I am always sorry that cat people seem less involved with holistic care than dog people, as I have seen more benefits to my cats than my dogs with the holistic approach. It was my cat Chuck who first set me on the holistic path in January of 1986, and the improvement in my cats' health that I saw as I switched them to homemade raw diets was overwhelming, MUCH more so than with the dogs.
While it's not uncommon to hear some dissent on the subject of treating kidney disease in cats today, ten or fifteen years ago it was not common. The typical prescription was low protein commercial diets, preferably a prescription diet kibble. I had a senior cat at that time who was diagnosed with early kidney disease... but remember, the kidney values don't start showing signs of a problem until the kidneys have lost 70 percent of their function!
His conventional vet wanted him on a low protein diet, but I took a chance and instead fed him a high quality diet that was not at all low in protein. I was working with a holistic vet, and it was a long, long time ago so I don't recall all the details, but he was also being treated with herbs and supplements. He lived to be 19 years old and his kidney values never budged an inch in all that time.
I adopted a 14 year old rescue cat in kidney failure two and a half years ago. In the beginning he needed frequent sub-Q fluids, he needed most of his teeth removed, and he was treated by my homeopathic veterinarian. But today he is symptom-free, his kidney values are not worsening, and he's fluffy and happy and active at around 16 and a half. I have always fed him a high quality protein diet, the same diet I am feeding my other healthy cat.
I think it would be very beneficial for all who have renal kitties to at least talk to a holistic vet before heading down the prescription foods route. A great homemade diet and the care of a good holistic vet might make more difference than anything else you can do.
Also, I would think long and hard before ever vaccinating a renal cat. There is some evidence that suggests feline renal disease may be caused by feline vaccines (citation below) - and in any case, vaccines are licensed for use in healthy, clinically normal cats only.
Food for thought.
Parenteral Administration Of FVRCP Vaccines Induces Antibodies Against Feline Renal Tissues.
MR Lappin, WA Jensen, R Chandrashekar, SD Kinney
From the Department of Clinical Sciences (Lappin), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO and the Heska Corporation, Fort Collins CO (Jensen, Chandrashekar, and Kinney).
"Chronic renal failure is a common cause of death in cats. Lymphocytic/plasmacytic interstitial nephritis is common histopathologically, suggesting immune-mediated reactions may play a role. Feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus for use in feline vaccines (FVRCP) are commonly grown in Crandall-Reese Feline Kidney (CRFK) cells.... Administration of FVRCP vaccines SQ to cats can induce antibody responses to CRFK proteins and feline renal tissues."
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Christie Keith
Caber Feidh Scottish Deerhounds
Holistic Husbandry since 1986
Meet the Felines!
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