diet tweaks for early kidney stress

My Holly is eight this year and we are managing her thyroid with meds. Her recent bloodwork showed creatinine is just a hair above the normal range, so the vet said to monitor it. I know water is key, but she is a picky eater who mostly ignores wet food. Are there specific dietary tweaks or hydration strategies that have helped anyone else with early kidney stress? I want to be proactive before it gets worse.

Hi Sharon, I'm sorry to hear Holly is dealing with this alongside her thyroid. When Sandy was diagnosed with similar early markers, my vet emphasized moisture. Have you tried the thread I started on wet food for kidney support? It details which brands have the highest moisture content. Sometimes warming the food up a bit helps with the aroma, which can trick a picky eater into taking a few bites.

If she refuses wet food entirely, do not force it. You can add warm water to her dry kibble. It takes about ten minutes for the kibble to absorb the water. I use a fountain for my Moose, but I found that cats often prefer still water. Check out fountains that actually work for some models that are quiet enough to not startle shy cats. Also, since Holly has thyroid issues, keep in mind that thyroid meds and kidney numbers can sometimes make interpreting the bloodwork tricky.

I was thinking of trying a raw diet for my anxious Kiki, but I read that it can be dangerous if not balanced correctly. Is it worth the risk for a cat with kidney issues? I am worried about the cost and the hassle of sourcing safe meat. I found a thread on safety of home cooked diets that made me nervous, so I am hesitant to start that path.

Raw diets are not necessary for early kidney stress. Stick to commercial foods that are easy to digest. The biggest issue is ensuring she is drinking enough. You can check her hydration levels by looking at her gums and skin elasticity. There is a good guide on checking for dehydration that explains how to do the skin tent test at home. If her gums are dry or her skin stays up for more than two seconds, that is a sign she needs more fluid, regardless of what she is eating.

Thank you all. I will try adding water to her kibble this week. The mention of the thyroid meds affecting the numbers is helpful context; I will bring that up at her next retest. I appreciate the specific tips on hydration checking.