Weight loss and sarcopenia (muscle mass loss) in cat with kidney disease

[DayshaG]

Good morning Dr. Jeff: I thought I'd start a new thread after you suggested it recently after I posted about any nutritional items I could be adding to my 15 1/2 year old, early stage kidney disease for a few years now, kitty Bella. I had been giving her Myos for felines on her food as a supplement, but over the past few months she was vomiting so much I stopped the Chewy auto delivery and ceased supplements as I felt like she wasn't absorbing anything.

You mentioned muscle wasting, weight loss, etc is a huge factor for decreased quality of life and health span of cats a,d can often be a reason why old, sick and frail cats get euthanized. I am curious what you were hinting about with your Tiggy's simple Sarcopenia Stew...

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Daysha!

Yes, sarcopenia and the resultant frailty are significantly decrease quality of life in both cats and people.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6442923/

Feline musculoskeletal ageing: How are we diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal impairment? - PMC

An understanding of the process of musculoskeletal ageing – which all senior and geriatric cats will experience – is vital to maintaining the health and welfare of our ageing cat population. Assessment of the feline musculoskeletal system is not ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In my experience, lack of appetite leading to weight loss and frailty (especially in CKD) is the most common reason that older cats have mobility issues and may even get euthanized.

And undefined sarcopenias and cancer cachexia are other common wasting conditions.

My own kitty Tigger (Tiggy) was wasting away even tho she was eating well.

I blended up a simple nutritional concoction that she loves and has helped her regain muscle and function.

All we do is mix a can of sardines from Trader Joe's along with a whey protein powder blend (also from TJs), along with structured water. Blend it up. Tiggy gets 1 tbsp twice/day.

 

[GinnyW]

FWIW, my big boy gets a sardine every day, and a big spoonful of collagen protein in his dinner mix, too- and of course, structured water. .
I can certainly see how the way cats think can let them slip into non-appetence. I would definitely spend a lot of time talking to her, telling her how much you love and value her and need her to be strong and stick around.

 

[DayshaG]

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Daysha!

Yes, sarcopenia and the resultant frailty are significantly decrease quality of life in both cats and people.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6442923/

Feline musculoskeletal ageing: How are we diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal impairment? - PMC

An understanding of the process of musculoskeletal ageing – which all senior and geriatric cats will experience – is vital to maintaining the health and welfare of our ageing cat population. Assessment of the feline musculoskeletal system is not ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In my experience, lack of appetite leading to weight loss and frailty (especially in CKD) is the most common reason that older cats have mobility issues and may even get euthanized.

And undefined sarcopenias and cancer cachexia are other common wasting conditions.

My own kitty Tigger (Tiggy) was wasting away even tho she was eating well.

I blended up a simple nutritional concoction that she loves and has helped her regain muscle and function.

All we do is mix a can of sardines from Trader Joe's along with a whey protein powder blend (also from TJs), along with structured water. Blend it up. Tiggy gets 1 tbsp twice/day.

@Dr. Jeff thank you fr your feedback. I have been listening to older HA webinars this morning while cooking human food recipes but also making Bella my 1st attempt at Anitra Frasier's high calcium chicken broth per Dr Christina's suggestion. That's an all day affair. Bella actually has a very good appetite still and wants to interact and will play with me. But the ups and downs of, like today, she vomited 3 times so far, it is emotionally exhausting for me. And I am still on the fence about getting her abdominal ultrasound on Tues as there is the "don't do it" and "do it" from both sides of Bella's professional care teams. Yesterday for example, my animal communicator stated Bella mentioned how she hates the idea of going to the vet and how in my communicators opinion (I am sure she could tell I was silently asking), she would consider not doing it but ask my traditional vet what they are looking for. There are so many things I could say, the chronic vomiting, seeing less feces in the litter box over the last few weeks. There are feces but I don't know if it is her or her sister's. They share boxes. I was doing very good the last few days with relaxing music Dr Jean shared and, Bella loves that by the way, and practicing T-Touch on her and reiki. Interestingly the communicator said (again, as this has been said on other sessions previously) that Bella has chronic nausea. I have found today and yesterday I have had moments where I felt very nauseous. I wonder if this deeper connection I am practicing with my pet is having my empathic abilities pick this up. No fun!

