~ When there is a normal cat or cats in the house with the cat with CKD it is fine to feed all the cats the kidney diet; it is high-quality maintenance food for normal cats. Tuna has many other health benefits, should it be part of a balanced diet and given . Cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it's packed for cats or for humans. If you suspect a food allergy, start eliminating foods one by one to determine which one is to blame. You've probably seen or heard countless stories of cats loving fish, but as far as cats eating tuna goes, is it really a good idea? I'm a proud owner of 5 adult cats (all adopted strays), including a senior cat who is now 20. Win a Tomlyn Cat Wellness Pack Sweepstakes: OFFICIAL RULES. Onion in all forms -- powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated -- can break down a cat's red blood cells, leading to anemia. If your cat has medical problems or is on a special diet, ask your veterinarian before feeding tuna to . Delicious roasted chicken and rice in a mouthwatering sauce. If a urinary obstruction is noted, relieving the obstruction would be the treatment of choice. If protein intake is too low however, CKD will start to break down muscle mass. These are as follows: Kidney Problems Although cats with kidney disease benefit from quality, digestible protein, canned tuna is unsuitable because it is high in phosphorous. The safest way to feed your cat tuna is through a complete cat food that contains tuna. Featured Image: iStock.com/Phynart Studio. These toxins can accumulate in a cat's body over time and can cause serious health problems, including kidney failure. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. It is a progressive problem that cannot be cured, but these pets can often be successfully medically managed for a long time. Ask a Vet: How Do I Treat Kidney Failure in My Cat? Testimonials are not representative of typical outcomes. Your vet should also instruct you on how often you should feed your cat the prescription cat food. Some commercial cat foodtends to be high in phosphorus, which is not a good food to feed cats with kidney disease. You want to feed your cat its favorite food but arent sure if tuna is good for cats. They will lose more water-soluble vitamins in the urine, so these may need to be supplemented. Tuna may be bad for some cats. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch the abdomen and cause severe pain. Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Healthy Kidney Inc. and Robert Galarowicz, unless otherwise noted. Is Watermelon Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease? The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Some cats may become extremely fussy about food and refuse to eat anything besides tuna. 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 . MSNBC.com: "'People Foods' That Can Kill Your Pet. Many cats can go on to have a decent quality of life for many months or years, depending on the specific diagnosis. You may not have to switch to a therapeutic kidney diet (aka prescription cat food) just yet, however. Dont confuse consomm with broth. Cats love eating tuna fish. That the advice was understandable and can be easily applied. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common kidney-based disease in cats. In addition to onions, garlic, which is 5 times as potent as onions,and chives can each cause major health and potentioanally life threatening problems. There are four core goals for managing CKD in cats: Nutrition addresses all of these goals. The Feline Quality of Life Scale Helps You Determine If Its Time to Say Goodbye to Your Cat, 9 Things You Should Know About Feline Chronic Kidney Disease. Adding condiments to your meal may help rev up your appetite. "Most of these cats are forced to eat renal diets, which are low in protein (of course). If you notice any of the signs above, take your cat to a veterinarian for examination as soon as possible. Look for wet food that contains tuna juice, clam juice, chicken broth, and beef broth. Today were discussing if tuna fish is safe for cats with kidney disease. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Dont serve cold food. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Richard, the lead writer for Senior Cat Wellness. You can also consult with your vet for guidance and advice. Tuna in brine is unsuitable for cats with diabetes because it will cause dehydration. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content. However a new study found that cats with kidney disease may not have elevated stomach acidity as compared to healthy cats. But a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition because it won't have all the nutrients a cat needs. Is Tuna OK for cats with kidney disease? At some point, your kidneys will say, "Hasta la vista, baby." Based on the cause, additional therapy may be instituted, such as: Aggressive IV antibiotics, if infection is present, Immunosuppressive-type drugs for auto-immune diseases, Antithrombotics (to prevent blood clot formation), Chemotherapy and/or surgery (if cancer is part of the underlying cause). The sodium in brine can cause dehydration, and excessive sunflower or olive oil consumption can cause diarrhea. Commercial diets for cats with CKD are developed to prioritize these key goals. Nonetheless, one main, Adding other kidney-friendly foods into their diet can bring the additional flavor. Due to the risks, there are scenarios in which cats should never be fed tuna. Advanced Acacia / Unless cats have bloody stool or vomit, antacids arent really going to help with inappetence or nausea. Go for canned wet food that is high quality and all natural. For cats with kidney disease, two to three times a week is considered safe. Just make sure to avoid any plant-based proteins since these are lower quality and will not provide the proper nutrients to a cat with renal disease. My assistant has seen an improvement in her renal cats by giving the supplement red deer antler velvet. Other cats may