Comments on: Ask a Vet: Diet & Kidney Failure in Cats http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/ The gold standard in natural pet care Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:51:31 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Halo http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-39524 Halo Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:32:05 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-39524 Dear Christine, Increasing water intake is undoubtedly one of the most important treatments to promote kidney health and to prevent canine urinary stones! Drinking more water produces dilute urine. Dilute urine contains less concentrated minerals so they are less likely to form calcification and then stones. You can increase your dog's water intake by feeding canned food. Some dogs will drink more voluntarily if a pet-designed continuous water fountain is used. Also try large bowls placed around the house in all of your dog's favorite places. The addition of light salt (potassium chloride) to your pet's food can also effectively increase the amount of water they take in. Hope that helps. Dr. Donna Spector Dear Christine,

Increasing water intake is undoubtedly one of the most important treatments to promote kidney health and to prevent canine urinary stones! Drinking more water produces dilute urine. Dilute urine contains less concentrated minerals so they are less likely to form calcification and then stones.

You can increase your dog’s water intake by feeding canned food. Some dogs will drink more voluntarily if a pet-designed continuous water fountain is used. Also try large bowls placed around the house in all of your dog’s favorite places. The addition of light salt (potassium chloride) to your pet’s food can also effectively increase the amount of water they take in.

Hope that helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

]]> By: Christine http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-38997 Christine Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:33:09 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-38997 My dog, who has no history of urinary problems, was recently diagnosed with mineralization of the renal pelvis bilaterally. This diagnosis was made from a CT scan for an unrelated issue and was later followed up by a negative urine culture, so we do not have any more detailed information about what exactly caused the mineralization. Our vet suggests switching to a prescription diet with these ingredients: RICE, GROUND CORN, CHICKEN FAT, CHICKEN MEAL, CORN GLUTEN MEAL, NATURAL FLAVORS, DRIED EGG POWDER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, CELLULOSE POWDER, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM SULFATE, TAURINE*, VITAMINS [DL-ALPHA TOCOPH should also mention that oEROL ACETATE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN E), BIOTIN, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, NIACIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), VITAMIN A ACETATE, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINEE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], TRACE MINERALS [ZINC OXIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, SODIUM SELENITE, CALCIUM IODATE], PRESERVED WITH NATURAL MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, ROSEMARY EXTRACT, AND CITRIC ACID. I know that this prescription diet is designed to increase water intake in the dog, increasing the volume and frequency of urination, but it appears low quality to me. Instead, I am considering switching from Spot's Stew dry to canned food, to increase the water content of the food, along with getting him to drink water more frequently, which we can usually do by encouraging him and offering fresh water. What do you suggest? Thank you! My dog, who has no history of urinary problems, was recently diagnosed with mineralization of the renal pelvis bilaterally. This diagnosis was made from a CT scan for an unrelated issue and was later followed up by a negative urine culture, so we do not have any more detailed information about what exactly caused the mineralization. Our vet suggests switching to a prescription diet with these ingredients:

RICE, GROUND CORN, CHICKEN FAT, CHICKEN MEAL, CORN GLUTEN MEAL, NATURAL FLAVORS, DRIED EGG POWDER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, CELLULOSE POWDER, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM SULFATE, TAURINE*, VITAMINS [DL-ALPHA TOCOPH should also mention that oEROL ACETATE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN E), BIOTIN, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, NIACIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), VITAMIN A ACETATE, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINEE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], TRACE MINERALS [ZINC OXIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, SODIUM SELENITE, CALCIUM IODATE], PRESERVED WITH NATURAL MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, ROSEMARY EXTRACT, AND CITRIC ACID.

I know that this prescription diet is designed to increase water intake in the dog, increasing the volume and frequency of urination, but it appears low quality to me. Instead, I am considering switching from Spot’s Stew dry to canned food, to increase the water content of the food, along with getting him to drink water more frequently, which we can usually do by encouraging him and offering fresh water. What do you suggest? Thank you!

]]> By: Aylin http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-21180 Aylin Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:36:46 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-21180 I usually don’t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, good job lol…

]]> By: Halo http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-20988 Halo Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:43:04 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-20988 Hi Hilton, thank you for your comment; and we hope you continue to find interesting and informative articles in our blog. Hi Hilton, thank you for your comment; and we hope you continue to find interesting and informative articles in our blog.

]]> By: Hilton http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-20964 Hilton Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:29:20 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-20964 You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.

]]> By: Eve http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-14992 Eve Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:37:49 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-14992 Our cats will not eat not very much wet food and one eats none at all. I am worried about problems with urinary health. We use a low ash/magnesium formula now, but saw Halo and was wondering about the ash/magnesium content in the dry cat formula? Thank you Our cats will not eat not very much wet food and one eats none at all. I am worried about problems with urinary health. We use a low ash/magnesium formula now, but saw Halo and was wondering about the ash/magnesium content in the dry cat formula? Thank you

]]> By: Dana http://blog.halopets.com/2008/10/21/cat-kidney-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-3231 Dana Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:57:34 +0000 http://blog.halopets.com/?p=234#comment-3231 My cat, Cal, is 10 years old and for the past two years has lost patches of fur on his head and neck when the weather gets colder (fall/winter). I haven't actually caught him scratching, but have seen scratch marks. Last year our vet (without blood testing) said it was feline endocrine alopecia and gave him a cortisone injection. The fur grew back shortly after. I, on the other hand, now believe it is some sort of seasonal allergy since it only happens around this time of year. We have replaced all of our air filters with ones for allergies and two weeks ago I started him on Halo Dream Coat and he has not lost anymore fur. I also just ordered Spot's Stew Lamb canned food to go along with the Innova Evo dry cat food he already eats. I would like to try something natural and try not to use steroids. Can you recommend any supplements to help him with this condition? My cat, Cal, is 10 years old and for the past two years has lost patches of fur on his head and neck when the weather gets colder (fall/winter). I haven’t actually caught him scratching, but have seen scratch marks. Last year our vet (without blood testing) said it was feline endocrine alopecia and gave him a cortisone injection. The fur grew back shortly after. I, on the other hand, now believe it is some sort of seasonal allergy since it only happens around this time of year.

We have replaced all of our air filters with ones for allergies and two weeks ago I started him on Halo Dream Coat and he has not lost anymore fur. I also just ordered Spot’s Stew Lamb canned food to go along with the Innova Evo dry cat food he already eats. I would like to try something natural and try not to use steroids. Can you recommend any supplements to help him with this condition?

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