Renal Diet for Dogs: Diet and Tips to Manage Kidney Health

If your dog has been diagnosed with renal disease of any sort, this blog is a must-read. It's your duty as a pet parent to elevate the quality of life of your dog and provide steady relief by incorporating renal diets. This blog covers all the necessary pointers that promise to guide your way through the journey.

Kidney diseases can make your dogs nauseated besides developing ulcers in their mouth and stomach. This often makes the process of eating painful. In severe cases, a feeding tube may also be necessary to provide the required nutrition. Now let's cover the elementary segments of kidney diets for dogs.

What is a Kidney Diet for Dogs?

A kidney diet for dogs is radically different from regular dog food. It contains the optimum quantities of protein, omega-3 long-chain fatty acids, EPA and DHA (a complex of antioxidants), optimised level of phosphorus and Nitrogen Trap Fibre System among other essential nutrients that support your dog's prerequisites. As a rule of thumb, dog food for dogs with kidney issues should include the following nutrient profile:

What are some of the most suggested types of vet-prescribed kidney diets for dogs?

As kidney disease keeps degrading in dogs, a carefully regulated diet becomes essential to maintain their quality of life. There is a wide range of dog foods specially designed for kidney disease, each tailored to support your dog’s unique nutritional needs, help reduce the strain on their kidneys and relieve overall suffering.

From low-protein formulas to phosphorus-restricted options, understanding the types of renal diets available in the market will assist you in choosing the best diet plan to keep your dog comfortable, energised, and healthier for longer. Here are 5 types of prescribed renal diets for dogs:

1. Hills Prescription Diet k/d

• It slows the course of kidney disease, thereby improving quality of life
• Clinically proven to reduce signs and symptoms of renal problems
• Protects the functions of the kidney and heart
• Helps increase appetite for dogs that have lost it

2. Royal Canin Veterinary Renal Diet

• It limits phosphorus intake to reduce the effects of secondary hyperparathyroidism
• Combats development of urinary disorders by elevating urine acidity and volume
• Rich in omega-3 long-chain fatty acids, which promotes blood decontamination and preserves some of the major renal functions

3. Royal Canin Renal Special Diet

• Formulated to support renal functions in chronic kidney disease
• Contains EPA and DHA, an antioxidant blend, and low phosphorus
• By regulating the high levels of protein content, it helps to reduce the pressure exerted on the kidneys
• In the case of chronic kidney disease, metabolic acidosis is a common tendency that the dog’s kidney is prone to undergo. A metabolic uniformity is necessary to be maintained by employing alkalising medications
• In order to address the unique preferences of each dog diagnosed with renal disorders, coming up with aromatic formulas of diet can act as a direct and effective solution

4. Specific CKW dog food

• Well-regulated quantities of phosphorus are needed to prevent hyperphosphatemia as well as slow down the progression of kidney insufficiency
• Low concentration of protein lessens the urinary concentrations of oxalate, cystine, and urate
• When fused with the alkaline pH of urine, prevention of the precipitation of urinary calcium oxalate, cystine, and urate crystal is facilitated

5. Eukanuba Renal Diet

• Nitrogen Trap Fibre System (beet pulp, FOS, Gum Arabic) helps in reducing the wastes generated from nitrogenous content
• Moderate amounts of high-quality protein of animal origin will not create problems with the glomerular filtration rate
• Reduced levels of phosphorus, for example, soy protein isolate, help nutritionally tackle hyperphosphataemia, thereby slowing down the progression rate of renal disease
• Additional levels of potassium citrate have been proven to be effective in regulating metabolic acidosis

Please note: Some dogs will favour certain brands over others, so if your vet prescribes a specific diet for your dog's kidneys, don't lose hope if it doesn't get off to a great start. Find a different kid-friendly brand for your pet. Eating is what is most important for dogs with renal disease, so don't force food that your pet does not tolerate.

Why are renal diets more expensive than regular dog diets?

