low protien diet for dog with cronic kidney disorder

[Lil Sis]

I hate to post this question because I know it had been answered before. I did do a search but most of what came back was a few years old or very confusing.

I do appreciate any help or advice given.

Sam is close to 10 years old. He is a lasha and the oldest dog of my three. I have been noticing little "tell tell" signs, excessive drinking of water, takes awhile to pee in the morning etc. I think he may have lost some weight (the vet says no but he is mine..I know). About 10 days ago I notice he was excessively licking his penis..to the point of a raw bleeding spot... off to the vet. He was checked for stones (xrays), infection etc. a blood and urine sample -- and sent home with antibiotics and something for the pain. results said he has protein in his urine so a more complete blood test was done.

Well his test came back with the beginnings of kidney failure.. cronic kidney disease the vet said. He has to be on a low protein diet. The vet sells hills K9.. but said I could still homecook if I did my research.

I have gone onto the Balance-it site and purchased a diet but will not have it until my vet approves the proscription, this could take a couple of days.

I have tried to research other foods that I could buy that would be a supplement to homecooking or for when I can't cook. I notice the hill k 9 diet can has corn gluten listed as an ingredient. My guys are allergic to corn.. the vet said it was more important to get the low protein, but I don't toaly agree.

So... my question(s).

Links to threads that are fairly recent that have dealt with this ..

1) suggested foods?
2.) what percentage of protein is low protein
3.) recipes for low protein

Any thing else I should know?

I will do what I have to do...
Thank you!
Shinja

[Ellie May]

It looks lie most renal diets have corn, but the RC renal LP canned does not. A drawback is that it is higher fat. So it might work only if your pup is not prone to pancreatitis.

Was a true elimination diet done to make sure it is really the corn? Sometimes it can ge a mixture of things that causes itchies too, so a fod with dorn but a different overall makeup may wrk.

I do agree with the vet that kidneys are more imprtant unless the allergy is a quality of life issue. No OTC dog foods will work because low protein is not the only goal.

You could ask a nutritionist about Purina HA. It 'may' come close to geing acceptable.

[107barney]

Have you looked at the balance it canine k blend? It's a product you just add meat to. I'm sure any "kidney" diet you get from BI will be suitable as dr delaney is a vet nutritionist (board certified). He owns the company and is very helpful if you email him. He may be able to point you specifically to a diet and then your vet can just approve it.

[107barney]

Also I agree with crystal on HA. Daisy has protein losing nephropathy and eats home cooked but can well tolerate the Purina HA and the phosphorous level is lower which is (at least for her disease) more important than lower protein.

[107barney]

I meant to say that the BI canine blend is rice based - and it's milled and broken down so may be more tolerable for an allergic dog. I was considering it for daisy but we are sticking with home cooked and Purina HA for now.

[Lil Sis]

thank you .... I was hoping you were two of the people who would see this.


I think I am in a little bit of shock and dragging my heals on what to do. I know this sounds silly ..but it is life altering in a lot of ways. I have always fed my three dogs the same food.. just different amounts. I guess that is over ..so is free feeding.

I know Bailey and Sammy reacted to food that has corn. Horrible scratching and sores, ear infections. Maybe it wasn't so much the corn as lack of omega3s IDK... I am waiting for the percription homecook recipe and will try the hill k9. I am sure I have to have a precreption to buy the others and will have a bit of battle to change my vet.


The first vet seams to push the homecooking (he was the "on call" vet -I am not too sure of the back ground but seams to be at the clinic every other thurs. fri. sat-- he helped a lot when Bailey was ill last year) but the main vet seamed to push the hill k9 -- the office manager said a lot of dogs do not like it.

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Have you looked at the balance it canine k blend? It's a product you just add meat to. I'm sure any "kidney" diet you get from BI will be suitable as dr delaney is a vet nutritionist (board certified). He owns the company and is very helpful if you email him. He may be able to point you specifically to a diet and then your vet can just approve it.

I have filled out the information on the BI website... I called my vet and they said as soon as they get the fax they will approve it. Once I get the approval I will email Dr. D and go from there.

