Desperately Need Food Help......

[kimber]

Hello,
My name is Kimber & I'm on a quest to start my cat Charlie on raw food but due to his health condition, it has to be a strick mix. Charlie was diagnosed Dec. 2018 with hyperthyroidism his T4 level was 10. 0 but with meds he is now down to 4.1
I took Charlie to a specialist to have further test done to see if he was a candidate for the I-131 shot but once we ran test we found out if he was a candidate we found out Charlie only has one Kidney & that the other kidney died & not sure why. He also has a heart murmur & high blood pressure but we hope this will correct itself once the T4 is normal. Charlie is in early CKD & his numbers are showing we have to do everything we can to protect his only kidney and to keep it as healthy as possible.
With everything, I have been learning and researching I agree with the new research stating a raw diet with as little as possible of Phosphorus would be best.
The mix I'm looking to achieve is 40% protein & 60% fat, next to Zero carbs, and as low as I possibly can find phosphorus levels, adding in Omega 3, fish oil, vitamin E & C. I also know I need to keep the bone in his food as small as powder if possible all of this is due to his kidney.

I'm sure I can figure out the vitamins to add to his feed but the real challenge has been figuring out how to achieve a 40%protein 60% fat and low Phosphorus mix. would any of you know how to mix this? how to Find this raw mix?
Are any of you going through this as well?

Thank you
-Kimber

 

[kimber]

Sorry that was meant to read to see if he was a candidate.

 

[Wile]

Hi there, I'm so sorry to hear about Charlie's health problems. Just to clarify how did you arrive at the recipe that you outline in your post? Was it provided by a vet? Do you have a nutritional supplement that you plan to add to your food to make it nutritionally complete? I just ask because it seems like a very extreme recipe. Wouldn't a standard renal recipe work in his case?

 

[kimber]

During my research, I found a vet many vets who are now saying higher protein than the 20% offered in the medicated food is better. zero carbs, low phosphorus, powder-like ground bone (easier on kidneys) I'm following the Dr. Lisa Pierson advice and research, and yes I need nutritional supplements. I am not looking to take away nutrition from his diet just limit what his only kidney has to work to digest.

 

[Wile]

I believe Dr. Pierson offers consultation services for cats with CKD where she will develop a recipe tailored to manage your cat's condition. Since it is her advice you are following I'd suggest getting in touch with her to see what she says.

 

[kittyluv387]

Instead of ground bone you can use egg shell powder. Raw foods with eggshell powder instead of bone seem to keep phosphorus levels pretty low. At approximately 1% on a dry matter basis.

 

[kimber]

I believe Dr. Pierson offers consultation services for cats with CKD where she will develop a recipe tailored to manage your cat's condition. Since it is her advice you are following I'd suggest getting in touch with her to see what she says.

She is no longer responding to emails nor phone consults. This is why I am having so much trouble.

 

[kimber]

Instead of ground bone you can use egg shell powder. Raw foods with eggshell powder instead of bone seem to keep phosphorus levels pretty low. At approximately 1% on a dry matter basis.

Yes, I have read this as well & I'm happy to see someone else speaking of it
I'm just having a hard time putting all of this together & figuring out the 40 60% formula.

 

[Wile]

She is no longer responding to emails nor phone consults. This is why I am having so much trouble.

That's too bad. I wasn't aware that she is taking a break. I think she was educated at UC Davis, and they have a nutrition service there. You might give their service a try since it says on their website that they develop therapeutic diets: Nutrition Service | School of Veterinary Medicine

I hope you find a recipe that works for your cat!

 

[kittyluv387]

Yes, I have read this as well & I'm happy to see someone else speaking of it
I'm just having a hard time putting all of this together & figuring out the 40 60% formula.

Hm in your case you could use poultry thighs and keep all of the skin and fat on. The higher fat will keep phosphorus content lower because meat and bone contain phosphorus. I'm searching nutritional info online and it's saying a 57 gram chicken thigh with skin on will have 65% of its calories from fat (78 out of 120). And according to a nutritional info from a 4 ounce honeysuckle turkey thigh, 59% of calories (130 out of 220) come from fat if you leave the skin on.

 

[kimber]

Hm in your case you could use poultry thighs and keep all of the skin and fat on. The higher fat will keep phosphorus content lower because meat and bone contain phosphorus. I'm searching nutritional info online and it's saying a 57 gram chicken thigh with skin on will have 65% of its calories from fat (78 out of 120). And according to a nutritional info from a 4 ounce honeysuckle turkey thigh, 59% of calories (130 out of 220) come from fat if you leave the skin on.

Thank you this info is helpful. I plan on pricing out a phone consult with a nutritionist today but it might be harder then I thought to get this info due to the info I have to have & getting a vet to talk with them on the phone before they will even speak with me. but again this does help.

 

[kittyluv387]

Yeah sorry when it comes to nutrition a lot of us are on our own.

 

[kimber]

Ouch, I just called the Nutrition Service | School of Veterinary Medicine & just for them to talk with me I have to fax over paperwork from me & the vet has to fax paperwork as well, not a big deal. But for this fax & them to even look at the paperwork is $400.00 plus the cost my vet will charge to fax & talk with them plus another vet visit cost, they say it's around $700.00 total. Once they have gone over everything they will call me & charge another $325.00 for one food recipe.

I can't afford this but I'm not giving up. I know I will find help making the right mix of food for Charlie.

Feeling bummed & broke.

 

[Wile]

This may not be an option for you, but just in case the company that I buy my supplements from does have a supplement and line of recipes that are specifically formulated for renal patients. The recipes are available on the website here: http://www.hilarysblend.ca/CookBook-Recipe-List.aspx
Information about the supplement is here: HILARY'S BLEND supplement for home-made meals
The website also has an online commercial software available for free where you can register and create your own balanced recipe using the supplements and different ingredients here: http://www.hilarysblend.ca/Default.aspx
I haven't tried the recipe creation service, but it might be worth a glance.

You could also ask your vet if they have any supplements and renal recipes on hand that they can sell you. Vets where you live should have something available. It is not exactly a rare medical condition.

 

[kittyluv387]

I really wonder if you really need to spend that much for a renal diet. If your goal is low phosphorus you can achieve that with a high fat diet (thighs with all skin on) plus eggshell powder and the other necessary vitamins.