What should you feed a cat with kidney failure?

The veterinarian must adjust the cat’s diet if it has kidney failure. The pet is prescribed special dry or wet food. This way it is possible to reduce the load on the damaged internal organ. During the diet, normal eating is also allowed, but it is necessary to exclude the consumption of some foods, and, on the contrary, to focus on others. Dietary nutrition for chronic renal failure in a cat must be followed throughout its life so as not to cause exacerbation of the disease and complications.

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.

Causes of the disease

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Owners of some breeds need to be more careful, as the incidence of kidney disease is higher in Persian and Angora cats. But often this is an acquired disorder that occurs for a number of reasons:

• as a result of decreased blood circulation and urine flow to the kidneys;
• high blood pressure levels;
• oncology;
• kidney stones create obstruction;
• poisoning by a number of medicinal and non-medicinal drugs;
• severe oral diseases;
• incorrectly selected diet with a large amount of phosphorus or high protein content.

The following can be said about the acute form. In prerenal acute renal failure, the cause may be shock after bleeding, poisoning, dehydration, or heart failure. There will be a drop in pressure and impaired circulation in the bloodstream of the kidneys. The causes of renal acute renal failure are called bacterial infections, inflammations and infections, poisoning with poisons and chemicals.

In postrenal acute renal failure, urolithiasis develops due to blockage of the urinary tract.

Why is it important to properly feed a cat with kidney failure?

The kidneys are a paired organ that performs a number of important functions for the body. These include:

• formation and excretion of urine;
• elimination of nutrient breakdown products;
• regulation of body fluids and blood pressure;
• participation in the formation of certain hormones;
• maintaining blood composition and volume;
• normalization of metabolism;
• production of substances that promote calcium absorption.

Renal failure is a pathology that is expressed in impaired renal function. The disease can occur in cats as a result of past illnesses, improper feeding, poisoning, and congenital pathologies. Due to hormonal changes, aging and castrated animals are predisposed to the disease.

Renal failure can take acute and chronic forms (CRF). The acute course of the disease can be eliminated with timely measures taken. However, untimely therapy leads to the fact that the animal is forced to live with this problem.

With kidney failure, a cat's kidneys are unable to produce adequate urine output, eliminate toxins, and maintain normal hormonal levels. Gradually, the animal’s body is poisoned from the inside, which leads to disruption of the functioning of all internal organs and systems.

Complications that arise from the disease:

• heart pathologies;
• dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
• hair loss;
• anemia;
• absence or frequent urination;
• softening of bones;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• convulsions;
• coma.

A special diet is aimed at reducing the load on the kidneys, accelerating metabolism and providing the body with necessary vitamins and microelements. A proper diet will reduce the risk of developing complications in chronic renal failure and speed up the process of therapy at the acute stage. Cats that follow a special diet remain active.

Why is diet necessary?

Kidney failure poses a threat to your cat's health and life.
In case of pathology in a sick cat, products resulting from metabolic processes accumulate in the body. The content of toxic components in the blood increases, as a result of which the animal may die. The disease in cats occurs in acute or chronic form. In the first case, it is possible to cope with kidney failure by following a proper diet and taking the necessary medications. The chronic type of the disease is characterized by slow progression, while the tissues of the internal organ are irreversibly damaged. The diet is selected individually for each cat by a veterinarian. There are 2 types of diet food:

• natural;
• ready-made feed.

Veterinarians warn owners that nutrition in case of kidney failure in a cat must be strictly observed, since the disease progresses quickly and leads to complications at the slightest disturbance.

Often, with kidney pathology, the pet does not eat anything; in this case, you need to try to compromise or force feed the animal. Hunger strikes should not be allowed under any circumstances, since there is a high probability of liver disorders being associated with renal failure.

List of the best dry cat food

Many experts believe that in case of kidney failure, it is necessary to give preference to high-quality ready-made feed. Manufacturers offer therapeutic nutrition for cats with special needs. Advantages of ready-made feed:

• Easy to use. When feeding a sick cat natural food, there is a risk of an incorrect combination of necessary and undesirable substances. Ready-made food is prepared taking into account the characteristics of the animal’s body, which reduces the risk of deficiency or excess of nutrients and beneficial elements.
• Availability of dry and wet products. Some veterinarians argue that if you have kidney disease, feeding dry food has a negative impact on the organs due to the increased need to drink fluids. Many experts consider this statement to be incorrect. The balance of essential microelements reduces the likelihood of the animal’s condition worsening, but for a sick pet you need to select a quality product together with a veterinarian. However, if a pathology is detected in an aging cat, preference should be given to a wet diet, since with age the body loses more moisture and the kidneys lose their ability to recover.
• A proper diet helps improve your pet's condition.