 

[DayshaG]

@Dr. Jeff thank you fr your feedback. I have been listening to older HA webinars this morning while cooking human food recipes but also making Bella my 1st attempt at Anitra Frasier's high calcium chicken broth per Dr Christina's suggestion. That's an all day affair. Bella actually has a very good appetite still and wants to interact and will play with me. But the ups and downs of, like today, she vomited 3 times so far, it is emotionally exhausting for me. And I am still on the fence about getting her abdominal ultrasound on Tues as there is the "don't do it" and "do it" from both sides of Bella's professional care teams. Yesterday for example, my animal communicator stated Bella mentioned how she hates the idea of going to the vet and how in my communicators opinion (I am sure she could tell I was silently asking), she would consider not doing it but ask my traditional vet what they are looking for. There are so many things I could say, the chronic vomiting, seeing less feces in the litter box over the last few weeks. There are feces but I don't know if it is her or her sister's. They share boxes. I was doing very good the last few days with relaxing music Dr Jean shared and, Bella loves that by the way, and practicing T-Touch on her and reiki. Interestingly the communicator said (again, as this has been said on other sessions previously) that Bella has chronic nausea. I have found today and yesterday I have had moments where I felt very nauseous. I wonder if this deeper connection I am practicing with my pet is having my empathic abilities pick this up. No fun!

@Dr. Jeff interesting article by the way on the sarcopenia/OA/DJD. Thanks for sharing that!

 

[DayshaG]

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Daysha!

Yes, sarcopenia and the resultant frailty are significantly decrease quality of life in both cats and people.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6442923/

Feline musculoskeletal ageing: How are we diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal impairment? - PMC

An understanding of the process of musculoskeletal ageing – which all senior and geriatric cats will experience – is vital to maintaining the health and welfare of our ageing cat population. Assessment of the feline musculoskeletal system is not ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In my experience, lack of appetite leading to weight loss and frailty (especially in CKD) is the most common reason that older cats have mobility issues and may even get euthanized.

And undefined sarcopenias and cancer cachexia are other common wasting conditions.

My own kitty Tigger (Tiggy) was wasting away even tho she was eating well.

I blended up a simple nutritional concoction that she loves and has helped her regain muscle and function.

All we do is mix a can of sardines from Trader Joe's along with a whey protein powder blend (also from TJs), along with structured water. Blend it up. Tiggy gets 1 tbsp twice/day.

@Dr. Jeff and do you regrigerate your leftover treat for a certain amount of days?

 

[DayshaG]

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Daysha!

Yes, sarcopenia and the resultant frailty are significantly decrease quality of life in both cats and people.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6442923/

Feline musculoskeletal ageing: How are we diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal impairment? - PMC

An understanding of the process of musculoskeletal ageing – which all senior and geriatric cats will experience – is vital to maintaining the health and welfare of our ageing cat population. Assessment of the feline musculoskeletal system is not ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In my experience, lack of appetite leading to weight loss and frailty (especially in CKD) is the most common reason that older cats have mobility issues and may even get euthanized.

And undefined sarcopenias and cancer cachexia are other common wasting conditions.

My own kitty Tigger (Tiggy) was wasting away even tho she was eating well.

I blended up a simple nutritional concoction that she loves and has helped her regain muscle and function.

All we do is mix a can of sardines from Trader Joe's along with a whey protein powder blend (also from TJs), along with structured water. Blend it up. Tiggy gets 1 tbsp twice/day.

How much whey powder and do you blend this or mix by hand? Last question, LOL

 

[Dr. Jeff]

do you regrigerate your leftover treat

Yes!! Amy makes up a sardine can's worth, and we keep it in the fridge for about 1 week (and use 1 tbsp twice/day).