Health
|
10 min
FREE UK DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £39.99
If your poor pooch has dysfunctioning kidneys, perhaps due to chronic kidney failure, you’ve probably been recommended they go on a renal diet. It’s not only vital that a dog with kidney conditions eats a diet that is perfectly suited to their needs, they need to want to eat it - as their illness can mean that they’re turned off from food. We know this can be worrying for pooch parents, who only want what’s best for their dog - so how do you make sure you’re feeding your dog the best food for their kidney problems?
Read on to learn the attributes of a renal diet for dogs, so you can feed the right food for your dog’s kidney dysfunction and ensure they live the happiest life possible.
Just like all dog’s vital organs, the kidneys are important for many reasons - they filter toxins from the blood, regulate levels of potassium and sodium, conserve water and produce urine. When a dog’s kidneys start to malfunction, they can get very ill. You can read all about the causes and symptoms of kidney disease in dogs right here. However, if your dog’s already been diagnosed with kidney issues, you’ve probably been instructed to put them on a renal diet.
It’s essential that you feed your dog with kidney problems a strictly renal diet only so that they can live a happy, relatively stress-free life with alleviated symptoms from their poorly kidneys. It’s actually the most important part of your dog’s treatment and could significantly improve their life expectancy.
So, what does a renal diet mean? Renal, or kidney-friendly food for dogs has special attributes, and it can be confusing for a worried dog owner to understand all the various weights and restrictions involved. Put simply, a renal diet for dogs supports the kidneys while providing a dog with all the nutrition they need to live and function happily.
Generally speaking, a renal diet has:
So now you know what constitutes a sensible renal diet for a dog, what is the best food to feed a dog with kidney disease?
Some premium quality vet-recommended foods on the market are just as effective as prescription dog foods - our Pooch & Mutt Veterinary Renal Food, for instance. It has been specifically formulated in accordance to a renal diet, containing salmon, peas and eggs for protein rather than meat, as meat has high levels of protein which is tougher to digest. It contains chicken fat, for a super delicious taste they’ll love to eat every day - and salmon oil for those essential Omega 3 fatty acids.
A lot of renal dog foods on the market contain grain, making life difficult for dogs with kidney disease and a grain allergy, or difficulty digesting grain. For this reason our vet-recommended renal food is also entirely grain-free.
If your vet has instructed that your pooch eat renal dog food, then a specialist renal food such as our Pooch & Mutt Vet food is a great choice - but chat it over with your vet first to be sure. It’s typically given to dogs with chronic kidney insufficiency, especially those in the late to end stages of the disease.
If your dog doesn’t have kidney problems, do not feed them renal dog food - it doesn’t contain the right balance of ingredients to support a dog with regular health.
You’re almost fully clued up on how to feed your precious pooch a renal diet. To finish, let’s go over some commonly asked questions about feeding a dog with kidney disease.
Foods aren’t necessarily the cause of kidney failure - there can be many causes including genetic factors, toxins, underlying health conditions etc. However there are foods that may exacerbate symptoms which tend to contain high protein, high salt or high phosphorus levels; all of which are hard for damaged kidneys to tolerate. For this reason it’s best for your dog to avoid foods such as red meat, jerky, pigs’ ears, rawhide and bones, as well as grapes and raisins.
Even for dogs with regular health, it’s generally not a good idea to feed a dog cat food as both cat and dog food is made to different requirements. This is particularly true of dogs who are unwell or have health issues such as kidney disease. Cat food contains a very different balance of food groups that makes it suitable for a cat’s digestive system, not a dog’s. It usually contains high levels of fat and protein and therefore shouldn’t be fed to a dog with kidney dysfunction.
Tuna might be a favourite fishy snack for some dogs, but for dogs with kidney disease it’s a big no-go. Tuna contains high levels of phosphorus, which is damaging for a dog that needs to be on a renal diet.
Let’s not underestimate the wonders of vegetables on a dog’s kidney health! Plenty of veggies contain nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are kind to kidneys.
These include:
✔ Carrots, which help promote good digestion; cucumbers for their high moisture, high fibre and low salt content; peas as a tasty and digestible source of protein; and potatoes and sweet potatoes for being starchy carbohydrates and a great source of B vitamins.
Vegetables you should avoid:
X Tomatoes, as dogs with kidney issues need to avoid high levels of potassium, and tomatoes contain a lot of it. Tomatoes also contain oxalates, which can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Best to keep tomatoes in your salad bowl, but not your pooch’s.
Lots of dog parents feed their pooches peanut butter and see no issue, but when it comes to dysfunctional kidneys, you’ll definitely want to steer clear. Many peanut butters on the market contain the artificial sweetener Xylitol, which, though fine for humans, is toxic for dogs and can cause or worsen kidney failure. Unsurprisingly, we recommend you avoid feeding your pooch peanut butter altogether.
Eating healthy fresh fruits is a great way for a dog to nourish their kidneys, in moderation as part of a specialist renal diet.
When your dog has been diagnosed with a serious health condition, it can be nerve-wracking deciding what to feed them, but it needn’t be. With the right choice of expertly-prepared, vet-recommended food, you’ll know you’re doing the best you can for your dog’s long and happy life. As always, if you aren’t sure about what exactly you should and shouldn’t feed your dog, ask your vet during regular check-ups.
If your dog has been instructed to eat a renal diet for kidney disease, our Pooch & Mutt Veterinary Renal Food is your dog’s dream choice. Our specialist vet range has a specialist recipe for all kinds of health conditions - browse the full collection here.
