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Hill's Prescription Diet

k/d Early Stage Cat Food

Diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) earlier in cats is now possible, giving you more time for effective treatment options with your patients. CKD is not reversible, but progression may be slowed and taking action early is important and beneficial. Clinical nutrition for kidney conditions is designed to help reduce workload on the kidneys, enabling them to function more effectively. 1,2, 3

Hill's nutritionists and veterinarians developed Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage for early protection of a cat's vital kidney function.

Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage is clinically proven nutrition shown to stabilize markers of renal function in cats with IRIS Stages 1 or 2 CKD. It's formulated with ActivBiome+ Kidney Defense, a proprietary blend of prebiotics shown to nourish the gut microbiome to help support kidney function. 3,4

Designed to stimulate appetite and encourage eating for energy and vitality, Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage helps maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass in cats with CKD. This dry food has an irresistible taste that cats will love.

Acting early with the nutrition of Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage can help improve and lengthen quality of life. 1, 5-8

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  • Key Benefits

    Diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) earlier in cats is now possible, giving you more time for effective treatment options with your patients. CKD is not reversible, but progression may be slowed and taking action early is important and beneficial. Clinical nutrition for kidney conditions is designed to help reduce workload on the kidneys, enabling them to function more effectively. 1,2, 3

    Hill's nutritionists and veterinarians developed Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage for early protection of a cat's vital kidney function.

    Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage is clinically proven nutrition shown to stabilize markers of renal function in cats with IRIS Stages 1 or 2 CKD. It's formulated with ActivBiome+ Kidney Defense, a proprietary blend of prebiotics shown to nourish the gut microbiome to help support kidney function. 3,4

    Designed to stimulate appetite and encourage eating for energy and vitality, Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage helps maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass in cats with CKD. This dry food has an irresistible taste that cats will love.

    Acting early with the nutrition of Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage can help improve and lengthen quality of life. 1, 5-8


    These characteristics make Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage dry cat food a useful nutritional aid for cats with early kidney disease (IRIS Stages 1-2):

    KEY FEATURES KEY BENEFITS
    Phosphorus and Sodium Controlled levels Help support vital kidney function in cats with chronic kidney disease
    ActivBiome+ Kidney Defense Added A proprietary blend of prebiotics shown to nourish the gut microbiome to reduce uremic toxins
    High quality, highly digestible protein Added Helps maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass
    Enhanced Appetite Trigger (E.A.T.) Technology for cats. Added Stimulates appetite in cats with kidney disease and increases caloric intake
    Omega-3s from fish oil Added Help fight renal inflammation
    High levels of essential amino acids Added More than 200% of FEDIAF recommended minimum levels to help support muscle mass
    L-carnitine Increased level Helps improve utilisation of fat to avoid muscle breakdown for energy

    Indications:

    Primary Indications:

    - Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) IRIS Stages 1-2 (non-proteinuric)

    - Mild to moderate stages of heart disease, including asymptomatic

    - Advanced stages of heart disease

    - Ascites or oedema associated with heart disease

    - Hypertension (primary)


    Other Indications:

    - Acute kidney insult

    - General liver disorders

    - Hepatic encephalopathy

    - Hepatic lipidosis (encephalopathic)

    - Urate & cystine urolith management

     

     

    Not Recommended For:

    Growing kittens, pregnant or nursing cats.


    Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition:

    A double masked, randomized, controlled clinical trial found that uremic crises were minimized (thereby improving the quality of life) in cats with spontaneous chronic renal failure consuming the nutrition of Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage Feline.3

    A 6 month clinical study demonstrated that cats with CKD consuming the nutrition of Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage had a significant increase in body weight and no change in lean body mass, while cats with CKD fed a positive control food had significant loss of body weight and lean body mass. Cats also consumed 23 per cent more calories when fed Prescription Diet k/d as compared with cats fed a positive control food.4

    In a prospective study, cats with previously undiagnosed kidney disease (20 cats in IRIS Stage 1, 61 IRIS Stage 2, 14 IRIS Stage 3 and 4, 33 at-risk for CKD) were transitioned to a therapeutic renal food. Markers of renal function were measured over one year. Few changes in markers of renal function were detected in this 12-month study. Serum creatinine and BUN concentrations remained stable in at-risk cats and those with IRIS Stage 1 or 2 CKD. These results suggest that the nutrition of a therapeutic renal food stabilizes markers of renal function in cats at risk and cats with IRIS Stage 1 or 2 CKD. Renal values remained stable over the entire 12-month study.5*

