About nutrition for cats with kidney disease
Kidney failure in cats is the result of pathological processes and leads to a malfunction of the organ and the entire urinary system. With this disease, gradual damage to all organs occurs. Metabolic processes in the body are disrupted.
At the first stage of the disease, the amount of urine excreted decreases. There is a sharp decrease in blood pressure. As the disease develops, urine production ceases completely. The content of nitrogenous metabolites in the blood plasma increases significantly. At the third stage of the development of the disease, urine begins to leave, but it contains only salt and water, and metabolic products settle in the body and over time begin to destroy it.
Timely treatment helps normalize kidney function. Therapy for renal failure is long-term and lasts up to three months.
Kidney failure in cats can be acute or chronic. The first form of the disease is curable and develops intensively. The second occurs slowly and gradually affects the tissue of the kidney organ. This disease is incurable, and cat owners can only partially alleviate the animal’s condition.
Food for cats with renal failure contains minimal amounts of protein. Therefore, when creating a menu, you should limit your meat consumption by 30-50%. It is acceptable to replace meat products with offal, for example, chicken stomachs and hearts. The animal's diet should include yogurt and cottage cheese. To replenish the required calorie content, the menu is filled with cereal porridges and vegetable purees. Your pet can eat plant foods as much as possible.
If you have kidney disease, do not overfeed your cat. In case of renal failure, the menu is drawn up by the doctor, based on the animal’s condition and tests. In some cases, medicated food for cats with renal failure is included in the diet. Dietary food, especially wet food, as well as natural food, can significantly alleviate the animal’s condition. What to choose: natural food or ready-made food - the veterinarian must decide, based on the condition of the animal and the financial capabilities of its owner.
Features of natural food
Kidney disease is a serious challenge for cats. Not only does their general condition deteriorate, but their owners also begin to limit them excessively in their diet. However, there is nothing to be done: the daily dietary menu is of the same great importance as the list of medications that cats must take.
Many owners do not want to buy industrial feed. It is quite possible to create a diet using only natural products. However, be prepared for the fact that you will have to change your pet’s diet once and for all.
Cats are domestic carnivores, so they cannot live without consuming proteins and the amino acids they contain. You can give your pet raw chicken or veal, but first keep the meat in the freezer for several days to destroy all harmful bacteria and microorganisms. By-products (liver, chicken hearts) can be fed to the cat, but no more than 2-3 times a week.
What your cat will have to give up forever if she has kidney failure is dairy products. They are strictly contraindicated for this disease. Fish, any kind, should also be included in the category of prohibited ingredients. The thing is that it contains a lot of phosphorus, and its excess is harmful for cats in such a situation. Porridge, bread - any carbohydrates are recommended to be removed from the daily menu of a sick cat. But it’s worth including vegetables in it.
If you previously gave your furry creature vitamins and various dietary supplements, do not rush to feed them to your cat yourself now. Consult your veterinarian first. Believe me, sometimes even vitamins, if they are given in the wrong composition or volume, can harm the animal.
As with specialized food, the cat’s diet should be prepared by a veterinarian. You cannot rely on your own philistine experience and select products according to the principle “if only it is useful.” Sometimes food that actually contains a lot of nutrients is not suitable for feeding a cat with kidney failure.
On the other hand, there is a critical level of phosphorus and calcium content, upon reaching which destruction of bones and teeth occurs. To replenish their supply, you can give your animal sesame seeds. It is enough to mix the seeds with other food and there will be no problems with their intake. Under no circumstances should you give fish oil for this purpose - it contains vitamin A, which accelerates the progression of renal failure.
If you have kidney failure, you need to reduce your carbohydrate intake. Therefore, you should not give your cat bread, crackers, buns or other flour products. Some owners feel sorry for their cats and, in response to a look pleading for a treat, share baked goods with their pets, believing that nothing will happen from a small piece. But even a small amount of simple carbohydrates leads to a serious violation of the diet, after which it will take more than one day of recovery.
