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If your poor pooch has dysfunctioning kidneys, perhaps because of kidney disease or 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 renal diet 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.
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. Peanut butter contains harmful trans fats, which aren’t nutritious at all and tough for a dog to digest. Many peanut butters on the market also 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.
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Comments (25)
Hi, Do you provide small samples of the kidney treats please? My 157
is very fusdyyear old poodle dog subi has chronic kidney disease is very fussy!
Hi. My toy poodle did have crystals in her urine. We have cleared this with specialised dog food. I have been reading about your renal dried dog food. Could I give this to prevent a reoccurrence or is it only suitable for dogs that have kidney disease? My dog is 5 and otherwise very healthy. Thank you
Hi Debbie, we don’t have any treats that are specifically for Kidney Disease but I will get this feedback passed onto the team! :)
Hi Ann,
With our vet range we would always advise checking with your vet first, to confirm they are happy for this food to be fed to your pooch :)
Our 7 nearly 8 year old King Charles has crystals in her urine , she’s has tablets for it which she has nearly finished, but still is weeing blood, she’s on special food for it but can she use Pooch & Mutt after this is finished ?
Hi Anne, we would advise checking with your vet on whether they would be happy for your pooch to be on our food :)
Hi
My bitch had renal failure she’s 14 she likes wet food and busuits what do you recommend please
I need to find a renal diet for my dog.,My vet suggested Royal Canin but it upset my dog. he is used to a wet diet and biscuit. does Pooch and Mutt do a wet renal diet please?
At the moment we don’t currently have a wet food specifically for those that follow a renal diet, but this could be something we look into for the future! :)
should you have any questions please reach out to the team on [email protected]
Are any of your treats suitable for a dog with chronic kidney disease?
Hi Ellen, I am very sorry but currently none of our treats would be suitable for a pooch with Kidney disease. If you have any questions please get in touch with the team at [email protected] :)
My dog is on stage 4 of kidney failure I can only give her chicken or white fish what treats are available for her ?
My dog has stage one of kidney disease I cook for her and give hills diet dry food is cooked broccoli carrots and boiled chicken good for her diet she’s been a stage 1 for 2 years now
Do you have any treats for dogs that have abnormal kidney function?
I have a dog at stage 3 kidney failure
What can I do he doesn’t like kidney What cani put on top of it
Hi Sharon, you could try adding some salmon oil to their dry food and they might find this more enticing. Unfortunately we have no wet food available currently that would be suitable, as these are all too high in protein for your pooch. If you have any further questions, please reach out to the team on [email protected]
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. :)
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