If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content. Just two teaspoons of whisky can cause a coma in a 5-pound cat, and one more teaspoon could kill it. Ask a Vet: Can You Save a Cat with Kidney Disease? The safest way to feed your cat tuna is through a complete cat food that contains tuna. If not, overdosages and/or worsening of the kidney disease could occur. However, cats can go on to live a relatively normal life, with some lifestyle changes and long-term management. Waste products are normally filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in the urine, but cats with CKD will end up with an accumulation of these waste products in the bloodstream as the filtering process breaks down. Remember Im not a vet, but I watch Animal Planet. To encourage more water intake, change your pets water several times a day, clean your pets water bowl daily, and consider the use of a running water fountain to increase water interest. Some cats that experience acute kidney insults can recover, although there may be long-term effects that can lead to chronic kidney failure. Cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it's packed for cats or for humans. A urine culture, because cats with CKD are more likely to acquire urinary tract infections. For example, try petting or playing with your cat when it uses its manipulative skills to beg for extra food. 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. Kittens grow a lot in their first year, so it is important to provide them with the proper nutrients early, so they grow up healthy and strong. If your cat has high phosphate levels in its blood due to kidney issues, for example, your vet may recommend a phosphate binder that you can add to its diet. MSNBC.com: "'People Foods' That Can Kill Your Pet. The safest thing to do is always feed your cat canned food, especially when she has developed kidney problems. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. When Cats Shouldnt Eat Tuna Fish Due to the risks, there are scenarios in which cats should never be fed tuna. Canned tuna (in brine) is very high in sodium (salt). It isnt easy to say no to a cat when its begging for its favorite fish-based food. There are new blood tests available, like the SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) test, that are much more sensitive than the old tests for kidney disease. High-quality senior cat diets tend to contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, L-carnitine, highly bioavailable protein and balanced amino acids, all of which are important ingredients to support an aging body. A few things that do not appear in the veterinary textbooks or on the food label, that we have learned over years of managing cats with CKD: ~ Ideally the pet would be fed only canned food because of the benefit of higher moisture content. Certain medications may be recommended by a vet, if there is protein loss . By
For more information on this condition please see the handout "Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats". Is Tuna OK for cats with kidney disease? Your mom might want to try different brands to see if another food appeals to you. Clinical signs are often related to the severity of the kidney disease and underlying cause. Limiting exposure to other catswhile keeping your cat up to date on vaccines and monthly heartworm and flea controlis recommended. Give it to your cat at the same time every day and make sure your cat eats all of it. If you feed your cat canned tuna, make sure its in spring water rather than brine (saltwater) or sunflower oil. Your server should offer small meals throughout the day rather than one big meal. In general, tuna is something that our cats can eat. For example, tuna has too much unsaturated fat and is not supplemented with Vitamin E or other antioxidants. However, we now know that cats with kidney disease are in pain, not only from their kidney disease, but also from arthritis. Garlic and onions they cause Heinz hemolytic anemia. X Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning. All Rights Reserved. Over time, cats can develop an unhealthy addiction to tuna. The second is rare problem in which a protein in raw egg whites, called avidin, could interfere with the absorption of the B vitamin biotin. Already have a myVCA account? A steady diet of hard, low-quality, processed cat food can also cause kidney and urinary problems. Radiographs or abdominal ultrasound to screen for kidney stones, infarcts (areas of dead tissue), and cysts. Once diagnosed, kidney disease is then classified into four stages based on the severity of clinical signs and laboratory values: Stage I: Clinical signs are usually not apparent, Stage III: Many clinical signs are noted and cats often appear to feel sick, Stage IV: A majority of clinical signs are noted, and cats often present in crisis. Among the many edible species of fish, tuna is not good for your dog with kidney disease. Chronic renal failure (CRF), renal insufficiency, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are medical terms used interchangeably to describe the same condition. But cat food is specially formulated for a cat's needs, which include more protein as well as certain vitamins and