But you can give cats with kidney failure raw chicken, as well as offal. The protein they contain will strengthen the body and give strength. But again, it is important to observe the principle of reasonable sufficiency: proteins increase the load on the kidneys, and when they are in excess, toxins accumulate in the blood. The best option would be to combine plant and animal foods. Of course, it is difficult to get a cat to eat cabbage leaves with appetite. But, if you crumble them along with the minced meat, the task will be greatly simplified.
Is it possible to give cats and kittens potatoes?
List of the best dry cat food
Food for cats with kidney failure is produced by many well-known manufacturers. It can be either dry or wet. Do not forget that when eating dry food, the cat must drink a lot of water. Therapeutic food for cats with kidney failure has a positive effect on the animal’s condition. The best are considered:
- Eukanuba Renal. Food can be dry or wet. Balanced. Contains essential vitamins and microelements, as well as a small amount of protein and a low concentration of phosphorus. Can be taken for up to six months. One package of wet food 85 g costs about 50 rubles, a package of 2 kg costs 1 thousand rubles, 12 kg costs 5 thousand rubles. Made in the Netherlands.
- Royal Canin Renal. Designed specifically to support kidney function. This is a product with a small amount of phosphorus, fatty acids, and antioxidants. The fish oil content here is normalized, which helps to increase glomerular filtration, and the amount of protein is kept to a minimum. The price of 4 kg is 2.5 thousand rubles, 2 kg is 1.5 thousand rubles, and 0.5 kg is 500 rubles. The food is made in France.
- Hills Prescription Diet K/D Feline Renal Health. Improves the pet's quality of life. Prevents the progression of the disease. Contains Omega-3. Neutralizes the negative effects of free radicals. It has an excellent taste and is liked by animals. The cost of 1.5 kg of feed is 1,500 rubles, 400 g is about 350 rubles. Made in the USA.
- Farmina Vet Life Renal. The food contains about 26% crude protein, which meets all standards for medicinal feed. Contains carbohydrates and fatty acids. Easy to digest. After 3-4 weeks of its use, pets feel significantly better. Price: 2 kg - 1500 rubles, 5 kg -3500 rubles, 0.4 kg - 400 rubles. Factories producing these feeds are located in Italy, Serbia and Brazil.
- Monge Grain Free Vetsolution Renal Feline. The food does not contain grains. It is based on freeze-dried chicken. Contains up to 24% protein. They are recommended for cats not only for diseases of the renal system, but also for exhaustion, anorexia and metabolic acidosis. Sold only in veterinary institutions. Packaged in 0.4 and 1.5 kg. The price of 400 g is 350 rubles, 1.5 kg is 1100 rubles. Made in Italy.
- Purina Veterinary Diets NF. The food has excellent taste. All cats eat it without exception. The composition includes rice, corn and wheat flour. There are animal fats, minerals and powdered eggs. The protein content reaches 26%. The cost of 350 g is 300 rubles, 850 g is 650 rubles, 1.5 kg is 1000 rubles. Product made in France.
The composition of medicinal feeds is carefully developed. For their production, only fresh, first-class raw materials are used. And the effectiveness of the products has been confirmed by the World Association of Veterinarians.
Therapeutic measures
Naturally, with kidney failure in cats, the question comes to the fore: how to save the animal? In fact, the answer is not so simple. All treatment and its result will depend on the cause of the disease, its severity and the presence of concomitant diseases, as well as possible complications.
Drugs for deficiency
As for the therapeutic scheme, it has two directions:
- relief of the underlying disease,
- eliminating signs of deficiency.
The owner is required to provide the animal with peace. It is important that the room is warm and well ventilated, which will facilitate the work of the heart, reduce the breakdown of proteins and eliminate vascular spasm.
It is equally important what to feed a cat with kidney failure. The feeding regimen should be dietary, and salts and liquids should be excluded from the diet in the presence of edema.
The complex of all measures should be aimed at stimulating kidney function and eliminating symptoms:
- The use of antibiotics is indicated, against which a novocaine perinephric blockade is performed.
