Introduction
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition in cats, known to affect 1 in 3 cats during their lifetime, and resulting in the persistent loss of kidney function over time. The disease is silent in its early stages, incurable, and ultimately results in death. An excessive level of phosphorus in commercial cat food is likely contributing to the prevalence and severity of CKD in cats. The feeding of lower phosphorus foods would benefit the entire cat population.
A Primer on Kidney Disease
Kidneys play a central role in keeping a body healthy. They help regulate blood pressure, produce hormones needed by the body, and filter waste products from the bloodstream. The kidneys contain hundreds of thousands of nephrons, which …show more content…
Blood testing focuses on whether anemia (not enough red blood cells) is present, and the filtration ability of the kidneys. The two substances measured in blood to evaluate the kidney’s filtration ability are Creatinine and BUN. An elevated level of either one of these is known as azotemia. Creatinine is a compound that is produced by metabolism and excreted in the urine. BUN measures the level of Urea Nitrogen in the blood, another end product of metabolism that is excreted in the urine. Urine testing evaluates Urine Specific Gravity, a measure of urine concentration; Urine Protein to Creatinine ratio, a measure of how much protein is being lost in the urine; and Urine Culture which looks for potential infection of the urine. In concert with a physical examination and patient history, a veterinarian will make a determination as to whether a cat is suffering from …show more content…
The amount of bioavailable phosphorus required by a cat was determined and published by the National Research Council in 2006. The minimal phosphorus requirement for adult cats at maintenance is 0.35g/1,000 kcal ME. Based upon the assumption of poor quality cat food ingredients, they roughly doubled that amount in determining a recommended allowance. The studies noted that in most cat foods, particularly dry foods, a portion of phosphorus would be present in the form of phytate, which is less available then from inorganic sources. Phytate bound phosphorus is the least bioavailable at roughly 40%, phosphorus from animal sources is roughly 70% bioavailable, and inorganic sources (bone meal and synthetic additives such as dicalcium phosphate) are nearly 100% bioavailable. The NRC recommended intake of phosphorus is 0.64g/1,000 kcal
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition in cats, known to affect 1 in 3 cats during their lifetime, and resulting in the persistent loss of kidney function over time. The disease is silent in its early stages, incurable, and ultimately results in death. An excessive level of phosphorus in commercial cat food is likely contributing to the prevalence and severity of CKD in cats. The feeding of lower phosphorus foods would benefit the entire cat population.
A Primer on Kidney Disease
Kidneys play a central role in keeping a body healthy. They help regulate blood pressure, produce hormones needed by the body, and filter waste products from the bloodstream. The kidneys contain hundreds of thousands of nephrons, which …show more content…
Blood testing focuses on whether anemia (not enough red blood cells) is present, and the filtration ability of the kidneys. The two substances measured in blood to evaluate the kidney’s filtration ability are Creatinine and BUN. An elevated level of either one of these is known as azotemia. Creatinine is a compound that is produced by metabolism and excreted in the urine. BUN measures the level of Urea Nitrogen in the blood, another end product of metabolism that is excreted in the urine. Urine testing evaluates Urine Specific Gravity, a measure of urine concentration; Urine Protein to Creatinine ratio, a measure of how much protein is being lost in the urine; and Urine Culture which looks for potential infection of the urine. In concert with a physical examination and patient history, a veterinarian will make a determination as to whether a cat is suffering from …show more content…
The amount of bioavailable phosphorus required by a cat was determined and published by the National Research Council in 2006. The minimal phosphorus requirement for adult cats at maintenance is 0.35g/1,000 kcal ME. Based upon the assumption of poor quality cat food ingredients, they roughly doubled that amount in determining a recommended allowance. The studies noted that in most cat foods, particularly dry foods, a portion of phosphorus would be present in the form of phytate, which is less available then from inorganic sources. Phytate bound phosphorus is the least bioavailable at roughly 40%, phosphorus from animal sources is roughly 70% bioavailable, and inorganic sources (bone meal and synthetic additives such as dicalcium phosphate) are nearly 100% bioavailable. The NRC recommended intake of phosphorus is 0.64g/1,000 kcal