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Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)/Kidney Disease Biography
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) or kidney disease is so prevalent in older cats today, this case study is so important from a holistic perspective. Here is Kent's story:
It was nearly 17 years ago when I brought home 3 adorable Himalayan kittens: Rocky, Kasey and Chanda. Rocky and Kasey littermates and Chanda had the same father. For their entire lives I gave them the best care I knew of — following the advice of a respected, well-established veterinarian clinic, I gave them the highest quality food touted on the market like Iams and Hills Science Diet and lots of TLC!
This past summer I learned the other side of pet ownership. In August 2006, we learned Rocky had intestinal cancer and within 4 weeks he was gone. One week later, I took Kasey in for a senior screening and learned he was in the advanced stages of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). [Sigh] Kasey did great, however, and for 4 months we enjoyed some of the best times of his life! He really was mostly “normal” clinically right up until the day before his death on Dec 25th. Amazing!
Several years ago I had done some extensive study as a non-practitioner in the area of human nutrition, supplements, antioxidants and free radicals and their role in various diseases, cancer, and the aging process. I had thought because the cat food bag said “Antioxidants” on the outside I was giving them proper nutrition. I had much to learn. I began searching the Internet for information related to cancer and CRF in cats and found myself once again learning volumes on the role that nutrition, lifestyle and antioxidants play in life—only this time it was related to cats. I started with Feline CRF Information Center which is absolutely fantastic and filled with so much practical and helpful information! On their site I discovered LittleBigCat.com and the excellent work of Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM, who has turned her practice to the extensive study of nutrition and lifestyle in cats. EVERY CAT OWNER NEEDS TO STUDY THE INFORMATION ON HER WEBSITE!
Among the wealth of information I gleaned from Little Big Cat, two areas were paramount. The importance of canned or wet food over dry food and bio-algae concentrates for whole food supplementation. I encourage you to read through the information on the above websites but here is the short version of these two important points:
1. The importance of canned or wet food (or even raw) over dry food—cats are by nature arid (dry climate) animals and thus are designed by their Creator to obtain the majority of their moisture from the foods they eat (i.e. birds, mice, rats, etc.). Do the math—give your cats dry food and you are compounding the dehydration factor which can lead to numerous health issues including but not limited to CRF.
2. Bio-algae concentrates supplementation—I don’t sell the stuff so you can put your guard down right away as this is not an attempt to sell you anything. From what I have learned, cats, being obligate carnivores, do not have the ability to break down the cell walls of plants thus it is probably a waste of time to give them fruits & veggies. However, the bio-algae concentrates are unique in that cats are in fact able to process it and obtain an incredible pallet of antioxidants, essential fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, 9 and GLA oils), over 4,000 enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, all known minerals and trace elements, etc.
Quickly then to my remaining 16+ yr old cat, Chanda—just give her the canned food with added bio-algae concentrates right? Wrong! As you know, cats are creatures of habit and very finicky. They will not just switch foods or accept something new thrown in. Dr. Jean Hofve has written an article suggesting how to go about switching food as well as one on bio-algae concentrates I encourage you to read both.
What worked for Chanda: I continued to supply her with the dry food she had been eating, and started putting the canned food out, Life's Abundance’s Instinctive Choice formulated by holistic veterinarian, Dr. Jane Bicks. I carefully followed the suggestions of Russell Louie of Optimum Choices, LLC where he suggested starting bio-algae concentrates with only the amount that will fit on the end of a flat toothpick and gradually increasing another toothpick measure every 3-5 days or so. It took five months of patience and persistence, throwing a lot of food away, but I had made the commitment up front, realizing that 83 cents per can of food plus an initial bottle of bio-algae concentrates was a small price to pay even if I had to throw much of it away during the first few months because Chanda’s health and vitality is worth it! If it needs to be a fresh can each meal, who cares? Again, 83 cents a can is a small price to pay compared to the cost of veterinary care. I used glass Pyrex storage containers for their food and water bowls as well as food storage of the canned food. In doing so, you avoid the risk of leaching contaminants from plastic or metal containers into the food and supposedly the food tastes better to cats.
Chanda today: despite having been diagnosed with CRF, her numbers/kidney values are stable, her blood pressure is normal, eyes are clear, and clinically she literally has as much energy and spirit as her earlier years, once again playing with her toys and running through the house. She has such a soft and shiny coat that everyone that meets her, whether a veterinarian, vet tech, stranger or friend remarks about her soft coat! They simply cannot believe she is nearly 19 yrs old (2009)!
Please realize I am not suggesting that switching to canned food or adding bio-algae concentrates are “miracle” cures and I am not a veterinarian. I am simply letting you know what my experience has been, in the hopes you will get the same or similar results with your pet! I know Chanda will not be with me forever—I may have weeks, months, a year or at most several years given the average life of a cat is 15-16 years but I want however much time she has to be as enjoyable and healthy as possible. Whether the above is adding years to her life, I do not know but I do know it is adding life to her years!