However, specialized feeds also have some disadvantages:

• High price. To produce a quality product, the manufacturer uses expensive raw materials, which affects the price.
• Most foods are not recommended for regular use. The treatment series can be used during the course of therapy or during exacerbation of the disease, after which you should switch to holistic or super-premium food. However, the feeding approach can be changed if the veterinarian deems it necessary.
• Poor accessibility. The specialized line cannot be purchased in a regular supermarket, so when the food runs out, you need to go to the veterinary clinic, which can be inconvenient.

Currently, several manufacturers offer medicinal products.

The table provides a list of the best brands of food for cats with kidney failure.

DETAILS: What to feed a cat with kidney failure

There is an opinion that cats with kidney disease should not be fed dry food, because this will force the animals to drink a lot, and the kidneys will not be able to cope with the load. In fact, properly selected high-quality holistic or premium dry food can significantly improve the animal’s condition.

1. Eukanuba Renal
2. Royal Canin Renal RF23
3. Hill's Prescription Diet K/D Feline Renal Health
4. Farmina Vet Life Renal
5. Monge Grain Free Vetsolution Renal Feline
6. Purina Veterinary Diets NF

Eukanuba Renal

Complete food designed to support kidney function in cases of diagnosed renal failure. Contraindications are pregnancy of the cat, the period of feeding the cubs. These contraindications, by the way, are common to all medicinal feeds listed in this article.

The granules are based on corn grits and soy protein isolate. In case of kidney diseases, animal proteins are a real poison for animals. The nutritional value of the feed is provided by animal fat, and the body is provided with vitamins, micro- and macroelements by corn gluten meal, sugar beet pulp, fish oil, chicken extract and other components. Among the shortcomings of the composition, it should be noted the presence of salt in the food, indicated on the packaging as sodium chloride.

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.

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.

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In this article we will look at the basic principles of a nutritional approach to animals with kidney disease.

Animals with one or another kidney disease may suffer from the accumulation of nitrogen-containing waste, which, in turn, causes intoxication of the body. The animal may suffer from nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Therefore, the level of energy consumed by the animal must correspond to its needs, which is why it is necessary to regularly weigh and determine the patient’s nutritional status, using a scoring system.

Typically, cats' daily energy needs are 50-60 kcal/kg body weight.

The duration of the diet is determined by a veterinarian and depends on the stage of kidney disease, the clinical condition of the animal, and data from laboratory and instrumental studies.

In some cases, dietary therapy can help prevent the progression of kidney disease.

Recommendations for therapeutic feeding, as well as other forms of treatment and support for the patient, should be tailored to the needs of each patient according to his clinical condition and laboratory test results.

There is an opinion that the main difference between dietary food that supports kidney function is its low protein content.

Yes, in the lines of renal diets, indeed, the percentage of protein is lower than in other foods, but they also have a reduced phosphorus content, increased levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and a moderate amount of potassium and sodium. All this is necessary for animals with reduced kidney function.

Studies have been conducted more than once on the effectiveness of the renal diet of dogs and cats. For example, in a study conducted by Dr. RossSJ and his colleagues, 2 groups with stage 2 and 3 CKD were recruited. In the first group, 22 cats received a therapeutic renal diet for 24 months.

In the second group, 23 cats received a maintenance diet for adult cats. The results showed that in the first group, not a single cat suffered from uremia subsequently, and life expectancy increased significantly.

While in another group, 26% of cats had uremic crisis, and 21.7% of cats died due to renal failure. (1)

A similar study was conducted by Dr. Jacob and his colleagues on dogs. Two groups of dogs with stage 2 CKD were recruited.

In the first group, 21 dogs received a line of kidney foods, in the other group, 17 dogs received a maintenance diet for adult dogs for 24 months.

It was found that dogs in the first group had an average time to uremic crisis (1 year 7 months) and an average of 594 days (1.6 years) until death. While group 2 had 0.7 years before uremic crisis and 0.5 years before death, respectively. (2)

Table 1.

A range of dietary components in feeds to support kidney function

There are certain protein requirements in the diet

Protein requirements for adult dogs and cats were created using nitrogen balance. Studies have been conducted in which nitrogen intake is equivalent to nitrogen loss.

