Table of Contents
Introduction.
Failure of the kidneys is a common ailment. It undoubtedly calls for significant dietary and lifestyle modifications. You face a significant hurdle if your dog is diagnosed with a condition related to reduced renal function.
To start, pay attention to your veterinarian. He is the expert and will give you more instructions on how to assist. The most crucial step is altering your dog’s nutrition. This is crucial to do to avoid potential future difficulties.
You can incorporate a specific number of homemade renal disease recipes endorsed by veterinarians in your daily food planning. Keeping a few things in mind when preparing dinner would be beneficial.
The balance of dangerous elements in meals is the hardest thing to achieve. Low phosphorus levels should be the target when feeding a dog with kidney problems. But because it may be found in practically all meat, doing this is difficult.
As a result, you ought to watch what your dog chews. Here are 7 simple DIY kidney disease recipes that have been vet-approved so that you can successfully avoid all the pitfalls.
Grains and Vegetables.
Utilize only vegetables and cereals low in phosphorus. You can flavor the grains and vegetables by adding the extras (butter, heavy whipping cream, and yogurt; see below), or you can attempt low- or no-sodium gravy or broth.
Acorn, spaghetti, and butternut squashes are examples of winter squashes with a hard exterior.
You may want to alternate between the recommendations below to prevent your dog from getting bored with continuously eating the same food, but it’s okay to use only those your dog likes.
Bone Broth.
Dog bone broth recipes should be significantly different from human bone broth recipes! Certain elements, such as onions frequently used in human bone broth, are off-limits to dogs.
The broth can be prepared on the stove, in the Instant Pot, or a slow cooker and should be loaded with canine-friendly ingredients like apples, ginger, and mushrooms.
By adding homemade bone broth to your dog’s daily meals, you may hydrate their food while enhancing their immune system and liver health, promoting good digestion and aiding in the relief of joint discomfort.
Eggs.
The egg yolk is a crucial source of protein for dogs, which they require in proportions of 14–20% per day, making eggs a healthy addition to their diets if they have kidney illness.
However, eggs are also among the best sources of protein you can give your pet, and they also produce less waste than other sources of protein, aiding in the maintenance of renal function. Many other kinds of dog food, including canned food, include eggs but their yolk content should be looked up first.
Organ Meat (Liver and Kidney)
These foods are beneficial to eat in small amounts despite their high phosphorus content because they contain many vitamins and nutrients.
While it is unnecessary to feed them daily, avoid feeding them in huge quantities all at once because doing so can cause loose stools. Even though the liver meat is simpler to get, try to incorporate some kidney meat into their diet if feasible.
Ground White Meat Turkey.
As you may have seen, Turkey is frequently used in dog food and treats. Ground white meat turkey that has been thoroughly cooked and drained is fine for dogs as long as it is plain and contains no seasonings or additives.
It would help if you never fed your dog certain sections of the turkey, though. Giving your dog no turkey bones would be beneficial since they can splinter and cause serious damage.
Since the fat in turkey can cause pancreatitis, a condition in which the pancreas swells and becomes inflamed, you shouldn’t feed them the skin either.
The seasoning typically added to pre-cooked, store-bought turkey and deli meat might irritate your dog’s bowels and result in serious digestive problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Brown Rice.
Brown rice is readily digestible and still contains all fiber from the rice grain’s hull. It is, therefore, an excellent addition to homemade dog food as a great source of fiber and antioxidants.
You can substitute white rice for the half of the brown rice in this recipe to restrict the phosphorus levels in your dog’s diet because of kidney problems.
Sweet Potatoes.
Standard dog treats frequently include salt, phosphates, artificial colorants, flavorings, and preservatives, among other undesired and sometimes hazardous ingredients.
Since sweet potatoes are high in Vitamins E and B6, Potassium, and Iron yet low in Phosphorus, most dogs enjoy their flavor.
With this recipe, sweet potatoes become a secure and delectable occasional treat that can either be soft or more crispy, depending on how they are prepared.
Conclusion.
If your dog has health difficulties, you should make homemade food. Nutritionists will recommend the optimal diet for your dog based on their medical requirements. Veterinarians have examined several homemade dog food recipes for kidney disease in terms of renal health.
References.
PetMD. 16 March 2016. Best Foods for Dogs with Kidney Disease. (Online) Available at: https://www.petmd.com/dog/best-foods-dogs-kidney-disease [Accessed on 13 July 2020]
Bridger Animal Nutrition. 21 March 2013. Diet for Animals with Kidney Disease. (Online) Available at: https://bridgeranimalnutrition.com/article-155 [Accessed on 13 July 2020]
Brown SA. Renal dysfunction in small animals. The Merck Veterinary Manual website. Accessed October 2018
Cortadellas O, Fernandez del Palacio MJ, Talavera J, et al. Calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in dogs with spontaneous chronic kidney disease at different stages of severity. J Vet Intern Med 2010; 24: 73-79.