    * This is important knowing that approximately one-third of healthy, geriatric cats in a recent study progressed to develop azotemia within 1 year.6

    A retrospective study demonstrated that cats with CKD fed the nutrition of Prescription Diet k/d ES dry had significantly longer median survival time and lower serum creatinine levels (18.1 months, 242 umol/l) as compared to cats with CKD fed a non-therapeutic food (8.5 months, 277 umol/l).7

     

    Additional Info:

    Prescription Diet k/d Early Stage has increased dietary buffering capacity. This helps counteract the tendency for metabolic acidosis, a common complication as kidney disease progresses.

    Ideal for long-term feeding of cats with kidney disease.

    Dry and canned formulas can be mixed or fed concurrently.


    Other Products to Consider

    - For patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) IRIS Stages 1-2 (non-proteinuric), IRIS Stages 3-4, and all IRIS stages with proteinuria: Prescription Diet k/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet k/d+Mobility Cat Food

    - For patients with CKD and concurrent osteoarthritis: Prescription Diet k/d+Mobility Cat Food

    - For patients with acute kidney insult: Prescription Diet k/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet k/d+Mobility Cat Food

    - For patients with mild to moderate stages of heart disease, including asymptomatic: Prescription Diet j/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Cat Food, Prescription Diet d/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Stress Cat Food, Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Cat Food, Prescription Diet m/d

    - For patients with advanced stages of heart disease: Prescription Diet j/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Stress Cat Food, Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Cat Food, Prescription Diet d/d Cat Food

    - For patients with ascites or oedema associated with heart disease (heart failure) or primary hypertension: Prescription Diet j/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet d/d Cat Food

    - For patients with general liver disorders: Prescription Diet l/d Cat Food

    - For patients with hepatic encephalopathy, including hepatic lipidosis: Prescription Diet l/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet k/d Cat Food

    - For patients with urate or cystine urolithiasis: Prescription Diet k/d Cat Food, Prescription Diet k/d+Mobility Cat Food


    References:

    1 Polzin DJ. Evidence-based step-wise approach to managing chronic kidney disease in dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2013;23(2):205-215.

    2 Hall JA, Yerramilli M, Obare E, et al. Comparison of serum concentrations of SDMA and creatinine as kidney function biomarkers in cats with chronic kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med. 2014;28(6):1676-1683.

    3 Ross SJ, Osborne CA, Kirk CA, Lowry SR, Koehler LA, Polzin DJ, Clinical evaluation of dietary modification for treatment of spontaneous chronic kidney disease in cats, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229 (6), 949-957, 2006.

    4. Hall JA, Jewell DE, Ephraim E (2022) Feeding cats with chronic kidney disease food supplemented with betaine and prebiotics increases total body mass and reduces uremic toxins. PLoS ONE 17(5): e0268624.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0268624

    5 Fritsch DA, Jewell DE. Acceptance and effects of a therapeutic renal food in pet cats with chronic kidney disease. Vet Rec Open. 2015;2(2):e000128.

    6 Jepson RE, Brodbelt D, Vallance C, et al. Evaluation of predictors of the development of azotemia in cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2009;23(4):806-813.

    7 Plantinga et al, Retrospective study of the survival of cats with acquired chronic renal insufficiency offered different commercial diets. Veterinary Record, 2005: 157, 185-187.


  • DAILY Feeding Guide

    Provide specific feeding instructions for your patient.

    Adjust feeding amounts as necessary to maintain optimal weight.

    Reinforce with clients to feed Prescription Diet dry food, canned food & pouches exclusively.


    This is only a guide. Grams are the most accurate form of measurement. Monitoring your patient's condition will assure the nutritional recommendation provides the best results.

    Gradually transition to this new food for 7 days or more.


