Hi everyone. My baby girl was diagnosed with early stage CRF. I'm trying to read what I can. Doc said no more dry food (her teeth can't handle it anyway) and want me to use Science Diet. I haven't purchased any from them, yet. Thought I would come here for some help. I know she needs low protein. Is there anything commercial or Rx that you would recommend? I'd really appreciate all input! Thank you!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
Food Advice/Recommendations for CRF
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Posted 2 years ago by Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom #
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Actually it is best to not use any special food but to add egg whites or another phosphorus binder to the wet food. Can't answer in more detail right now - got to go to calves.
Read "Your Cat" by elizabeth hodgekins.
Posted 2 years ago by furryfriends50 #
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Lainey, my heart goes out to you. My Cloud (pictured in my avatar) was diagnosed in Feb. '06 with advanced CRF and it was quite an odyssey, learning to care for him. The one source that was my BIBLE of CRF was www.felinecrf.org It is truly a veritable encyclopedia of continuously updated info on treatment for CRF. You are lucky to have caught it early. Cloud ended up living a fully 29 months post-diagnosis, when the vet gave him at MOST a year and probably six months, max. I fed him Science Diet (dry), and his usual Friskies canned (Turkey & Giblets, Salmon, and Ocean Whitefish). The most important thing, in those first days, was getting him on aluminum hydroxide, a phosphorus binder. And it turned out even my vet did not know the proper dosage protocol for that stuff, which luckily I found out via felinecrf.org and, my other lifeline, the Yahoo Feline CRF group -- another source of invaluable info I can't recommend highly enough. Depending on what your cat's blood phosphorus levels are (assuming they are above normal), it is urgent that you get aluminum hydroxide powder and begin mixing it with his food, both canned and dry. It sounds like you're not feeding dry, which is ok. Don't worry about having him eat low protein, that is a myth. What must be controlled is your cat's phosphorus levels, and that can be done through aluminum hydroxide.
The Feline CRF Group can be accessed here:
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Good morning, MOJO. I apologize that I missed your original response to my post so first want to thank you very much (and FF40 and Cheri, too, of course...smile). I am going to go to this website right after sending this post and bookmark it and read it very carefully. I don't know alot about CRF and need to educate myself. The doctor said the only "off" reading was the BUN and it was slight, all her other bloodwork for the kidneys and everything else was normal, so grateful for that for a 16 y.o. lady! She has only urinated out of her box a couple of times since my original post. I got some urine spray and that is helping a bit. I've always been good at keeping her box clean and am trying to be even more vigilant about it. (don't know if that matters or not with the CRF). I've made the cooked egg white just a couple of times, need to go to the store and get some more and I'll check on that powder you mentioned, also. She still seems to be getting smaller and smaller, but she does eat fairly well (of course I found her teeth are bad and that may affect things, also. Thank you again!!! I can't wait to read more at that website and know how to take good care of my baby.
Posted 2 years ago by Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom #
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Hi Lainey, glad to hear your kitty (does she have a name?) is still eating fairly well. Lack of appetite is the biggest challenge with CRF as it progresses, and one finds that it's more important to get the cat to eat SOMETHING, even if it is a non-CRF food, rather than eat nothing or too little. Cloud did not urinate outside the box much, except toward the last 3-4 months of his life. It sounds like she's lost some weight. It would be good to know how much. That was the first sign of a problem with Cloud, that and he began hiding and showing signs of lethargy. He went from 10 lbs to 6 virtually overnight. But again you are very lucky as it sounds like you've caught it early. Please keep us posted.
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Hi Mojo - her name is Jetta. She's had a difficult day today, a lot of vomiting. When she wasn't vomiting she was either on my lap or next to me or get this: playing! My family thinks I should send her to the bridge, but she is still bright, still grooming, still playing. I cannot do that to her, not if it isn't necessary. I will when the time comes but not if she is still playing, still my girl. She is down to 7.3 pounds. Lost over a pound in a year and about 5 pounds in about 2 1/2 years. I don't engage her in extensive play because she has a very bad heart murmur and the vet said her heart is enlarged, but I don't have the money to do anything about either of her conditions. I am just going to love her and give her supportive care (the phosphorous, etc) and keep her as healthy as I can for as long as I can.
Posted 2 years ago by Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom #
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Hi Lainey. It's sad what your family thinks. Some people think cats are just like disposable dolls, to be thrown away when the first serious health issue arises. But the truth is CRF is a condition that can be managed, and fairly inexpensively. I have heard of cats living more than five years with CRF, and quality life too. My Cloud had 29 months of mostly very high quality living after his diagnosis. I did spend a fair amount in the initial month or so after diagnosis, but once I started buying the supplies online everything was pretty cheap. The vet was going to charge me a lot more for the Sub-Q fluid bags than I had to pay online. As for the vomiting, that is another common problem with CRF. I often had to give Cloud Pepsid AC in tiny amounts to settle his stomach. I would grind it up and mix with water and give via syringe.
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That's a wonderful idea! Thank you, MOJO. She is 16 but other than this seems to be fairly healthy. I had a cancer scare over a year ago but couldn't afford a CT Scan but I think it was this and not cancer (though the doc said it still could be, but she also said it doesn't appear she is in pain). I don't think my family is being ill-intentioned, we are all animal lovers, and I will send her to the bridge rather than let her suffer, but I just don't think it's time. I will be there for her when it is, though. I will think of her before myself. She's my baby and has been there for me and I promised her that. But right now she is doing okay. I did book-mark that site and will spend some time on it. Thank you for everything!!!
Posted 2 years ago by Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom #
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Lainey, of course, you are going to be there for Jetta, as I was for Cloud. I cried and cried the day he was diagnosed. I always knew, after that, that I would probably have to have him put to sleep at SOME point. Fortunately, that point was a lot farther in the future than I thought in those first tearful days. But I did finally have to put him to sleep, July 24, 2008, a day I will never forget. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But at that point, it was the only gift I could still give him. I still miss him terribly. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him.
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{{{{MOJO}}}
Posted 2 years ago by Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom #
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Lainey-Wilbur was diagnosed at 5 years old. It was over 18 months ago and he is doing so great. I am so fortunate to live down the street from Texas A&M School of Vet med. I have worked for A&M for almost 12 years and am a graduate also, so I am so proud of my Aggies. One of the proudest times was to have my Wilbur come home from 13 days in ICU without an awful prognosis. It was always a wait and see proposition but all is going well. Wilbur takes Fomodine for stomach upset and potassium citrate twice a day. I am so thrilled with him and my daughter is constantly amazed at the "critically ill kitty" as he zooms up and down the stairs chasing his brother! Please do not give up! They both eat Science Diet k/d dry and Royal Canin Renal diet dry. No problems with appetite. They drink lots of water from the water fountain (a suggestion from the vet school). Love your sweet kitty and don't give up! I will keep all in my thoughts and prayers. I am convinced that TDK prayers was one reason Wilbur pulled through his initial crisis. He is a miracle kitty. Hugs & Purrs
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