become aggressive if they dont get their tuna fix. If you feed your cat canned tuna, make sure its in spring water rather than brine (saltwater) or sunflower oil. Set up your myVCA account today. If youre concerned about the health risks of canned tuna, its recommended that you get some tuna-flavored cat food. For tips from our Veterinary co-author on how to add supplements to your cat's diet, read on! Drinking should be encouraged and adequate nutrition should be given daily. White blood cell count: if high, it may indicate infection or inflammation. This is a serious condition that can affect your cat's bones. Did you know that the kidneys secrete a hormone that regulates blood pressure? For cats with kidney disease, two to three times a week is considered safe. But it takes far less to do its damage. Low-sodium chicken broth and tuna juice would be fine, as are most vegetables, if they like them. When enough damage has occurred (losing about two-thirds of kidney function), signs become apparent and regeneration will not occur, leading to chronic kidney disease. Nonetheless, one main issue in tuna is mercury toxicity. There is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants may also help cats with kidney disease. You can also add water or warm broth to your cats wet food for added water consumption. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Monitoring food consumption is very important when managing your cat's health. Tuna is not nutritionally balanced and should not be fed as a large part of your cat's meal plan. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists fish as a top food allergen for cats, noting that common signs of an allergic reaction include itching, hair loss, red or swollen skin and red bumps. You dont have to throw it away, but instead, lowering the amount of protein will relieve much stress on your cats kidneys. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Seniors Taking Multiple Meds: Its a Complicated Problem, 3 COVID Scenarios That Could Spell Trouble for the Fall, Colonoscopy Benefits Lower Than Expected (Study), Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk, Street Medicine Reaches People Where They Live, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. % of people told us that this article helped them. However, cats can go on to live a relatively normal life, with some lifestyle changes and long-term management. By using our site, you agree to our. Christine O'Brien is a writer, mom, and long-time cat parent whose two Russian Blues rule the house. SDMA catches changes in how well the kidneys are filtering the blood much earlier than other tests, mainly BUN and creatinine. Many of these conditions are progressive in nature and debilitating which can lead to death. You can also put out flavored waters, like chicken or tuna water, for your cat to encourage it to drink. Kitties are perfectly capable of starving ourselves to death if the food doesnt appeal to us. Phosphorus: 0.3 to 0.6 percent. Perhaps she can mix your kidney food with your favorite canned food. A urine culture, because cats with CKD are more likely to acquire urinary tract infections. So since safe treats wont help you pack on the pounds, your human needs to make your food more exciting. There are new blood tests available, like the SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) test, that are much more sensitive than the old tests for kidney disease. ", ASPCA: "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. 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. Garlic and onions they cause Heinz hemolytic anemia. Instructions: 1. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. In the wild, this instinct can protect them from predators or other cats that might be a threat. Most cats are lactose-intolerant. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Sodium: 0.4 percent. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning. Although some cats show no ill effects, it's best not to give your cat any grapes and to keep grapes and raisins off countertops and other places accessible to your cat. The safest way to feed your cat tuna is to offer them tuna-based cat food. Prescription cat food that focuses on . Already have a myVCA account? In turn, eating too much tuna can cause your cat to gain significant weight, especially when fed in addition to their normal cat food. Polycystic kidney disease is another inherited condition seen in Persians. The safest thing to do is always feed your cat canned food, especially when she has developed kidney problems. You and your human might want to attack your waning waistline on several fronts. Fortunately, quite a number of cats like cantaloupe, of all things, and that's a great treat. Decreased dietary protein may slow the progression of CKD by decreasing the workload on the kidneys to excrete protein waste products. Most of the time, cats with kidney disease benefit more from centrally acting anti-nausea medications, so talk with your veterinarian about these types of medications. An occasional bite of dog food won't hurt your cat. Your server should offer small meals throughout the day rather than one big meal. Thats good. Canned food can help increase your cat's intake of moisture. Phosphorus binders may be prescribed to treat high phosphorus levels. It is unsuitable for cats with kidney disease. That way, your cat will benefit from the high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in tuna but will still be eating a nutritionally balanced meal. But does this mean that you should never feed your cat tinned tuna? And there is no antidote. Remember Im not a vet, but I watch Animal Planet. Your mom might want to try different brands to see if another food appeals to you. Radiographs or abdominal ultrasound to screen for kidney stones, infarcts (areas of dead tissue), and cysts. Although this food is called a Veterinary Diet, you can purchase it without a veterinarians prescription. Just 3 ounces (85 grams) of light tuna contains 10.71 mcg of mercury. Learn more about Hills commitment to sustainability. If not, overdosages and/or worsening of the kidney disease could occur. While the other kitties in the house may think your kidney cuisine is positively delectable, you turn your nose up at it. The question came in from one of our clients who was puzzled about how to feed tuna to their cat with kidney disease. Cats cannot survive without their kidneys. You can opt for a lower-level mercury product, but choose chunk light tuna. 