Cats, Kidney Problems and Omega’s
HealthProduct
One in three cats will experience kidney disease at some point in their lifetime, so it’s safe to say it’s a common problem in our feline friends!
While vets are unsure of the direct cause of kidney disease in cats, there are a number of ailments such as cancers, viral infections and exposure to toxins which can lead to kidney diseases.
What makes kidney disease problematic, is that symptoms often don’t show up until 70-75% of the kidney function has gone. Vets will often add in a blood test for kidney function when a cat is 7 years or older. There is also a new test called the SMDA which has been commercialised to detect kidney disease in cats.
Symptoms of kidney disease in cats:
- Loss of appetite
- Increased thirst
- Frequent or no urination
- Bloody or cloudy urine
- Vomiting
- Poor coat appearance
- Lethargy and depression
- Weight loss
- Bad breath
- Sore mouth or mouth ulcers
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Increased sleeping
Lessen the load
It’s important to know that the kidneys’ job is to process protein. When confronted with kidney disease, a vet will prescribe a diet lower in protein, and higher in fats and carbohydrates. This lessens the load on the kidneys so the kidneys have less work to do. This is also why one of the main signs a cat has kidney disease is loss of appetite, as they naturally try to decrease the load on their kidneys.
Where marine-based omega’s are useful:
Longer chain omega 3’s, found in NZ King Salmon, are essential fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties and are proven to fight degenerative diseases. Not only are the omega 3’s from our NZ King Salmon, healing in many ways, but they are also a nutritious, tasty, and high value energy source for cats who are struggling to ingest enough calories.
What is biological value and why is it important?
Protein is measured in foods by the amount of nitrogen present. What isn’t measured however, is the biological value of that protein. We know that all protein sources are not equal. When a cat has Kidney disease, a vet will prescribe a lower protein diet, with that protein being of high biological value. The higher the biological value of the protein, the easier it is for the cat’s kidneys to process. As a protein source, King Salmon has the highest biological value of all pet food protein sources for cats, meaning King Salmon is the best protein source you can give your cat in limited quantities.
Where does phosphorus come in?
Due to the kidneys functionality decreasing, a secondary effect of kidney disease is that phosphorus levels increase in the blood. This is why a low phosphorus diet is recommended for cats with kidney disease. Below are the recommended levels of phosphorus diets and the amount of phosphorus in Omega Plus products.
Taste matters
Offering your cat food that has a highly palatable smell and flavour can help them eat. It’s important to keep your cat fed when they are suffering from kidney disease as they can lose a lot of weight. You can help by offering them an array of kidney disease friendly foods or adding our NZ King Salmon Oil to their food for both palatability and extra, beneficial, calories.
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