Indy’s Diet And Water Intake

I was very concerned about Indy’s increased creatinine readings, so I did some research today by speaking with two vets.

The first question to be answered would be this: What is creatinine?

The answer: Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the normal wear and tear of the muscles of the body. Everyone has creatinine in their bloodstream.

Creatinine is a waste product (or toxin, if you like) that is excreted by the kidneys. So if the kidneys are not in good working order, there will be excess creatinine in the bloodstream.

Indy’s vet isn’t too worried about the increased creatinine levels in Bunny and Indy because she says creatinine levels fluctuate all the time. If blood tests are done at different times on the same day, the creatinine level will be different too. So, unless the increase is very significant, like 50-100 units, then only is there a cause for concern.

I also spoke with another vet about the RC renal diet. What this diet can do is to reduce the urea and phosphorus levels in a kidney patient.  It does not do much for the creatinine levels.

So, what helps to reduce the creatinine levels then?

It’s hydration.

The kidney patients need to drink enough water or be given fluids to flush out the creatinine.

But what I’ve noticed in Indy is that he stopped asking to drink water from the running tap ever since he was started on the renal diet. Indy loves kibble, but in giving him the renal kibble, I add water to the bowl, so he has to licked up the water in order to eat the renal kibble, and I do add quite a lot of water too.

I discussed this with the vet and she said maybe Indy doesn’t drink from the tap anymore now because (1) the renal diet has reduced sodium, so he doesn’t need so much water, and/or (2) I’m already adding a significant amount of water to his food, so he is getting enough water.

I’ve turned on the tap for Indy, but he is no longer interested in licking water from the running tap, something he had always done all his life.

The vet also said that Indy isn’t dehydrated and we are doing the alternate day subcut to hopefully help to flush out the creatinine and reduce its level.

I might feed Indy water by using a syringe, to supplement his water intake. Drinking water is still better than providing it subcutaneously (according to Dr Lisa Pierson).

Indy’s vet did suggest that I measure the amount of Indy’s water intake each day by giving him water from a container. This would be the water that I deliberately add to his food. Other than the renal kibble, Indy eats raw food too.

Tomorrow will be Indy’s first home subcut. I hope he allows me to do it.

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2019/04/12/indys-diet/

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