What to feed a cat with kidney failure. Chronic renal failure in a cat. How to live happily ever after


Our pet, handsome Brit Patrick, was almost 7 years old when we faced the problem of this disease. It was clear that the cat was not feeling well - he stopped playing, became apathetic, ate without the usual pleasure and rumbling. By that time, he was eating holistic dry food and receiving treats - spiders for castrati. In addition to a deterioration in appetite and a change in behavior, the cat began to appear foamy vomiting, the quality of the coat changed a lot, bald spots appeared.

After contacting the veterinary clinic and passing tests, a diagnosis of CRF was established. It was long-term treatment, a period of remission, and then a return to the previous state. After the next course of treatment and shoveling a lot of information about cats with these diseases, I realized that medicated feed from all manufacturers is not an option for us, because. therapeutic series for the kidneys meet the basic requirements: low content of protein, phosphorus and sodium, while having a very high percent fat content, which is highly undesirable for age castrated cats.

Our guy also had problems with water consumption - he simply ignored the water, and I didn’t want to pour it in every time from the syringe. Nevertheless, veterinarians put the psychological comfort of an animal with kidney diseases in one of the first places in achieving a successful treatment result! Therefore, I decided to transfer the cat to wet food.

Through trial and error, in the end I found a middle ground for Patrick: we combine nf and hfc series medicinal cans. It turns out that an excess of fat in a therapeutic diet, and in Purine it is 11.2%, is compensated extremely low content fat in Almo Nature - only 0.25% in a jar of chicken fillet. In this case, the cat receives the necessary amount of protein, as well as some vitamins and taurine.

Feeding the cat is divided into three meals during the day, Almo in the morning and evening, and Purina in the afternoon. At the same time, I additionally dilute Almo hot water in a small amount, which allows you to warm the food after storage in the refrigerator and increase the amount of fluid consumed by the cat. Twice a year, we undergo a course of maintenance therapy in the form of subcutaneous injections of saline and taking medicines and vitamins. There have been no relapses since the introduction of the described method of feeding for two years, not so long ago the cat turned 10 years old). He is playful and cheerful, eats offered food with pleasure, in the summer he hunts lizards and mice in the country, and he looks great! What else do you need to be completely happy?

I hope my review will be useful for those who, faced with a diagnosis of CRF, pick up food for their pet, doubt and ponder. Of course, this is not a panacea, but it is quite a suitable option in order to try to combine veterinary food with ordinary canned food. subject to general recommendations control the level of fat and protein everything will turn out!

(c) Titova Tatiana.

Kidney failure is a fairly common problem, especially among older cats. A weakened kidney is unable to effectively clear toxins from the blood (such as by-products of digestion, urea and creatinine). As a result, toxins accumulate in the blood of cats/cats with kidney failure, which can lead to inflammation of the stomach lining, which causes nausea and reluctance to eat in cats and cats. Luckily, early diagnosis and intervention can slow down kidney damage and prolong the cat's life. In some cases, adequate therapy helps to prolong the cat's life by two or even three years.

Steps

Change the diet of a cat / cat

    Consider a prescribed diet. If your cat/cat has kidney failure, talk to your veterinarian. He or she may issue a special kidney diet, which contains a limited amount of high quality protein and a minimal amount of phosphates and certain minerals. It is very difficult for the kidneys to filter out proteins, phosphates and minerals, so prescribed diets limit these substances to reduce the burden on the organ.

    • Studies show that phosphate can cause kidney scarring, so limiting phosphate in your cat's diet is doubly important.
  1. Discuss with a veterinarian best sources squirrel and nutrients if you are going to use a homemade diet. Usually veterinarians advise to use mainly white meat: chicken, turkey, and white fish because they are easier to digest and put less strain on the kidneys than other foods. However, a cat with kidney failure should receive a balanced diet that includes adequate sources of vitamins and certain minerals, especially calcium, which is vital for the heart, bones, and eyes. Accordingly, your veterinarian may recommend a more balanced food list.

    • After a while, a diet based solely on white meat can lead to inflammation of the joints in the cat / cat, brittle bones, poor vision, or heart failure.
  2. Give food that your cat/cat loves. The most important thing in caring for a cat with kidney failure is to make sure that the animal is eating at least something. Some cats/cats will starve if you give them food they don't like. Thus, there is no point in prescribing a kidney home diet if this food is left uneaten. It's best to compromise and give the cat/cat some food of his/her liking.

