Only dogs whose kidney failure is advanced need very low-protein diets.

by CJ Puotinen

Every day, thousands of dogs are diagnosed with kidney disease. The first suggestion most conventional veterinarians make is to switch from whatever the dog has been eating to a low-protein “kidney diet” food. Clients are sent home with bags or cans of “prescription” food and warned not to feed high-protein foods or treats of any kind.

Pay attention to your dog’s water consumption; it’s an important clue as the state of his kidneys. Make sure he’s got plenty of fresh, pure water at all times.

Most dogs, even chow hounds, approach their new, low-protein food with suspicion, since these diets are generally much less palatable than foods that contain more animal protein. Many refuse to eat. Conventional veterinarians are used to this response and tell their clients to stick to the new food for their dogs’ own good.…

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