- To restore diuresis and replenish fluid, droppers with sodium chloride based on glucose are placed.
Glucose has beneficial properties: improves metabolism, relieves intoxication and increases the antitoxic function of the liver, helps normalize heart function, and improves diuresis. - They also eliminate the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases and direct all efforts to restore kidney function.
- In particularly severe cases of the disease, it is necessary to resort to peritoneal dialysis.
Drugs that can improve a pet’s condition during the treatment of kidney failure in cats include vitamins, especially A, D and E:
- vitamin A - restores capillaries and the functioning of the endocrine glands, increases the body’s resistance, forcing it to work independently,
- Vitamin D restores mineral metabolism, which is very important in such conditions,
- Vitamin E - increases protein utilization.
Royal Canin Renal RF cat food
Royal Canin food for cats with kidney failure is often recommended by veterinarians. The main indication for switching a cat to this food is chronic renal failure. In addition, nutrition from the Renal line helps prevent the formation of kidney stones and relapses of diseases such as cystitis and urate.
During treatment, the pet should be on this food for about 6 months. If after this the laboratory tests do not return to normal, then the food is prescribed to the pet for life.
The food has excellent taste and a special particle structure, croquette, which makes it possible to chew them without difficulty. Cat food is enriched with antioxidants. They neutralize the negative effects of free radicals.
This food should not be given to animals during pregnancy, when feeding kittens with milk, or to animals at a young age.
Renal food for cats with renal failure contains a minimum phosphorus content. Its contents include flavones, which have a positive effect on blood circulation and oxidative processes. The food contains Omega 3 fatty acids. They support normal glomerular filtration in the kidney organ.
Among the main ingredients of the food:
- corn flour;
- rice;
- animal fats;
- vegetable fiber;
- gluten;
- fish fat;
- soy protein isolate;
- calcium carbonate;
- mineral elements,
- beet pulp.
Nutritional value of the product:
- carbohydrates – 37%;
- proteins - 23%;
- fats - 17%;
- fiber - 10%.
Renal food for cats with kidney failure has confirmed its effectiveness. Many reviews say that this food restored the health of their pets, and extended the lives of some.
Treatment of chronic renal failure in cats - my experience.
Hello, I have an old 14-year-old cat with chronic renal failure, over the last month I have given a huge amount to veterinarians, but the prescriptions did not always help and it was not entirely clear what to do next, so I decided that this could no longer be done and began to study this question in English-language sources itself. Below I will briefly describe the drugs and dosages used according to the standard of treatment. Perhaps this will also help those who are unable to take their cat to the doctor for financial reasons. Link to the original guide in English https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/PracticeGuidelines/Guideline.
So, if you have an older cat and he begins to lose weight, eats poorly, vomits frequently, or staggers when walking, this is most likely chronic renal failure. Unsteadiness occurs due to high blood pressure and its effect on vision, including vomiting - due to uremic toxins, substances which the kidneys cannot remove.
What should I check? Donate blood for biochemistry and phosphorus (in Chronic Kidney Failure there will be high levels of urea, creatine and phosphorus), urine (if everything is bad, there will be protein and crystals), a clinical blood test to assess the level of iron (hemoglobin in the blood) and ask the doctor to measure cat pressure.
How to live with it.
Hills Prescription Diet K/D Feline Renal Health
What to feed a cat with kidney failure? Many veterinarians recommend using Hills Prescription Diet for this purpose. The main indications for the use of nutrition are temporary or permanent renal failure, as well as struvite urolithiasis.
Food improves the pet’s quality of life. Inhibits the progression of the disease. It contains Omega-3, which stimulates blood flow in the kidneys. Helps the animal's body resist the effects of free radicals. The product is characterized by excellent taste. It is allowed to mix dry food from this line with wet food.
The food reduces protein and urea in the urine. Improves kidney function. The granules consist of rice and corn ground into flour. Animal fatty acids are present here, which increase the activity of the pet. Their presence in the diet has a good effect on the condition of the skin and coat. The prepared food also includes turkey or chicken meat. The food helps malnourished animals increase their body weight. Improves laboratory parameters. The feed has reduced the amount of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, but increased the sodium content.