The National Research Council (NRC) has established minimum protein requirements based on research. (Table 2)

The American Feed Control Association (AAFCO) also recommends specific crude protein levels for adult dogs and cats, taking into account not only the NRC recommendations, but also the changes that occur to the protein during processing in production. (Table 2)

table 2

Dietary protein requirements for adult dogs and cats

• The values ​​in the table are given in g/1000kcal.
• Low, medium and high protein content is a common comparison among commercial pet foods.

Protein restriction if you have kidney disease

At the moment, it is not precisely determined how much protein should be limited in kidney disease, and discussions are still ongoing on this issue.

Categories of low, medium and high protein diets are provided. (Table 2). Currently, therapeutic diets labeled for different stages of CKD range from 25 to 55 g protein/1000 kcal for dogs and 58 to 82 g protein/1000 kcal for cats, with some tailoring of protein content to patient needs.

In the presence of renal proteinuria, the prescription of a therapeutic diet is more than justified. Thus, in dogs with proteinuria secondary to glomerular kidney disease, it is recommended to reduce the amount of protein consumed.

An additional study found that dogs with spontaneously developing CKD and a urinary protein/creatinine ratio greater than 1 had an increased risk of developing uremic crisis and death compared with dogs with a ratio less than 1.

In dogs with hereditary glomerulonephropathy, proteinuria was significantly reduced when they were switched from a diet containing 72 g protein/1000 kcal to 33 g protein/1000 kcal, but this effect was not evaluated in relation to lifespan.

Based on the severity of proteinuria, azotemia and the presence of clinical manifestations of kidney disease, it is recommended to reduce the protein content in the diet by 25%-50%.

In cats, the independent effect of protein on disease progression remains unknown in the early stages of CKD.

In advanced IRIS stages 3 and 4 CKD in cats and dogs, reducing protein intake may help reduce the accumulation of nitrogenous waste products that contribute to azotemia and uremia. Although urea is not a major uremic toxin in cats and dogs, it is a marker of nitrogenous wastes that contribute to uremia.

Preventing cachexia and protein malnutrition are the main reasons doctors discuss protein restriction. Each patient should have their protein intake and intake assessed based on the degree of cachexia, and of course, the presence of uremia as well as proteinuria should be taken into account.

Phosphorus limitation

Renal phosphorus retention and subsequent hyperphosphatemia are common in patients with CKD due to decreased glomerular filtration rate. This results in renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcitriol deficiency and can lead to soft tissue mineralization and fibrous osteodystrophy.

Phosphorus restriction, independent of other dietary factors, delays the progression of CKD. Due to the high phosphorus content of many meat-based proteins, reducing the amount of protein also helps reduce the overall phosphorus content of the diet.

Maintenance diets often contain added phosphorus beyond what is contained in the protein because phosphorus deficiency is more common than phosphorus excess in healthy animals.

While the phosphorus content of maintenance diets typically ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 g/1000 kcal phosphorus, the phosphorus content of typical therapeutic diets labeled for different stages of CKD ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 g/1000 kcal phosphorus. .8 to 1.35 g/1000 kcal for dogs and cats, respectively.

In a study conducted by Dr. Finco and colleagues, 24 dogs with kidney disease were divided into 2 groups and given one of the following diets. Group 1 received dietary phosphorus feeding (0.44% dry matter, approximately 1.1 g / 1000 kcal). And the second group received a high phosphorus diet of 1.50% dry matter in the feed.

(3.6 g / 1000 kcal). Over a 24-month period, dogs that received increased dietary phosphorus had significantly decreased glomerular filtration rates and decreased survival. Compared to animals fed a diet with reduced phosphorus content. As a percentage, survival rate was 75% higher. (3). (Scheme 1.

)

IRIS recommendations. IRIS recommends maintaining plasma phosphorus at 0.9–1.5 mmol/L for patients with stage 2 CKD. And less than 1.6-1.9 mmol/l for patients at stages 3-4 of CKD.

If hyperphosphatemia persists despite dietary intervention, the use of drugs that bind phosphorus in the intestine is recommended.

Phosphorus concentrations should be monitored every 2-4 weeks until the target concentration is achieved.

Availability of Omega-3 fatty acids

Supplementation of EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) in the diet has a renoprotective effect.

For dogs and cats with CKD, the standard dose is EPA 40 mg/kg plus DHA 25 mg/kg.

