Whether you’d prefer to buy a vet-approved, kidney-friendly dog food or you’d rather take up the task to make healthy, fresh homemade recipes at home for your dog with kidney disease, we’d like to support your decision-making here. We collected the most important information on nutritions, ingredients to use and also restrictions as to what to avoid if you’d like to make something yourself.
Types of kidney diseases
There are several different diseases and conditions affecting the operation of kidneys. It can be an acute issue that might be caused by consumption of toxic substances (e.g. toxic plants, fruits and veggies) or a bacterial infection. Chronic diseases may come with age, but genetics also play a large part in them. Smaller dogs usually develop it later, if at all, due to their longer life span compared to their larger equivalents.
Besides proper treatment and the constant involvement of a trusted vet, a fitting diet and proper hydration are just as crucial in sustaining a long and pain-free life.
Recommendations for a diet
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- If you receive a prescription diet by your vet, always follow the instructions. If you’re planning to try a new pre-made or homemade dog food, it’s best to consult with your vet about it first.
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- Make sure to feed small portions, several times throughout the day- as your dog’s kidneys have a harder time filtering blood, it’s best not to overwhelm them at once.
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- The ideal diet is low in protein, phosphorus, calcium and sodium, and not acidified in any way, as too much of these might increase the consistency of toxins in your dog’s system. It’s recommended to weigh in on carbs and fibers instead.
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- Proteins to safely use can be chicken and turkey thigh files or rabbit, preferably minced and cooked thoroughly. Cooking is incredibly important as it greatly lowers phosphorus content of any meat. Other additions can be fruits and veggies in small amounts, also white rice, pasta and cornmeal.
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- Clean, filtered water should always be available, as due to the increased processing and therefore circulation of liquids, your dog will need more intake.
If you decide to try out carefully selected, vet-approved, pre-made dog food, we have created a list of the best rated variations based on personal experience and most recommendations:
Homemade recipes for dogs with kidney disease
Many people – including myself – prefer cooking for their dogs with special dietary needs, as it’s somewhat easier to customize the food. You can change ratios and leave out certain ingredients based on your dog’s needs. Checking the nutritional value and list of ingredients of pre-made dog food can help to have an idea about daily intakes of each macro and the benefits of additions.
If you’d like to try a few recipes to see what works for your dog best, you can find three easy options and a list of recommended ingredients to use here:
xoxo, Team Pockets
