The Best Dog Food For Kidney Disease A Nutritional Guide 2024
What is the suitable dog food for kidney disease and the proper amounts?
Kidney diseases are common in dogs, so choosing the right dog food for kidney disease is very important in order to limit the deterioration of the condition.
Correct nutrition for dogs with kidney disease is very important for disease management as it can reduce some symptoms and help slow the kidney disease progression.
A dog with kidney disease naturally has a different diet than a normal dog. However, there is no fixed diet for a diseased dog.
For example, in the first stage of the disease, the diet depends on a larger amount of protein, but as the disease progresses, the dog needs a smaller amount of protein and phosphorus to control some symptoms.
Before talking about dog food for kidney disease and the quantities of food allowed , we will learn some information about kidney disease and its types.
Dog food for kidney disease and what the kidney disease is
-Kidney disease occurs when the kidneys do not perform their normal functions which are:
- Maintaining PH and electrolyte balance in the blood.
- Filtering waste and excess fluids from the bloodstream and getting rid of them in the urine.
- Production of enzymes and hormones that is helpful in regulating body functions.
-Kidney disease is also known as renal disease or renal failure.
Types of kidney disease in dogs
Acute kidney disease
Acute kidney disease occurs as a result of a toxic consumption such as bad food or household cleaners or a complication of another health condition such as cancer or kidney stones.
Chronic kidney disease
It occurs as a result of kidney malfunction and not another toxicity or illness.
It is an irreversible condition that can progress gradually over time and it starts suddenly because the symptoms only show when a lot of kidney damage has already happened.
There is no specific treatment for this condition but early treatment and good nutrition can limit kidney damage.
What are the symptoms of kidney disease?
Before we discuss dog food for kidney disease and its types, here are the symptoms of kidney disease:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excess urination due to drinking large amount of water
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Pale gums due to anemia
- Smelly breath
- Mouth ulcers
- Fragile bones
- Blood in urine
What is the suitable dog food for kidney disease and the proper amounts?
One of the main aspects in terms of kidney disease management is the proper nutrition that is necessary for supporting body function.
The goal of therapeutic kidney diet is slowing the progression of kidney disease and decreasing uremia development and at the same time providing more calories to maintain the dog’s weight.
If these therapeutic diets are effective, that can lead to improving the quality of life and may extend lifespan.
Dog food for kidney disease should contain these following nutrients:
| Nutrient | Grams per 1000 KCAL |
| Protein | 31-41 |
| Phosphorus | 0.5-0.8 |
| Sodium | 0.4-1.2 |
| EPA and DHA | 0.4-1.2 |
| Fat | 40-62 |
| Potassium | 1.1-2.3 |
*Nutrient profile of dog therapeutic kidney diet
Dog food for kidney disease and its components
1-Water
Dog food for kidney disease must contain plenty of water.
The dogs have a great problem to maintain the hydration as poorly functioning kidneys can’t filter the bloodstream from waste and also can’t concentrate the urine so that will send thirst signals to the dog’s body and the consumption of water will increase.
It’s not preferred to use dry food in this situation so you can ask your vet about adding water to your dog’s dry food.
2-Protein
The amount of protein that the dog gets should not be too high because if the amount of protein is too high, that will lead to an exacerbation of kidney disease because the kidney is responsible for processing and breaking down the protein that is present in the food.
But the amount is low that will lead to decreasing the workload on the kidney.
So the amount of protein should be adequate to be suitable for the nutritional needs of the dog and effective to keep vital jobs done by protein such as immune function and muscle maintenance.
The quality of protein in diet is very important as the protein should be highly digestible and contain all essential amino acids.
3-Phosphorus
Level of phosphorus in blood is related to protein as in kidney disease the level of phosphorus will increase in the bloodstream as the kidney won’t be able to process phosphorus.
The diet low in protein is also low in phosphorus.
Phosphorus from plant-based protein sources is lower than animal-based protein sources.
You can offer your dog these vegetables such as cauliflower, green beans, and zucchini.
4-Potassium
Potassium has an important role in maintaining the muscles so in kidney disease, the level of potassium is low and that will lead to muscle weakness and low energy levels.
So the dog with kidney disease must get enough supplements of potassium, so your vet may recommend potassium supplements be taken orally.
5-Sodium
Chronic kidney disease causes hypertension so dogs should get low sodium-diet to reduce their risk of hypertension.
6-Omega-3-fatty acids
EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA(docosahexaenoic acid) are important as they can reduce inflammation of the kidneys and slow progression of chronic kidney disease.
You can offer your dog flaxseed oils as a source of omega-3-fatty acids.
Types of food should be avoided with kidney disease
Dog food for kidney disease should be free of:
- Meat and poultry
- Some types of fish such as salmon, sardine, and mackerel
- Dairy products
- Beans and legumes
- Nuts
- Egg yolk
- Whole grains as these types of food are high-phosphorus foods.
Also high-protein, high-sodium, high-fat, and high-potassium foods should be avoided.
Summary
Kidney diseases are serious and require special care, not for complete recovery, but for the improvement of symptoms. Therefore, proper nutrition and choosing the appropriate dog food for kidney disease is very important in order to maintain the dog’s health and prevent the condition from deteriorating.
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