Companies often add omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid, to therapeutic kidney diets. However, alpha-linolenic acid is not sufficiently converted into EPA and DHA in dogs and cats. Therefore, you can consider the option of additionally introducing these acids if their content in the diet is not sufficient.

sodium in diet:

Reducing sodium intake may be beneficial for patients with CKD due to sodium retention and the potential for development of systemic hypertension.

sodium in typical therapeutic diets labeled for different stages of CKD ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 g/1000 kcal for dogs and 0.5 to 1 g/1000 kcal for cats.

potassium in the diet

Hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is common in cats with CKD. Therefore, lines of specialized dietary feeds contain additional potassium content. Typical potassium content in therapeutic kidney diets for cats ranges from 1.4 to 2.6 g/1000 kcal.

Additionally, the administration of potassium parenterally or orally is determined by the veterinarian, mainly based on laboratory tests and the clinical condition of the animal.

Hyperkalemia. Although hyperkalemia is usually associated with acute renal failure, it can be a complication in some dogs with CKD. Therapeutic diets for dogs contain between 0.8 and 2.1 g/1000 kcal.

Therefore, some (albeit limited) commercial therapeutic renal diets provide potassium within the range reported for the correction of hyperkalemia in dogs.

However, if it is necessary to further reduce the potassium content in the diet, then you can resort to additional administration of drugs.

Additional components in diets

Therapeutic diets for the kidneys have the following additional characteristics:

• High in calories and moderate in dietary fat
• Alkalinizing supplements such as potassium citrate to correct metabolic acidosis, which can worsen hypokalemia, especially in cats.
• Increased levels of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, also vitamins A, D3, iron, etc.
• Adding soluble fiber to stimulate the growth of intestinal bacteria for nitrogen and urea utilization. Soluble fiber may also be beneficial for cats with constipation, a complication in animals with CKD.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the administration of specialized dietary food can significantly reduce the progression of CKD at any stage of the renal continuum.

Diet selection should be based on a complete nutritional assessment of the patient, including staging of CKD. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the response to diet and drug therapy.

Regular monitoring makes it possible to judge the condition of the animal as a whole and optimize therapy.

Bibliography:

1. Ross SJ, Osborne CA, Kirk CA, et al. Clinical evaluation of dietary modification for treatment of spontaneous chronic kidney disease in cats. JAVMA 2006; 229(6):949-957. 3. Elliott J, Rawlings JM, Markwell P
2. Jacob F, Polzin DJ, Osborne CA, et al. Clinical evaluation of dietary modification for treatment of spontaneous chronic renal failure in dogs. JAVMA 2002; 220(8):1163-1170.
3. Finco DR, Brown SA, Crowell WA, et al. Effects of phosphorus/calcium-restricted and phosphorus/calcium-replete 32% protein diets in dogs with chronic renal failure. Am J Vet Res 1992; 53(1):157-163.
4. Elliott J, Rawlings JM, Markwell PJ, et al. Survival of cats with naturally occurring chronic renal failure: Effect of dietary management. J Small AnimPract 2000; 41(6):235-242.
5. Jacob F, Polzin DJ, Osborne CA, et al. Evaluation of the association between initial proteinuria and morbidity rate or death in dogs with naturally occurring chronic renal failure. JAVMA 2005; 226(3):393-400.

Source: https://www.svoydoctor.ru/spetsialistam/biblioteka/stati/kak-kormit-zhivotnykh-pri-patologii-pochek/

General rules and diet

A veterinarian should develop a diet for a sick cat. When compiling the menu, the individual characteristics of the animal are taken into account:

• age;
• weight;
• kidney condition;
• associated symptoms;
• form of pathology (acute or chronic);
• other identified diseases.

There are also general conditions that are observed when preparing the diet of a cat with renal failure:

• Limiting protein foods. Protein and its breakdown products put a lot of stress on the kidneys, which they may not be able to handle. The daily amount of protein food for an adult cat should not exceed 3.9 g per 1 kg of weight.
• Reducing consumption of foods high in phosphorus. When sick, the elimination of this substance from the body slows down. The accumulation of phosphorus leads to a decrease in calcium levels, which is bad for the condition of the cat’s teeth and bones.
• The source of calcium is dairy products, replaced with vegetable ones. During an exacerbation of the pathology, milk and fermented milk products are completely prohibited.
• All porridges except rice and corn are removed from the animal’s diet.
• Seafood is prohibited.
• You should not feed a sick cat fatty meat.
• Increase the content of vegetables in the diet.
• You should not add salt to your pet's food, as it retains fluid in the body.
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids should be present in the diet.
• To improve the condition of the immune system, the animal should be provided with vitamins and microelements. Particular attention should be paid to antioxidants, iron, vitamins B, C, E.
• It is necessary to constantly ensure that there is no excess of mineral supplements in the cat’s diet.

