Why a Low Protein Diet for Kidney Disease in Dogs? What are other important features?
The following is a guest blog by Dr. Travis Atkins, DVM, Nutritionist at SquarePet Pet Food
Low protein, low phosphorus
dog food is the most commonly recommended food for kidney disease – why is
this? Dietary therapy is a key component
to the management of kidney disease in dogs as it plays two important
roles. The first is to provide specific
nutrition to help prevent the progression of the disease. The second is to support a better quality of
life by helping to control or limit the clinical signs of kidney disease that
make our pets feel sick or unwell.
What do healthy kidneys
do?
Kidneys play a very
important role within the body. They
help to filter the body of waste and harmful substances while keeping vitamins,
proteins, hormones and other important substances in the bloodstream.
Low Protein Dog Food
Veterinary diets for kidney
disease contain lower amounts of protein.
The rationale for this rests in the kidneys lack of ability to process
protein when they are no longer healthy.
Normal and healthy kidneys filter out the bad stuff but hold onto the
proteins to keep them in the bloodstream.
As kidney disease worsens the ability of the kidneys to handle protein
decreases. Just like an old worn-out
kitchen strainer the protein molecules are able to escape the kidneys and end
up in the urine (called proteinuria). An
oversimplified explanation is that as more protein sneaks through the kidneys,
the more severe the kidney disease can become.
Offering a high quality low
protein dog food will limit the amount of protein introduced to the
kidneys. This controlled reduction in
protein helps to not overwhelm the kidneys abilities and therefore helps to
slow down the progression of disease itself as well as support a higher quality
of life.
Low Phosphorus Dog Food
To start, what is
phosphorus? It is a mineral found in the
foods we eat and plays many important roles within the body. Healthy kidneys will remove any extra
phosphorus that may be present in our pet's bodies but as kidney function
deteriorates the kidneys can't remove it as well. The result is extra or excess phosphorus
accumulating in the bloodstream (called hyperphosphatemia). Holding onto extra phosphorus in the
bloodstream is one of the most common consequences of kidney disease and can
lead to many other health implications.
Retention of phosphorus can lead to further kidney dysfunction,
weakening of bones and muscles as well as hormone regulation problems.
A high quality low
phosphorus dog food strictly limits the total amount of phosphorus it
contains. This is typically less than
0.4% on a dry matter basis. Controlling
the amount of phosphorus that is introduced to the kidneys helps to prevent the
progression of kidney disease and improve quality of life.
In addition to a low
protein, low phosphorus dog food – what are other features that are important
when looking for a high quality kidney diet for dogs?
Highly Digestible Protein
Sources
-
When limiting
the total amount of protein in a kidney diet it is extremely important to make
sure that the protein that is being consumed is of high quality, contains all
of the essential amino acids needed as well as being very digestible. Eggs are natures perfect protein and are what
is used as a bench mark when comparing other protein sources. Eggs and fresh meat sources can be excellent
considerations.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids DHA
& EPA
-
Kidney diets
for dogs should contain quality sources of the Omega 3 fatty acids DHA &
EPA. These types of fatty acids are very
commonly found in fish oils and are known for their anti-inflammatory
properties which can help support kidney disease.
B-Vitamins
-
Unfortunately
dogs with kidney disease tend to urinate more than their healthy
counterparts. A result of this is the excess
loss of many water soluble vitamins, namely B-vitamins. Kidney diets for dogs should be supplemented
with slightly higher amounts of these B-vitamins to help maintain vitamin
storage pools within the body.
Antioxidants
-
Oxidation or
free radical damage can be a contributing factor in the progression of kidney
disease. Supplementing kidney diets with
potent antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E have been shown to be
beneficial to pets with kidney disease and help slow the progression.
Prescription or
Non-Prescription Dog Food for Kidney Disease
There are many choices to
choose from when selecting a kidney diet for dogs. There are prescription veterinary kidney
diets, homemade low phosphorus dog food recipes and other non-prescription low
phosphorus dog food options becoming available.
A veterinarian can help make the best choice based on the specific needs
of an individual dog.