I know that their are many different sources that say that a long term diet of only dry food kibble can cause renal failure in cats.
I was wondering if there was an actual study that backed up these findings, because the websites that I’ve seen only think that there is a link between the two.
Thanks
i’m sure there is and i’m sure you will find that it is a very rare case that a cat is already predisposed to….
ok so it seems common but still hard to say if its just bad food or predisposition
Huh, I’ll star. I’d be very interested in reading it.
My vet had a copy of a study. Can’t remember who did the study although it was a University with a veterinary program. At the time I was more concerned for my cat than I was in reading a study on his problem. The cat eventually had to be put down. I have owned very few male cats since.
I haven’t heard anything about it recently, but to be safe, I’d balance kibbles and wet cat food evenly, or even table scraps. My mom has had a ton of cats and she always fills their bowls with dry and then adds a few spoonfuls of wet cat food on top.
I can imagine it would cause dehydration more than renal failure. I mean, you’re basically feeding them nothing but dried up sponges. Seriously, try putting a bite in water, they practically blow up! lol, I’d just mix the two and keep plenty of water for kitty until the study comes back. I’m guessing since we havent’ heard anything, it’s not done.
You can check a book called Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM. (Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0813821495). I assume the study was done at ISU.
THere is also http://www.hdw-inc.com/healthcrf.htm, where various universities were cited as reference, so there has to have been some kind of studies done.
Aaaah, here we go! Check this page:http://www.felinecrf.com/links0.htm#33
I think that dry food causes dehydration has been taken for a granted fact on most, you would need to dig deeper for studies on that, but that worsening UTI and renal failure into a chronic condition, makes sense.
Hope this helps?
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Diet and Disease….
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Diet is linked to MOST all common dog and cat diseases.
The following is a list of common diseases, and their dietary links…
-Allergies. The most common proven allergens for dogs are beef, chicken, milk, eggs, corn, wheat, and soy; for cats, fish and milk products.
-Arthritis is often a result of joint wear and tear – but, diet is key. If the appropriate diet is fed, your pet is less likely to be overweight, and have arthritis. Many of the Premium diets have additional anti-oxidants, Glucosamine and EFA’s which will aid in treating and preventing arthritis.
-Dental Disease is often a result of dogs and cats not having adequate abrasive food materials to regularly chew on. In the wild, dogs and cats would both regularly crunch bones. I am seeing dog guardians who feed raw food to have very health dogs with exceptionally clean teeth.
-Kidney Failure. Inadequate and improper protein sources and low moisture content (of dry foods) are the two major kidney stressors I believe occur in commercial foods. The kidneys also take a hard hit from many toxins to which the body is exposed.
-Urinary Infections and Crystals. This is often caused by consumption of a dry, high carbohydrate diet. The classic
example is the corn based dry cat food that produces a high urinary ph and concentrated urine. These are the two biggest risk factors for FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease).
-Hyperthyroidism. This is defined as enlarged thyroid glands and high levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. The increase of this had been attributed to chemicals in Cat Food.
-Chronic Vomiting and Diarrhea. In addition, the proteins in grains are less digestible than animal proteins.
-Immune Disorders. The immune system becomes irritated and weakened by the invasion of foreign, non-nutritive protein and carbohydrate particles. Allergies and other chronic immune problems may develop. In severe cases this can lead to Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia.
-Diabetes and Pancreatitis. The pet’s pancreas will do its best to keep up with the demand for amylase. But over time the Pancreas loses its ability to respond leading inflammation, and severe vomiting/diarrhea. In other cases the Pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, resulting in Diabetes.
-Seizures. Preservatives such as ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA should be avoided as they can cause seizures. Many “supermarket” foods are loaded with chemical dyes and preservatives. Buy a high quality kibble made from “human grade” ingredients – or better yet, cook for your pet.
-Liver Disease. There are various causes of Liver disease – but in cats, diet is the culprit in both causing – and treating it. The single biggest risk factor is to have an overweight cat, which suddenly stops eating for a period of time, mobilizes his fat stores, and causes a condition called Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver).
The important point here is to avoid obesity by feeding a diet high in animal protein – and AVOIDING the cheap carbohydrate based dry cat foods.
-CANCER. There are many dietary risk factors that are contributing to Cancer.
Here are just a few:
Smoke flavor. Indicates flavor which can potentially become carcinogenic, retards bacteria on rancid meat.
Ethoxyquin (a preservative).The most carcinogenic preservative, most in industry have stopped using it except very cheap, poor quality foods.
“Red 40″. Artificial color, carcinogenic.
Sodium nitrite (for color retention). Potentially highly carcinogenic.
BHA (a preservative). Chemical. Highly carcinogenic preservative.
Corn oil (preserved with TBHQ). TBHQ contains petroleum-derived butane,
can be carcinogenic.
Artificial flavor. Can become carcinogenic. Produces allergies.
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How to AVOID death by Diet:
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First this month’s Inner Circle is a Special Report and Video on Feeding Raw to Dogs and Cats.
IF you are serious about avoiding many of the above diseases, such as Allergies, Arthritis, Cancer, and Liver disease, then you should at least incorporate Raw food into your pet’s diet once or twice a week. Even that can make a difference.
And it’s EASY to do. Safely.
See me show you in video:
http://www.theonlinevet.com “
“Dry food is very dehydrating. Our feline friends descend from desert-dwelling wild cats who are well adapted to limited water resources. Their ultra-efficient kidneys are able to extract most of their moisture needs from their prey. However, the end result is that cats have a very low thirst drive, and will not drink water until they are 3-5% dehydrated (a level at which, clinically, a veterinarian would administer fluid therapy). Cats eating only dry food take in only half the moisture of a cat eating only canned food. This chronic dehydration may be a factor in kidney disease, and is known to be a major contributor to bladder disease (crystals, stones, FUS, FLUTD, cystitis). Caution: adding water or milk to dry food does not solve the problem; and the fact that there are always bacteria on the surface of dry food means that adding moisture can result in massive bacterial growth–and a very upset tummy.”
more at http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=whycatsneedcannedfood
The dry food/kidney compromise link is now actually being taught in many vet schools! Due to my rescue work, I meet/talk to a great number of vets, some new some old. The vets just out of school (and those like my own vet who attend 4 weeks + of conferences a year) are now really pushing an all canned diet, and kidney compromise is one of the reasons. There must be studies out there, or they wouldn’t be teaching this now. I’ll ask my vet the next time I’m there, which of course will be too late for this question but not for future ones. Like all things, I doubt there is any solid “proof” but it really does make sense. When we stray from the diet that Nature designed cats to eat, then there are bound to be consequences.
I have two kidney compromised cats (one is elderly, one has a birth defect and his kidneys are way too small) and both are on a non-prescription all-canned diet. High quality protein, and no by-products. Vet’s orders! And their kidney numbers since swithching to the all-canned have improved, as has the specific gravity of their urine.
I’ve heard males are more at a risk for this than females..since theyre prone to kidney stones more… dry cat food of course means less water intake since cats drink so little as it is. Since dry food doesn’t actually rot teeth any more than canned, I just always feed can to be on the safe side.