    • If your cat/cat is not eating, it may result in liver failure, which is called hepatic lipidosis, which is as dangerous as kidney failure. Talk to your veterinarian if you think this is a problem.
    • If your cat/cat has poor appetite(common symptom kidney failure), try feeding your pet from your hand - many cats will eat if the owner offers them food from their palms.
    • On the other hand, try hanging a piece of food on your cat's whiskers so that he/she licks his/her whiskers and tastes the food in his/her mouth. Sometimes this technique increases the desire to eat in a cat / cat.
    • You can also try microwaving your food for a stronger flavor and a much more appealing temperature. Some cats/cats refuse to eat cold food, but will eat if you warm it up.
  3. Give your cat/cat a phosphate binder. Phosphate binders stick to phosphate in food and it stays in gastrointestinal tract without getting into the blood. Giving your cat/cat phosphate binders will lower blood phosphate levels and reduce kidney scarring. Discuss with your veterinarian the best phosphate binder for your cat. One of the most common, Renalzin, is sold as an ointment. You simply mix it with your cat/cat food and it works from the first bite.

    • For most cats and cats, one squeezing of Renalzin ointment twice a day will be the optimal dose. If you have a large cat and are giving him/her large portions, your veterinarian may suggest adding two squeezes of Renalzin twice a day.
  4. Make sure your cat/cat is drinking enough water. The damaged kidney loses its ability to retain water and produces weak urine. This fluid loss needs to be replaced, so make sure your cat is drinking plenty of water.

    • If your cat/cat likes to drink flowing water, consider buying a cat drinking fountain. Or try putting the water in a very wide bowl, because some cats don't like their whiskers touching the edge of the water.

We give medicines

  1. Give your cat/cat antacids. Cats with kidney failure usually develop inflammation of the stomach lining, which causes heartburn and sometimes stomach ulcers. To provide relief and increase your pet's appetite, your veterinarian may recommend antacids. The usual prescription is omeprazole, an inhibitor proton pump, which is very effective in reducing production stomach acid. Small cats and cats are usually given 1 mg/kg once a day orally, large cats and cats are usually given half a 10-mg tablet once a day.

    • If you don't have a prescription for omeprazole, you can try famotidine, an over-the-counter drug called Pepsid. Pepsid blocks histamine-induced production of gastric acid. Unfortunately, getting the right dosage can be tricky. big cats and cats usually need a quarter of a 20-mg tablet, but small cats and cats usually need to be given one eighth of a tablet, which can be quite impractical.
  2. Give B vitamins. B vitamins are important for healthy digestion and good appetite. This group of vitamins is water soluble and your cat's increased thirst may flush them out into the urine too quickly. Therefore, your veterinarian may recommend a course of injections, usually one injection per week, for four weeks, to keep your cat's blood levels of B vitamins adequate.

    Consider medication to stimulate your cat's appetite. If your cat does not have an appetite, then even if you are giving antacids and the animal is not dehydrated, you may need an additional appetite stimulant. Ask your veterinarian for a small dose of intravenous diazepam, which sometimes increases the desire to eat. Another way to increase appetite is Periactin, an antihistamine, with side effects as an appetite stimulant. The usual dosage is 0.1-0.5 mg/kg twice a day. Large cats and cats may need to give half a tablet twice a day.

  3. let's ACE inhibitors. If on early stages kidney failure to give angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), this will prolong the life of the kidney. These drugs change the circulation of blood through the kidney by decreasing the pressure gradient to reduce the damage done to the microcirculation in the kidney itself. Usual dose- Forticor 2.5 mg tablet once a day every day. Talk to your veterinarian about suitable choice for your cat/cat.

    • Please note: ACE inhibitors will not cure kidney failure, but they will protect your cat's kidney from wear and tear. These medicines are not effective on late stage kidney failure.