Hill's food for cats with kidney failure stabilizes the content of magnesium and phosphorus in the body. Prevents their excretion in urine. Normalizes the acidity of urine. Promotes the dissolution of crystals and struvite uroliths.
Food should not be given to pregnant animals and kittens. Do not use food for diseases of the cardiovascular system and hyperkalemia. Metabolic acidosis prohibits its use.
If your cat is regularly feeding this food, a urine pH test should be done every six months.
Natural food alternative
Despite the fact that the use of industrial products makes life easier for the owner and helps save time, many breeders prefer to feed their pets with ICD natural food.
This is due to the fact that by preparing food on their own, the owner will know what foods the cat eats. It is quite difficult to independently choose a suitable diet for a cat with urolithiasis.
To play it safe, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian who, depending on the stage of the disease and the general condition of the pet, will tell you what is best to feed the animal in a particular case. It is impossible to fully describe the diet for ICD, since nutrition is selected individually for each cat. Most often, the basis of the diet consists of the following products:
- rolled oats porridge and rice;
- boiled vegetables: beets, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, cauliflower, potatoes;
- boiled sea fish (low-fat varieties);
- meat broths and soups.
To speed up the recovery process, experts also advise giving your cat vitamin supplements that will help normalize the functioning of the urinary system and the entire body as a whole.
Hercules porridge
Important! For cats with urolithiasis, it is recommended to feed them 5-6 times a day, in small portions.
Purina Veterinary Diets NF
Purina cat food for kidney failure is considered one of the best. All cats eat it with pleasure. The product is indicated for chronic renal failure. Veterinarians recommend it to prevent urates and cystines and reduce the frequency of their occurrence.
The food is not suitable for kittens, pregnant or lactating cats.
Slows the progression of kidney disease. Positively affects the quality of life of pets. Contains potassium citrate, which reduces the likelihood of hypokalemia. Brings urine pH to a neutral position. Rich in B vitamins. They are usually lacking during diuresis. Contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Prevents the formation of stones.
The product is characterized by low phosphate content and high quality protein. It contains rice, corn, soy and wheat flour. The food contains animal fats, egg powder, beet pulp, and pea fiber. Cat food is fortified with vitamins and minerals. The food contains up to 26% protein, about 12% fat, 3% crude fiber, and 4.5% crude ash.
Diagnostic issues
Despite such serious changes occurring in the body, recognizing the disease can be problematic even for an experienced specialist, not to mention the average person. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to collect as complete an anamnesis as possible. Next, his data is compared with the clinic and the results of biochemical studies of urine and blood.
Establishing diagnosis
During the survey they find out:
- Does the animal have kidney problems and what kind?
- was it possible that there was poisoning?
- When did the decrease in urination begin?
They also evaluate edema and its nature, listen to the heart to identify murmurs.
The laboratory must carry out:
- general urine analysis,
- analysis for protein, urea, chlorides and sugar in urine,
- investigate the composition of the sediment,
- blood is checked for acid-base balance.
Only based on the entire range of studies conducted can we draw a conclusion about existing kidney problems.
Eukanuba Veterinary Diets Renal for cats
Dry cat food for kidney failure Eukanuba Renal is one of the best. Includes a complete dietary menu. Designed for an adult cat. Supports the animal with diseases of the kidney organ.
Dietary food for cats with renal failure is contraindicated during the period of animal growth, pregnancy and lactation.
The duration of use of therapeutic food for cats is six months. If necessary, doctors prescribe lifelong nutrition with this food. The product contains:
- corn flour;
- soy protein isolate;
- animal fat;
- corn gluten flour;
- sugar beet pulp;
- freeze-dried chicken or turkey meat;
- fish fat;
- calcium carbonate.
It is recommended to use the food only as prescribed by a doctor. During application, you should follow the standards and do not overfeed the cat.