If you're worried your pooch might be suffering with kidney problems, take a look at our blog post all about kidney disease in dogs.
Comments (41)
What treats can I give my whippet Ben who has kidney disease
Hi Jill, unfortunately all our treats are quite high in protein and wouldn’t be suitable for your pooch. However, our Peanut Butter dental sticks are low in protein content and could make a nice little treat :)
My dog Suzie had stones removed from her bladder when she was 2yrs old and has been on a special diet since but she has a propensity to put on weight . Could tell me is your kidney and renal diet safe for her
Hi Dawn, We would recommend checking this with your vet, as they may prefer them to stay on a prescription diet specifically for this condition, to prevent any further issues. If you have any further questions, please reach out to the team on [email protected]
My Scottie is diagnose with kidney failure and i dont know what kind of food to make for her. We do get Hill’s k/d dry food here in Namibia. Where can i get recipies for food to cook for her. Thank you in advance
Hi my dog is a pomeranian and he is 8 years old and have kidney disease i give him every day 15 minutes iv fluids and he is eating hills k/d dry food but sometimes i boiled some chicken legs do you think im doing good
You may want to specify in the section for fruits that grapes are highly toxic to dogs and will destroy their kidneys
My 14 year old cattle dog may have kidney disease. What is the correct amount of phosphorus for an overweight cattle dog? She currently weights 50 pounds should weight 40 or less. The last few days the only thing she will eat is hand fed tuna fish.
Thank You
Hi Darlene, We would advise speaking to your vet regarding this and they will be best to advise here. :)
My toy cockapoo ‘Pippin’ was spade last month at 8months old. Two days later she had acute renal failure and we were told she would only live a few days. After a week of blood tests her kidney function has come back to normal, her prognosis is much better but she must stay on a renal diet. She’s on a well known brand as suggested by vet but I’ve heard it’s not actually that good for them. Could I switch her to this renal food, can she have any treats? She loves carrots, cucumber, blueberries, strawberries etc. Internet say yes, vet said not to? Please advise x
Hi, our 12yr old collie has recently been diagnosed with idiopathic vestibular disease. From her blood tests results it showed up something not right in her liver and kidneys. I haven’t spoken to our vet yet about this new issue, but I am now trying to put her on a diet of foods that will help her kidneys, to help slow down any decline. She had lymphoma at the age of 5 now she’s suffering this old dog disease, which they tell me she will recover from. Can you recommend any foods that will help the health of these organs until we know if she needs to go on a renal diet. Thanks. Sue.
My 15 year.old shihtzu has stage4 renal failure. Can I feed him ur dog food, and can u suggest what to feed him? I’m desperate .please Advise. Thank you.
Hi Carole,
Our Renal dry food is suitable those with stage 3&4 kidney failure, so would be a great option for your pooch. We would always advise double checking with your own vet, as they know your pooches history best. :)
Is your renal dog food okay for dogs with stage 2 renal failure?
Hi Lori,
Linda advises in this case, you can consider our renal diet. However, protein may be a little low as the dog is only stage 2 so would perhaps mix with some of our wet food.
We would want to monitor closely as if phosphorous increases or the dog progresses to stage 3, we ideally want to exclusively give the renal diet, as this has best effect. :)
Hello. My 15 year old schnauzer has recently been diagnosed stage 2 renal failure. Can I feed her with chicken feet and, chicken liver? And also I used to give her Cantaloupe, can I still do that?
Hi Jackeline, We would advise speaking with your vet on this, as they may want to restrict certain foods from their diet and your vet knows your pooches history best. If you have any other questions, please do reach out to the team on [email protected] :)
Our dog is stage 1-2 chronic renal failure, the vet said we need to change his diet to an early renal failure diet, reading the other comments I wanted to check if this dry food, supplemented with a wet food would be appropriate?
Hi Ali,
Our Renal Diet is suitable for those with Renal disease at stage 3 or 4, it could potentially be suitable but we would always recommend consulting with your vet for further guidance as the protein may be a little low if your pooch is in early stages. You may want to consider combining this with some of our wet food, although we would want to monitor this closely if phosphorous increases or your if pooch does progress to stage 3, and ideally we would want to exclusively give the renal diet, as this has best effect. If you do have any additional questions or queries please do reach out to the team at [email protected] :)
Interested in your renal dog food. How much is it per bag?
What kind of food can I cook for my dog who is stage 3 kidney failure?
Hi Judy,
Our Renal Dry Food is £15.99 for our 1.5kg sized bag, and £11.99 when purchased on subscription saving 25%. Our large 10kg bag costs £72.99 or £54.74 when purchased on a subscription, again saving 25% :)
Hi Marina,
Whilst we unfortunately cannot advise on other foods, we would want to ensure your pooches diet was ‘complete’ with all necessary nutrients – our Renal Dry Food may be a good choice as it is suitable for those with Renal disease at stage 3 or 4 and ensures your pooch is still getting all their required nutrients! If you would like any further advice please do reach out to the team at [email protected] where they will be more than happy to help :)
Hi my dog had cysteine bladder stones and was recommended to have a low protein diet. The renal food looks like the ideal food for him to try?
Hi Lisa,
Oh we are sorry to hear this and do hope he is doing ok! Our renal diet has restricted protein and phosphorous, and is specifically designed for those with chronic renal disease. Dogs prone to cysteine stones should have slightly lower protein, as well as less calcium and less sodium. We don’t have a specific urinary food at the moment I’m afraid, however we will be sure to get this feedback passed on and hopefully we may have something more suitable in the near future :)
Leave a comment