Kidney problems are fairly common in dogs especially as they age. Just like in humans, dog kidneys remove the waste materials and toxins from the dog. Animals, like humans, waste throughout
the day as part of living and then expel them when they urinate. And just like humans, when the kidneys fail, the wastes and toxins begin to build up in the blood.

If not caught quickly enough though, build up can begin to cause damage and failure of other organs leading to death. One of the earliest signs of kidney disease in dogs, if any signs even show up, is increased drinking of water and urination. Owners may find their dogs having to urinate more during the night or the dog may begin to have accidents. Some owners take away water from the dog to prevent them from urinating so much, however this will only cause more damage to the kidneys.

Other signs of chronic kidney disease include lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, weight loss, bad breath with a chemical odor, oral ulcers, and a pale appearance. When the owner begins to notice any of the above symptoms or any other changes they should schedule an appointment with the vet. A dog’s system is very sensitive to changes and toxins in their blood, so symptoms may show up very quickly.

The vet’s advice and analysis is the cornerstone of any meal plans for the owner’s dog. The recommendations they make will be based on careful analysis of the dog. They will make the best recommendations based on all the facts, their experience and their training. Your vet will also indicate the amount of food your dog should eat and what kinds.

Fortunately, as CKD is a common problem in dogs, renal feed for dogs can be found in many pet food stores. The vet may also recommend alternatives. Dogs with chronic kidney disease also require a great deal of water. While this will result in increased urination, they will dehydrate faster and need the fluid. The dehydration can become so bad, they may have to be rushed to an animal hospital and receive fluids intravenously.

In any dog diet it is important to eliminate any and all salt. This is important as salt can cause further damage to your pet. This damage can include fluid retention, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, mild intoxication, loss of appetite, excessive sleep, further kidney damage and frequent urination.

There are several features to the diet of a dog with chronic kidney disease. The diet must be low in phosphorus and sodium. Before designing the dog’s diet, be sure to learn from the vet how much
food is appropriate for the dog.

What follows is a recipe which may be very nutritious to the dog while
being easy on the kidneys.

The recipe needs the following ingredients:

• Rice
• Turkey meat
• Liver

For this recipe, there is a simple ratio for water to rice For each cup of rice use two cups of water and cook for 20 minutes. Clean the turkey meat thoroughly and cut the turkey into small pieces.

Add the turkey meat to the rice after ten minutes. Allow the meal to cool once it is done cooking.

To prepare the liver, boil another pan of water and add the liver when the water is boiling. While it should take five minutes to cook the liver will lose its reddish tone and become more brownish when it is ready. Rinse the liver with cold water and remove any white foamy slime.
The liver should than be cooked at 200 degrees in the over. While it normally takes 20 minutes to complete, the liver will become tough when it is ready.

But, if the liver separates in two pieces when removed, it needs to be cooked some more. When it is done cooking, allow it to cool and cut it into small pieces.Then, mix the rice, turkey and liver and serve to your dog.

Note, while liver is very good for your dog, it should not be serve to the dog more than twice a week.

Other ingredients can be substituted to mix it up and add a little variety. Rice can be substituted for pasta or polenta, while turkey can be switched out for chicken or beef. Boiled potatoes can be added into the recipes but not an excessive amount.

For more kidney friendly tips for your pets, be sure to check out our article backlog.