Kidney disease can be a difficult diagnosis to navigate for your pet. Your veterinarian may suggest various medications, therapeutic diets and other treatment strategies to help manage his condition and promote better wellness.
A kidney diet is typically lower in protein and sodium to lessen the strain on your dog’s kidneys. Additionally, it contains antioxidants, soluble fiber and omega-3 fatty acids to promote your pet’s overall wellbeing.
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Medications
Kidney disease in dogs is a common illness that can be treated with medication, fluid injection therapy and diet. Medications help lower blood pressure and decrease the amount of protein your pup excretes in their urine.
When your vet prescribes medications for your pup, it is essential that they be given separately from food time. Doing this helps avoid your pup developing an adverse reaction to medicine administration.
Selecting a special diet to support kidney health is essential for helping your pet manage kidney disease. These meals have reduced salt levels, which helps ease the strain placed on the kidneys.
These foods tend to be lower in phosphorus, which reduces the amount of waste that enters your dog’s bloodstream when protein breaks down. Furthermore, they tend to be low in fat since excess fat can make your pup’s kidneys work harder.
There are also supplements you can give your pup that may help treat kidney disease. These include S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e), milk thistle extract and ursodiol.
Therapeutic Diets
Therapeutic diets are often used in treating kidney disease. Veterinarians and nutritionists create them to provide dogs with essential nutrients, such as lower levels of protein, sodium and phosphorus plus more omega-3 fatty acids.
Kidney failure, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), can occur over time and affect up to 10% of dogs. The condition causes an accumulation of waste products in the bloodstream called uremia which makes the dog very ill.
In most cases, CKD is treated with a combination of medications and dietary restrictions. This helps slow the progression of the condition and ensures your kidneys work more efficiently.
Dietary modifications have been proven to help control clinical signs associated with uremic toxins accumulation and improve quality of life for those suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). These may include restricting dietary protein, decreasing phosphorus and sodium intake, as well as supplementing with potassium, B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.
Stages of Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can be divided into five stages, which your doctor will identify based on a blood test called an estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR. These stages help them better comprehend your CKD and make informed decisions regarding treatment options.
Stages of kidney disease range from mild kidney impairment to complete failure, but most people with CKD remain stable in between and don’t require dialysis or transplant surgery.
In the early stages of Canine Kidney Disease (CKD), feeding your pup a high protein diet may be recommended. However, some vets suggest switching to a lower-protein diet as their kidneys may not be able to absorb as much of this vital nutrition.
When feeding your pup a lower protein dog food, it is also essential to reduce the level of phosphorus in their food as this can further damage their kidneys. Normalizing their blood phosphorus concentration will help slow down kidney disease progression and extend their lifespan.
Feeding Your Dog
Feeding your dog with kidney disease can be a big adjustment for both of you. Your vet will likely suggest an individualized therapeutic diet that includes reduced levels of sodium, protein and phosphorus in certain items.
These diets contain increased amounts of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and strain on the kidneys. They may also be supplemented with potassium in order to better regulate blood pressure or lower a dog’s likelihood of developing hypertension.
A therapeutic kidney diet should be low in sodium, as this increases blood pressure and worsens any kidney damage that has already taken place. Furthermore, a low-sodium diet helps control edema (fluid retention) due to kidney failure.
As your dog’s kidneys deteriorate, they are no longer able to effectively filter out waste products. This results in decreased concentration of urine, leading to increased thirst and frequent urination.
