K/D DIET

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Kathie

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My civie cat, Taz, who's 14 years of age has kidney disease. the vet has recommended k/d diet. Does anyone know anything about this? It's dry food which I know from my experience with diabetes with Minkus is not good for cats. Is there something better? I guess she needs a low protein diet. Thanks.
Kathie and Minkus (GA)
 
The current thought is that a low protein is not required. What is necessary is a low phosphorous food. Janet and Binky's food charts include phosphorous levels you want a low one, below 200.
 
Have you see the Feline CRF web site? http://www.felinecrf.com/ There is info there about foods to feed.

Water is essential for kidney health and for the rest of the body. I don't know why anyone would want to feed dry food with zero water to a cat with kidney problems. It doesn't make sense.

I think the K/D comes in a canned version but the ingredients are probably pretty awful. There are commerical canned foods you can feed. Take a look at the canned food charts and look for low phosphorus foods. Seafood tends to be high in phosphorus so avoid those.
 
I have often said that the only situation where I would feed dry k/d is if my patient and I were stranded on a desert island with no other food source. Not only are the ingredients lousy/species-inappropriate, it is water-depleted which makes it an unhealthy diet for ANY cat but especially one with unhealthy kidneys.
 
That value tells you nothing about kidney disease. That can be a normal value. A lot more information is needed to diagnose CKD.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when my colleagues diagnose CKD with no urinalysis.
 
Gabby had early stage CRI. My vet wanted me to put her on canned Purina NF but not only did she hate the food, I read that low protein can cause muscle wasting in senior cats and I didn't want to reduce her quality of life. I fed her high quality, low phosphorus foods and her kidney values did not change at all in the two years I had left with her (she passed away from cancer unrelated to her CRI).

Some low phosphorus foods that are good are Wellness Turkey, PetGuard Chicken & Beef, EVO 95% Chicken & Turkey, and Merricks' Before Grain Beef & Turkey, Blue Wilderness Duck. These all use higher end ingredients which are easier on the kidneys. The Wellness, PetGuard, and EVO can all be purchased in larger 13oz cans if money is an issue, making them about the same price or cheaper than Fancy Feast.

Here's a link to a more updated food chart with premium foods. Make sure you use this or Tanya's charts to compare phosphorus levels, because the Binky chart is very out of date and some foods listed as low phosphorus on that chart now have very high phosphorus levels.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8...MzhkYTkxOGM4NThk&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

Hydration and low phosphorus is key to managing CRI or CRF. Mix some water in with her food so that she's getting as hydrated as possible. If she's not picky with food yet, you're in a good spot and there's no need to panic. CRI is so common with senior cats it's good to do a kidney friendly diet with senior kitties anyways.
 
Thanks, Julia. You've given me more information than my vet! I'll definitely check the food link. She's not fussy yet and seems fine except for the drinking/peeing. I hope she can continue this way :YMSIGH:

Kathie
 
Hi there. Just popping on before going to sleep.

I made up a list of CRF links when my Spader was dx with CRF after having FD for a short time. Those links are in my signature.

Forgive me. I could type forever about CRF, but I am already late in getting to sleep.
 
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