Cat Diet For Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is very common in cats. It can develop rapidly over many years due to something like infection or exposure to antifreeze or without any apparent cause. The symptoms and treatment of kidney disease vary depending on the specificity of the case, but often, a diet change can help.The nutritional changes that need to be made depend on the severity of kidney disease, but in general, pets with kidney disease should be fed less phosphorus, protein and sodium, and supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Phosphorus is the most important of these nutrients for most dogs and cats. It is important to feed a low-phosphorus diet to keep pets’ blood phosphorus low, which is thought to slow down the progression of kidney disease and improve survival.

Since the kidneys are responsible for getting rid of waste products from dietary proteins, the amount of protein in the diet of a pet with kidney disease is low so that the accumulation of waste products in the blood due to kidney failure is reduced, which can affect your pet. Pretty sick. If your dog or cat has protein loss in their urine, a low-protein diet is especially important because a low-protein diet reduces protein loss, which can improve survival. In addition to low-protein foods, you should avoid high-protein foods such as meat, junk food, cheese, chillies, pork ears, etc.

High salt (sodium) diets can raise blood pressure and worsen kidney damage, so foods designed for pets with kidney disease are low in sodium. You should also avoid high salt foods such as cheese, bread, deli meat and many commercial dog and cat foods. Foods with less than 1 mg of sodium per calorie (kcal) are usually a good start. Low sodium foods include fruits and vegetables (but be sure to avoid grapes, raisins, onions and garlic!)

There is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can be beneficial for cats and dogs with kidney disease, so fish oil is added to many diets for pets with kidney disease, or fish oil is added as a supplement if not food. Stays. It already exists. Talk to your veterinarian about whether fish oil is right for your pet, and if so, about a brand that has the best dosage and high quality control.

Foods designed for kidney disease are designed to be non-acidic whereas many dog foods and most cat foods are designed to be acidified. Pets with kidney disease often become very acidic, so it is important to design food to fight this problem.

All of these changes can be found in the therapeutic diet that your veterinarian can provide you or give you a prescription to buy elsewhere. Unfortunately, foods that you can buy at pet stores contain a lot of phosphorus and protein, other than mild kidney disease for pets and can also be acidified, so this is a time when you really need to get a diet from your veterinarian. You want your pet to get the best nutrition!

Why diet matters

The kidneys have many roles in the body. These two main roles include removing waste products from the bloodstream and conserving water. When kidney function exceeds a certain point, toxic wastes like urea and phosphorus begin to back up in the body, which can make a cat feel terrible. Poor kidney function also leads to dehydration as more water is lost in the urine than normal.

These two problems can be solved at least partially with diet. Foods that are high in water can help prevent dehydration, and when cats eat moderate amounts of high-quality protein, they produce less urea and phosphorus, which need to be eliminated.

Over-the-counter food

Cats that are in the early stages of kidney disease often improve with proper, over-the-counter feeding. Canned foods are best because they contain a lot more water than dried foods, but you still need to make sure the food is made with high-quality ingredients.

Look for animal-based protein sources (chicken, beef, salmon, etc.) that sound like something you can eat instead of a by-product of the manufacturing process. If your cat does not eat canned food, choose a dry food that is made with high-quality ingredients and do what you can to encourage your cat to drink plenty of water. If your cat eats dry food, you may need to start giving subcutaneous fluid (fluid injected under the skin) sooner than otherwise.

Determining the right protein level for your cat’s diet is difficult. Excessive protein will increase the amount of urea and phosphorus to get rid of the body. On the other hand, cats with chronic kidney disease often lose muscle and too little protein can make the problem worse.

Prescription food

In more advanced cases of kidney disease, cats may benefit from prescription foods. Prescription Kidney Diet tends to provide a moderate amount of protein but the amount of phosphorus is quite low, which helps to keep the production of waste products as low as possible. To prevent dehydration, these foods are usually low in sodium, high in certain amino acids to increase muscle mass, and contain other ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids that support kidney health.

Prescription Kidney Diet is available in canned and dry formulations, but again, canned foods are usually best because of their high water content. Manufacturers have worked hard to make their products more palatable than ever before, but you may still have to try several things before you can find one that your cat will like.

Homemade and raw food

When a cat does not eat enough to maintain a healthy weight, that particular food fails to meet its nutritional needs even if it seems like it should be a good choice. The solution may be as simple as trying a different brand of prescription kidney diet or over-the-counter food, but a homemade diet can also be a good option if you are willing to cook for your cat. Homemade foods are usually so delicious that they will improve the appetite of almost any cat.

However, homemade food can also be dangerous. Studies have shown that most homemade pet foods are nutritious, and this is especially true for kidney disease recipes that you can find online or in books. Raw foods can also be dangerous for sick cats because their immunity is not as strong as before and especially uncooked meat can expose cats to potentially dangerous food-borne pathogens.