestive kibble. Jack consumed the liquid and some of the slurry. Later had another portion. The slurry had swollen and thickened. Estimated total consumption for the day: ½ batch, approximately 44 cal.
5:30 PM — Ate 1 Tbsp Boar’s Head Low Sodium Premium Roast Beef. Estimated: 15 cal. Removed seasoned edges and worked to remove surface residue. This was a rare use of his favorite food after at least 3–4 weeks without it.
6:00 PM — Walked 900 feet. Passed a normal-looking, barrel-shaped stool, a little on the small side.
Later — After a buggy ride, walked another 1,650 feet.
Ate another generous tablespoon of Boar’s Head roast beef. Estimated: 20 cal.
Ate almost 1 Tbsp thin strip steak cooked in ample butter with rosemary and sage. Gobbled it enthusiastically. Estimated: 30–40 cal.
9:30 PM — Purchased muffin tops at Publix. Each is 150 calories. Jack ate approximately ⅙ of one, made with eggs, milk, wheat, and sugar. Estimated: 25 cal.
Entyce: Not given today. I had intended to give it, but the day got away from me while reconstructing logs and working on the article.
Estimated calorie total: 145–157 calories.
Total walking: 2,550 feet.
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