    Adult maintenance

    Weight of Cat - kgs Amount per Day - 85 g pouches Amount per Day - grams
    2 1 + 15 g
    3 1 + 25 g
    4 1 + 35 g
    5 1 + 50 g
    6 1 + 60 g
    7+ 1 + 10 g per kg

    Adult maintenance

    Weight of Cat - kgs Amount per Day - grams
    2 35
    3 45
    4 55
    5 65
    6 75
    7+ 12 per kg

  • Ingredients

    High quality protein and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

    with Chicken: Broken rice, animal fat, dried peas, maize gluten meal, pea protein, chicken and turkey meal (chicken 4%), rice protein concentrate, wheat, dried beet pulp, dried whole eggs, minerals, digest, fish oil (1.8%), soybean oil, L-carnitine, oat bran, vitamins, fructo-oligosaccharides, taurine, trace elements and beta-carotene. With a natural antioxidant (mixed tocopherols).

  • Average Nutrient & Caloric Content

    4215 kcal/kg (422 kcal/100g)

    Nutrient As Fed1
    %
    Dry Matter2
    %
    As Fed, Caloric Basis3
    g/100 kcal
    Moisture 4 %
    Protein 33 % 34.6 % 7.8 g / 100 kcal
    Fat 21.7 % 22.8 % 5.2 g / 100 kcal
    Carbohydrate / NFE 33.5 % 35.1 % 7.9 g / 100 kcal
    Crude Fiber 1.9 % 2 % 0.4 g / 100 kcal
    Ash 5.4 % 5.6 % 1.3 g / 100 kcal
    Soluble Fiber 1.1 % 1.2 % 0.3 g / 100 kcal
    Calcium 0.78 % 0.82 % 186 mg / 100 kcal
    Phosphorus 0.48 % 0.51 % 115 mg / 100 kcal
    Potassium 0.75 % 0.79 % 179 mg / 100 kcal
    Sodium 0.24 % 0.25 % 56 mg / 100 kcal
    Magnesium 0.071 % 0.075 % 17 mg / 100 kcal
    Methionine 1.4 % 1.46 % 331 mg / 100 kcal
    Taurine 0.23 % 0.24 % 54 mg / 100 kcal
    Vitamin A 8923 IU/kg 9343 IU/kg 212 IU / 100 kcal
    Vitamin C 99 ppm 104 ppm 2.36 mg / 100 kcal
    Vitamin D 789 IU/kg 826 IU/kg 18.7 IU / 100 kcal
    Vitamin E 611 IU/kg 640 IU/kg 14.5 IU / 100 kcal
    Thiamine 25 ppm 26 ppm 0.6 mg / 100 kcal
    Riboflavin (B2) 12.5 ppm 13 ppm 0.3 mg / 100 kcal
    Niacin 143 ppm 150 ppm 3.4 mg / 100 kcal
    Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) 10.3 ppm 10.8 ppm 0.24 mg / 100 kcal
    Pantothenic Acid 36.3 ppm 38 ppm 0.86 mg / 100 kcal
    Folic Acid 2.57 ppm 2.69 ppm 0.06 mg / 100 kcal
    Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) 0.16 ppm 0.16 ppm 3.7 mcg / 100 kcal
    Biotin 0.43 ppm 0.45 ppm 0.01 mg / 100 kcal
    Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) 0.3 % 0.32 % 72.3 mg / 100 kcal
    DHA 0.2 % 0.209 % 47.4 mg / 100 kcal
    EPA 0.285 % 0.298 % 67.5 mg / 100 kcal
    Total Omega-3 FA 0.92 % 0.97 % 219 mg / 100 kcal
    Total Omega-6 FA 3.6 % 3.77 % 853 mg / 100 kcal
    Beta-Carotene 2.26 ppm 2.36 ppm 0.05 mg / 100 kcal
    Carnitine 569.6 ppm 596.4 ppm 13.51 mg / 100 kcal
    Glucosamine 295 ppm 309 ppm 7 mg / 100 kcal
    Chondroitin Sulfate 263 ppm 275 ppm 6 mg / 100 kcal

    References:

    1Differs from label guarantees which are either maximums or minimums.
    2The nutrient in the product after moisture is removed. It is used to make direct comparisons of nutrient profiles with differing moisture contents.
    3Nutrient intake for every 100 kilocalories consumed.

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