The right food can help to improve quality of life for cats with chronic kidney disease

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Old cats and chronic kidney disease go paw in paw. Nearly a third of geriatric cats are diagnosed with the condition. It has no cure, but it can be managed with IV fluids and therapeutic foods.

In fact, diet is the best way to manage chronic kidney disease in cats, but if you’ve ever tried to get a cat to eat something he doesn’t want, you know how frustrating it can be when he needs a special diet. Fortunately, there are ways to meet this nutritional challenge -- once you and the veterinarian know what you’re dealing with.

To “stage” the disease, or see how far along it is, your veterinarian will begin by looking at the cat’s overall condition: weight; body, muscle and coat condition; and any clinical signs typically associated with CKD that might affect the diet choices recommended for your cat. It’s important to know such things as whether the cat’s weight is increasing or decreasing, whether the cat is dehydrated and if his mouth, joints or other areas of the body are painful.

Blood work, a urinalysis and a blood pressure test tell the veterinarian if the cat has any conditions such as anemia, hyperthyroidism, urinary tract issues or electrolyte imbalances. With all of this information in hand, the veterinarian can determine whether the cat is doing well on what he’s currently eating or if he needs a change to a therapeutic diet.

Contrary to what you might have heard, diets formulated for cats with early kidney disease do not restrict protein. Cats, especially seniors, need high-quality protein to help maintain their body weight. Your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic diet with higher protein content but restricted levels of phosphorus. Too much phosphorus increases the risk of further renal damage. Your cat also does not need a sodium-restricted diet, even if she has hypertension (high blood pressure).

If your feline is finicky, you may be worried about getting her to eat a new food. If possible, switch your cat to a therapeutic kidney diet while the disease is still in the early stages. Your cat is likely to still have a good appetite at that point and may be more willing to try something different. Ask your veterinarian for samples of several recommended foods, and see which one your cat likes the best. After she has eaten the food for a week or two, your veterinarian should take another look at her to evaluate her physical condition on the diet.

Cats who have a poor appetite may be suffering from dehydration, an electrolyte or acid-base imbalance, nausea or vomiting, or chronic pain from osteoarthritis or another condition. You and your veterinarian should work together to identify and manage those problems before reaching for an appetite stimulant.

Managing your cat’s dining environment is another way to help improve his appetite. He should have a safe, comfortable place to eat, away from noisy or curious children, dogs or other cats. Try feeding him in a separate room or inside his carrier -- if he enters it willingly and enjoys being inside it. You don’t want him to associate the food with being in an area that he doesn’t like.

Therapeutic kidney diets aren’t one-size-fits-all. To make sure your cat is benefiting from the new food, watch her weight closely. If she’s losing weight, you may need to try a different food, or return to the original diet and use supplements recommended by your veterinarian to help manage the disease.

Q&A

What are a dog’s

vital signs?

Q: What are vital signs in dogs, and what do I need to know about them?

A: Vital signs are just what they sound like: indicators of life and health. Specifically, they are body temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate. It’s a good idea to know what your dog’s vital signs are when he’s healthy and feeling good so that you will recognize the difference if he gets sick.

Normal body temperature for a dog is 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, but a normal range is 100.2 degrees to 102.8 degrees. Any time your dog’s temperature is lower than 100 degrees or higher than 103.5 degrees, he needs to see the veterinarian right away. A high temperature, or fever, can be caused by heatstroke, bacterial or viral infections, uncontrolled seizures or other conditions. A lower-than-normal temperature may be caused by hypothermia (exposure to cold) or shock, kidney failure or certain types of heart disease.

The normal pulse rate for a dog is 75 to 120 beats per minute (bpm). The rate varies depending on the dog’s size, age and health. You can feel your dog’s pulse if you press your finger against the blood vessel in the V-shaped area where the undersides of the hind legs join the body. To get the bpm, count the beats for 10 seconds, then multiply by 6 to get the total for one minute.

Respiratory rate is the number of breaths your dog takes per minute. In healthy dogs, the normal respiratory rate is 15 to 20 breaths per minute. Get to the veterinarian if you notice that your dog’s breathing is shallow, labored or rapid. More than 35 breaths per minute is cause for concern and warrants a trip to the veterinarian right away. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Future cat food

may block allergies

-- If you love cats but allergies to them make you sniffle, sneeze and feel miserable, the future of cat food may hold hope for you. Researchers at Nestle Purina and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have preliminary results showing that Fel d1 -- the protein that causes allergies -- may be blocked by adding to cat food an egg product ingredient that reduces or neutralizes levels of the protein in cat saliva, hair and dander. A small pilot study then found that humans with allergies to cats had substantially improved responses when exposed to bedding from cats fed the anti-Fel d1 diet. Don’t rush to get a cat, though; the results must be replicated in a larger human population before an anti-cat-allergy food or supplements can be developed.