The disease is incurable, but with the help of diet therapy, it is possible to stop the development pathological process and extend the life of the pet for several years. Requirements for therapeutic nutrition for different stages of the development of the disease are different. Therefore, when choosing them, consultation with a veterinarian is required. But general principles dietary therapies are similar. medicinal food should be monitored for the following:

  1. Humidity.
  2. sodium concentration.
  3. Phosphorus level.
  4. Protein content.
  5. The amount of vitamins, antioxidants, omega (Ώ) acids.

Humidity

The food offered to the cat should be moist in order to facilitate the work of the kidneys, the filtration capacity of which is limited. Therefore, dry food is excluded.

Sodium concentration

Sodium helps retain moisture, as well as increase blood pressure, so its quantity is limited. Human food is banned.

Phosphorus level

An excess of the element leads to the removal of calcium from the body. This condition is accompanied by severe metabolic disorders. It is not the total amount of phosphorus that is important, but its optimal ratio with calcium. It is in animal food that the required balance is observed. Therefore, allegations that kidney patients should not be fed fish or meat are unfounded. It is possible and necessary, but with selected products, and not their waste. In this case, the measure should be observed.

There is an erroneous opinion that for a kidney patient, the use of a large number protein is contraindicated. The fact is that the proteins of offal and vegetable feed have an unbalanced amino acid composition. Excess nitrogenous substances are formed, they are toxic and must be quickly excreted. If the protein is represented by meat and fish products High Quality, then few nitrogenous slags are formed, they will not irritate the kidneys.

The amount of vitamins, antioxidants, omega acids

An organism that resists a disease needs increased amount biological catalysts - antioxidants, Omega (Ώ) -3 acids. So it's better to use ready meals or combine natural food with feed additives.

Medical feed

Prepare healing food natural products difficult, and the cost of them will be higher than high-quality premium food. All feeds are produced outside of Russia. On the final stage diseases veterinarian appoints wet products, however, dry products are not contraindicated in the first phase.

All high quality products are highly valued. If an 85-gram Friskas or Kitiket pouch can be purchased for 13 rubles, then a similar

Kidney diseases are often serious. A huge role in the treatment of a cat is played by diet. How to feed a cat with kidney failure is the topic of our today's article.

Kidney failure, if it occurs in your pet, will accompany him for the rest of his life. When the symptoms of the disease appeared in the cat (constipation and nausea, general weakness, weight loss, constant thirst for water), it is necessary to take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible, who will take key tests and be able to make a diagnosis.

With kidney failure, you need to feed your pet wisely. Be prepared that a veterinarian's diet for cats with kidney failure is a regimen that will need to be followed in without fail always.

Remember that if the basic recommendations for organizing a daily menu for a cat are not followed, the disease may even worsen, and the medications that you have already given to your pet are unlikely to help fully. That is why in no case should you try to treat a plaintively meowing cat with goodies from the table, otherwise you will only make it worse.

Video "Renal failure in cats and dogs"

In this video, the veterinarian will share tips on how to treat pet with renal failure.

Feeding with special foods

As a rule, it is the veterinarian who makes medical menu for cats with kidney failure. At the same time, it is important to rely on individual moments: the course and stage of the disease, the condition of the animal, its eating habits, etc. Keep in mind that with such an ailment, it is impossible to overfeed the pet in any case.

Kidney disease for cats is a serious test. Not only that general state worsens, even in the diet, the owners begin to restrict them excessively. However, there is nothing to do: the dietary daily menu has the same great value, as well as a list of medicines required for cats.

Many owners are reluctant to buy commercial feed. It is quite possible to make a diet using only natural products. However, be prepared for the fact that you will have to change the diet of your pet once and for all.

Cats are domestic predators, so without eating proteins and the amino acids they contain, they cannot. You can give your pet raw chicken or veal, only the meat should be kept in the freezer for several days in order to destroy everything. harmful bacteria and microorganisms. Offal (liver, chicken hearts) can be fed to a cat, but not more than 2-3 times a week.

What your cat with kidney failure will forever have to give up is dairy products. They are categorically contraindicated in this disease. The category of prohibited ingredients should also include fish, and any. The thing is that it contains a lot of phosphorus, and its excess is harmful to cats in such a situation. Cereals, bread - any carbohydrates are recommended to be removed from the daily menu of a sick cat. But vegetables should be included in it.

