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body weight. Monitoring kidney function, hydration, body weight, BCS, and MCS is key to catching any decline quickly. If cats are unable to maintain weight on their own, intervention is essential. Appetite Stimulants If the cat’s intake has waned, the first approach is to minimize nausea and/or increase the palatability of the diet.
Aug 5, 2024 · The 7 Tips on How to Help a Cat With Kidney Disease Gain Weight 1. Feed a Prescription Diet. When your cat is diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, your vet will likely recommend a prescription diet specifically for cats with kidney disease. For cats with kidney disease, there are certain nutritional elements that are overlooked by regular cat ...
inadequate kidney function, and improve quality of life as well as life span.8,12,16 Nutrition should be tailored to the individual cat’s needs and response to management.29 Individualizing the nutrition plan helps address weight loss and loss of lean body mass (LBM), or if the cat has not lost weight or muscle mass, helps maintain body condition
- The 6 Potential Solutions For Helping A Cat with Kidney Disease Gain Weight
- Nutrition Goals For Cats with Kidney Disease
- Conclusion
1. Treat Underlying Nausea
To gain weight, your cat needs to have an appetite to eat and also be able to keep down the food they consume without throwing up. Unfortunately, cats with kidney disease often struggle with nausea. Ailing kidneys cannot perform their usual function of filtering the cat’s blood, allowing toxins to build up. Those toxins often make the cat feel nauseous or start vomiting. To help your cat feel better, eat, and gain weight, see your veterinarian for advice and possibly medications to treat your...
2. Feed a Prescription Kidney Diet
Cats with kidney diseasehave a lot of precise nutritional and hydration requirements. We’ll discuss this in more detail later, but your cat may be struggling to gain weight because their regular diet is inappropriate now that they have been diagnosed with kidney disease. Ask your vet if your cat could benefit from a prescription feline kidney diet. These foods are formulated using careful scientific research and diet trials, providing the most accessible nutrition for kidney cats.
3. Switch to Canned Food
If your cat refuses to eat a prescription kidney diet, switching from a dry to a canned food diet could help them gain weight. Canned food tends to be more calorically dense than dry, allowing your cat to eat less to maintain or gain weight. The smell and texture of canned diets may be more appealing to cats with questionable appetites. The soft food may also be gentler for those who suffer from mouth sores, one of the more painful side effects of kidney disease. Finally, feeding canned food...
Because chronic kidney disease must be managed rather than cured, careful attention to nutrition and hydration is essential to prolong and improve your cat’s quality of life. Modern veterinarians have access to more data and research on this topic than in years past. Because of this, they can create custom nutritional plansbased on your cat’s speci...
Managing a chronic disease can be stressful, whether it’s happening to a human or a pet. No one likes to hear the news that their beloved cat has kidney disease, but thankfully, veterinary medicine has made significant progress in understanding how to manage the chronic condition. Depending on how severe your cat’s kidney disease is, your vet may s...
How can I help my cat maintain a healthy weight with kidney disease? Answer: Maintaining a healthy weight is important for cats with kidney disease, as excess weight can put strain on the kidneys. Feeding your cat a balanced diet and ensuring they get regular exercise can help support their overall health and wellbeing.
Oct 25, 2024 · If your cat refuses to eat a prescription kidney diet, consider switching to a canned food diet. This may help them gain weight and stay healthy. High-Calorie Canned Food. If your cat has a good appetite but is struggling to gain weight, ask your vet about high-calorie canned food options.
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Recognizing the effects of kidney disease on your cat’s weight and customizing their nutritional management are crucial steps in helping them gain weight. By understanding the signs of weight loss, implementing appetite stimulation strategies , managing nausea and vomiting, and incorporating high-calorie additives and supplements , you can support your cat’s journey to a healthier weight.
