Dietary Management in Cats with CKD

Role of Nutrition for Cats with CKD

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common kidney disease in cats. With chronic kidney disease the kidneys are progressively and irreversibly deteriorating. In a healthy cat, waste products are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. However, cats with kidney disease will have an accumulation of these waste products in the bloodstream as the filtering process breaks down. This condition is a leading cause of death in domestic cats and is very common in older cats and certain breeds including the Maine coon, Abyssinian, Persian, Siamese, Russian blue, and Burmese.

Unfortunately, CKD is an incurable condition; however, treatment and management of symptoms can improve and prolong the lives of cats with this disease.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT GOALS FOR FELINE CKD

• Control the clinical signs associated with accumulating waste products in the blood
• Minimize problems with fluid and mineral balance
• Sustain adequate nutrition
• Modify/slow the progression of CKD

DIETARY MANAGEMENT IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE

Several studies have shown that dietary management plays a key role in cats with CKD.

Nutrition can help to improve quality of life as well as life expectancy which are the two main treatment goals. With the right nutritional adjustments, some symptoms can be managed to bring relief.

Important: Nutritional therapy does not replace medical management. For long-term successful treatment of cats with CKD, medical needs have to be met as well to improve quality of life.

NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to nutritional therapy and various factors need attention to help cats with CKD live more comfortable lives. The physical diet needs attention, of course, but making sure that the affected cat eats enough is also essential. Once a vet-approved plan is in place, you need to monitor the reaction and adjust the diet accordingly, throughout treatment.

HOW TO MANAGE THE NUTRITION PART OF CKD

Treatment outcome can be improved with early nutritional therapy. To help manage CKD in cats, these are some of the nutrition objectives that need to be met after diagnosis:

1. Make sure the affected cat has enough energy to support its body.
2. Address fluid, electrolyte and hormone imbalances as well as metabolic abnormalities.
3. Slow down the progression of CKD.

THREE MAIN ASPECTS OF KIDNEY SUPPORT DIET

In general, a kidney support diet contains less protein, sodium and phosphorus and increased omega-3 fatty acids. There are three main aspects to dietary management:

Water Intake

Dehydration is a major sign of CKD because of the reduced ability of the kidneys to conserve water. It’s crucial for a cat with CKD to maintain a good water intake that may help to slow progression of the disease. Since foods also contain water, feed cats tinned (or sachet) foods because of their high-water content instead of dry foods.

Restricted Protein

Restricted protein content in foods is important for cats with CKD. When protein breaks down in the blood, toxins accumulate; therefore, feeding a reduced protein diet will decrease this process and improve quality of life. This protein restriction should be done with care because too little protein can also be harmful.

Phosphate Restriction

Phosphate restriction can be very beneficial in protecting the kidneys from further damage. Restricting phosphates thus appears to prolong the life of cats with CKD.

OTHER MEASURES

 Intake of the following may need intervention:

• Vitamins: B and C Vitamins lost through increased urination
• Lipid concentrations (lipids are fatty acids or their derivatives)
• Minerals: Phosphorus, calcium, sodium and potassium need to be managed
• Acid-base Balance: Try to keep blood pH within the normal range
• Protein: Restriction can relieve clinical signs, such as vomiting, lethargy, anorexia and bad breath
• Fat: Fat can enhance taste and provide energy to compensate for the missing protein, but not all cats with CKD are able to tolerate higher fat concentrations

REMEMBER: Combine nutritional management with medical management for long-term, successful treatment of CKD in cats.

Consult your veterinarian for effective medications for cats with CKD.