fatty acids. Tuna allergy symptoms include intense scratching, flatulence, hyperactivity, and vomiting. "Most of these cats are forced to eat renal diets, which are low in protein (of course). I'm experienced in all cat health-related matters, behavioral issues, grooming techniques, and general pet care. . If you have noticed any digestive issues in your cat, its possible that the occasional piece of tuna is to blame. Then, sadly, it might be time for your mom to read The Feline Quality of Life Scale Helps You Determine If Its Time to Say Goodbye to Your Cat.. Anemia Due to Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats, Kidney Disease Caused by Multiple Cysts in Cats, Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats: Monitoring Nutrition is Essential. How to Maximize the Nutritional Benefits of Tuna. 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. Red blood cell count: if low, it may indicate kidney failure. My assistant has seen an improvement in her renal cats by giving the supplement red deer antler velvet. 2. Most veterinarians will recommend annual bloodwork for cats that are seven years of age and older. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning. (Letters dont have to be written from the cats point of view.) The old belief was to restrict protein in cats with kidney disease, but now veterinarians know better. Today were discussing if tuna fish is safe for cats with kidney disease. If you suspect a food allergy, start eliminating foods one by one to determine which one is to blame. If youre concerned about the health risks of canned tuna, its recommended that you get some tuna-flavored cat food. There are three pet food lines that have products that are very effective for CKD management: Hills Prescription Diet is the best, and Purina Veterinary Diets and Royal Canin are decent alternatives. 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. Canned tuna is not a balanced meal because it contains low levels of taurine. Talking with your vet about the cat food you provide and following the directions on the label will help ensure your cat's diet is balanced and your cat stays healthy. Avoid fried or processed foods as well as dairy products, especially if your cat is lactose intolerant. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your cat's coat. There is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants may also help cats with kidney disease. And they can be deadly for your cat. Sodium. Its OK to treat your cat with a few chunks of canned tuna, but this should be in addition to its regular meals. ", Today. Kitties are perfectly capable of starving ourselves to death if the food doesnt appeal to us. In practice we have found no drawbacks to accommodating these cats with dry kidney diets. Have You Watched Our Healthy Kidney Videos Yet? Cats love tuna fish for its powerful smell and robust flavor. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. And never give your cat any over-the-counter medicine unless advised to do so by your vet. Fortunately, veterinarians and researchers are hard at work to discover new ways to catch feline kidney disease earlier so they can better treat and manage the condition. Your vet can show your human how to do this at home. Before it's baked, bread dough needs to rise. Anything else is too salty and fatty, which is very bad for their health. Some tuna now and then probably won't hurt. Although Im long-of-fang, I can still jump up on the furniture and climb my cat tree. A blood pressure evaluation to determine if high blood pressure can be a cause or manifestation of kidney disease. Heres how to get your cat to drink more water. 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. Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a cat. This works by reducing protein 'leaking' through the kidneys. Low sodium is also important for the maintenance of your cats kidneys, especially if it has kidney issues. Usually the condition is idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. A cat in any stage with an increase in either UPC or high blood pressure will most likely be treated with medication. 17 Foods to Avoid or Limit If You Have Bad Kidneys. Warm it on defrost until its warm to the touch. That's because alcohol has the same effect on a cat's liver and brain that it has on humans. While most drugs used to treat pets with kidney disease are only meant to reduce symptoms, feeding the right diet can have dramatic effects on survival - studies have shown that pets that eat diets designed for kidney . Nevertheless, if you suspect you are feeding your cat too much tuna, you should reduce the amount. ", ASPCA: "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. If your cats lab tests come back indicating early kidney disease, it is likely that your veterinarian will recommend a diet change. If you notice any of the signs above, take your cat to a veterinarian for examination as soon as possible. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. However, cats can go on to live a relatively normal life, with some lifestyle changes and long-term management. 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. 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