There are a host of supplements for cats based on a number of different health conditions and effects. Supplements can be given to pets at virtually all ages and are designed to add further nutrients and benefits to a pet's diet. These can help to fill in holes that your cat may otherwise not be meeting through the food that he eats. As your pet gets older and runs the risk of degenerative diseases like kidney disease, the need for these supplements becomes more and more great. Most veterinarians recommend giving older cats a set of supplements to help prevent kidney disease. These supplements may also be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of kidney disease if your pet already has this condition.
Kidney Disease Supplement Overview
It is believed that one of the primary reasons why older cats tend to develop kidney disease so often is that cats are highly susceptible to fluctuations in nutrients. This is often due to the fact that many owners give their cats food that doesn't have sufficient nutrients. Cats are obligatory carnivores, meaning that three quarters or more of their diet must consist of proteins from meats; a cat that is given less meat-based protein than that will develop a host of health problems. One of the problems with many lower quality cat foods, however, is that they often have less than 75 percent meat based protein.
Kidney disease supplements for cats are designed to help provide extra protein from meat sources. They can be combined to provide your pet with amino acids and other necessary proteins. With this proper balance of proteins, regardless of the food that he eats, your pet will be better able to fight off kidney disease.
Additional Supplement Information
Some supplements for kidney disease contain other nutrients as well. Omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants and other nutrients may be helpful in reducing the damage that occurs to kidney cells as a result of chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. Because these ingredients may not already be found in your pet's diet, it's a good idea to ensure that any supplement you provide to your pet be able to give him a full set of these nutrients.
Cats with kidney disease should not only be placed on a supplement regimen, but they should also receive a highly specialized and formulated diet. Diet is one of the biggest factors in determining a cat's overall health as a result of kidney disease. Work with your vet in order to provide your pet with a healthy diet. Typically, kidney disease specific diets will be low in carbohydrates and especially high in meat-based proteins. Combined with the supplements for cats that are listed above, they can work together to provide your pet with a set of nutrients which will help to slow the degeneration of his kidneys and keep him healthy as long as possible.