? 9/2/ 21 sad to share Marmalade diagnosed yesterday afternoon with kidney issues

tonimarmalade

tonimarmalade

Member Since 2015
Returning to vets shortly for more info. and additional test. Not able to write down all the info. Over phone. Will post what I wrote and add as need indicates when I have the written report in hand. BUT MY MAIN FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON WHAT TO FEED HER. she has been on Primal freeze dried Nuggets crushed into powder with warm water for several years. However I was told yesterday that the protein may be too high now with the kidney diagnosis. So I am searching for alternative that will help both conditions and that she will eat. Her SFMA is mildly elevated to 17, her BUN is 42, her phosphorus is 6.7. Her thyroid is normal. She has lost about 1/2 lb from 10.4 to 9.9 since last visit 8 months ago and she eats and urinates a lot with really big chumps of pee. Her stool Sample looked fine. I also wrote down that her P (not sure what that is but…) is mildly elevated at 111 with 100 being normal. The vet wants to monitor her closely and get a urine sample, hopefully today, and change her diet. I have to take her in an hour and a half. Please advise me re: questions I should ask and dietary recommendations. I am attaching her latest numbers for easy your convenience and easy review. thank,you so much
 
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Just back from the vets. My sister (dementia and multiple other issues) is in need of my FULL attention right now. I will post tomorrow as early as possible. Thank you so much.
 
So sorry to hear about this diagnosis. :bighug: I would be curious to see the labs as well.

Primal is too high in phosphorus for a CKD cat because it contains bone. You can continue to feed raw if you can make it yourself. I wrote a guide for raw feeding with a special emphasis on CKD kitties that you can read here when you have time: Raw Feeding Senior Kitties.
 
I'm sorry about your diagnosis. I am glad you have knowledgeable people on here to help you navigate it.
 
Looking forward to seeing the labs. CKD is par for the course, although I am sorry Marmelade has joined the ranks. We will know more when we see the labs. Glad you're there for your sis today!
 
PerfumedCatMom said:
So sorry to hear about this diagnosis. :bighug: I would be curious to see the labs as well.

Primal is too high in phosphorus for a CKD cat because it contains bone. You can continue to feed raw if you can make it yourself. I wrote a guide for raw feeding with a special emphasis on CKD kitties that you can read here when you have time: Raw Feeding Senior Kitties.
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I will certainly check it out tomorrow. Making my own would be so difficult due to my caregiving responsibility for my sister and my own physical limitations.
 
Margaret (and Pearl) said:
Looking forward to seeing the labs. CKD is par for the course, although I am sorry Marmelade has joined the ranks. We will know more when we see the labs. Glad you're there for your sis today!
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I have been there for my sister thru 11 surgeries in 17years and dementia for the past 7 years. I also cared for my mom who passed from dementia in2002 and my dad who had a great old age and died peacefully at the age of 95 in 2012. My sister Anita and I have also cared for a dozen rescue special needs cats but Marmy is is the only one left and she is my first diabetic kitty and such a sweet little girl . She will turn 15 this month. I have been blessed with such wonderful kitties. And friends, and fellow cat lovers, and family. Wow! I really got a little carried away here. Bless you all.
 
tonimarmalade said:
I will certainly check it out tomorrow. Making my own would be so difficult due to my caregiving responsibility for my sister and my own physical limitations.
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If you use EZ Complete it’s as simple as mixing ground boneless meat and freezing. My cats kidney values have improved since being on a fresh meat raw diet. I understand that it’s not for everyone. The list that Elise provided of low phosphorus foods from Felinecrf.com should help a bit but it doesn’t tell you which are low carb. @Librarianista has a list on Chloe’s spreadsheet of low carb, low phos foods from Weruva and Soulistic that is very helpful. But do read the post I wrote as there are good arguments against a low protein diet for CKD cats there.
 
Prayers for your kitty and for you. Bless you for being a care-giver for so many family members. I know that can be tough. I was one for my husband and now my Mom. You are on a wonderful site to get advice for your sweet-looking Marmy.:bighug:
 
Done. I posted just a bit ago. Please let me know what to do next.
Summer and Susie said:
Prayers for your kitty and for you. Bless you for being a care-giver for so many family members. I know that can be tough. I was one for my husband and now my Mom. You are on a wonderful site to get advice for your sweet-looking Marmy.:bighug:
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thank you so much!!! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Hi Toni, I looked at Marmalade's numbers and honestly I don't think they are so bad. Her BUN is high, but that could possibly be from dehydration. Her Creatinine is mildly increased 1.5 and her phosphorus levels are higher than 6, which is usually when one takes action. I'm not sure what your vet told you, but I would recheck these values in a month or two and add in a urinalysis and an SDMA test. The urinalysis will tell you what the urine specific gravity is, as usually CKD cats can't concentrate their urine so it's dilute. An SDMA test will tell you more information as that is often used with staging CKD.

I would try to get her on a lower phosphorus food. The freeze dried Primal contains bone that is high in phosphorus, and you want to avoid that as much as possible. I would also start adding more water than you usually do to her food to help the kidneys flush out the toxins.

Ruby was diagnosed with CKD in January of this year and her numbers have varied widely from test to test. Vets said Stage 2 kidney disease, but if you look at her most recent labs many of her values are lower than before, indicating that we've been able to control to a large extent the progression of the disease with diet alone.

Wishing you the best of luck! :bighug:
 
:bighug::bighug:Thank you for that good advice. What do you suggest for the lower phosphorus? I am looking at Hill’s wet chicken and veg stew with a phosphorus of .87 on a dry matter basis. The urine test was just done yesterday so when I get the results of that I will repost. I will also check on the SDMA test.
So glad to hear your Ruby is more than holding her own. I also think diet is the key but need specific suggestions . My vet sent me home with free samples for both wet and dry Hill’s prescription K/D diet . Not sure how that works for the diabetes.
Hope your kitty continues to do well.:bighug::bighug:
 
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