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A sick cat should be fed several times a day in small portions. If the animal does not eat well, you can divide the daily diet into more feedings and feed the pet by hand. The cat should not be allowed to go hungry. Water should be supplied to the body in quantities not exceeding the norm for the weight category of the animal.

If you feed ready-made medicinal food, then after calculating the daily intake in accordance with the weight of the animal, it should be divided into several feedings.

If the food is natural, then every day they give very little milk and quail eggs (3 pieces per week). Pets with impaired liver function should not starve, so portions should be small, but feeding should be frequent. Meat is partially replaced with offal, and low-fat cottage cheese and natural yogurt are also provided.

Due to nausea, the pet will sometimes refuse to eat, then you can feed it with baby formula from a syringe or coax it in every possible way until the result is achieved.

Features of the diet

When feeding your pet special food, it is important to ensure constant access to clean water.
If the owner has chosen to provide medicated food for cats with kidney failure, then it is necessary to calculate the nutrition, taking into account the weight of the animal. Food should be given in small portions. In this case, the diet requires feeding the cat products or feed with a reduced content of phosphorus and calcium.

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It is equally important to provide your pet with free access to drinking water. It also happens that when a cat is ill, it refuses to eat, which is associated with attacks of nausea and vomiting. In this case, it is possible to feed sick animals with infant formula for several days using a syringe.

Feeding a cat with kidney disease natural food

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.

Eukanuba Renal

Only a doctor can prescribe the right diet. All experiments with recipes usually end very sadly. General recommendations for feeding natural food to cats with chronic or temporary renal failure are as follows.

Cats are carnivores; protein and the amino acids it contains are vital for them. A purr with kidney problems can be given raw chicken or veal, previously frozen for a week in the freezer, and then thawed in the refrigerator and scalded with boiling water. This preparation of meat will minimize the risk of parasite infestation. Several times a week you can give offal, for example, chicken hearts, liver.

Excess calcium and phosphorus worsens the condition of already unhealthy kidneys, but you cannot do without them altogether, as problems with bones and teeth will appear.

Dairy products are contraindicated in cats with kidney disease.

If you have kidney disease, you should not give any fish (even sea fish), as it contains too much phosphorus. It is recommended to add ground raw sesame seeds to the meat.

You will have to exclude porridge, bread and other carbohydrates from the diet of a sick animal, but add vegetables. Unfortunately, cats, due to their predatory nature, are unlikely to be happy with carrots or cabbage. The solution may be to chop vegetables in a blender. The mixture can be diluted in chicken broth.

Even vitamins and dietary supplements that caring owners generously give to their four-legged pets without consulting a specialist can be harmful.

As you can see, practically nothing can be done for a sick animal. If he eats natural food, his condition may deteriorate quite sharply, and the doctors will only have time to throw up their hands.

If you don’t want to say goodbye to your pet, do not experiment with recipes and products, but trust veterinarians who will prescribe medicinal food in accordance with the biochemical composition of your pet’s blood and urine, its age and general well-being.

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.

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.

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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 diet for cats with kidney failure

There is an opinion that with such a disease the animal should not be fed dry food, since in this case the pet must drink a lot of water, and the kidneys may not be able to cope with the load. This opinion is erroneous, since if you choose a high-quality super-premium or holistic diet, the cat’s well-being can significantly improve.

However, there are several important points here. First of all, medicinal food must satisfy all the characteristics of the cat’s body (weight, size, breed, age, physiological condition). If these requirements are not met, then feeding with specialized foods can only aggravate the problem.

Food for domestic cats with kidney disease should contain a minimum amount of protein and phosphates, and a certain amount of minerals.

For example, Hill's brand diet food contains antioxidants and has good taste, so you won't have to deal with your pet's lack of appetite. The diets of this company include turkey and chicken meat, as well as rice flour and corn. The diets have a reduced content of phosphorus and calcium. These special foods reduce the amount of protein in the urine and stabilize the amount of magnesium in the body, preventing its excretion in urine.

“Purina” is the best food from the “veterinary diet” line.

