A dog with kidney disease requires a special diet. The diet must be high in protein and low in sodium, phosphorus and potassium. Vet approved homemade recipes for kidney failure include the following: Potato Dog Food recipe and Low Sodium Chicken Dog Food recipe.

Dogs with kidney failure have different dietary requirements than healthy dogs. It can be difficult to decide which homemade dog food recipes are suitable for your pet, so we’ve put together a guide of vet approved kidney friendly recipes that you can use as a starting point for producing tasty homemade kibble!

Dog food for kidney failure

Introduction

If your dog has kidney failure, you may be wondering what food to feed them. Here are our picks for the best foods for dogs with kidney disease, plus a few tips on what to look out for when choosing the right food. The top pick is Hills Prescription Diet K/D Kidney Care dry dog food, which was formulated by veterinarians specifically to help dogs with chronic kidney disease and contains high levels of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

Our top pick: Hill’s Prescription Diet K/D kidney care dry food

Hill’s Prescription Diet K/D is our top pick for kidney disease. It’s formulated to control phosphorus levels, which are often elevated in dogs with kidney disease. This formula also helps support the overall health of your dog’s kidneys by providing antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

The high-quality ingredients in this food have been shown to be well-tolerated by dogs with kidney disease, making it a safe choice for your pet. There are no artificial colors or flavors added; instead you will find natural ingredients like chicken and rice in this tasty dry kibble that appeals to most dogs’ palates!

Runner-up: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Renal Support E dry dog food

• High-quality protein
• Low phosphorus, sodium, potassium and magnesium
• Low calcium and fat
• Low sugar and cholesterol
• Very low calories (less than 1%) but high in protein (30%) and fiber (8%).

Best budget: Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management Chicken & Whole Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

If you’re looking for a budget food, Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management Chicken & Whole Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is a good choice. It’s a complete and balanced diet for adult dogs that helps maintain weight.

This food is formulated to address the needs of overweight or obese dogs with kidney disease: it has lower protein and fat levels than regular diets, plus added fiber to help manage blood sugar levels. The brown rice in this formula provides natural sources of antioxidants and vitamins, which can help reduce oxidative stress on the kidneys.

Best for senior dogs: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Advanced Care Formula

If you’re looking for a special diet for your senior dog, the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Advanced Care Formula is the answer. This formula contains optimal levels of protein, phosphorus, sodium, fat and calories to help manage the chronic kidney disease in your dog.

This food is high in fiber and has low sugar which helps prevent constipation that many dogs face as they age. The food also contains higher levels of B vitamins to keep their skin healthy while reducing red blood cell breakdown which can lead to anemia or fatigue. The added potassium helps reduce muscle cramping and stiffness while providing essential electrolytes needed by your senior dog’s body every day no matter how active he may be at any given time during his life with you!

Best for small dogs: CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Small Breed Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

If you have a small dog, this food is the best choice.

It’s made with high-quality ingredients, including fresh deboned chicken, turkey meal and salmon meal. The recipe is also grain-free for sensitive tummies. Plus, it contains CANIDAE’s signature LifeSource Bits—a blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that make up 1/3 of the formula to help support your pup’s overall health.

This formula contains no grains or gluten so it’s easy on sensitive tummies; plus it has a limited ingredient list so no added fillers are needed! Your pup will love the taste (and so will you).

Best for large dogs: Solid Gold High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food with Real Beef and Sweet Potatoes

If you have a large dog, the best food for kidney failure is Solid Gold High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food with Real Beef and Sweet Potatoes. This premium dog food provides optimal nutrition to help your pet maintain muscle mass as well as prevent them from losing weight during their treatment.

This recipe contains only 6 percent carbohydrates, so it’s suitable for both cats and dogs suffering from kidney disease.

It also has a low-fat content (4 percent), which reduces inflammation in the body of pets who are prone to scarring or organ failure due to chronic renal issues. It’s also free of salt, sugar, phosphorus and protein additives that may cause irritation or inflammation in some pets with kidney disease.

Best for high-fat requirements : ProPac Ultimates Senior High Fat Diet Wet Dog Food

• High in fat, low in protein. For dogs with kidney failure that need to lose weight and help their kidneys, ProPac Ultimates Senior High Fat Diet is a good option because it provides the extra calories needed without as much protein as other dog foods. It’s also low in phosphorus compared to some other brands, which helps prevent further damage to the kidneys.
• High in calories and low in phosphorus. If you’re looking for a calorie-dense food that won’t cause your dog’s phosphorus levels to rise too quickly, then consider a higher fat content like Wellness Core Grain Free Dry Dog Food or Taste of the Wild Grain Free Wet Dog Food (limited ingredient versions). These options provide more calories than most wet foods while being less likely to cause your pet’s phosphorus levels to spike up.

Best for low protein requirements : Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Chicken Canned Dog Food

A low-protein diet is a good option for dogs with renal failure, especially if your vet has recommended it. This dog food has a low protein content of 1.5% and can be fed to dogs with renal insufficiency, renal disease and renal failure.

Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Chicken Canned Dog Food is also suitable for dogs that have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension or congestive heart failure.

Best wet dog food : Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet

• Low phosphorus
• Low protein
• Low sodium
• Low fat
• Low ash (this is important for kidney failure dogs)6. Low calories7. Low magnesium

A suitable diet will depend on an individual dog, so consult your veterinarian about what to feed your dog.

A suitable diet will depend on an individual dog, so consult your veterinarian about what to feed your dog.

Your veterinarian may recommend a veterinary renal diet. These diets are specially formulated with low-protein and phosphorus content, which can help slow the progression of kidney disease in adult dogs. If you decide to feed a special renal diet, it should be combined with water intake restriction because too much fluid in combination with high-protein foods can increase blood pressure and strain already compromised kidneys.

Some vets recommend feeding regular kibble as long as it’s not high in phosphorus (phosphorus is another name for protein). However, there are concerns about whether or not these foods will provide enough nutrition for a dog experiencing kidney failure; some experts believe that these types of foods may cause nutritional deficiencies that could hurt more than they help by increasing the risk of other health issues like dehydration or muscle wasting (muscle atrophy).

Conclusion

Even though kidney failure can be a stressor, it doesn’t mean you have to give up having fun and enjoying life with your pet. You just need to do your research, know what to look for in the best dog food for kidney failure, and make sure you’re knowledgeable about the latest treatment options. With these two things taken care of, it’s easy as pie!