? 1/30/18 | Darwin - some diet and proteinuria questions.

[Tasha & Darwin]

Condo - thank you all so much for the nice words regarding Osa. It's so hard to just keep going with life, but we're all adjusting to the change, and hanging in there. I really appreciate the kindness!

Darwin seems to be doing quite well overall. He is still having diarrhea, but only going once (occasionally twice) in 24 hours. I have increased the s. boulardi to 1/2 capsule twice daily (at least 2 hrs before or after antibiotics). He only has 4.5 more days of antibiotics, and if his recheck radiograph looks better we'll be able to stop - paws crossed!

I have a couple of questions for anyone with advice:

I am taking Darwin in Friday for his recheck, and I want to collect a urine sample to recheck for proteinuria. He has had a somewhat chronic (albeit recent) issue with this, and my vet thinks it could be linked to the inflammation in his mouth. Now that he has had his teeth extracted, and his mouth is healed; he wants to recheck the urine.

IF it comes back with continued proteinuria - what are some followup things I could ask to be done? I have read a fair amount on proteinuria being a possible indicator of early CKD vs. other issues (our vets seem to be a little lax in diagnostics with continued proteinuria as many clients do not want to followup when their pet isn't "sick").

I was planning to draw blood on Friday and hold it until I find out if he still has protein - I can send an SDMA to IDEXX if warranted. We typically send labwork to Antech, but can send to either - his BUN and CREA have always been well within normal limits.

Aside from that, I have some diet questions. I will likely wait until his diarrhea resolves before attempting to switch diets, but my goal is to get him onto raw food, and off of FF. The plan is to switch to Rad Cat, and we will probably stick to the lowest Phosphorous flavors as we do have a civvie with very early renal. I have read a few articles saying it's easier to switch to raw if the cats are already eating grain free, high quality canned food - does anyone know if this is the case? I'm not sure it's worth switching from FF to another brand, and then to raw, but he's very pick and if it'll help - I'll do it. He has, on occasion, eaten the Avoderm chicken pate - which is far better than FF.

Anyway, sorry for the novel! Any advice would be wonderful - I always get the best advice here!

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I'm so sorry about Osa. Sending prayers.

I hope Darwin's recheck goes well on Friday.

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

I feed Friskies and 3 of my 4 cats are always happy to get raw. I had to scale back when I ran out of the pre-mix and never got back to it. Just do a very slow transition as suggested by EZ Complete gurus.

If you are wondering why my 4th kitty isn't eating raw - he has a sensitive tummy and doesn't take well to food changes, even if it was to a different flavor of the same brand canned food.

 

[Carol in Chicago]

I can send an SDMA to IDEXX if warranted. We typically send labwork to Antech, but can send to either - his BUN and CREA have always been well within normal limits.

You should think of SDMA as an early indicator - even if BUN and CREA are normal, the of benefit of SDMA is that it can give an earlier indication if there is an issue with kidney function. If you are worried about kidney issues and have the option to get an SDMA now, I would do that if for nothing else to have a baseline value.

Also - regarding your question about food - I have given my Rosie Radcat with no issues. She has been a FF eater and enjoys both the chicken and turkey Radcat. I like that I can buy small sizes just to try. You might want to consider these as almost a trial size after his tummy settles down. Smaller sizes are also easier on the budget. I almost died when I bought the 1.5lb size this past weekend. Yikes!

Hope he has a great checkup Friday!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

am taking Darwin in Friday for his recheck, and I want to collect a urine sample to recheck for proteinuria. He has had a somewhat chronic (albeit recent) issue with this, and my vet thinks it could be linked to the inflammation in his mouth. Now that he has had his teeth extracted, and his mouth is healed; he wants to recheck the urine.

IF it comes back with continued proteinuria - what are some followup things I could ask to be done? I have read a fair amount on proteinuria being a possible indicator of early CKD vs. other issues (our vets seem to be a little lax in diagnostics with continued proteinuria as many clients do not want to followup when their pet isn't "sick").

Neko had proteinuria. I was always told (and read) that the urine sample for the urine protein/creatinine ratio test should be taken by cysto. Neko once "gave a sample on the table" before the cysto could be done, and the UPCR was a lot higher. Next steps if he comes back high UPCR, is a BP check. Proteinuria can be a signal of early CKD, it was in Neko. She was on benazapril for it. I can't remember what the other causes were, as we didn't go that way.

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

You should think of SDMA as an early indicator - even if BUN and CREA are normal, the of benefit of SDMA is that it can give an earlier indication if there is an issue with kidney function. If you are worried about kidney issues and have the option to get an SDMA now, I would do that if for nothing else to have a baseline value.

Also - regarding your question about food - I have given my Rosie Radcat with no issues. She has been a FF eater and enjoys both the chicken and turkey Radcat. I like that I can buy small sizes just to try. You might want to consider these as almost a trial size after his tummy settles down. Smaller sizes are also easier on the budget. I almost died when I bought the 1.5lb size this past weekend. Yikes!

Hope he has a great checkup Friday!

That's what I figured. My doctors aren't really up on doing the SDMA much yet, but I've spoken to our IDEXX rep about it, and I'd think it's worth doing - like you say, even as a baseline.

Darwin is a very picky eater - I've put down Radcat before, and he's snubbed it. It'll likely be a long transition, and I plan to just mix a little into the FF and slowly add more. The price at our local pet food store isn't TOO bad, but then again I have been feeding my 70lb dog a raw diet for years - talk about $$$!

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

Neko had proteinuria. I was always told (and read) that the urine sample for the urine protein/creatinine ratio test should be taken by cysto. Neko once "gave a sample on the table" before the cysto could be done, and the UPCR was a lot higher. Next steps if he comes back high UPCR, is a BP check. Proteinuria can be a signal of early CKD, it was in Neko. She was on benazapril for it. I can't remember what the other causes were, as we didn't go that way.

Darwin used to be awful about going in the carrier or on the exam table, but he's been much better. The last three urine checks have been on urine collected via cysto. I have not checked a UPC yet though - I'll probably send one out Friday, and the lab will automatically run it if he is positive for protein again. I think I'll be giving him a pre-sedation Gaba dose as well, so maybe we can check a BP just for the heck of it. He's still fairly young, but I'd like to be proactive with him.

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

we can check a BP just for the heck of it

I would do that. Then you will have a baseline with that as well when he gets older.

 

[Carol in Chicago]

That's what I figured. My doctors aren't really up on doing the SDMA much yet, but I've spoken to our IDEXX rep about it, and I'd think it's worth doing - like you say, even as a baseline.

You are going to be smarter than your doctors soon!

One of the things I really like about IDEXX is their emphasis on education. If you haven't had the chance yet, some good stuff re: SDMA. This test is one way they can competitively differentiate themselves, so they have gone out of their way to explain it. I was interested to learn they now offer it as an in-clinic test with immediate results.