crf links/how to deal with fd and crf

[HollyandSpader(GA)]

Spader was diagnosed with early CRF on New Year's Eve '04. He was also a diet controlled diabetic, until a dental at the end of December of '06 put him
back on the juice. I went out with Janet's food charts in hand and bought various low carb, low phos, medium protein foods and did a hit or miss approach until I came up with the magic mix he now eats. The other cans stayed in the pantry just in case he got picky. I bought various flavors of Wellness, Merrick, Nature's Variety, Hi-Tor Neo, PetGuard, Pinnacle, Iams, Newman’s Own, etc.

I had been doing fluids on my own with a lot of success. The vets matched the internet prices, so that helped out a lot.
Also, I put several cups of purified water around the house and purchased a cat fountain (The Cat-It). I also added water to his canned food.

He ate mostly the low phos Friskies Special Diet flavors and FF Chicken and Tuna. Sometimes he got picky and ate all meat baby food.

I ended up adding a phosphorus binder during the last year and a half.
Here are some links:
Feline CRF Information Center
Tanya's Feline CRF Information Center
I think I memorized and printed out every page!
FelineCRF-FD Yahoo Group
FelineCRF Support Yahoo Group
These groups are awesome. Saved my butt!

Mail Order CRF Supplies
I printed out the Brico prices and brought them into the vets.

How to give subQ fluids
Feline CRF hints
Foods list by Phos
http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm
Feline CRF Documents


A wonderful section of info from Feline Outreach.
Feline Outreach

Anyone can repost these links at any time.

 

[Lylene & Barry]

I would also recommend the Holisticat website.
The link to their CRF article is http://www.holisticat.com/crf.html

High quality, canned food is a must. The less the kidneys have to filter, the better. Higher quality food is more expensive but has less fillers and produces less waste. I add water to the food. Don't buy into the low protein diet. Keep phosphorus levels low (avoid fish if at all possible). Monitor blood levels of phosphorus AND potassium. A good phosphorus binder is egg shell powder (ESP). It doesn't contain aluminum and you can make it yourself. I have the amount to give somewhere if anyone wants it. Just PM me.

Lylene & Barry