What is the best food for kidney function?

Hi Everyone,
My 17-year old cat's kidneys are winding down with age, so the vet is prescribing the hills prescription diet for kidneys. Does anyone here have any other recommendations? I am not a big fan of Hills, and am hoping there is another brand - something that can be purchased at a pet store would be great.
Thanks!
Miss Myra

I prefer the Iams Multi-Stage Renal just because of the ingredients. The main ingredient is chicken, and it's the only dry kidney diet I have found that actually has a real protein in it, even though it's still lower in protein than normal cat food.

I'm not aware of any kidney diet food that you can buy without a prescription.

Originally Posted by mews2much

My Coco is 18 and has CRF.
I giver her Purina N/F dry and Royal Canin L/P wet.
I do not use Hills K/D.

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Mews,
are these prescription or can I get them at the store?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

I prefer the Iams Multi-Stage Renal just because of the ingredients. The main ingredient is chicken, and it's the only dry kidney diet I have found that actually has a real protein in it, even though it's still lower in protein than normal cat food.

I'm not aware of any kidney diet food that you can buy without a prescription.

Click to expand...

Thanks greenjeans!

Please discuss this with your vet... Yes for some CRF cats there are OTC options of commercial food , homemade and raw diets ...But Please do not do anything without discussing it with your vet...

Have you read the CRF sticky thread? It is long but very worth your time .

I have a CRF cat too, and the CRF Sticky thread is a must read. Always consult your vet before starting any new foods. Tanya's CRF Site has a wealth of information and I'm so thankful for it.

I don't like Hills either, but if that's what has to be used, so be it. Have you tried the food yet to see if it works for your cat and helps keep their kidney function looking better? IMO, for this, try what your vet suggested for a while.

There are several different prescription renal diets available. Most vets carry the Hills k/d, but will special order any of the others for you. Purina NF (dry or canned) Iams Multi-Stage Renal, Royal Canin Low Protein, and at one time Waltham's made a renal prescription diet (not sure if it's still available.) The only OTC low protein/low phosphorus food that I am aware of is Triumph brand Hi-Tor neo diet, but I'm not sure where it can be purchased. When Purina changed their formulation, I called Triumph, and their customer service was quite helpful in regards to DMA analysis and store locators, but I never persued it because my cats transitioned to Royal Canin without incident.

My renal cats were fed Purina NF canned food for years, until Purina changed their formulation. I switched to Royal Canin Low Protein, and they love it. They will also eat Hills k/d occasionally. They didn't care for the Iams/Eukanuba or the Hi-Tor neo diet. It was so long ago when we tried the Waltham's, that I don't even remember if they liked it or not...must be they didn't, because I never re-ordered it. (I had to have my vet call a script in to VetCentric, as they were the only distributor I could find for it.)

If you have any questions about what to ask your vet when ordering food, please feel free to PM me. I also have the phone number for VetCentric, if you want to order from them.

I absolutely LOVE purina products over hills, and I believe the patients do, too! Purina NF prescription diet is a very good diet for CRF, but like others mentioned, it would be best to discuss these options with your veterinarian. After all, your attending veterinarian knows your kitty's healthcare needs best!

Good luck!

Okie

Thank you everyone for your input! I am starting the Hills k/d canned (slowly transitioning) and also the vet prescribed a daily vitamin and liquid supplement (fatty acids i think?) so I will hopefully see some improvement soon. I did read the sticky info but wanted to get some idea about food options from all your recent experiences.
Thanks again!
Miss Myra

This is a little off topic, because I don't have a food recommendation (Siamie won't eat the renal diet food, so we had to go back to Fancy Feast). However, my vet prescribed a lactulose syrup that is very helpful when she gets sick from the constipation secondary to renal disease. She doesn't have to take it every day, but it is a lifesaver to keep on hand.