Specialized feed: pros and cons
As already mentioned, when compiling a pet’s diet, you need to proceed from the balance of nutrients. As a rule, achieving their correct ratio when feeding natural products is not easy. But this point is taken into account in the manufacture of specialized feeds, which are developed by specialists. This is their undeniable advantage. In addition, cats eat exactly as much as they need. If before work you fill the bowl to the top with natural food and go to work, then by the evening its contents will spoil and your pet will remain hungry.
Cheap food does not meet the needs of a cat with urolithiasis. Their main task is to provide a feeling of fullness and replenish calories. They do not take into account the peculiarities of metabolism and do not contain sufficient amounts of vitamins. In addition, they contain many by-products, but little fiber and plant substances. Therefore, you should give preference to expensive food.
On the other hand, the brand of food and the amount of food for each cat are selected individually. A diet that suits one animal may worsen the health of another. Sensitive pets may be allergic to components in the product. When selecting food, consultation with a veterinarian is necessary.
Farmina Vet Life Renal
Farmina Vet Life Renal food for cats with chronic renal failure contains little protein, which prevents nitrogen metabolism, as well as the occurrence and development of hypertension. The diet is characterized by low concentrations of sodium and phosphorus, which inhibits the progression of the disease. The food contains L-carnitine and L-Carnitine, which increase the pet's activity and endurance. Dry food also contains Omega-3. This has a positive effect on glomerular filtration.
Pet food reduces the negative symptoms of kidney failure. Improves the cat's well-being and physical condition.
Farmina Vet Life Renal food should only be used as prescribed by a veterinarian. The recommended therapeutic course is six months. If the pet has temporary renal failure, then the food is used for 2-4 weeks.
Before feeding your pet, you should determine the daily intake based on the weight of the animal. The resulting volume of feed is distributed over several feedings.
The main ingredients of the food are rice, chicken, corn gluten, whole eggs, fish and fish oil, vegetable oil, inulin and calendula extract.
Treatment of the primary disease
Determination and treatment of the underlying disease causing kidney failure. It is not always possible to identify the root cause. Not all kidney diseases have a cure.
Most often, renal failure is caused by pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis.
Antibiotics are used to treat pyelonephritis in cats, and in the stage of renal failure, ciprofloxacin and its analogues are best suited. Therapeutic plasmapheresis has a positive effect.
To treat glomerulonephritis, agents that inhibit immune reactions are used: glucocorticoids and cytostatics. Plasmapheresis has a direct therapeutic effect.
Food for older cats with kidney disease
Cats, like all living things, age. After 10 years of life, they begin to develop a variety of diseases. These cats move less and sleep more. Therefore, there must be a special approach to feeding such a pet.
Food for aging cats with renal failure should be selected according to the age of the animal. In this case, more vitamins and minerals are required, but fewer calories. If your cat eats dry food, she should drink a lot of water. The ideal ratio is 3/1. The amount of magnesium and phosphorus in ready-made food for old animals is reduced. Ash content is balanced. Such food should be considered holistic or premium. Contain high-quality and safe ingredients.
It is better to choose wet food for aging cats with kidney failure. Dry food can aggravate the problem. Due to the increased carbohydrate content, dehydration and hyperglycemia can occur. Wet food should have a minimum amount of phosphorus, various food additives and potassium. Veterinarians prescribe such food for old cats along with medications for anemia and hypertension.
You should not put an old cat on a low protein diet, as this will hinder the natural reproduction of muscle mass and the pet will begin to lose weight, which will worsen its health.
In the initial stages of the development of renal failure, you need to transfer the old cat to wet food with a normal, rather than reduced, protein content. The animal should be protected from stress as much as possible and ensure a comfortable existence.
Signs of illness
Acute form
Despite the wide variety of cause-and-effect factors, the symptoms of acute renal failure in a cat are the same. At the beginning of the inflammatory process, signs characteristic of the underlying disease are observed. But soon they are mixed with kidney disorders, which can lead to death.
