Treatment and Prevention of Kidney Disease in Cats

Once your cat is diagnosed with kidney failure, you must change the diet. The remaining kidney tissue cannot be overworked by being forced to continually filter unnecessary toxins out of the blood. Stop feeding any dry food, and buy a premium canned food to mix with some chicken stew that you can make by chopping up chicken and cooking with mixed vegetables and some brown rice. Much of the nutrients will be in the stock, which will also add some extra fluid to the meal, something your cat really needs now.

Don't be fooled by "prescription" diets that claim to help reduce the load on the kidneys by containing lower percentages of protein. It is the quality of the protein, not the quantity, that is at issue here. Any commercial food, even prescription brands, contain lower-quality protein and many more toxins than any food you can cook for your cat. You are much better off supplementing a regular premium canned product with your own cooking (if you don't feel comfortable supplying a completely homemade diet) than buying these prescription brands.

Supplements are also in order. Buy a quality pet vitamin, or make up your own. Don't be afraid to give a little more than the label calls for, since your cat is not absorbing much of what he is ingesting at this point, and needs a little extra. Vitamins A, B and C are especially important. Also, make sure your cat gets a taurine supplement, as well as extra calcium. Dr. Pitcairn suggests calcium supplements that do not have too much phosphorus, as this element is difficult for the kidneys to handle in their weakened state.

Resist any prescription drugs your vet may press on you. Cortisone and acidifiers will not help the problem, and probably hasten decline. Instead, make an herbal tea for your cat, a teaspoon of which you add to his food twice a day: Steep about a quarter teaspoon of uva-ursi, cornsilk, horsetail and marsh mallow root in 4 oz. of boiling water. Let it set for several hours before straining. Keep any leftover in the refrigerator, and make a new batch every 4-5 days.

This regimen worked very well for Sweet Pea, extending her life by about 9 quality months. When she came out of remission, however, it was time to let her go. Remember that there is no cure, just palliative care until the kidneys give out entirely.

Prevention, as you may have guessed, rests entirely with nutrition. Stay away from commercial foods, or at least supplement with some homemade, as well. Give quality supplements, and add a bit of warm water to each meal to make sure your cats stay hydrated and flushed. Start this regimen from the day you bring them home, and your cats will very likely be some of those fortunate enough to escape this dreadful disease.
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Causes and Symptoms of Feline Hyperthyroidism

As I mentioned in the previous post on this subject, hyperthyroidism in cats has been associated with the feeding of a canned commercial diet. Although no one knows why the two are correlated, some postulate that allergies to additives may be to blame. Another theory is that multiple vaccinations over the course of a cat's lifetime may cause the immune system to either shut down or turn against the body itself. The one common thread here, of course, is the role of the immune system in this disease.

Thyroid hormones, mainly thyroxin, have a direct impact on body metabolism. When something causes the thyroid gland to overproduce this hormone, metabolism speeds up and does not modulate. Why does this happen? Often, a tumor growing on the gland will cause this, possibly as a result of suppressed immune function. Too little iodine in the diet can cause enlargement of the gland, hence hyperthyroidism. Richard Pitcairn, DVM, believes that the gland becomes hyperactive due to attack by the immune system brought about by over-vaccination.

The effects of this disease on a cat's health will be noticeable as the body reacts to the increased metabolic rate. The animal will lose weight despite a voracious appetite. Diarrhea, sometimes bloody, is almost always present, and vomiting is common. The fur will look dirty since over-active oil glands make the coat greasy. Increased thirst and urine output will also be present. Personality changes occur as well, such as nervousness, hyperactivity and constant crying for attention (and food). A higher body temperature may cause the animal to pant and/or look for cool places to stay.

As you can see, this disease causes a whole palette of other health problems. Since food is passing through the digestive tract too quickly to allow for adequate absorption of nutrients, the animal will eventually become nutritionally deficient. Another side effect of hyperthyroidism is high blood pressure, which in itself can cause many problems, not the least of which is heart disease.

Left unchecked, this disease will be fatal, possibly in a matter of weeks or months. What should you do if your cat starts exhibiting the above symptoms? Treatment options do exist, and I'll discuss some of them tomorrow.
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Does Your Cat Need Nutritional Supplements?

Vitamin and mineral supplements are a big industry. Many people take them, and any store that sells aspirin will usually stock a large variety. Do pets need these supplements, too? In many cases, yes, they do.

Let's start with the cat (and dog) that doesn't need supplements: Young, but mature; in good health; eating a homemade or premium diet; and, in the case of cats at least, lives indoors only. Every other pet could most probably benefit from some nutritional supplementation, and it doesn't have to be complicated.

Kittens and cats younger than 2 years are growing and maturing very rapidly. Since there are really no commercial foods available to meet their needs entirely (no matter what the label says), it couldn't hurt to supplement. There are many pet vitamins on the market; read the label and research the product before you buy. If you want to keep it simple, a little brewer's yeast sprinkled on their food daily is a good nutritional booster; use kelp as an alternative if kitty doesn't like or tolerate the yeast. A few sprinkles of ground flaxseed meal is also good, as well as a few drops of olive oil (extra virgin, of course).

Older cats and those with health issues will also benefit from supplementation. If you don't find a pet supplement you like, buy a good quality adult multi (no added iron), grind it up, and give about one-tenth per day to your cat in his food. Give a little added taurine, too, since cats can't synthesize this amino acid from food. The flax, olive oil and kelp are all good, too, particularly for older cats with skin problems. As cats age, they are less able to absorb nutrients from food, so giving them a little extra is definitely beneficial.

Of course, any cat that eats a commercial diet (even many of the premium ones) will need supplementation. The high heat necessary to kill all the nasties present in the ingredients also destroy any nutrients. The manufacturers add vitamins and minerals back in, but they are probably poorer quality than what you will provide. All the added chemicals such as preservatives, emulsifiers, colorants, etc. also stress your cat's system. Supplementation can take some of the pressure off by providing an easily accessible source of nutrients to keep your cat's health at optimal levels.

People food (particularly prepared foods) also have a lot of additives, so you might want to pick out a supplement or two for yourself while you're shopping for your pet!
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