Renal diets are radically different from regular dog food or other maintenance foods. The science and testing procedures behind the preparation of renal diets by veterinarians are of great investment. Tests to develop renal diets by constantly incorporating the changes necessary can indeed raise the overall cost of each diet. Besides, having the unavoidable criteria of being palatable yet healthy, these diets need to have a very balanced calorie and nutrition value so that even in case of intake of small quantities can make a difference in the body of the dogs- all of which are exceedingly costly to ensure.

What are the elementary working mechanisms of renal diet?

Some of the unavoidable criteria that the diet incorporates in its working mechanisms are:

Low quantity, high-quality protein content

Renal diets for dogs contain fewer protein content than regular food. Even though the quantity of protein is minimal, the quality of the protein used is very high. A lot of toxins that the kidneys filter out of the blood are generated from the breaking down of protein content. Thus, the smaller the quantity of protein the body takes in, the lesser the amount of waste that the kidneys need to filter out.

Restricted phosphate content

Low phosphates in the diet prevent the kidneys from significant destruction, thus pacing down the progression of renal diseases. Limited intake of phosphate reduces the occurrence of calcification of the tissues including the kidney. Alongside this, there are dietary phosphorus additives that remove phosphate through the gastrointestinal system instead of the urinary system.

How to ensure proper hydration of dogs with renal problems?

Any renal diet for dogs should contain a lot of water. As per studies, dogs having kidney problems struggle to maintain their hydration. Wet diets as opposed to dry ones are effective options for dogs to boost their level of water intake. You also need to notice your dog’s personal needs; for instance, if your dog prefers to drink water from a running source, you should arrange a water fountain or if it likes water being mixed with its kibbles, do that.

Why should you pay heed to your dog’s preferences in terms of its feeding habits?

It is really crucial for dogs to continue eating no matter how adverse their condition becomes. You need to observe keenly if your dog is preferring one particular brand of diet over the others. You need to be sensitive regarding the need to change your dog’s diet and should always take an expert’s opinion. If a new diet is implemented and is not liked by your dog, you need to talk to your vet and get hold of another brand that is more palatable. You can’t stick to a diet that is not preferred by a dog with renal problems as that would make your dog eat even lesser amounts of food, which may have fatal consequences on its health.

What are some of the most common symptoms of dogs with renal failure?

• Loss of appetite
• Oral pain due to ulcers
• Overall malfunction of processing wastes in the kidneys
• Metabolic acidosis
• Low glomerular filtration rate

What is the most common age at which dogs undergo kidney failure?

Usually, in large dog breeds, renal disease is common around the age of seven, and in smaller dogs around the age of ten to fourteen.

What should dogs with kidney disease avoid?

When planning a diet for supporting kidneys, there are many ingredients that must be avoided or used in limited quantities as they often prove disadvantageous on dogs with kidney disease. Among them include:

• Plant source proteins (such as corn or wheat): These are harder to digest and metabolise in dogs with kidney disease and thus, lead to discomfort in the gut.
• Meat and bone meal: They are rich in protein ideal for healthy dogs but contain too much phosphorus for dogs with kidney diseases.
• High amount of sodium-rich or salty ingredients: Sodium is an enemy of the kidneys; it makes them work harder and increases the complications of fluid buildup.
• Some preservatives or artificial additives: The specific preservatives or artificial additives might be difficult for compromised kidneys to digest properly.

Are there any additional supplements for dogs with kidney disease?

Here are some other additional supplements that are available to help the kidneys to function effectively:

• Phosphate binders like Ipakitine. This acts by binding dietary phosphate so that it is excreted through the faeces rather than through urine.
• Omega 3 fatty acids can also reduce inflammation within the body, including the kidneys, and help improve the function of the kidneys.
• Antioxidants are also a part of the renal diet in dogs, and this counteracts free radicals.
• Fermentable fibre assists with protein digestibility. This also helps remove excess proteins through stool.

