Priscilla's failing kidneys

[jennielynn1970]

Have you tried any of the new Fancy Feast canned foods?? I know they are pricey, but my finicky guys eat it. I buy it as a treat mainly, but my newest cat in the family, who is FIV+ and about 12 or so, has practically no teeth and eats mainly wet food. He doesn't care for friskies, but loves Fancy Feast, and really enjoys the new stuff.

One of our cats at the shelter is on a raw food diet. I think the shelter mgr gets it freeze dried or something like that. They have a lot of it available on one site I checked out early this week http://www.onlynaturalpet.com
They deal in only holistic, natural foods for dogs and cats. If you haven't seen the site before, you might want to check it out. They have all kinds of foods, treats and things like that.

Good luck, and I hope your kitty starts to feel better, and eat more on her own shortly!

[RedHedd]

Please do talk to your vet about special diets for kidney compromised kitties. High protein is not good for them and makes the kidneys work harder, not something you want. Most of the prescription diets for kidney cats is low protein, but sufficient nutrition to keep them healthy. I do hope Phesina is feeling better.

Have you tried the wet K/D? Mishi LOVES it.

[phesina]

Thank you, Johanna, Jenn, and RedHedd for the encouraging words and good thoughts. Priscilla's appetite is still not quite what it should be. She eats some on her own but not a lot.

Jenn, I tried one of the new Fancy Feasts.. she wasn't interested (though the others loved it). I will try another one of the flavors. I took a quick look at the Only Natural site, and thank you. There are a couple of places not that far from here that carry some of those foods; I'll check them out too.

However, I wonder if, as RedHedd says, high protein is not good for kidney-compromised cats, and what I looked at about the raw foods says they are high in protein.. would this not be a good idea for Priscilla? I will ask the vet about it. Gina said her Star loves raw food and Star and her other cats do very well with it.

RedHedd, we have tried the wet K/D, both original and chicken flavors, and the Eukanuba and Purina canned prescription kidney foods.. sometimes she'll eat some, and sometimes she won't. I'll try giving her a little more later, and see if today is a Paws-Up or Paws-Down day.

Thanks very much, everyone, it really helps Priscilla and me to get all these suggestions and encouragement!

Pat

[Catty1]

Hi, Pat - low protein is best for kidney problems, but check with your vet...if the most important thing is to get her eating right now, then I think a little leeway is okay. Check with your vet, though.

I think what Gina was suggesting was to get some beef, like stewing beef, and cut one piece up into little bits, and see if she likes that. The protein is high, but there is iron and other good things in it.

Just see how she likes it.

Also, if there is a wet food she likes, mix it with a bit of warm water, so she gets more liquid in her.

HUGS

[sandragonfly]

hi! just am reading this .. I'm sorry I didn't warn you threads about my star would be pretty long! (four long threads altogether.) they can be a bit overwhelming, I know.

yes, raw meat gives high protein and good nutrients (unless you cook), that also is why star couldn't eat a lot at first. because your cat is failing one of most active organs - kidneys and weak kidneys will not handle high (enough) proteins at first. I began with very very little, like noahsmommy's cat, micah, (where I learned at first from her in the threads you read), little portions of beef chunks then chicken and carefully. it sure was a slooow progress but now she, with a permanent damaged stomach, is doing awesomely great! certainly worthed it. when noahsmommy at first told me about raw diet, (yes, organic) I talked with my vet, he reccomended me to not...even second opinion from my usual vet but that was last thing I could try little by little, she HAS to eat something!! she went right into them (plus, most importantly with a lot of subq-fluids) and gosh, look at her! it was a miracle progress as well, it now is impossible to tell she has abdominal problems. she would have still throw up and deal with more bad days by now.

maybe you could ask for noahsmommy's help too, she is great at this too. but of course, please do talk with your vet and more than a few opinions are always best too, see what they think, you never know what they or food could for your little dear one. also priscilla, don't give a second thought to PM star!

gentle, very gentle hugs and stritches to your dear priscilla please and let us know!

[kb2yjx]

I give Molly some Royal Canin Renal LP dry along with her Fiskies. I think my vet mentioned that they make wet food in pouches. Maybe you can get a sample or two from your vet. But then, Priscilla MAY like it, then you will order it and change her mind!!!

[kb2yjx]

Just checking in to say HI! and how is Priscilla doing?

[phesina]

Thanks, Candace and Gina and Sandra. Priscilla is doing about the same.. eats some but not much on her own, and I give her some MaxCal mixed with a little warm water, mostly from a syringe, and I give her her fluids twice a day. I spoke with Dr. Lewis a little this evening. I asked her about the raw meat, and she said that while high-calorie food is not the best in kidney cases, at this point you just want her to eat so I should try anything I think she might like.

I did try some more of the Fancy Feast Ocean Whitefish and Tuna, but she still was not interested, and some of the Eukanuba Multi-Stage Renal wet food, but she voted Paws Down this time.

Dr. Lewis wants to check her hematocrit again and see if it is still holding steady at around 11 (or even improving), so I'm taking Priscilla over tomorrow afternoon for that blood test.

Thanks for the details of how you introduced Star to the raw-meat diet, Gina. I think I will give that a try when I can pick up a little raw organic meat, with luck tomorrow.

Thanks again, everyone, for all your thoughts and encouragement and prayers and good wishes.

Pat and Priscilla