kidney supplements: snake oil or helpful?

My old girl Patty (12, dsh) just got back from the vet. Creatinine is slightly up. Not crazy, but enough that they want to retest in three months. She's been drinking more water lately, which tracks with what I've seen in getting cats to drink more water.

I'm not here to ask for a miracle. I just want to know if there's any actual supplement that helps at this stage. I've seen a lot of 'natural' stuff online, but I'm a mechanic, not a chemist. If it's snake oil, just say it. I don't want to waste money on garbage that does nothing.

Hi Mike, first off, take a breath. Slightly elevated creatinine in a 12-year-old is common, and the three-month retest is standard protocol. I remember reading a lot about this in the big supplement debate (2019 thread). The consensus there was that most over-the-counter 'kidney support' blends are not backed by strong evidence for cats specifically.

I'd be cautious about adding anything new right now. It can make it harder to track her progress at the next visit. Have you looked at reading the lab work: creatinine explained? It helped me understand what the numbers actually meant for my Shadow when he was younger, though he is blind and 10 now.

Agree with Ruth. As a retired nurse, I see a lot of 'natural' remedies that are just marketing fluff. For Bella (14, arthritic dsh), we stick to what the vet recommends. If you are looking for dietary support, food choices for supporting kidney health has some good info on high-quality protein sources that are gentle on the kidneys.

I would avoid random supplements. If you want to add omega-3s, check out omega-3s: human vs pet grade before you buy anything. Human doses are often too high for cats and can cause GI upset. Stick to the retest plan for now.

My Mochi is only a year old so I'm not the expert here, but I've been following the threads on gut health. I saw a mention in probiotics: helpful or hype? that some vets think gut health might play a role in kidney inflammation, but it's not settled science yet.

Honestly, the best 'supplement' I've found is just making sure they're eating well and drinking enough. My Spot is a tuxedo who's very social, so he gets lots of attention, but even he ignores the water fountain I bought. Maybe a fountain would help Patty?

Hazel is a 6-year-old tabby who loves me, so I'm always worried when I see changes in her habits. I think the most important thing is to not overreact. I read in managing early stage kidney markers without panic that stress can actually affect test results, so keeping things calm at home is key.

I wouldn't add supplements unless the vet specifically says so. It's better to get clear data on the next blood test. If her water intake stays high, that's a sign to watch, but not necessarily a reason to buy a bottle of powders.