Why should I take into consideration a renal diet for my dog?

A renal diet should be strictly implemented for dogs with kidney failure for the following reasons:

• Considering the dogs have decreased appetite and potential oral pain, these diets are ensured to be highly palatable. This encourages the dogs to eat despite their disease.
• Due to the low quantity and high quality of protein content in the renal diet, the kidneys of the affected dogs are kept free of stress from the burden of getting overworked.
• Renal diet incorporates low phosphorus content, which facilitates the prevention of calcification of the tissues of the kidney.
• Containing higher levels of potassium citrate helps in a greater degree of metabolic acidosis.
• Nitrogen Trap Fibre System helps in generating controlled amounts of wastes from nitrogenous content.

What should you do if your dog does not like having a renal diet?

Here are some tips to help ensure your dog starts to like eating a renal diet:

• Take it slow: When introducing your dog to a renal diet for the first time, you need to be really patient so that you do not cause discomfort due to its refusal to eat due to the sudden change. Understand that like you, dogs too are sensitive to changes, especially when they suffer from pain.
• Add Palatability Enhancers: You may add low-protein palatability enhancers such as fish oil, homemade low-sodium meat broths, honey, pancake syrup, applesauce or human enteral nutrition products like Ensure Vanilla Nutrition Shake. These enhance the flavour without breaching the kidney-friendly diet.
• Eliminate Pathologic Nutrients: The use of diets that are high in protein, phosphorus and sodium must be eliminated as they will worsen your dog's condition and lead to the loss of all the positive benefits coming from a renal diet.
• Cyclical Appetites: Many dogs with advanced CKD will have cyclical appetites. The rotation of several proper renal diets at mealtime will keep them interested.
• Home-cooked, low-residue diets: Home-cooked food is often more palatable, but most of the renal recipes on the internet are unbalanced. If you want to pursue a homemade diet, see a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and always notice what your dog’s unique preferences are aligned toward.

Remember, while shifting to a renal diet for dogs can be difficult, they do dramatically increase survival rates and quality of life. Making the original diet more palatable with the addition of enhancers may ease your dog into his new diet.

Conclusion

To sum it up, potential palatability in food is required as geriatric dogs with renal failures would suffer from oral pain and a consequent decrease in appetite. In other scenarios, the dog might also need a special diet. It must adhere to the dietary modification specific to the renal problem. Most vets will also have some preference for a specific brand over other brands.

Correction of dehydration is the most critical aspect in the management of patients who have renal failure. The diet can be made wet since the dry kibbles contain very little water content to encourage them to drink as much fluid as possible.

FAQs for Renal Diets for Dogs

1. What is the best dog food for renal disease?

Foods with low protein of premium quality, phosphorus and sodium content are ideal. Some of the commercial dog foods that could support kidney health include Hill's Prescription Diet k/d or Royal Canin Renal. They are nutritionally balanced to provide appropriate dietary intake for dogs suffering from kidney disease.

2. Can I feed my older dog with kidney disease regular dog food?

No, ageing dogs with kidney disease need a diet made specifically for kidney disease. The diet is developed to maintain the ability of the kidney to restore its normal renal function as much as possible with controlled levels of protein, phosphorus and sodium that ensure the overall health of the animal.

3. Can I feed my dog natural food in case of kidney failure?

Yes, natural foods for dogs with renal failure would work but would necessarily require all the appropriate formulations. You can consult a veterinary nutritionist for a proprietary recipe, which will precisely meet the requirements of your dog's nutritional needs while maintaining its kidney function. Natural and home-cooked food has more room for customisation too.

4. What is the most economical renal dog food?

Hill's Prescription Diet k/d or Royal Canin Renal Support are two relatively affordable choices. These brands are not very inexpensive, but they are cost-effective and provide good quality kidney-friendly nutrition. Of course, the best budget-friendly options can always be discussed with your vet, taking into account the nutritional needs of your dog.