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)/Kidney Disease Biography
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) or kidney disease is so prevalent in older cats today, this case study is so important from a holistic perspective. Here is Kent's story:
It was nearly 17 years ago when I brought home 3 adorable Himalayan kittens: Rocky, Kasey and Chanda. Rocky and Kasey littermates and Chanda had the same father. For their entire lives I gave them the best care I knew of — following the advice of a respected, well-established veterinarian clinic, I gave them the highest quality food touted on the market like Iams and Hills Science Diet and lots of TLC!
This past summer I learned the other side of pet ownership. In August 2006, we learned Rocky had intestinal cancer and within 4 weeks he was gone. One week later, I took Kasey in for a senior screening and learned he was in the advanced stages of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). [Sigh] Kasey did great, however, and for 4 months we enjoyed some of the best times of his life! He really was mostly “normal” clinically right up until the day before his death on Dec 25th. Amazing!
Several years ago I had done some extensive study as a non-practitioner in the area of human nutrition, supplements, antioxidants and free radicals and their role in various diseases, cancer, and the aging process. I had thought because the cat food bag said “Antioxidants” on the outside I was giving them proper nutrition. I had much to learn. I began searching the Internet for information related to cancer and CRF in cats and found myself once again learning volumes on the role that nutrition, lifestyle and antioxidants play in life—only this time it was related to cats. I started with Feline CRF Information Center which is absolutely fantastic and filled with so much practical and helpful information! On their site I discovered LittleBigCat.com and the excellent work of Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM, who has turned her practice to the extensive study of nutrition and lifestyle in cats. EVERY CAT OWNER NEEDS TO STUDY THE INFORMATION ON HER WEBSITE!
Among the wealth of information I gleaned from Little Big Cat, two areas were paramount. The importance of canned or wet food over dry food and bio-algae concentrates for whole food supplementation. I encourage you to read through the information on the above websites but here is the short version of these two important points:
1. The importance of canned or wet food (or even raw) over dry food—cats are by nature arid (dry climate) animals and thus are designed by their Creator to obtain the majority of their moisture from the foods they eat (i.e. birds, mice, rats, etc.). Do the math—give your cats dry food and you are compounding the dehydration factor which can lead to numerous health issues including but not limited to CRF.
2. Bio-algae concentrates supplementation—I don’t sell the stuff so you can put your guard down right away as this is not an attempt to sell you anything. From what I have learned, cats, being obligate carnivores, do not have the ability to break down the cell walls of plants thus it is probably a waste of time to give them fruits & veggies. However, the bio-algae concentrates are unique in that cats are in fact able to process it and obtain an incredible pallet of antioxidants, essential fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, 9 and GLA oils), over 4,000 enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, all known minerals and trace elements, etc.
Quickly then to my remaining 16+ yr old cat, Chanda—just give her the canned food with added bio-algae concentrates right? Wrong! As you know, cats are creatures of habit and very finicky. They will not just switch foods or accept something new thrown in. Dr. Jean Hofve has written an article suggesting how to go about switching food as well as one on bio-algae concentrates I encourage you to read both.
What worked for Chanda: I continued to supply her with the dry food she had been eating, and started putting the canned food out, Life's Abundance’s Instinctive Choice formulated by holistic veterinarian, Dr. Jane Bicks. I carefully followed the suggestions of Russell Louie of Optimum Choices, LLC where he suggested starting bio-algae concentrates with only the amount that will fit on the end of a flat toothpick and gradually increasing another toothpick measure every 3-5 days or so. It took five months of patience and persistence, throwing a lot of food away, but I had made the commitment up front, realizing that 83 cents per can of food plus an initial bottle of bio-algae concentrates was a small price to pay even if I had to throw much of it away during the first few months because Chanda’s health and vitality is worth it! If it needs to be a fresh can each meal, who cares? Again, 83 cents a can is a small price to pay compared to the cost of veterinary care. I used glass Pyrex storage containers for their food and water bowls as well as food storage of the canned food. In doing so, you avoid the risk of leaching contaminants from plastic or metal containers into the food and supposedly the food tastes better to cats.
Chanda today: despite having been diagnosed with CRF, her numbers/kidney values are stable, her blood pressure is normal, eyes are clear, and clinically she literally has as much energy and spirit as her earlier years, once again playing with her toys and running through the house. She has such a soft and shiny coat that everyone that meets her, whether a veterinarian, vet tech, stranger or friend remarks about her soft coat! They simply cannot believe she is nearly 19 yrs old (2009)!
Please realize I am not suggesting that switching to canned food or adding bio-algae concentrates are “miracle” cures and I am not a veterinarian. I am simply letting you know what my experience has been, in the hopes you will get the same or similar results with your pet! I know Chanda will not be with me forever—I may have weeks, months, a year or at most several years given the average life of a cat is 15-16 years but I want however much time she has to be as enjoyable and healthy as possible. Whether the above is adding years to her life, I do not know but I do know it is adding life to her years!
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