Thirst in kidney failure
Conventionally, the course of the disease can be divided into four successive stages:
- initial,
- anuric (cessation of urine excretion or excretion in negligible quantities),
- restoration of urination,
- recovery.
Let's look at all the stages in more detail.
Stage I. Symptoms of the initial stage may go unnoticed, since during this period the signs of the underlying disease will predominate. But at this time, changes are already taking place that are imperceptible at first glance: blood circulation in the kidneys is disrupted due to shifts in hemodynamics (pressure jumps, heart function speeds up or slows down, etc.). The stage lasts from several hours to several days.
Stage II. The anuric or oliguric stage is the manifestation of typical signs of renal failure in cats; characterized by cessation of diuresis and increasing signs of uremia:
- drowsiness,
- lethargy,
- immobility,
- diarrhea,
- high blood pressure,
- rapid heartbeat,
- swelling,
- muscle cramps,
- the heart may stop.
If urine continues to be released, it is thick, bloody, with visible sediment.
There are two options for further developments: death or transition to the recovery stage.
Stage III. The diuretic stage consists of restoring urine production and removing it from the body. This usually happens on the 7th day from the appearance of the first signs.
Stage IV. The recovery stage is protracted and can last several months.
Chronic form
Diet for cats with kidney failure
A diet for kidney failure should only be prescribed by a doctor. Making your own menu for this disease is unacceptable. For your reference, below is an approximate daily diet:
- Breakfast. A tablespoon of boiled chopped buckwheat or oatmeal without milk, plus minced rabbit or beef - 8 g. Also add a little finely chopped lettuce or a small piece of grated boiled beets.
- Dinner. Boiled and pureed vegetables in the amount of 50 g. Add two tablespoons of minced meat and a teaspoon of porridge to them. The combination of porridge and minced meat is the same as for breakfast.
- Dinner. Boiled vermicelli (50 g), mashed with a fork. Add minced meat and broth (10 g) in which the minced meat was cooked.
- Before bedtime. A dessert spoon of noodles mixed with two spoons of baby meat food or a teaspoon of porridge mixed with the same amount of minced meat.
Once every seven days, the cat is given a little milk and three quail eggs. Twice a week, minced meat can be replaced with liver.
If the cat does not want to eat, then in case of kidney failure, veterinarians recommend force-feeding it from a syringe. It should be remembered that pets with kidney disease should not starve.
Boiled chicken feet, chopped in a blender, are most suitable for syringe feeding. Infrequent introduction of children's cottage cheese "Agusha" or "Tema" and yogurt into the diet is allowed.
The diet for kidney failure is long-term. Due to the intake of a small amount of protein, there is a possibility of developing degeneration of tissues and organs. To prevent this from happening, veterinarians prescribe the drug “Ketosteril” in parallel.
Natural products
If the cat is already accustomed to natural products, then there is no need to change them to specialized food. This can cause stress, food refusal, and metabolic disorders. Therefore, natural products remain on the menu, but some of them are removed from the diet.
Authorized Products | Positive effect on the body |
Sesame seeds | They are given in ground form to compensate for calcium deficiency. |
Vegetables (carrots, cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, beets) | Cats do not like them and rarely eat them raw. Therefore, it is better to grind vegetables in a blender and add them to other foods. Or mix vegetable puree with minced meat. |
Raw chicken, rabbit, beef and offal based on them | They contain protein that the body needs. But you can’t give your cat a lot of chicken, so as not to exceed the maximum allowed amount. |
Porridge (not boiled) | The allowed cereals are barley, buckwheat, oatmeal, corn and rice. |
Prohibited Products | What is the negative impact? |
Products with vitamin A (fish oil, cheese, full-fat cottage cheese, butter, liver) | Vitamin A accelerates the progression of the disease. For example, it is found in fish oil. Therefore, other products are taken to eliminate calcium deficiency. In other cases, the amount of fish oil is kept to a minimum. It is also necessary to replace other prohibited products. |
Fast carbohydrates (cereals, sweets, pastries, pasta, baked goods), potatoes | Their number is reduced to a minimum. Therefore, cats should not be fed baked goods. If you give your pet even a piece of baked goods, it can provoke a violation of the diet and a deterioration of the condition, which will take at least a week to recover. |
Fatty meat, fish (especially sea fish), lard, pork | The diet excludes fatty foods, excess phosphorus and proteins. |
Pineapple, citrus, raisins, grapes, avocado, kiwi | They have a lot of sugar. They are contraindicated when dieting and can also cause allergies. |
Daily menu option:
Feeding cats for constipation
Feeding cats with pancreatitis
Feeding cats with allergies
Breakfast - a tablespoon of grated buckwheat (or oatmeal) with 8 g of minced meat and chopped lettuce (or a piece of grated beetroot).