-- How should you introduce your puppy to a new object, sound or environment? We suggest taking it slow in our book “From Fearful to Fear Free.” Proceed in a way that helps your pup remain calm and unafraid. Pair new experiences with tasty treats or a favorite toy. Build confidence by letting him become familiar with the new experience at his own pace. The puppy should have a rewarding experience with many different stimuli.

-- When Muncie, Indiana, police officers learned that Muncie Animal Care and Services Shelter was running low on cat food and litter, they came up with a creative solution: People with minor parking tickets could pay their fines by donating an equivalent amount of cat food or litter to the shelter. The four-day promotion last month brought in supplies to care for more than 350 cats and kittens. Even people without parking tickets got in on the action. Maybe the publicity will drive other municipalities to offer similar deals to people with fines to pay? -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Modern pet furniture is stylish and sophisticated. Here’s why

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

My dogs have leopard-print beds scattered throughout the house -- although at night they sleep on our bed -- hand-thrown pottery water bowls designed to keep their ears dry, and steps up to the furniture in prints that complement my decor. If I were a more indulgent, or wealthy, dog owner, they might have antique pooch pagodas or spaniel-size Empire sofas, just a couple of examples of how pet furniture and accessories have become more sophisticated and attractive as dogs and cats have cemented their position as full-fledged family members.

Spending on pets has risen steadily every year, even during the last recession. After food and veterinary care, the third largest spending category is supplies, including items such as furniture, carriers and toys. Pet owners spent $16.01 billion on beds, collars, leashes, toys and other accessories, up 6% from 2017.

“Americans are radically changing in terms of how we understand the pet’s overall well-being,” says architect Heather Lewis of Animal Arts Design Studios in Boulder, Colorado. “They’re also concerned about their animals’ emotional well-being. Pet furnishings make sense in that context. We want to have more comfortable furnishings for our pets. We want to give our cats more options to be able to climb up the wall and get to high places. We want to have comfortable pet beds that are better for the orthopedic concerns our older dogs might have. We want to have furnishings that our pets enjoy using. I think all of those things are driving a certain amount of this.”

Human enjoyment and well-being are factors, too. It’s pleasurable to have a home that is comfortable and looks nice. That’s another reason pet product manufacturers have upped their game. Pets, unlike kids, don’t have their own rooms; they share all of our living spaces so their stuff -- beds, crates, scratching posts, litter boxes, toys -- is found throughout the house. If we can have nicer options for those things, especially if they meet our overall design aesthetic, we are happier and more content in our environment.

Take pet lover Betsy Clagett of Poulsbo, Washington, who lives with Labrador retrievers, cavalier King Charles spaniels and two Persian cats.

“I love products that are well-made and stylish,” she says. “There are so many new materials today that we never had in the past and also designs that work for your pet, but also fit into home decor. I think many of the products are much more functional than they used to be.”

Pet owners are also keeping pets in mind when they build or remodel homes. They may include a pet bathing area in the laundry room or mud room, litter boxes that slide out from cabinets or built-in crates, custom cat enclosures, dog doors framed with molding that matches the rest of the home, or stair elevators for pets who are elderly or have physical disabilities.

When we replaced the carpet on our stairs with wood, we had the installer cut one of the steps so that the top slid forward, allowing us to store leashes and other pet paraphernalia inside it. Lewis, who is currently building her own home, has designed a “garage” for her dogs’ crates.

Another trend that may be driving pet product design is minimalism. Reducing the amount of clutter in your home may make you take a hard look at what remains, whether it’s your own stuff or belongs to your pets. Is it attractive? Does it spark joy?

“In these beautiful, more minimalist homes, every object has to have its own design and purpose in the space,” Lewis says. “If you have a pet bed, you can’t just have something you picked up at Costco. You actually have to enjoy looking at it on the floor. So I think that’s driving it as well.”

Q&A

How to build a

basic cat post

Q: I want to build a scratching post for my cat. Do you have any tips?

