My vet wants Lexi to EAT at this point, and she's been doing well on the renal food, but she's starting to get bored (and I'm rotating between 5 versions - all 3 Royal Canin, and the 2 Hill's Stews.
I asked him if we should consider phosphorus binder if I get some other brands that are not renal food and he is concerned that a binder may actually turn her off of eating more.
Her liver is his main concern right now - the values are worsening, but her creatinine is high normal, BUN is slightly elevated, and Phosphorus is in normal range (5.1). He wants me to get her to eat as much as I possibly can. He added Denamarin and Ursodiol to her arsenal. Along with Cerenia and Mirataz. She also gets 100 ml of fluids a day.
There are days that she will easily eat 2 cans of food a day (the small cans) and others I'm lucky to get her to finish a full can.
I want to pick up some other types of food to see if I can get her to eat more - and I've copied and pasted Tanya's list of commercial foods into a spreadsheet - she says to shoot for phosphorus levels under .5% or protein around 35%.
I guess I'm stressing myself out - I want to keep her kidneys somewhat healthy - but I also understand the importance of food to help heal the liver and not go backwards on that.
My vet vehemently said "I want her eating, even if that means non renal prescription food - and no, I don't want to add a phosphorus binder, because that may turn her off of the food" and then my brain is like "still need to make the best choice for the kidneys" - it's like a battle in my head. I do agree she MUST eat. Fancy Feast is supposed to be kitty crack - but wow the phosphorus levels. It's looking like maybe the non prescription Hills has somewhat good choices.
I guess what I'm asking - it's ok to get her whatever she will eat while we try to get liver under control? I'm about to print this out and head to Petsmart to grab some other options for her (sorted on protein close to 35%) but phos isn't the best on all - but maybe I need to let go of my anxiety around that?
I asked him if we should consider phosphorus binder if I get some other brands that are not renal food and he is concerned that a binder may actually turn her off of eating more.
Her liver is his main concern right now - the values are worsening, but her creatinine is high normal, BUN is slightly elevated, and Phosphorus is in normal range (5.1). He wants me to get her to eat as much as I possibly can. He added Denamarin and Ursodiol to her arsenal. Along with Cerenia and Mirataz. She also gets 100 ml of fluids a day.
There are days that she will easily eat 2 cans of food a day (the small cans) and others I'm lucky to get her to finish a full can.
I want to pick up some other types of food to see if I can get her to eat more - and I've copied and pasted Tanya's list of commercial foods into a spreadsheet - she says to shoot for phosphorus levels under .5% or protein around 35%.
I guess I'm stressing myself out - I want to keep her kidneys somewhat healthy - but I also understand the importance of food to help heal the liver and not go backwards on that.
My vet vehemently said "I want her eating, even if that means non renal prescription food - and no, I don't want to add a phosphorus binder, because that may turn her off of the food" and then my brain is like "still need to make the best choice for the kidneys" - it's like a battle in my head. I do agree she MUST eat. Fancy Feast is supposed to be kitty crack - but wow the phosphorus levels. It's looking like maybe the non prescription Hills has somewhat good choices.
I guess what I'm asking - it's ok to get her whatever she will eat while we try to get liver under control? I'm about to print this out and head to Petsmart to grab some other options for her (sorted on protein close to 35%) but phos isn't the best on all - but maybe I need to let go of my anxiety around that?