Lunch – vegetable puree (50 g) plus 2 tbsp. l. minced meat and 1 tsp. porridge.
Dinner – boiled crushed vermicelli (50 g). Additionally, 10 g of chicken broth with a spoonful of boiled minced meat.
Before going to bed, the pet is given a slightly smaller portion of noodles, but mixed with meat baby food and porridge with minced meat.
Prevention
Animal lovers are often confused when they discover that their cat has kidney failure. What to do in this situation? You need to treat your pet without wasting a minute and follow all the veterinarian’s recommendations.
But the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. To prevent kidney diseases, Royal Canin, Purina, Hill's, Brit Care, and Bosch Sanabelle have created special foods. Such food is available for sterilized and elderly cats. They are created taking into account the predisposition of such pets to kidney diseases.
But if your cat has problems urinating, blood in the urine, weight loss, or lack of appetite, you should get tested immediately. Start treatment in a timely manner. In such a situation, only medicated feeds are used, which are selected in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations.
The best food for cats with kidney failure is one that treats, helps pets with kidney failure live comfortably and prolongs their life.
Causes
There are acute and chronic renal failure in cats. The course depends on the cause of origin, as well as the speed of development of symptoms. The whole variety of factors leading to the development of the disease is usually divided into two categories: renal and prerenal.
Real reasons:
- the action of toxins coming from outside,
- allergic effects of certain medications, for example, sulfonamides,
- infectious processes affecting the excretory organs.
Prerenal factors are directly related to dehydration of the body and destruction of red blood cells, which, for example, is observed during infection with leptospirosis or blood parasites.
Things to remember
Regardless of what type of diet was chosen, several simple rules must be followed.
- Firstly, at the initial stage of nutrition selection, you can try different diet options. But once a suitable one is found, it is not recommended to change it. That is, if one specific brand of food was chosen, then it should be purchased in the future. If one dietary menu is compiled from natural products, then it must be adhered to all the time.
- Secondly, regular monitoring by a veterinarian is necessary. Even with an ideally selected diet, no one could cancel the malfunctions of the body. Therefore, it is necessary from time to time to make sure that the cat can continue to eat according to the established scheme.
- Thirdly, in addition to proper nutrition, it is important to provide the animal with enough water. With kidney failure, the rate of water excretion from the body increases. The urge to urinate becomes more frequent, which leads to severe dehydration. Therefore, there should always be fresh water in your pet’s drinking bowl - cats will not drink what has been sitting idle for the second day.
- Fourthly, if a cat eats specialized food, it is better if it is wet. This is related to the previous point: when feeding dry food, you need to consume more liquid. In addition, it is easier to add medications and strengthening additives to wet food, which cats often refuse to swallow in their pure form.
- Fifthly, if before the diagnosis of urolithiasis the cat was using vitamin complexes and supplements, now it is worth consulting with a veterinarian before continuing to take them. In the current state, the pet's metabolism is different from normal, and an excess of any vitamin can lead to loss of fluid in the body and other negative effects.
- Sixthly, a certain diet must be developed. The animal should be fed 4 times a day at the same time, and food should be given in small portions. There are cases when, with kidney failure, an animal experiences nausea for most of the day. In such a situation, the contents of the bowl should not have a strong odor. The smallest bones must be removed from the meat.
Can cats be given shrimp?