Sparkle is at it again, sigh! Update #9.

[phesina]

Thanks again, Laura, Candace, and . . . krazyaboutkats (forgot your name oops!)

The vet just phoned with the urine sample results. All looks fine on that bit. So for now, I keep Sparkle on the high quality, grain free diet, add canned for her daily to get more fluids in her, and return in 3 months for a recheck on weight and blood work.

I do appreciate everyone's prayers and concern, like most, I panic if ANYTHING goes 'wrong' with one of the furkids.

Bob and Sydney are both kidney-challenged boys and have been getting fluids for a while now. With luck and God's blessings they'll both be going for quite a while longer and so will Sparkle!

Both Bob and Sydney are supposed to eat "prescription" kidney-diet food. They tried a few and seem to prefer (or shall I say, dislike least) K/D, so that's what I get for them, both wet and kibble.

I wish there was some of those grain-free diets especially designed for kitties with kidney issues. There is a pet-supplies store in Ann Arbor that specializes in high-quality items, especially food, and is owned and run by a no-longer-practicing veterinarian (http://www.dogmacatmantoo.com/). I asked her a few months ago if she had any suggestions, and she said unfortunately no.. the "high quality" (i.e., mostly real meat and organic content) foods also wind up being high protein, which is what makes them "high-quality..", the real meat and all rather than nasty byproducts.

She also carries some of the other prescription foods and says they are better quality than K/D .. I don't really like Science Diet that much period.. But I'd tried Eukanuba and Royal Canin and some of the others, and they did NOT eat them as dependably as the K/D stuff.

My other three cats get Taste of the Wild kibble and Friskies and 9 Lives wet food (we hadn't found any wet like Wellness etc. that I could count on them eating regularly, either). Sometimes I let the kidney boys have a little of that mixed in as an extra treat or when they aren't eating the K/D. Also, I serve meals, do not leave food out for free feeding.

They all do tend to do some wandering among each other's bowls when they can get away with it. Elmer will eat anything.. and I wouldn't mind if he finished off some of the K/D, except all that prescription stuff is SO much more expensive.

But reading all the rave reports on the other prescription ones and the Wellness etc. they didn't like so much a while back, maybe it's time to consult the holistic-organic-vet again for some diet advice and try some again!

We are all continuing to say our prayers on behalf of dear Sparkle. So glad to learn she has a clean urinary bill of health, and here's to her (and all of your family there) for many more years of good health together!

My Providence native Sparkler especially sends good wishes and healing energies to dear Sparkle!

Cheers from Pat and the gang

[cassiesmom]

Big prayers for Sparkle! I'm with Tracey, a wish and a prayer that she will have many more good years ahead. Hugs for Sparkle and her siblings!

[Freedom]

Thanks, Pat, for all the info! Thank you Elyse for the prayers!

My vet said -- and I had seen this on the Web -- that while they used to prescribe low protein diets for cats with renal issues, they no longer do that. The high protein is fine as long as it is quality high protein.

Senior kibble was mentioned, but we apparently are not at the stage of needing the prescription food as my vet never mentioned that. (RB Amber cat was on that; or I should say, we tried it, he refused to eat it, lol).

From what I can see, few of the high quality foods even offer a senior cat formula; let alone a kidney specific one. They do puppy and adult "all life stages" formulas and that is all.

So Sparkle will continue on the Taste of the Wild, with canned senior or canned adult mixed in regularly.

I've opted to postpone the fluids for 3 months, see how things go. I HOPE I don't regret this part. Although, I may never know if it was the right decision or not.

[Freedom]

Hmmm, thinking I WILL change the food!

Just left PT to review this rating chart, yet again:
http://www.petfoodratings.net/cattable.html

Looked back at my notes; admittedly not as detailed 2 years ago as they are now.

I switched to Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, and that is when she put the weight back on. It is slightly higher rated on the chart, than the Taste of the Wild, and it took me a bit reading the review of TOTW to see why.

Of course, guess who just bought 45 pounds (1 month's supply) of TOWT kibble earlier this week, before all this developed! LOL always the way, isn't it?!

[phesina]

I stopped by Dogma Catmantoo (the high-quality-vet-owned-pet-supplies store) this afternoon and ran all these thoughts by the salesperson (not the vet). She said they do carry the Royal Canin Renal LP but they've pretty much come around to advising the same: feed the cat the food she eats and enjoys, as higher-quality and lower-protein as works for her.

I brought home one 6-oz. can of the Royal Canin Renal, a 13-oz. can of Feline Holistic Select Chicken and Lamb Recipe, and a 13-oz. can of Feline Holistic Select Turkey and Barley Recipe to sample. Bob and Sydney both gobbled down their servings of Royal Canin, and the other three inhaled the Chicken and Lamb!

This is right after the cans have been opened, though; many times they gobble canned food down freshly offered but turn up their noses after it's been refrigerated in the can for a bit.. So we shall see..

[Freedom]

Take the "old" one out of the can, put on a paper plate, spread it out so it is not too dense, and heat it 30 seconds in the microwave. Fools them most of the time, lol!

[mrspunkysmom]

I do hope Sparkle gets better.

Hugs

[Freedom]

Thanks!

[phesina]

Bob and Sydney ate their servings of Royal Canin cold from the can this morning!

I will keep the tip about warming in the microwave in mind, though. Thanks, Sandie!

Continued good wishes and prayers for you all.