Kidney Diet

[elizabethann]

I just got word from my Vet that one of my cats (Cosmo) has kidney issues. The Vet thinks I should put him on a kidney diet. This was all told to me on my answering machine so I didn't get any specifics as to what a kidney diet is.

But I'm sure someone on this board does.

What kinds of food should I be feeding Cosmo now that he has kidney issues?

Is there a specific kidney cat food out there? I don't want to feed my cats by-products so if there is a healthy kidney cat food out there, can someone let me know?

Thanks.

[Catty1]

Generall they are low-protein foods. Glacier has her Beau on some now...call a good pet store, and also your vet.

They can be more expensive, but are worth it.

My two, for example, are on Urinary tract food - they do eat less, and their coats are AMAZINGLY soft and shiny. More important, this food prevents a few hundred dollars more in vet bills!

hugs
Catty1

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Science Diet makes a renal formula. As far as I know though, you need to buy it from your vet. Like Catty1 says, low-protein is good. I believe Barbara might have some good suggestions for you too because Filou has been dealing with kidney issues for almost a year now(?).

[kb2yjx]

There are several kidney diets out there. Hills make k/d. The regular k/d is YUCK, like a hockey puck, so it did not go over well at the house(I have 3 kidney cats). However, the k/d minced is what the crew is eating, I just mash it up with a fork and spoon before I let the cats eat it. I also use the Royal Cannin Renal 23 dry food. Eukanuka(sp)by Iams also has a kidney diet. All the ones mentioned are from the vet.
How old is Cosmo?? Will you also be giving sub q fluids? There are places that supply the fluids, IV lines, and needles at a far better price than from the vet. All you need is a 'script from the vet. I use a company here in NJ for over 4 years now, Brico. Here is a site that has TONS of info and I have found it the best one on the web!!! www.felinecrf.org It is run by an English woman that lost 2 cats to kidney disease. Good luck with Cosmo and please keep us posted!!!!

[Miss Z]

I lost my cat Brando to kidney disease, unfortunately it's all too common in cats, but it is managable whilst the cat is in good condition. I don't really know of any foods that you may have over there, but just check that whatever you get is low in protein and in sodium.

[Glacier]

Generall they are low-protein foods. Glacier has her Beau on some now...call a good pet store, and also your vet.

hugs
Catty1

Low protien, low potassium. Beau is supposed to eat Medi-Cal reduced protien. My vet said any of three kidney support diets would be fine--Medi-Cal, Royal Canin Renal Support or Hills k/d. Beau likes the canned formula of all them. Turns his nose up at the kibble--he won't eat much kibble of any kind. My other cats eat Royal Canin Urinary S/O formula kibble and my vet said for the small amount of kibble Beau eats he should be fine with that.

Beau's health is quite fragile right now so until he's back on his paws, I'm letting him eat whatever he wants--currently he prefers Fancy Feast Tuna and Whitefish! Not on his low protien diet, but right now it's more important that he just eat!

Ask your vet about giving a quarter tablet of Pecid AC daily. Kidney trouble make some kitties nauseaus. The Pecid may help with that. Sub-q fluids are easy to do yourself and make a huge difference for some cats. Beau seems to perk up after he gets them. I have a dog who often goes days without eating, but is ravenous after she gets fluids.

There is some debate right now about the value of kidney diets. Keeping an obligate carnivore(can't survive without meat protien) on a low-protien diet long term doesn't really make much sense. However, since most kitties with kidney failure are older, it may not make difference for senior kitties.

[elizabethann]

Thank you for the information. Cosmo is about 11 years old. He isn't on any medications or special fluids. I read that there was some soft food (Innova - which I feed my dog) for cats with kidney issues. It's high in water and low in protein. I'll be going to the health food pet store this weekend so I will take a look at it.

He is actually fine and there are no signs of the disease (except for losing a little weight). I will call the Vet on Monday and ask if he should be on any medications.

Thanks again.

[kb2yjx]

Sounds like Nicholas when he was started on the Hill's K/D, his specific gravity was indicating that his kidneys were not concentrating the urine as well as they should. He is the only cat out of the three that does not get fluids. PLEASE PLEASE talk to your vet about the special diets for the kidney cats!!!! To my knowledge, I am not sure that Innova makes a low protein diet for cats. Nicholas has been on the K/D since he was 7, and today at 10(and it is his birthday today!!), he is doing very well. Sometimes, a kidney cat gets an upset tummy. I have given Pepcid(generic is just as good)about 30 minutes before eating and the cat have done just fine. All total, I have had 5 kidney cats, Spunky and Boo passed on in 2004. Boo ate the K/D until the end, she got 100cc of fluids daily, and her blood work looked good. Our vet said it was because of the diet and fluids. Hopefully Cosmo won't need fluids for a few years down the line!!! GOOD LUCK!

[kb2yjx]

PLease go to www.felinecrf.com there is a section there about the kidney food. I forgot to give you this site yesterday.

[elizabethann]

PLease go to www.felinecrf.com there is a section there about the kidney food. I forgot to give you this site yesterday.

That site is very helpful. Thanks.

[Barbara]

I would have recommended that website too.
The food is not only low proteine but also low phosphor and I am sure your vet can tell more.

Filou got the Hills k/d (wet) first - and hated it.
Now kidney kitties shouldn't lose weight so I was very worried. Now he gets the Royal Canine Remal in wet and in dry. The wet food comes in little pouches - which is a good thing as Filou will not finish a small can in one day. The dry food is so yummy even Filou's brother is crazy about it

You said that Cosmo lost a little weight- try to get it back on him (unless he was overweight). And please make sure the weight loss was not due to dehydration. As kidney kitties can't concentrate their urine as well as healthy cats, dehydration is a danger.

Filou gets weekly sub-q fluids.

You will learn from that website that kidney failure can't be healed- but with the diet plus (maybe later) the sub-q fluids the cat can still have some very good and normal years. Filou is now in treatment for 15 months- I hope I have him around for years to come.

All the best for you and Cosmo.

[elizabethann]

Thanks for the website. Cosmo hasn't been eating in the past few days. I just bought some Cat Sure (I justed started a thread on it too). If he doesn't drink that meal supplement, I will call the Vet to see what the next steps should be. My poor buddy.

[nepeta]

With regard to the controversy about low protein kidney diets, you can compare the diets to the AAFCO standards . AAFCO specifies a minimum level of protein, and all the kidney diets that I found data for on the web (Hills, IAMS, Royal Canin) exceed this minimum. For example, on a dry mass basis, the AAFCO standard specifies minimum 26 % protein for adult maintenance, and the Royal Canin renal (wet, in pouches) has 34% protein (dry mass).

I suspect (but haven't checked) that they have less protein than typical feline maintenance diets.

[Randi]

I don't know much about kidney problems in cats, but I do know there are diets for it - several kinds. Your vet may have them all. If Cosmo don't like one of them, he may still like the others. Can you get a small sample of each of them from your vet?

Years ago, Fister had to have Hills S/D for UTI. He didn't like the canned version, but the dry food went down just fine.

[elizabethann]

Well Cosmo wouldn't drink the Cat Sure I bought today. He had two sips of his kitty milk and he is drinking water. He is sooo skinny and he's not acting himself. Cosmo is not normally very affectionate. But now he sits on my lap & just stares at me and he cries until I pick him up. He is now sleeping in the corner of the living room (not a usual spot for him). I'm so worried about my little guy. I am going to call the vet tomorrow morning & make an appointment to see what I can do for Cosmo. I'm crying as I write this because I keep thinking I may have to put him to sleep. He's so young (11 years old) and I'm not ready to lose him.