Thank you!!!

[Scoobstersmom]

Originally Posted by Lil Sis

I have filled out the information on the BI website... I called my vet and they said as soon as they get the fax they will approve it. Once I get the approval I will email Dr. D and go from there.

Thank you!!!

I can't urge you enough to think about joining the K9KidneyDiet group on Yahoo. The moderators are amazing and very knowledgeable about feeding a dog with kidney issues.

Diana

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by Scoobstersmom

I can't urge you enough to think about joining the K9KidneyDiet group on Yahoo. The moderators are amazing and very knowledgeable about feeding a dog with kidney issues.

Diana

thank you!! I just joined an I am waiting approval!

I already had one yahoo group..recipes for my vita mix so it was easy to join another.

[Scoobstersmom]

Originally Posted by Lil Sis

thank you!! I just joined an I am waiting approval!

I already had one yahoo group..recipes for my vita mix so it was easy to join another.

Awesome! You'll be amazed at the knowledge there. Also be sure to check out their files. They have some great recipes and will also help you design your own recipes for your baby.

Diana

[ladyjane]

I have had quite a few pups over the years with varying degrees of renal failure. The ones who were in early stages did very well on Purina NF. I found that they did not care for the Hill's KD all that much.

Two of them did well for many years...my Sassy was in early renal failure when she was probably around 6 and it did not get her until around the age of 17. So, she was on that food for all those years and did very well. Cody was on NF about 4 years before his kidneys got really bad. He passed when he was 12. And, I must add that their BUN and creatinine were monitored on a regular basis...AND there was improvement immediately after they were started on the RX foods.

I did homecook for those that were really bad and those who had other medical issues. In the last maybe 8 months, Cody had pancreatitis and renal failure so there really was not an RX food for that. Personally I would never homecook for a pup based upon what lay people advised....I am a firm believer in using board certified vet nutritionists so that all needs of the pup are met.

If you can home cook, I really think that is the best. I am right now waiting for the vet nutritionist to formulate a diet for my George. He has pancreatitis and I am worried that the RX food is not the best for him since he had some issues with severe diarrhea just last week again.

My Olivia has protein losing nephropathy and she is on Hills G/D for that.

[ladyjane]

Something else, Shinja....you mentioned protein loss. Does your vet think this is due to a UTI? If not, then further testing really should be done if he still is losing protein. If he has a protein losing nephropathy, that needs to be managed differently. My Olivia is on B/P meds and aspirin daily and also RX food (and not the renal diets!).

Cathy's Daisy has that as does my Olivia.

Here is some information on the UPC test:

Urine protein to creatinine ratio

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Something else, Shinja....you mentioned protein loss. Does your vet think this is due to a UTI? If not, then further testing really should be done if he still is losing protein. If he has a protein losing nephropathy, that needs to be managed differently. My Olivia is on B/P meds and aspirin daily and also RX food (and not the renal diets!).

Cathy's Daisy has that as does my Olivia.

Here is some information on the UPC test:

Urine protein to creatinine ratio

Thanks Linda

I'm on my way to the vet to get the food and to get a copy of the blood and urine test. I think I am confusing some of the terms and making myself scared. I know he has protein in his urine.. The vet said two out of three results were out of normal range. He said it was very early and diet should be all I need. I retest in 6 months.. Unless there are signs such as vomiting, difficulty utinating etc

I think I thought the protein in iron was the same as protein loss.. I think after doing more reading its not. So may be not as bad as I feared.

I will be back later.. Thanks to all of you for your advice

[MikaTallulah]

You could consult a vet nutritionist to come up with a homemade diet for you.



This is a pre made one with no Corn https://www.raynenutrition.com/(S(wz...%20Canine2.pdf

https://www.raynenutrition.com/(S(wz....aspx?page=crd. They will custom make for you.


Enjoy the time you have together.

[Lil Sis]

Thank you...

I am hoping it is not that bad. I have been reading everything I can find and I alter between confindence that I can deal with this and total break down that I will loose my baby.

Sorry.. just very tired.


At least he likes the hills k9...