Git, what was the name of that tasty kitty kidney diet food?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Current News - Homefront Preparations : One Thread

I'm waiting for blood test results on my parents' elderly cat. Chronic kidney failure is a possibility. As I recall, my vet carried the unpalatable one - Hill's? I think you had an alternate suggestion.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2002

Answers

Sorry to hear that, but you can extend the kitty's life by up to a couple of years with luck and patience. I hear Eukanuba has come out with a tastier (they say) kidney diet. Sooty preferred the Waltham to the Hill's and she also liked the Purina KD. If your vet doesn't, can't or won't carry any alternative, then you could check the website of the manufacturer and see if they will tell you which vet carries it in your area. I had to go to Chapel Hill to find the Purina kidney diet.

You might also try home-made chicken broth to "baste" the Hill's food. I used to get organic chickens from the whole foods place, lol! The vet told me chicken broth is cool, as is chicken itself. Apparently, although it's high protein the cat can assimilate almost all of it, unlike, say, beef. I also started giving all the cats filtered water, via one of those special water fountains you can get for cats. Prior to that, they got Brita-filtered. There are also several vitamin products for cats. (See drsfosterandsmith.) If the kitty is prone to dehydration, you can get ringer's solution . (subcutaneous administration) from fostersmith--much less expensive than from the vet. You have to have the vet call them with a prescription, though. Its not difficult once you get over the initial jitters--and this is from me, you know, the one with needlephobia?

There's also a forum re kidney problems in cats here. There are also numerous article on feline CRF listed on the web.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2002


Thanks, Git.

Results just came back as positive for kidney problems, although they want a urine sample to rule out infection or crystals (poor kitty, he'll have to go back to the shop this Saturday for that). My vet apparently does carry Eukanuba. My problem may be that there are three cats. The fattest one is the most particular about her diet, and if I start changing things around she'll make sure I don't get any sleep.

I think I have ruled out sub-Q. Angel is a shapeshifter (I have no one to help hold him) and very unhappy with his life (because my tabbies are solidly of the opinion that he is a thoroughly loathesome creature). So, some quality of life issues. Thanks for the link to the forum.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2002


Isolated feeding--can you put him in another room and shut the door till he's finished eating. Would that work? I have that huge cage I got for Zucco that I can put mine in if the need arises.

Shame about the sub-q. You might want to let the vet do it on a Saturday, then, keep him somewhat hydrated. He feels better, he eats more, he lives longer.

Once the symptoms appear, the kidneys are about 70-80 percent gone, by the way. Doc may give you some, um, hell, I can't remember what the stuff is. You'll learn about it on the forum--it's some kind of mineral they lose, can't remember what it is. Also, I seem to remember giving Sooty Pedialyte for some reason. The forum folks will probably tell you about that too.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2002


Moderation questions? read the FAQ