We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Rabbit is fairly strong-tasting and low in phosphorous, so its a healthy alternative to tuna fish for cats. Omega-3 fatty acids: 0.4 to 2.5 percent. A cat with heart disease is fed a low sodium and high taurine diet. ~ Because the kidney diets from Hills, Purina, and Royal Canin are so highly digestible it is usually not necessary to convert gradually to the new food; however, sometimes a slow introduction helps a cat accept the new food. Your veterinarian will most likely recommend additional diagnostic testing, including: A urine protein to creatinine (UPC) ratio to quantify how much protein is being lost in the urine. There are a variety of potential causes for CRF, including diseases such as feline leukemia, tumors, infections, and various toxins. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Urine specific gravity: a marker of how diluted or concentrated the urine is. "Firstly that the specific topic(s) were covered. Your human can sit with you at mealtime and talk to you, stroke you, encourage you to take one more bite or even hand-feed you. These diets are formulated to help cats with CKD avoid metabolic acidosis and are available from your veterinarian. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Kidney disease is one of the most common diseases seen in older domestic cats. Her work also appears in Care.com, What to Expect, and Fit Pregnancy, where she writes about pets, pregnancy, and family life. Feline kidney disease treatment often includes a diet consisting of highly digestible protein that meets or exceeds minimum standards, is restricted in phosphorus, and is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it's packed for cats or for humans. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Here are the top five things from her talk that owners of senior cats and cats with kidney disease need to know. Go for cat food that is advertised as low sodium. There are new blood tests available, like the SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) test, that are much more sensitive than the old tests for kidney disease. However, we now know that cats with kidney disease are in pain, not only from their kidney disease, but also from arthritis. The recommended phosphorus range on a dry matter basis for cats with CKD is 0.3-0.6%. Cats shouldnt be fed canned tuna in oil or brine. These fish live in shallower waters and will have consumed less prey during their lifetime, so the mercury concentrations in their bodies will be significantly lower. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Additionally, for all stages of kidney disease, fresh water should always be available. However, though not on the list of toxic foods for cats, tuna that's meant for people can cause health issues for cats. Most savvy cat owners know that their feline needs to eat a high-quality diet rich in protein, but what about cats with kidney disease? The professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University says there are a few veterinary treats that are low in phosphorus and sodium, but theyre not high in calories. For cats with kidney disease, two to three times a week is considered safe. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. We all know about the dangers of fish and mercury poisoning (metal poisoning). Cats instinctively prefer food thats the body temperature of a mouse. ~ When there is a normal cat or cats in the house with the cat with CKD it is fine to feed all the cats the kidney diet; it is high-quality maintenance food for normal cats. Nonetheless, one main, Adding other kidney-friendly foods into their diet can bring the additional flavor. Although some cats show no ill effects, it's best not to give your cat any grapes and to keep grapes and raisins off countertops and other places accessible to your cat. Read about 5 of the worst toxic food offenders that can kill your cat - and how much it takes to hurt them. SDMA can catch changes when only 25 percent of kidney function is lost, giving cats a better chance to respond to treatment. There are different types of kidney disease in cats and various underlying causes. Its OK to treat your cat with a few chunks of canned tuna, but this should be in addition to its regular meals. It also provides some moisture to a . Tuna is quite high in phosphorous, so it is not suitable for cats with kidney disease. ", ASPCA: "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. The recommended range of protein on a dry matter basis for cats with CKD is 28-35%. It consists of cysts developing within a kidney and leads to progressive kidney failure. It isnt easy to say no to a cat when its begging for its favorite fish-based food. You can also add water or warm broth to your cats wet food for added water consumption. But cats are carnivores, and protein is what makes their diet palatable. They need to consume a lot of water on a regular basis to stay healthy. Although Im long-of-fang, I can still jump up on the furniture and climb my cat tree. How to Maximize the Nutritional Benefits of Tuna. The systemic effects and long-term implications, however, can certainly be debilitating and often lead to painful conditions. The question came in from one of our clients who was puzzled about how to feed tuna to their cat with kidney disease. Fat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause intestinal upset, with vomiting and diarrhea. Canned tuna is not a balanced meal because it contains low levels of taurine. These are as follows: Although cats with kidney disease benefit from quality, digestible protein, canned tuna is unsuitable because it is high in phosphorous. Just make sure to avoid any plant-based proteins since these are lower quality and will not provide the proper nutrients to a cat with renal disease. Why Do Some Cats Hang Their Heads Over Their Water Bowls? Anything else is too salty and fatty, which is very bad for their health. (5) Jupiter Images Unlimited and Dorling Kindersley / Getty, (9) Jupiter Images Unlimited and Dorling Kindersley / Getty, (14)Dorling Kindersley / Getty and iStockphoto, (16)Cultura / Getty and Jupiter Images Unlimited, (17)Jupiter Images Unlimited and Photlibrary, (18)FoodPix and Dorling Kindersley / Getty, , PetEducation.com: "Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Cat. Some cats will seem to reject all attempts to be converted to kidney diet. Frequent consumption of tuna may also lead to mercury poisoning explains Cailin Heinze, a veterinary nutritionist at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. A steady diet of dog food can cause your cat to be severely malnourished. When human foods are converted to kitty calories, it is easy to see that foods intended for humans have far too many calories for our feline companions. 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