General rules and regime

Diet for cats with chronic renal failure (CRF) is a whole collection of recommendations. It is advisable to feed your fluffy pet 4 times a day. Food is given in small portions. There are times when a cat simply refuses to eat. However, you can’t let this process take its course: feed products in small quantities forcefully through a syringe.

Do not forget that cats that suffer from kidney failure should not starve.

If they don't want to eat, reheat the food in the microwave (then it will exude a much stronger flavor). Some cat owners try to feed them from the palm of their hand - in this case, the likelihood that the pet will eat at least a little increases.

Another key moment: the animal should drink plenty of water. The thing is that a kidney that has been damaged due to an illness does not produce urine well and does not retain water in the body. That is why the water bowl should always be filled, because your pet will want to drink a lot. Cat food is serious problem with the development of renal failure. Take your diet plan seriously.

In this article, I will tell you what to feed cats with kidney failure. What should be the food. What should a balanced diet contain if a cat has CRF (chronic renal failure). What kind of food is suitable. Can cats be fed natural food.

If a cat has this disease, conventional foods are not suitable.

We need the right composition of feed, which are prophylactic from recurrence of kidney stones. A pet with impaired kidney function must be kept on a special diet.

However, this does not mean that the kitten is doomed. If he is properly fed, he will be just as mobile, cheerful and sociable. Feed manufacturers offer pet breeders the optimal composition that will not cause complications and prolong the life of the cat.

The main factors when choosing food

Humidity

There is a misconception that when CKD for cats should not be given dry. This opinion is connected with the need for the pet to take additional drink. It is believed that excess water will not benefit the kitten - this is true if he is fed regular food.

However, if you buy a dry composition intended for cats with kidney failure, it will have a positive effect on health.


If there are kidney problems, the cat has high blood pressure. For this reason, specialized foods contain less sodium than conventional formulas.

Omega-3 fatty acids

The action of fatty acids is aimed at the proper functioning of almost all vital important organs. Undoubtedly, they are necessary for kidney diseases.

Regardless of whether the pet is fed dry or natural food, the diet of cats with kidney failure should be saturated with fatty acids.

B vitamins

Vitamins of this group plentiful drink washed out with urine. An additional dosage of the vitamin in the pet's diet will help compensate for the loss of this substance.

Antioxidants

Adherents of proper nutrition of pets with chronic renal failure monitor the content of antioxidants in the diet. These substances are able to neutralize the harmful effects of damaged cells on the body.

Dietary feed for kidney failure should contain vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, lutein.


Phosphorus and proteins

If you look at the behavior of a cat, in wild nature they feed exclusively on meat or fish. In a word, they can be called "predators". This phenomenon is due to the need for animal proteins.

Usually their totality is 20-30%. However, according to the content of animal protein, a lot of controversy arises in dietary nutrition.

Protein

Medical feed

Pets with kidney failure often look emaciated.

Sick pets have a weak appetite and fast fatiguability. While medicated feeds in this category improve appetite. With therapeutic nutrition in animals, a weight gain is observed after a few weeks. The correct composition feed improves the quality of life of a sick cat.

Sometimes it is very difficult to choose the right food on your own. Proper Diet will meet the needs of the body of a cat with kidney failure.

The most popular in the segment of food for problem kitties - Royal Canin and Purina.

Royal Canin


Royal Canin nutrition has a preventive and curative effect.

A series for cats with renal insufficiency improves the condition of a sick pet. It contains corn flour, animal fats, fiber, soy protein.

The assortment includes dry food with chicken, assorted, tuna and canned food. Diet food of this series - reduces the load on the kidneys, restores metabolic balance, has palatability.

Purina

Producers of dietary and medical nutrition for cats Purina is highly appreciated by veterinarians. The products of this series are preferred even by picky cats, they fall in love with this taste from the first plate.

Contains flour different types cereals, fiber, minerals, egg powder, fatty acid, vitamins. The composition is optimally balanced for cats with kidney disease, does not harm them, improves health.


Is it possible to feed natural

Natural nutrition eliminates experimentation, as for cats with CRF, the diet is selected depending on clinical picture diseases.

Availability similar disease in a pet indicates that it is difficult for the animal's body to get rid of metabolic products in the urine. For this reason, toxins enter the bloodstream.

plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of renal failure proper nutrition, it is critical to know the best views fodder.