I love helping pet parents provide the best care for their furry family members. I?d like to share two recent questions on veterinary topics I encounter frequently. The first deals with a common condition in older cats, chronic kidney disease, and the second concerns confusing food labels and the value of organic dog and cat foods.
Q: ?My older cat has kidney disease and my vet wants me to feed her a special diet she doesn?t particularly care for. Does she need a special diet? What can I do if she won?t eat it??
Kidney disease is a common problem in older cats affecting approximately 35% of all felines during their lifetime. The causes of kidney disease can vary, but for many cats a genetic root to blame. In addition, diet plays a major role both in the development and treatment of kidney disease. It?s important to note that protein digestibility decreases as a cat ages, requiring older cats to consume more protein to remain healthy. This is one of the key reasons I advocate higher protein, lower carbohydrate diets for cats.
If kidney disease develops, this causes further protein loss. There was a time when veterinarians recommended very low protein diets for older cats with kidney disease. That advice has been challenged over the past 10 to 15 years. Current research supports feeding cats with chronic kidney disease an optimal protein diet as opposed to protein-restricted in the majority of cases. The dietary focus should be on lowering phosphorus and sodium (salt) levels. There are several specially formulated diets for cats that may help slow the progression of kidney disease and potentially improve or reduce associated symptoms. The good news is these diets are now available in many varieties and flavors. Gone are the days of ?the one-and-only feline kidney diet.? ?If your cat has chronic kidney disease, try several to see which it prefers.? Many cat owners find they need to rotate different diets over time to keep it ?fresh? for their kitty. Just don?t skimp on the protein unless your veterinarian specifically advises it.
Q: ?I try to eat a healthy, organic diet. I want to feed as natural and organic a food as possible for my dog. I?m very confused by what I read about ?natural? and ?organic? pet foods. What?s the scoop??
Pet food labels can be confusing and intimidating to read. Besides all the manipulative marketing and fine print, there are weak regulations concerning the use of terms ?natural? and ?organic? on pet foods.? Currently the agencies in charge of this issue have been unable to reach consensus on how to appropriately define and apply ?organic? on pet foods. Until those regulations are agreed upon, the rules for human organics are in use. If you see the USDA organic seal, that food, human or pet, must be made of at least 95% organic ingredients. That?s as good as we can get regarding ?organic? at this time.
Beware the term ?natural? on certain pet foods. ?Natural? is often misleading and its regulations are relatively easy to manipulate. My best advice is to investigate the manufacturer and talk with your vet. Carefully read labels, visit websites, even call and talk to the pet food company. Key questions to ask include: How are the ingredients grown and processed? How are the meat sources obtained?? What quality control and testing procedures do you use? Better ingredients and better foods may cost a little more. Your pet?s health is worth it. Bottom line: Feed the best food you can afford and one that supports your beliefs.
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Source: http://www.drernieward.com/kidney-disease-in-cats-and-organic-pet-food/
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