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. Consuming this food could lead to dehydration and urinary problems, especially in senior cats. Probiotics can also help settle the belly, especially if youre taking antibiotics. Try to get your cat mostly wet food made with proteins like rabbit or chicken. Avoid fried or processed foods as well as dairy products, especially if your cat is lactose intolerant. Dehydration, high phosphorus levels, metabolic acidosis, fluid retention, and constipation may make you want to puke up an intestine. Creatinine (CREA): measures how well kidneys are filtering waste from blood. Cats shouldnt be fed canned tuna in oil or brine. Can I give my cat canned tuna? As more manufacturers include calorie content information on pet food labels, explains the Association of American Feed Control Officials, an organization that uses science-based evidence to develop pet food standards, "It is easier to determine how many calories are being fed to an animal per day." Phosphorous. Many cats do not like canned food and will eat better when fed some dry food or exclusively dry food. 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. Precisely balanced nutrition with the delicious taste of savory minced ocean fish to help fuel the energy needs of cats during the prime of their life. Tuna is high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins, but it lacks many nutrients that cats need to stay healthy. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), Cancer in Cats: Symptoms, Types and Treatment, Why Your Cat is Throwing Up and What To Do, tips for identifying the subtle signs of pain in cats, SDMA can catch changes when only 25 percent of kidney function is lost. Some cats may show muscle-wasting and signs attributed to high blood pressure, such as vision loss and weakness. While Amlodipine is still the mainstay of treatment, sometimes it is not enough to lower blood pressures adequately. No matter how cautious you are, it's possible your cat can find and swallow what it shouldn't. Do not feed your kitty canned tuna as a substitute to its usual cat food. Throughout your cats life, any disease process or illness that could affect hydration should be treated promptly with IV fluids. Heritable conditions, for example, are not preventable, but affected cats, or cats with the genetic copies of the disease, should not be bred. When I was a youngster of 20, my equally elderly owner went into a nursing home and I found myself on death row. It has a unique flavor that is different from white-fleshed fish. If needed, adding water, tuna juice, or low sodium chicken broth may increase the flavor and acceptance. But it's not just the water or liquid that the tuna is sitting in that can be problematic. Vitamin A toxicity can also cause death. This in turn helps to maintain a reasonable blood pressure. An occasional taste of cooked boneless beef or brown rice can be an OK treat. These new tests allow for earlier detection and intervention with kidney disease in cats. Nonetheless, one main issue in tuna is mercury toxicity. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Eating too much too often can do the same thing to cats that it does to humans. Learn how to make homemade cat treats that are healthy for your pet with this recipe from Hills Pet Nutrition. Omega-3 and Kidney Disease Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids may benefit dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease by reducing protein loss in the urine (proteinuria), reducing hypertension at the level of the kidney, and decreasing inflammatory changes within renal tissues. The higher the proof, the worse the symptoms. The canning/cooking process destroys thiaminase, so canned and cooked tuna is less likely to lead to a vitamin B1 deficiency than raw tuna. It is worthwhile to keep trying, but, at the same time, the cat should be fed plenty of the non-kidney diet food(s) it likes. Learn more. Progression of chronic kidney disease will continue with no possible cure. Anti-nausea and anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medications can be given to cats with a poor appetite, vomiting, or nausea. Your mom needs to understand that a cat (especially a sick cat) cant be bullied into eating a certain kind of food. 5. Here are a few things your mom can try to make that kidney diet more palatable: You also need to stay hydrated. While kidney disease can be a scary diagnosis, many dogs and cats can live comfortably for years with kidney disease if it is caught early enough and treated appropriately. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. With that said, cats can eat tuna but only in moderation. And a cat can choke on a bone. She can ask your vet about some prescription appetite stimulants like cyproheptidine or Mirtazipine and anti-nausea meds or antacids. Your vet can show your human how to do this at home. The answer is Yes. There are a variety of potential causes for CRF, including diseases such as feline leukemia, tumors, infections, and various toxins. The problem is that tuna is naturally very high in mercury. Throw away any remaining food in its bowl when it is done eating. This should stop your cat from becoming obsessed with eating tuna. Fortunately, quite a number of cats like cantaloupe, of all things, and thats a great treat for cats with kidney disease.". But it's not a good idea. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8731269-v4-728px-Feed-a-Cat-with-Kidney-Problems-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"