Cat people: what can I do to boost kidney health in my aging

[Flaxbee]

male cat? He's at least 14 years old, perhaps older - showed up on my husband's doorstep sometime in 1993/4 (husband doesn't remember exactly when). He eats well, pees well, etc., but the vet said one of his kidneys might be a bit bigger than the other (my cat, Tom, will be going back in for a mid-year check up in March and I'll decide about bloodwork, etc., then).

But in the meantime, are there any natural supplements I can give him? I've heard about dandelion leaf, and cornsilk, and something called "Udo's Choice" -- but I still feel really uninformed.

Anyone here have any suggestions? Thank you in advance! It's late here so I won't be replying right away, but I appreciate any help anyone might have. :hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. This sete has a lot of info about feline kdiney health

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/catdiseasesu/a/caturinary.htm

holistic feline info
http://www.emaxhealth.com/116/8141.html

[Flaxbee]

4. thank you --

I'll bookmark the links and take a close look at them. I appreciate it! I'd like to do a few gentle things for him, for comfort and health.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. I have a dog with renal disease

He was diagnosed at five months of age and will be six years old in a few months. He eats prescription food and I do what I can to limit exposure to stressors. For the past four years his bloodwork has been normal. His diet is calorie dense, phosphorous, protein, fat and sodium limited and ph controlled. I do not give him any supplements because his vet has advised against it.

Kidney size is not necessarily an indication of renal disease. You need to have bloodwork done to know whether renal disease is present. The two most important measures are BUN and creatinine. However, as with my dog, there may be renal damage present although the blood values are all within normal ranges. Such damage is typically identified by various blood ratios.

Based on my experience, the best thing you can do for your kitty is to have the bloodwork done to see what is going on in regards to his renal function. In the meantime feed him a high quality diet, make lots of water available to him, and try to limit his exposure to stressors. Learn the symptoms of renal disease and watch for them.

Hope all goes well for you and your kitty.

[Flaxbee]

5. I have to travel in the next month or so, then he'll go in

for bloodwork -- he's had a good, long life and I don't want to do a lot of invasive things to/for him, but I want him to be comfortable and healthy as long as possible.

I'm sorry about your dog; sounds like you have a very good handle on his health, though.

Thank you for your input. I appreciate it.

[Lorien]

3. See if he'll take to a raw food diet, such as Prairie Nature's variety

turkey and chicken feline/ canine diet: http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1508&-session=naturesvariety:186E3F2202f4c33A00svNIFB5D41

feed as little dry food as possible.Avoid toxic foods at all costs: http://www.azmira.com/ToxicFoods.htm and give him a pet fountain to encourage more water intake. A good list of reputable supplements is here: http://www.azmira.com/ProductSupplements.htm

[Flaxbee]

6. thanks, Lorien -

I was hoping you'd check in to this thread, as you seem to have an encyclopedic knowledge of cats/cat health and good food. I'll check the links. He's a bit finicky, but I'll try the raw diet and see how it goes with him. I have 6 other cats so juggling everyone's food can be tricky...

Again, thanks. He's the boy kitty love of my life...

[Lorien]

7. Try mixing it bit by bit into his favorite wet food (if he has one)

my cats eat it that way. Most won't take to it by itself right away, but there are exceptions. I just introduced raw food to my neighbor's young domestic short hairs and the little girl is WILD for it!

I understand having a boy kitty love of your life. My Maine Coon Oberon is that for me now, and before him there was my half Turk kitty Peewee; love of my life for 15 years. I still miss him terribly and wish I'd known then (about feline diets) what I know now.

[japple]

8. Hey Flaxbee, the Nature's Variety chicken-turkey medallions

are wonderful. Three years ago, the vet told me that my 15 yr. old cat, Tiny, was losing kidney function and prescribed a Science Diet dry food. He wouldn't eat it and, after reading the discussion that Lorien started about petfood, I tried the freeze=dried turkey & chicken medallions. He loves them, and, instead of losing more kidney function, his test results are stable and he looks/feels like a much younger cat, even playing with 2 yr. old Lola. Every morning, I make Tiny's freeze-dried medallion "cereal" and he eats it right up. Good luck.

[Flaxbee]

9. thanks, japple -- I have a question

you mention making Tiny's "cereal" -- how do you do this / prepare his food? Tommy won't touch Science Diet (nor will any of my other cats) so I'm very interested in the medallions (though I have to drive about 2-3 hours away to get them). I'm glad to hear Tiny is doing so well!

[Lorien]

10. You can serve the freeze dried mediallions several ways

my cats prefer them crumbled into bite sized pieces in a bowl without water, but others like them mixed with warm water or chicken broth (unsalted), or with a bit of wet food stirred in and a little water. You'll have to experiment with what your cat likes best. The freeze dried are the same as the regular raw, just without the moisture!

[japple]

11. Mash them in a bowl and add warm water. Mix well.

He loves his cereal. I order them through petfooddirect.com, and there are plenty of other sources online. I live in a rural area, and there is nothing anywhere near me. It's also more convenient for me to get them by home delivery. My cats don't like Science Diet either. I also feed Tiny a little Innova Evo dry (and the other cats eat that, too) and the Fancy Feast that he has been eating for 15 years. It probably isn't the best quality pet food, but at least it wasn't one of the ones that were recalled last year.

[truedelphi]

12. Thak you for Sharon.

And for Sharing!


:hi: