Hello Everyone
I'd like to thanks everyone who helped me out with the last issue I posted (see "Ill Cat w/out access to vet"). We took Lily to see another vet earlier today, since she had not been getting better since her visit with the last vet on Monday. I liked this doctor much more- she actually recognized the symptoms as poison intake from the flea treatment, and gave her fluids to help her get back some strength.
Another thing she mentioned, however, was that Lily has exceptionally small kidneys, probably underdeveloped. The idea never crossed my mind, but it does not surprise me; we adopted our calico friend three years ago when she was just a few weeks old. Her mother was a stray that had had her littler under a neighbor's house, and the woman would shoo her off in order to discourage her from keeping her litter there. As a result, by the time we rescued Lily, her three littermates had already died, and she was severely malnurished. I believe that this is a determening factor that led to kidney condition today (which could also explain her small frame and size- only 6 lbs!)
For right now, we are continuing gentle "force"-feeding with water, pedialite, and some fortified food from the vet in hopes that she gets better, but expect to change her diet once she's eating on her own again. My question is, does anyone have any suggestions for what kind of diet a cat with these kidney conditions should follow? Before getting sick, we would feed her Pet Pride (I know, not the best quality, but we all tightened our belts with the recession). What ingredients should we look for in her kibble?
I'd like to thanks everyone who helped me out with the last issue I posted (see "Ill Cat w/out access to vet"). We took Lily to see another vet earlier today, since she had not been getting better since her visit with the last vet on Monday. I liked this doctor much more- she actually recognized the symptoms as poison intake from the flea treatment, and gave her fluids to help her get back some strength.
Another thing she mentioned, however, was that Lily has exceptionally small kidneys, probably underdeveloped. The idea never crossed my mind, but it does not surprise me; we adopted our calico friend three years ago when she was just a few weeks old. Her mother was a stray that had had her littler under a neighbor's house, and the woman would shoo her off in order to discourage her from keeping her litter there. As a result, by the time we rescued Lily, her three littermates had already died, and she was severely malnurished. I believe that this is a determening factor that led to kidney condition today (which could also explain her small frame and size- only 6 lbs!)
For right now, we are continuing gentle "force"-feeding with water, pedialite, and some fortified food from the vet in hopes that she gets better, but expect to change her diet once she's eating on her own again. My question is, does anyone have any suggestions for what kind of diet a cat with these kidney conditions should follow? Before getting sick, we would feed her Pet Pride (I know, not the best quality, but we all tightened our belts with the recession). What ingredients should we look for in her kibble?
