Kidney Diet

[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.