That doesnt mean I have the body of a 20-month-old. Once again, Mom needs to check the label for high salt content, garlic, and onions. Prescription cat foodthat focuses on kidney support, such as Blue Natural Kidney and Mobility diet, fits the nutritional needs of cats with kidney disease. Low-sodium chicken broth and tuna juice would be fine, as are most vegetables, if they like them. Fortunately, quite a number of cats like cantaloupe, of all things, and thats a great treat for cats with kidney disease.". Vitamin A toxicity can also cause death. By Certain medications may be recommended by a vet, if there is protein loss . Common signs that a cat is sick are vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, increased thirst, and many more. To ensure your feline friend is getting the balanced nutrition they need without extra calories or toxic metals, choose a healthy cat food that uses tuna in a way that still meets their nutritional needs and satisfies their taste buds. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Some cats will seem to reject all attempts to be converted to kidney diet. ", PetWare web site: "Lactose Intolerance in Cats. And, a small amount can make a cat ill. However, its unlikely that the occasional portion would cause any health problems. An occasional bite of dog food won't hurt your cat. SDMA can catch changes when only 25 percent of kidney function is lost, giving cats a better chance to respond to treatment. Tuna is not bad its a great source of protein, selenium, and a few select vitamins and minerals. Even with the best testing, in some cases, the underlying cause remains unknown. The protein in this fish is rich in thiamine, an anti-inflammatory. Additionally, try to stick to foods with low levels of phosphorous, since too much phosphorous can worsen kidney problems. What could be wrong with offering your cat a saucer of milk or a piece of cheese? Kidney disease can be caused by a variety of factors: For some cats, the disease could have occurred after a serious kidney injury, from a severe infection (including feline infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, and pyelonephritis), ingestion of a toxic substance (like antifreeze or lilies), and from certain medications. Nutrition plays an important role in managing CKD in cats. Moreover, tuna-flavored cat food still smells and tastes like tuna, so its ideal for cats that crave tuna or cats with a poor appetite. If you are giving tuna in moderation, then it can be a healthy treat for most cats. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Richard, the lead writer for Senior Cat Wellness. Nutrition For Cats With Chronic Kidney Disease, Control the clinical signs associated with accumulating waste products in the blood, Minimize problems with fluid and mineral balance. (Ask) Fat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause intestinal upset, with vomiting and diarrhea. Eating chocolate can cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death. In fact, many commercial cat foods contain tuna as an ingredient. Cats with kidney issues can become easily dehydrated, as their kidneys cannot retain water efficiently. Go for canned wet food that is high quality and all natural. 2. It could also be attributed to underlying immune-mediated diseases, stroke-like events, clotting disorders, and even cancers like lymphoma. When compared with normal maintenance adult cat food, a kidney support diet contains less protein, sodium, and phosphorus, and increased omega-3 fatty acids. Raw fish contains an enzyme ( Thiaminase) that interferes with the absorption of Vitamin B in your cat. A kidney support diet for cats with CKD will contain the following key components on a dry matter basis: Your veterinarian will help you choose an appropriate formulation for your cat. 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. Do Cats Understand Human Smiles And Facial Expressions? While tuna is fine for cats in moderation or as a treat, too much canned tuna can be bad for your cat. Your vet should also instruct you on how often you should feed your cat the prescription cat food. Raw tuna contains thiaminase, which is an enzyme that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1.). Phosphorus: 0.3 to 0.6 percent. So its important that you eat something, anything, until Mom can slowly switch you to a kidney-friendly food. Instructions: 1. 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. If he can address the reason for your lack of appetite, hopefully youll pack on some weight. Renal cat food often contains rabbit meat because it is naturally low in phosphorous. Who Won the Catster Purrrific Photo Contest in 2018? SDMA catches changes in how well the kidneys are filtering the blood much earlier than other tests, mainly BUN and creatinine. Try feeding your cat specially-formulated cat treats or treating it in other ways. It is worthwhile to keep trying, but, at the same time, the cat should be fed plenty of the non-kidney diet food(s) it likes. In addition to onions, garlic, which is 5 times as potent as onions,and chives can each cause major health and potentioanally life threatening problems. Remember Im not a vet, but I watch Animal Planet. They love the powerful smell and the robust flavor of this fish, and a spoonful of tuna has been known to make the medicine go down easily. Avoid tuna in brine and opt for tuna in water instead. #Q: What foods are bad for cats with kidney disease? In addition to tea and coffee -- including beans and grounds -- caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. Win a Tomlyn Cat Wellness Pack Sweepstakes: OFFICIAL RULES. Cats shouldnt be fed canned tuna in oil or brine. It's also in some cold medicines and painkillers. Diseased kidneys are not as effective at excreting waste products from the body through the urine. "If theyre not eating, the best thing to feed them is anything theyll eat," Dr. Weigner tells me. If tuna is part of your cat's meal plan and you notice them acting out of sorts, consider taking them into your veterinarian for a wellness visit it's always a good idea to get a baseline reading to ensure nothing serious is going on. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8731269-v4-728px-Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"