The aim of any renal diet is to reduce the load on the kidneys, which means minimizing the toxin or
waste product accumulation levels in the body, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance,
maintaining adequate nutrition and slowing down the course of the disease.
Differences in nutritional requirements of dogs with renal disease-
Water– the main function of the kidneys is to filter out waste from the body, in chronically affected kidneys, the kidneys lose their ability to excrete waste as a result waste accumulates in the body and excessive amounts of water is excreted in the urine. Thus, dogs with CKD show excessive thirst. Ensure your dog has access to ample clean filtered water at all time, the water bowl must be changed and refilled regularly.
Phosphorus-maintaining the serum phosphorus, plays an important role in slowing the progression of renal diseases and maintaining the appetite. The recommended phosphorus range on a dry matter basis for dogs with CKD is 0.2-0.5%.
Protein– Protein is excreted in the urine of dogs with renal disease and thus, maintaining a strict daily protein intake is very important in CKD, too high levels of protein the diet increases the load on the kidneys to excrete protein by products which furthers the damage. Too little of protein can lead to breakdown of muscle mass which causes emaciation and renal strain. The ideal intake of protein is 2.2.-2.8g/kg BW per day.
Sodium– Chronic renal disease is usually caused as an outcome of poor renal blood perfusion due to hypertension. Increased sodium intake leads to increases blood pressure.
Omega-3 fatty acids. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the production of inflammatory compounds that create oxidative stress to the tissue of the diseased kidneys, thus contributing to slowed progression of CKD. This works by reducing protein ‘leaking’ through the kidneys.
A kidney support diet for dogs with CKD will contain the following key components on a dry matter basis:
Protein – 14-20%
Phosphorus – 0.2 – 0.5%
Sodium- ≤ 0.3%
Omega-3 fatty acids- 0.4 – 2.5%
Renal Safe Foods:
Commercially available renal diets (dry and wet) – Royal canin renal dog food, Farmina Vet Life Renal Canine Formula Dog Food, Hill’s Prescription Canine Diet k/d and Calibra renal/cardiac dog dry food. These diets are specially formulated for dogs with a variety of renal issues and are an ideal diet and highly palatable.
Here are some home foods that maybe given to your dog in case you are unable to find these foods or your dog refuses to eat them. These may also be used as an occasional treat.
The golden rule is that treats should not comprise more than 10% of the total calorie (kcal) requirement of your pet per day. This comes into play if you prefer to give one very high calorie treat versus several lower calorie treats a day. If you don’t know your pet’s daily calorie needs, ask your veterinarian for help with the calculation.
Watermelon
Green beans
Zucchini
Apples
Baby carrots
Blueberries
Bananas
Broccoli
Carrots
Other tips:
To stimulate dogs’ appetites, you can add sweet items like maple syrup or honey – make sure to incorporate these calories into treat allowances.
Always remember to avoid chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocado, garlic, and onions.If your pet has other medical conditions, additional dietary adjustments may be needed for treats. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist who can help you create the most appropriate dietary plan for your pet.
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