Creating a Diet for Dogs in Kidney Failure
Diets for dogs with kidney failure can be split into low protein and high protein diets. Your Vet will be able to tell you which is the best, based on whether the dog is uremic or not. If your dog is uremic he/she will need a low protein diet. (Uremic means unable to get rid of some waste products by peeing). Here we deal with high protein diets which suit many dogs with kidney conditions.
If your dog is not uremic, then the consensus seems to be to feed a moderate amount of very high quality protein. Eggs have the highest quality protein (although egg yolks are high in phosphorus), followed by raw meat, then lightly cooked meat, then well cooked meat. The lowest quality protein comes from processed meat, as is found in commercial dog foods, and from grains.
When developing a diet for your dog with kidney failure, the goal is to feed moderate to high fat, moderate amounts of high quality protein, and low phosphorus carbohydrates to fill in. Here are some guidelines:
Moderate to High Fat:
Fat provides much needed calories, and dogs, as carnivores, are designed to derive their energy from fat, rather than from carbohydrates, as humans do. It is important to increase the amount of fat you feed gradually, to avoid digestive upset; if you see signs of problems, such as your dog seeming uncomfortable after meals, or any vomiting or diarrhea, decrease the amount of fat in the diet to a level your dog can tolerate.
Dietary sources of fat include:
Fatty Meats use the highest fat mince you can get. Lamb is especially high in fat. Pork is also high fat. Beef has less phosphorus than chicken. Lamb and turkey are in between.
In general, vegetable oils are not recommended as a source of fat. Instead of vegetable oils, use fish oil, such as Salmon oil or EPA oil, (oils with essential fatty acids). Olive oil is probably OK to use in small amounts, as it is mostly omega-9, which as far as I know does not affect kidney function.
Low Phosphorus:
Feeding a low phosphorus diet has definitely been shown to be beneficial for dogs with kidney disease. Guidelines are to feed no more than 22.25 mg/kg phosphorus daily (about 10 mg per pound of body weight)for a dog with advanced kidney failure. For dogs in early stages, recommended phosphorus amounts can be as high as 60mg/kg (or30mg/poung) Anywhere from 15-40 mg/kg (7 - 18 mg/lb) is considered a low phosphorus diet. In general, foods highest in phosphorus include bones, dairy products, fish (with bones), organ meats, and egg yolks. That does not mean not to feed these foods at all, as they are an important component of a healthy diet, but they should be fed in moderation. Be wary also of the amount of phosphorus in grains and vegetables that you feed:
- 5kg dog: 68 - 182 mg (up to 272 mg in very early stages)
- 10kg dog: 170 - 455 mg (up to 682 mg in very early stages)
- 20kg dog: 340 - 900 mg (up to 1364 mg in very early stages)
- 30kg dog: 511 - 1364 mg (up to 2045mg in very early stages)
- 40kg dog: 680 - 1818 mg (up to 2727mg in very early stages)
Carbohydrates:
Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates, but in order to reduce phosphorus, you will probably need to feed around 50% carbohydrates. In general, the goal is to add calories without adding much phosphorus. For this reason, grains like wheat, and vegetables like sweet potatoes and winter squashes are good choices.
Vegetables:
Must be either cooked or pureed in a juicer, food processor or blender in order to be digestible by dogs. Cooking leaches out phosphorus (as well as potassium and magnesium), so it may be the better way to feed for dogs in kidney failure, although cooking also leaches out or destroys vitamins. Boiling or steaming removes more phosphorus than baking, as long as you don't also give the water the food was cooked in. Cabbage is good for ulcers, which are common with kidney disease.
Grains:
If you do feed grains, stick to those that are lowest in phosphorus. In general, white rice is lower in phosphorus than brown rice. Try adding butter, meat juices or meat fat for flavor and calories, and cooking in broth or gravy rather than water for added flavor (use sodium free if your dog has high blood pressure).
Green Tripe:
May be an excellent food for dogs with kidney failure, as it is low in phosphorus and is highly palatable to dogs. You need to find green tripe, (old fashioned pet shops sell it frozen), as the bleached tripe that is sold for human consumption does not have the same nutritional value. Dogs love tripe, so it might restore a dog?s appetite.
Frequency:
Dogs with kidney problems often do better when fed several small meals throughout the day rather than just one or two large meals.
Water:
Dogs with kidney disease should always have access to water, even if it causes accidents in the house. If you use a water softener at your house, your water will be high in sodium, which is not a good idea if your dog has high blood pressure. It is important that your dog stay hydrated, as dehydration is very harmful to the kidneys. Adding water to the food, particularly if you feed dry food, may help with this.
With thanks to the The Dawg Writes at The Dawgs Biscuits, read more at: www.dog-treat.co.uk
