Supporting kidney disease with a holistic approach I find so rewarding, often extending patient health spans with increased quality of life for a longer period. There are lots of tools in the holistic tool kit for supporting pets with chronic renal disease. A holistic approach for kidney disease will have the best effect to reduce disease progression when you start in the early stages of kidney disease.
Here is the basic approach.
Nutrition
Because it always starts with Nutrition. Contrary to what I left vet school thinking, our kidney patients do best on moist, moderate protein, low phosphate diets. It isn't until the very late stages of kidney disease that you want to think about restricting protein, until then you want to maintain muscle mass with good quality protein.
Kidney diets don't just come in a bag either - you can prepare your own nutritious home made kidney diet, there are supplements available to make this easier to do. There are also some quality prepared real food diets becoming available.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture for kidney disease can tonify kidney yin, yang and qi. We can use it to support appetite and digestion, reduce nausea, improve relaxation, support back pain and other conditions that develop concurrently.
Chinese Herbs
These are great to increase kidney blood perfusion whilst reducing renal hypertension. They can assist with stimulating red blood cell production and reducing anaemia, and slowing progression of kidney disease through anti-oxidant effects and inhibiting renal fibrosis. Patients usually feel better, look brighter and have an improved appetite.
Additional Supplements
These may be used depending on the patient to promote detoxification through the liver and bowel to take over some of the kidney's detoxification functions. Phosphate binders may also be added for some pets. Depending on your pets base diet we may also add extra nutrients to support cellular function and reduce inflammation like B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids.
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle, low stress, gentle exercise, enjoyable things to look forward to daily, good quality filtered drinking water, brushing and massage, low tox household, reduce unnecessary pesticides, a comfy bed for a good sleep. All these things help with everything!
Happy Owner
Owner self care is a big part of my client eduction for the good of my pet patients. Reducing your stress and improving your wellbeing has positive effects on your pet! This is part of my current Pets, People and Planet project
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