in other words
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Creature Comforts: Foods for Pets with Kidney Disease
By Michal Smith

Any of us who’ve owned a pet
that’s gone through kidney failure is
usually at a loss at knowing what best to
feed them.

Today there is much research
that suggests it need not be such a mys-
tery. Working with your vet is always
paramount in these cases but here’s some
info that may be helpful for owners in
preventing this condition from coming
on in the first place.

Chronic kidney disease or
chronic renal disease and chronic renal
failure means the kidneys have been
gradually and irreversibly deteriorat-
ing over a period of months or years.
Chronic renal failure is a leading cause
of death. The kidneys are made up of
thousands of microscopic funnel-shaped
tubes called nephrons. As blood travels
through the kidneys, nephrons filter and
remove waste materials from the blood
yet keeps good substances like serum
proteins, in the bloodstream. The kid-
neys regulate the amount of water in the
blood, sodium levels, calcium, and vita-
min D. In addition to all that, the kid-
neys secrete a hormone that stimulates
the bone marrow to produce red blood
cells.

Symptoms of failing kidneys
can include increased thirst and urina-
tion, leaking urine (especially at night),
vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite,
weight loss, depression, anemia, and
overall body weakness. A diet high in
excellent quality protein and lower than
normal amounts of sodium and phospho-
rous is recommended. Controlling phos-
phorous intake has proven to be very im-
portant in controlling the progression of
kidney disease.

Cats with renal disease do best
eating high-quality human grade canned
food or a fresh, balanced homemade
diet. Cats with the disease still eating
dry kibble should be transitioned if at
all possible to a diet that provides much
more moisture to help nourish the kid-
neys. Since kidney disease is a leading
cause of death for housecats but not for
wild cats, we must ask why feline renal
failure in domestic cats is at epidemic
proportions. “In my opinion,” states Vet-
erinarian Karen Becker, “feeding high-
quality protein in its natural, unadulter-
ated form as soon as a kitten is weaned
means that cat will have a moisture-
dense diet over a lifetime. This takes an
enormous amount of stress off the kid-
neys and supports those thousands of
important nephrons.”

Feeding kitties over-processed
dry food for a lifetime will absolutely
increase kidney stress. A combination of
dry processed diets, toxins in the envi-
ronment and poor water quality makes
kidney disease inevitable for today’s
Supporting Local Fire
Protection continued from page 14
the district, and we have to have that,
and we’ve obviously gotten far beyond
that. We feel that by going out for the
bond now, it puts us back where we
need to be and consistently provide the
proper coverage and meet the standards
for our District.
VV: Why didn’t the District go out for
another bond in 2010?
CS: We were still recovering from the
flood and we chose to wait. We waited
because the City was trying to figure
out how to pay to replace their sewer
system. We waited because the com-
munity needed to build a new school.
We waited because the community
needed to build a new health center and
senior center. We’ve consistently taken
a backseat because we know the com-
munity is tight and we know they are
going to have a hard time with this. We
didn’t want to just ask for more money.
When you look around the county, we
are by far the lowest funded Fire Dis-
trict. We are always looking for other
sources of funding likes grant, but right
now this is what we need to do.
VV: You don’t just respond to fires, do
you?
CS: I feel like the community doesn’t
fully understand what we are and what
we do. The fire service has changed
over recent years to an EMS and rescue
service. We’re all encompassing. If
someone finds themselves in a situation
they can’t handle, they call 9-1-1 and
then either Fire, EMS, Law Enforce-
ment, or usually all three, show up.
It’s been a gradual change, but now the
community consistently asks for more
from the fire service, but the permanent
tax rate stays the same. We’ve lasted
on just that for several years, and I feel
the community gets a good deal of
coverage from us, but we’re at a point
where we just don’t have a choice.
START RIGHT. START HERE. SM
Get Your Garden Ready
Lawn Care Supplies • Insect Control
Trimmer Line • Hoses• Seeds
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Family owned & operated for over 45 years
834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364
housecats. Even just a spoonful a day
of wet canned or pouch foods can help
keep moisture in the body.

Try our Applaws line of food
treat pouches. Each only contains 3 in-
gredients, no additives and are grain
free! Choose from chicken breast with
pumpkin in broth; tuna with sea bream
in broth; or chicken breast with aspara-

2015
15
gus in broth.

Creatures pet store is open M-F
10-6; Sat 10-5; Sun noon-4.
Essential Oil Tip: For cats with renal
disease, use juniper berry and helichry-
sum daily; for dogs, use a Detox Blend
and a daily probiotic supplement. 503-
429-PETS (7387) for more information.
Camp 18 Logger Activities
Scheduled for May 9
The annual Camp 18 Logger’s Memorial Dedication and Logging
Exhibition will be held on Saturday, May 9 at the Camp 18 Logging Museum in
Elsie, OR. Admission is free.

The Logger’s Memorial starts at 10:00 AM and honors men and women
that have had plaques placed in the Logger’s Memorial during the past year.

The Logging Exhibition will be loaded with lots of action from high
school forestry teams along with local loggers competing in an assortment of
logging skills.

For the first time the Museum’s Blacksmith shop will be open.

An auction will include one set of 11-21-5 steering tires donated by
Superior Tires, a gun safe donated by Papé Machinery, a log truck load of
firewood and a custom throwing axe. Food and beverages will be available for
purchase.

For more information contact Mark Standly, 503-343-0148 or Darlene
Wilcoxen 503-728-2050.
Perennials
StPierreGraphics@aol.com
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