It normalizes the acidity level of urine, prevents the formation of stones, and has a low protein and phosphate content.

The veterinarian often prescribes these foods as a therapeutic course for six months.

As we said earlier, the diet for domestic cats with kidney failure should contain a minimum amount of protein, as well as phosphorus and calcium. However, there must be a certain amount of these substances, otherwise problems with bone tissue may appear. Calcium should come from dairy products, but in chronic cases of the disease they are contraindicated, since the gastrointestinal tract cannot cope with such a load. There is a solution: sesame seeds. They are ground and mixed into food.

Please note that vitamin A is contraindicated in chronic renal failure, so exclude fish oil and foods rich in vitamin A. As for carbohydrates, their amount should be minimal. Porridge and crackers should not be given, but there should be a decent amount of vegetables in the diet. But a cat is a predator, so persuading it to eat vegetables is not always easy. Try grinding boiled vegetables in a blender and seasoning them with chicken broth, then you will have a chance to “persuade” your little one to this healthy dish.

If the condition of a sick pet worsens even slightly, then meat should be removed from the diet immediately. Keep in mind that cats suffering from kidney failure should not be given fish, especially sea fish, as it contains a lot of phosphorus.

Some cats, accustomed to natural food, refuse to eat ready-made food. In this case, the owner needs to contact a veterinarian so that he can develop a special menu for the pet. As a rule, the natural diet of a sick animal includes:

• Frozen or boiled chicken, rabbit or beef. Regular raw meat is prohibited because it may contain helminths.
• Boiled and raw vegetables. If your pet refuses the food offered, you can grind the food into a puree and dilute it with low-fat meat broth.
• Sesame seeds. Since dairy products are prohibited, sesame seeds will help replenish calcium deficiency.
• Porridge. A sick pet can eat buckwheat, rice and oatmeal.
• Boiled quail eggs. The product is given once a week in the amount of 3 pieces.
• Offal. Several times a week, the menu includes boiled liver, hearts and gizzards.
• Mineral supplements and vitamins.

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.

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.

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.

Feeding a cat with kidney disease natural food

Some owners note that despite treatment and specialized feeding, the pet’s condition worsens. Many veterinarians consider this fact to be a consequence of a neglectful attitude towards the animal’s food. Most often, owners make the following mistakes when feeding a cat with kidney pathology:

• Treating yourself to a harmful treat. Pity and great love for the pet lead to the fact that sometimes the owner treats him with his favorite product, which is excluded from the diet. In some cases, a slight deviation from the rules leads to irreversible consequences.
• Combination of natural food and prepared food. This combination can lead to an excess of unwanted microelements.
• Increase recommended servings. When the pet gets better, it develops an appetite. However, the animal’s diet is calculated in such a way that it receives the necessary nutrients without harming the kidneys. If the cat eats more, the load on the organ increases.
• Switching to normal food without veterinarian permission. Some owners give up the diet after they see an improvement in the cat's condition. However, with kidney failure, most often you have to adhere to a special diet for a long time or until the end of your pet’s life. Self-refusal to nutritional therapy can worsen the problem.
• Severe fluid restriction. With kidney failure, cats often experience frequent urination. Refusal to drink leads to dehydration and the development of urolithiasis.

Cat with chronic renal failure: stages of the disease and signs

The big problem with chronic renal failure is that it is very difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages. There are no special external manifestations; chronic renal failure can only be determined by regularly taking tests. Therefore, most often, at the time of diagnosis, the kidneys are already more than half affected and the animal requires serious treatment. And if you delay, a fatal outcome cannot be avoided. In total, there are 4 stages of disease development:

• compensation
• subcompensation
• decompensation
• terminal

Despite the absence of obvious symptoms of chronic renal failure in the first stages, there are signs that should attract the attention of the owner. If your cat has become less active, her appetite has decreased, and she drinks water more often, then it is worth taking blood tests. If creatinine values ​​are elevated, do a more in-depth examination, including an ultrasound of the kidneys. In the early stages, CRF can progress slowly over months, and the sooner the owner begins treatment, the higher the chances of a positive outcome.

Treatment of acute renal failure has a much higher chance of success

If you have end-stage chronic renal failure, the maximum that a veterinarian can offer you is hemodialysis and surgery. Neither one nor the other gives a 100% guarantee of the survival of the animal. Doctors often recommend euthanizing a cat in order to save both it and its owner from prolonged suffering.