Kidney Disease Treatment

Jennie Said:

What is the best dog food for a dog with kidney disease?

We Answered:

The veterinarian I work for always recommends Hill's K/D for kidney problems. Don't get it confused with C/D. It helps bladder problems. Oh, and don't feed her table scraps. Human food can damage the kidneys and liver.

Alex Said:

Holistic treatment for kidney disease in dogs?

We Answered:

Raw food - a raw meaty bones or prey model diet based around whole carcasses, raw meat, meaty bones and organs.

I would suggest you join one of the raw feeding groups - RawMeatyBones or rawfeeding are two good ones.

holistic means treating the 'whole' rather than just the symptoms - not necessarily homoeopathic or 'herbal' - surely a species appropriate diet is the first step in this?

Neil Said:

Where can I buy cheaper Lactated Rigers for my dog who has Kidney Disease?

We Answered:

There are many companies that sell it online, you just have to have your vet send them a prescription for it. The last link has a case of 12 for $2.99 a bag plus free shipping, which is the cheapest that I have found. Also, I have ordered from Valley Vet (the last link) before, and I really thought they had great service. Just FYI: there is no difference between LRS for farm animals and for pets, they are just marketed different.

http://www.entirelypets.com/lari.html
http://www.allivet.com/Lactated-Ringers-…
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?…

Ramon Said:

Treatment for cat with "critical" kidney disease?

We Answered:

Don't give up on him just yet. CRF cats can live for a long time with proper treatment. My cat was diagnosed last summer and is doing very well on his diet. I don't use the prescription food the vet recommended. I feed him Wellness wet food. It's actually much better than the prescription stuff. Here's a great website on kidney disease in cats that will help alot. Print off some of the articles and go over them with your vet. Good luck to to your kitty.
http://www.felineoutreach.org/Education/…

Kevin Said:

when will medicine be able to use stem cell therapy for kidney disease?

We Answered:

It's probably already being tested, give it a few years. They are already using stem cells to help people with arthritis.

Sandra Said:

Our vet told us that diet treatment is the best and only method to treat feline kidney disease. Is this true?

We Answered:

No it is not and you should go to the group linked below this post. That food is just asking for more trouble.
Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure

If your cat is not in final stages, this is not want you want to do. You do not want to put your cat on the
Vets low protein diet. There are simply so many better options out there than to hand the poor cat a low amount of poor quality protein - which often results in a poor appetite and muscle wasting since the body is now robbing its own muscle mass to feed itself a decent quality and amount of protein.
. There are new thoughts on this and the thinking is it is not the amount of protein but the quality of protein that matters.
The Merck veterinary manual [www.merckvetmanual.com] says that cats need "4 g of protein of high biologic value per kg body wt/day". That's about 7 calories from protein per pound body weight per day. If a cat isn't a good eater and consumes, say, 20 calories per pound per day, then 7/20 = 35% of calories can safely be from protein. It must be high quality protein, which means meat, fish, milk, and eggs, and not grain or soy.

I am under the assumption that you have been feeding mostly dry foods. Many use a vegetable based protein instead of animal and that is part of the problem.. Your cat needs protein as it is a carnivore and cutting down on it will lead to other health issues and may cause faster degeneration.
You want to cut down on phosphorous (no fish allowed now)

The best way to do this is with a raw diet which you can make yourself or buy. (Making yourself is better) link provided at the bottom
If you are unwilling to do that then something like the non fish flavors of Wellness or Merrick with NO grains are good alternatives. Wysong is also a good canned choice. This list gives a breakdown. Remember you want low phosphorous
http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/can…

You should be giviung sub-q fluids as needed

You also will want to look into phosphorous binders. Something like aluminum hydroxide
Ask your vet or look into calcitrol


You may want to talk to the vet about having injectable Pepcid AC on hand or you can buy it in pill form (ac not plain pepcid) and give 1/4 tab for stomach upset which happens a lot in crf cats due to acid in the stomach.
I hope this stuff helps, here are many links for you
Making cat food
http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htm
other links. Read, read, read!!!!
http://www.felineoutreach.org/EducationD…
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_chr…
http://www.felinecrf.org/
http://www.felinecrf.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Felin…
About that vets diet. This report is for dogs but applies to cats
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/21…

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