Anyone deal with kidney issues once OTJ?

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Phil & Garfunkel

Phil & Garfunkel

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So Garfunkel has been OTJ for a month or so now and is doing well. However when I was dealing with the diabetes, the vet said his remaining two canine teeth (upper) would probably need to come out soon and they detected a heart murmur. This wasn't my usual vet, my usual vet is at the Humane Society, but I was going on vacation and needed to go to a vet right away.

Fast forward to today. I brought Garfunkel back to the Humane Society on Friday for a general checkup. They didn't detect a heart murmur and said his teeth are okay for now and but they didn't want to risk taking them out at this point, lest the stress kick his diabetes back into action. They took blood work and just called me back now with the results.

Now they're saying all three values for kidney disease/failure are there and his urine is very diluted. It's also supposed to be mild for now.

He basically said that for the diabetes, of course, we want a high protein diet, but for the kidneys, we want a lower protein diet.

Now what? I feel like I can't win here. Nor can I afford another big issue if Garfunkel ends up developing full blown kidney disease.

Any advice?
 
here is what non-diabetes renal failure looks like in development till the end http://felinediseases.weebly.com/renal-failure.html
that was my female and she became 14, Gustav is also my renal crea cat, ever since little, but he is 16 now and only starting to get sick now.

For the food you can use phophouros-binder, but there are several other persons here that are better equipped when it comes to inexpensive treatment.


Charlotte from Denmark with diabetic Prop did encounter elevated renal values just after Prop had gone OTJ and had to change her food. I hope she shows up and can tell her story how she handled it.
 
Go over to Cat Info and read what Dr Lisa Pierson says about feeding a renal cat. It isn't so much a "low" protein diet as it is selecting a high quality protein in the amounts fed and watching the phosphorus content.

Also, if you search FDMB, you'll find posts on CRF and food, as it comes up frequently. There are a number of over the counter foods with low phosphorus and reasonable protein which many be used instead of the pricey prescription diets.

A well cared for kitty with renal disease can survive YEARS without it becoming super expensive. Those higher costs tend to be later on, when you may need regular subcutaneous fluids, phosphorus binders, and frequent vet visits and testing to monitor the cat's health.
 
Gabby had early stage CRI and I fed her a high quality, low carb, low phosphorus diet from her CRI diagnosis to when she passed away (from cancer, not kidney problems). She had bloodwork and a urinalysis done right before she passed away and the vet said there was no progression of the kidney disease in those 2 years. Since she never made it to the point of needing fluids, the only expense involved with her kidney disease was the cost of her food.

The best foods I found in terms of quality/phosphorus/carbs were EVO 95% Venison, and EVO 95% Beef. Wellness Turkey is also good. If you buy them in the big 12/13oz cans they can be very affordable, cheaper or around the same price as Fancy Feast.

The foods without byproducts are the best choice because it's higher quality protein (the kidneys don't have to work as hard with better quality proteins), but if you simply can't afford them Friskies makes a few flavors that are low in carbs and phosphorus. I fed Gabby the Special Diet Turkey & Giblets, Special Diet Salmon, and Special Diet Beef & Chicken when I went through a tough financial spot for a few months.
 
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