Getting CRF cat to eat more
Some of the tricks that work to transition dry food addicts to canned (or raw) cat food can also encourage cats with kidney disease to eat more food. Our Miss Kitty is starting to lose weight, so I've started adding a bit of FortiFlora to her food (see Transitioning Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food on
www.catinfo.org, by Dr. Pierson).
B vitamins are supposed to help improve appetite. Our cat vet ordered one for us called Rx Vitamins Amino B-Plex, formulated by Robert J. Silver D.V.M., M. S.
Appetite stimulants are available. We got some from a cat vet in a cream form that you rub in the cat's ears, called Periactin Transdermal. The vet said it works for some cats but not others.
Anti-nausea medication is also available.
Giving Milk Thistle supplements to cats with kidney disease is one of the newer recommendations. Check with your vet for dosage. (General info on
http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/m...a-wonder-herb/)
Kidney Failure info from AlternativePetHealth.com: “Whatever special food you feed your renal-compromised pet, you'll want to feed it less, more often, so as not to tax the stressed organ.
I should say organs... Since the liver and kidneys are such a team in decontaminating the bloodstream, I would certainly think in terms of detoxifying and giving support to the liver as well. Dandelion root and milk thistle are the most readily-available and commonly used liver cleansers, for both people and pets.
And a final word on food: In case of just about any illness, I would strongly suggest using digestive enzymes (canine or feline version) for better nutrient assimilation. Powder sprinkled on or mixed into the food is better than a swallowed capsule, if your pet will eat the food (enzymes are pretty tasteless). You can get it in some health food and pet supply stores, and via vitamin supply companies.
Probiotics should similarly come to mind. Non-lactose-based acidophilus is considered better than the milk-based for this purpose. Multiple types of this sort of "gut critter" is better than just acidophilus…”
http://www.alternativepethealth.com/kidney-failure.html
I have used liquid OTC phosphorus binders (usually the liquid alumina and magnesia oral suspensions, an antiacid) to help offset the phosphorus in food. You can ask your vet for dosage & get empty gel caps from vet or pharmacy. Our vet charged $12 for 100 gel caps. Use eye dropper or syringe to measure & fill gel caps, then
immediately give to cat as the binder will soften & dissolve the gel caps. This info is also on the Feline CRF website recommended by Dr. Hodgkins,
www.felinecrf.com
Using alternatives such as crushed egg shells are also discussed on the FelineCRF.com site.
"Dietary restriction of protein does not benefit cats and dogs with progressive renal disease." From Dr. Fox's article:CARE FOR ANIMALS WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE,
http://www.twobitdog.com/DrFox/Care-...-Renal-Failure
FLUORIDE IN PET FOOD WARNING – pets with kidney disease more at risk of fluoride poisoning.
"...the Environmental Working Group’s findings of over 9 mgm /kg in dog food with chicken meal as the primary ingredient (possibly from recycled laying hens) is indeed pause for concern.
It should be noted that such ‘tolerable’ fluoride levels are not acceptable for human patients on kidney dialysis, and cats and dogs with kidney disease are likely to be more prone to fluoride poisoning when impaired renal function means more fluoride retention in the body." Dr. Fox, Fluoride in Pet Food---A Serious Health Risk for Both Dogs and Cats?
http://www.twobitdog.com/DrFox/Fluor...od-Health-Risk
Best wishes,
