How Can the Right Cat Food Help With Kidney Disease?
- Commercial Cat Food. Commercial cat food for cats with kidney disease is formulated to support renal function and have ingredients that are low in minerals that can exacerbate kidney disease.
- Homemade Cat Food. If you have the time, you can also feed your cat a raw food diet or homemade cat food. ...
- Treats. ...
What is the best food for cats with kidney disease?
For cats with progressing kidney disease, chicken breast is more recommended than any other cut because leaner meat is lower in phosphorus. Other options for homemade cat food for kidney disease are low-protein alternatives such as soft carrots, potato peels, peas, and greens.
What can I Feed my cats Besides cat food?
What Is A Good Substitute For Cat Food?
- Oily Fish. Truthfully, all fish is safe to feed to your cat. ...
- Meat. Beef, poultry, and any other fresh meat are good for cats to eat. ...
- Cheese. If you want to share a slice of cheese with your cat, that is fine. ...
- Berries. ...
- Melon. ...
- Carrots. ...
- Rice. ...
- Oats. ...
- Eggs. ...
- Spinach. ...
Does low sodium cat food help cats with cardiomypathy?
Sodium restriction is beneficial for cats with cardiomyopathy. Sodium causes fluid retention, increasing the amount of blood the heart must pump. Also, when the heart can't pump the necessary blood volume, its chambers stretch in an attempt to hold more blood.
How can raw diet help kidney disease in cats?
There are four core goals for managing CKD in cats:
- Control the clinical signs associated with accumulating waste products in the blood
- Minimize problems with fluid and mineral balance
- Sustain adequate nutrition
- Modify/slow the progression of CKD
What food is best for cats with kidney disease?
There are three pet food lines that have products that are very effective for CKD management: Hill's Prescription Diet is the best, and Purina Veterinary Diets and Royal Canin are decent alternatives.
How do cats with kidney disease eat?
Either an esophagostomy tube or gastrostomy tube feeding is a very effective and a convenient way to provide food, water and liquid medications to cats with CKD. This can also eliminate the need for administering subcutaneous fluids, which contain sodium.
Is chicken OK for cats with kidney disease?
As obligate carnivores, cats need species-appropriate proteins that are easily digestible. Proteins such as turkey and chicken are a safe choice for cats with kidney diseases.
Are scrambled eggs good for cats with kidney disease?
Egg whites and some animal meats tend to have a lower phosphorus to protein ratio, which will help your cat get the high quality protein she needs and can be an excellent source of lean dietary protein content for felines with compromised kidney function or kidney disease.
Is tuna good for cats with kidney disease?
Tuna is high in phosphorus and while a healthy cat may cope with this, it won't be good for cats with kidney disease. Raw fish can contain thiaminase which is an enzyme that destroys thiamine, or vitamin B1. Too much raw fish in a cat's diet can, therefore, lead to thiamine deficiency.
Is Wet food better for cats with kidney disease?
Cats who are in the early stages of kidney disease often thrive when fed an appropriate, over-the-counter food. Canned foods are best because they contain much more water than dry foods, but you still need to make sure the diet is made from high-quality ingredients.
Is salmon good for cats with kidney disease?
Omega fatty acids are just that important for cats. With that said, salmon can cause a few problems. For instance, it isn't suitable for cats with kidney disease as it may be a bit too high in potassium. Some cats are allergic to salmon and therefore shouldn't consume it.
Is Fancy Feast good for cats with kidney disease?
The most important nutritional goal for a renal patient is that the cat eats well every day. You can also use the renal diets to compare nutritional profiles to retail food. Particularly, Purina's retail diets (Fancy Feast, Friskies) will compare favorably to the renal diet's nutritional profile.
Is cooked fish good for cats with kidney disease?
This may seem tricky in the case of kidney disease, because kidney diets are generally low in protein as well as phosphorous, a component found in proteins. To strike a balance, choose leaner cuts of poultry, fish, lamb or other meats over fattier versions, as leaner cuts are lower in phosphorous.
Is chicken broth good for cats with kidney disease?
Commercially available kidney support diets tend to be quite palatable because it is so important for these cats to eat in a way that slows the progression of their CKD. If needed, adding water, tuna juice, or low sodium chicken broth may increase the flavor and acceptance.
How can I improve my cat's kidney function?
Studies suggest that therapeutic diets that are restricted in protein, phosphorus and sodium content and high in water-soluble vitamins, fiber, and antioxidant concentrations may prolong life and improve quality of life in cats with CKD.
Is yogurt good for cats with kidney disease?
A tablespoon daily of plain, non-fat yogurt provides the probiotics and buffers needed to prevent stomach problems, and lower gut acidity and your cat's pH levels.
What to feed a cat with kidney disease?
If needed, adding water, tuna juice, or low sodium chicken broth may increase the flavor and acceptance.
What is the best diet for cats with CKD?
Commercial diets for cats with CKD are developed to prioritize these key goals. When compared with normal maintenance adult cat food, a kidney support diet contains less protein, sodium, and phosphorus, and increased omega-3 fatty acids. These diets are formulated to help cats with CKD avoid metabolic ...
How does protein affect CKD?
Protein. Decreased dietary protein may slow the progression of CKD by decreasing the workload on the kidneys to excrete protein waste products. Less protein also means less need for the excretion of protein itself through the filtration mechanism of the kidney, which helps preserve kidney function.
What is the most common kidney disease in cats?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common kidney-based disease in cats. Waste products are normally filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in the urine, but cats with CKD will end up with an accumulation of these waste products in the bloodstream as the filtering process breaks down. For more information on this condition ...
What is the role of nutrition in cats?
There are four core goals for managing CKD in cats: Control the clinical signs associated with accumulating waste products in the blood. Nutrition addresses all of these goals. Commercial diets for cats with CKD are developed to prioritize these key goals.
How to manage CKD in cats?
Nutrition plays an important role in managing CKD in cats. There are four core goals for managing CKD in cats: 1 Control the clinical signs associated with accumulating waste products in the blood 2 Minimize problems with fluid and mineral balance 3 Sustain adequate nutrition 4 Modify/slow the progression of CKD
How does Omega 3 help with CKD?
Dietary omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the production of inflammatory compounds that create oxidative stress to the tissue of the diseased kidneys, thus contributing to slowed progression of CKD. This works by reducing protein 'leaking' through the kidneys.
What is the best food for cats with kidney disease?
You’ll also want to avoid any high-sodium treats like luncheon meat and salty cheese.
What supplements should I take for my cat with kidney disease?
Along with other anti-inflammatory supplements, consider omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA. These fatty acids have a well-documented ability to reduce inflammation, helping your cat to feel better.
Why does my cat feel ill?
As kidney function declines, phosphorus is one of the things that doesn’t get filtered out. As phosphorus builds up in the bloodstream, your cat will start to feel ill and kidney function declines even more quickly.
How to help a cat lose weight?
In addition to traditional food, consider giving your cat high-calorie supplements. High-calorie gels and treats help to curb weight loss and keep your cat feeling as well as possible. Consider nutritional gels like Tomlyn Nutri-Ca and Vetoquinol Nutri-Cal. Food toppers, broths, and treats can also help.
How much phosphorus is in cat food?
It’s not as low as some renal diets, but just below the recommended 1.25 grams per 1,000 calories for healthy cats. Additionally, it contains chitosan and elevated calcium.
What is raw cat food?
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Thigh Meat, Turkey Hearts, Chicken Hearts, Beets, Zucchini. This raw cat food is a bit different from the other prescription diets on our list. Instead of focusing on low protein levels, this food maintains a normal level of protein and approaches kidney disease from a different angle.
What is the first ingredient in Hill's cat food?
First 5 Ingredients: Water, Pork Liver, Chicken, Egg Product, Brewers Rice. If your cat prefers paté-style food, this product from Hill’s may be a good choice. It has a softer, smoother consistency that’s easy to water down for more hydration and easier eating.
What is the best food for cats with kidney disease?
Cats who are in the early stages of kidney disease often thrive when fed an appropriate, over-the-counter food. Canned foods are best because they contain much more water than dry foods, but you still need to make sure the diet is made from high-quality ingredients.
What can cats eat to prevent dehydration?
Foods that have a high water content can help prevent dehydration, and when cats eat a diet made from moderate amounts of high quality protein, they produce less urea and phosphorous that then needs to be eliminated.
Why does diet matter for cats?
Two of these major roles include removing waste products from the bloodstream and conserving water. When kidney function declines past a certain point, toxic waste products like urea and phosphorous begin to back up within the body, which can make a cat feel terrible.
Why is my cat not eating enough?
When a cat is not eating enough to maintain a healthy weight, that particular food is failing to meet his or her nutritional needs even if it looks 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 if you’re willing to cook for your cat, a homemade diet might also be a good option. Homemade foods are usually so tasty that they will improve almost any cat’s appetite.
Why does my cat have kidney disease?
Kidney disease is extremely common in cats. It can develop quickly, because of something like an infection or exposure to antifreeze, or over many years for no apparent reason. Symptoms and treatment for kidney disease vary depending the specifics of the case, but oftentimes, a diet change can help.
What to do if your cat won't eat canned food?
If your cat simply will not eat canned food, choose a dry food that is made from high-quality ingredients and do everything you can to encourage your cat to drink a lot of water. If your cat eats dry food, you may need to start giving subcutaneous fluids (fluids injected under the skin) sooner than you would otherwise.
Is it safe to feed a cat homemade food?
Homemade foods are usually so tasty that they will improve almost any cat’s appetite. However, homemade diets can also be dangerous. Studies have shown that the majority of homemade pet diets are nutritionally incomplete, and this is especially true for the kidney disease recipes that you can find online or in books.