A: That’s a great idea. Building it yourself ensures that it suits your cat’s scratching style and size. Here’s what to think about.

For cats, a good stretch is an essential part of a great scratching experience. They should be able to extend their bodies full length when they scratch. A 1-foot post offers enough scratching room for a kitten, but an adult cat will prefer a post that’s at least 3 feet high.

Cats may not understand why it’s OK to scratch a post covered in carpet but not OK to scratch the carpet on the floor. Help them out by covering the post in a different material, such as rope or sisal.

Materials you’ll need to build a basic post are a 16-by-16-by-1/2-inch piece of plywood for the base; a post that’s at least 36 inches high and 3 to 4 inches in diameter; 100 to 150 feet of 3/8-inch sisal or rope; one small box of 1/2- to 3/4-inch-long U-shaped brads; two 1 1/2-inch wood screws; and a drill, drill bits and hammer.

Using a U-brad, attach one end of the rope as close to the post’s upper edge as possible. Wrap the rope tightly, attaching a U-brad at every quarter turn during the first wrap. Continue wrapping, pushing rows close together to avoid gaps and loose rope. Add a U-brad occasionally to keep the rope from slipping. On the final wind, tack the rope onto the post using two or three U-brads. Hammer U-brads into the post so your cat can’t pull them out. Using the drill and wood screws, attach the post firmly to the plywood base, making sure the post is centered. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Hotels help dogs

find new homes

-- Next time you walk into a hotel lobby, you might be greeted by a dog available for adoption. A number of hotels across the country work with shelters and rescue groups to place dogs for adoption, according to an article by Jen Reeder for Today.com. They include Inn by the Sea, an oceanfront resort near Portland, Maine; the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, California; and Aloft Hotels in Asheville, North Carolina; Orlando and Tallahassee, Florida; and Greenville, South Carolina.

-- Frazzled by a flight delay, long security lines or fear of flying? Some airports have just the ticket to calm your nerves: therapy animals patrolling the terminal -- with their handlers, natch -- just waiting for an opportunity to give you some much-needed emotional support. At San Francisco International Airport, you might run across the 22 canine members of the Wag Brigade -- wearing blue vests that read “Pet Me” -- or Lilou the therapy pig, who also welcomes petting. Other airports with pet therapists on board include Los Angeles International Airport, San Jose International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Miami International Airport, Denver International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

-- A cellist in Nebraska performs for a special audience: shelter dogs. After learning that music could help to calm dogs, Cheryl Wallace began visiting Town and Country Humane Society in Papillion to play for the pups there. Science bears out the belief that music has soothing effects on dogs and cats. Studies have shown that pets in kennels enjoy not just classical but also soft rock, reggae and music composed specifically to appeal to animals. Music also offers stress relief for pets at home or at the veterinary clinic. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

When dogs have bloody diarrhea, it can be difficult to determine the cause -- here’s what to know

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Diarrhea. It’s bad enough when a pet has stinky loose stools, but when they’re mixed with bright red blood -- or a pet strains to defecate and produces blood only -- even the most sanguine pet owner becomes concerned.

Causes of bloody diarrhea can include small, harmless masses; major tumors; toxic substances; or simply emotional upset. Fortunately, it’s rarely an emergency unless the dog is losing enough blood to cause significant anemia or if the dog is bleeding out of the gastrointestinal tract because of a toxin such as rat poison or a systemic disease, says Craig B. Webb, DVM, professor of small animal medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins.

Sometimes the cause is never clear. That has been the case with my dog Keeper, whose digestive system is sensitive, to say the least. Usually his veterinarian prescribes antibiotics and a few days of a bland diet. But recent studies show that in some cases, symptomatic treatment -- a bland diet to soothe the digestive tract -- is all that’s needed.

Approximately 50% to 60% of dogs with acute onset of bloody diarrhea have fecal samples that are positive for a toxin called netF, produced by Clostridium perfringens bacteria. While many healthy dogs have C. perfringens as a normal part of their gut microbiome, in dogs with bloody diarrhea, C. perfringens bacteria are producing the netF toxin gene. The trigger may be something the dog has eaten, infection from another organism or some other cause.

“What makes a strong case that it might be causative is that only dogs with hemorrhagic diarrhea are positive for this toxin,” says Texas A&M researcher Jan S. Suchodolski, DVM, Ph.D., one of the authors of a study on the association of C. perfringens and netF toxin genes with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea published last November in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. “We don’t typically see it in dogs with acute non-hemorrhagic diarrhea or with chronic diarrhea.”

Dogs who are positive for the toxin, which can be identified through a molecular test, usually eliminate it quickly, independent of treatment with antibiotics, Dr. Suchodolski says.

Why no antibiotics?

They can have a significant effect on intestinal microbiota -- the “good bugs” that populate the intestine and play an important role in physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune function. Broad-spectrum antibiotics disrupt the gut’s microbiome, killing beneficial bacteria.

“We’re discovering more and more that these effects are long-lasting,” Dr. Suchodolski says. “And dogs don’t recover quicker compared to not getting antibiotics for acute diarrhea.”

That doesn’t mean you don’t need to be concerned if your dog is pooping out blood. Small dogs with what is now called acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) -- formerly known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis -- can quickly become dehydrated, especially if diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting. A small fraction of dogs may go into shock or sepsis from dehydration and infection, and this may require hospitalization or antibiotics.

Signs that your dog should see the veterinarian as soon as possible include vomiting, lack of appetite, dehydration, increased heart rate and respiration and collapse.

If your dog has bloody diarrhea but is otherwise normal and alert, withhold food for 12 to 24 hours and then feed a bland diet for a few days. Ensuring that the dog is drinking water is more critical than getting him to eat, Dr. Webb says.

“At some point, probiotic therapy should be considered, as changing the gut microbiota may help long term,” says Joseph W. Bartges, DVM, professor of internal medicine and nutrition at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian if you’re worried. “If there are any concerns, especially if your pet feels bad and is not him- or herself, you should take them to a veterinarian,” Dr. Bartges says. “It is better to be safe than sorry.”

Q&A

Cats need

daily play

Q: How much playtime do cats need daily?

A: More than you might think! Most of us think of cats as layabouts, happy to sleep all day; in reality, they are hunters who benefit from the opportunity to practice their inborn skills, even if they never catch a mouse in their life.

A good baseline is five minutes of playtime or interactive exercise twice a day. Kittens might need more, and senior cats might be happy with a little less. Toys and games your cat will enjoy include flashlight beams they can chase -- be sure to end by pointing the light at something they can pounce on so they’ll feel as if they accomplished something -- fishing pole-type toys with a dangly, preylike object at the end or small balls that your cat can chase down the hall, zigging and zagging as the ball bounces off walls or other objects.

Another way to keep your cat fit and occupied is to teach him to work for his meals. Not by catching mice -- although plenty of cats make a living doing that -- but with a puzzle toy that he must push or play with to get it to dispense food. I tell people that instead of leaving out a big bowl of kibble for their cat to snack from during the day, they should put a meal’s worth of food inside a treat ball and let him figure out how to get it out. Leave a couple of those balls around the house, and your cat will “hunt” when he’s hungry and get the amount of food he needs, not the amount he eats because he’s bored. This is also a good way to help overweight cats drop a pound or so.

You can find more about feline play at FearFreeHappyHomes.com/blog. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Need stress relief?

Pet a dog or cat

-- Petting dogs and cats relieves student stress, according to findings from a Washington State University study published last month in the open-access journal AERA Open. “Just 10 minutes can have a significant impact,” said Patricia Pendry, an associate professor in WSU’s department of human development. “Students in our study that interacted with cats and dogs had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone.” Researchers divided 249 college students randomly into four groups. Salivary cortisol samples were collected from each participant throughout the day, starting in the morning when they woke up. Once data was analyzed from the various samples, results showed that students who interacted directly with the pets showed significantly less cortisol in their saliva after the interaction.

-- Salt lamps give off a pretty glow and are thought to have health benefits, but the large chunks of pink Himalayan salt can be toxic to pets who lick them excessively. Pets who ingest too much salt -- from licking a salt lamp, eating homemade play dough or getting into the rock salt for making homemade ice cream -- can develop salt poisoning. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, lethargy, incoordination and excessive thirst or urination. Severe cases can result in tremors, seizures and death. Contact your veterinarian or a poison control hotline immediately if your dog or cat shows these signs. Keep salt lamps out of a pet’s reach, especially if you have a high-climbing cat or tall dog.

-- It’s hot out there! In times of extreme heat, keep pets indoors, where there’s air conditioning, or in a cool basement. Animals who go outdoors should have access to fresh water and shade all day. A child’s wading pool filled with cool water is also a good idea. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.