Is Chicken Broth Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease

What Food Can I Make For My Dog With Kidney Disease

Brown rice is a popular ingredient in dog food for pups with kidney disease, thanks to its high digestibility. You can also give your pooch sources of lean protein that are moisture-rich and cooked when fresh. Some good options include beef without the fat, turkey breast, and chicken. Ideally, you want to opt for half meat and half veggies and grains.

Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs

While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals , I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made the world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.

On traditional dog food, Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. He was also low in his weight class, weighing in at just 64 pounds for a full-sized male Golden Retriever.

Since the dog food switch, he has been energetic, focused, and calmer. He has also put on about 15 pounds in just one year after switching to homemade food. On a traditional diet, were vacuuming at least once a day but now only 1-2x a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.

Video Answer: Maxx Homemade Chicken Dog Food For Kidney

Bone broth is especially ideal for sick and senior pets, as it is extremely easy to digest and is soothing for the gut. Although this healthy broth can be given to help pets heal and stay strong, it also works as an excellent supplement for any dog or cat at any age!

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What Meats Are Good For Kidney Disease

Fresh or frozen red meats without breading, marinades or sauce are better choices for a kidney diet. On average, fresh meat contains 65 mg of phosphorus per ounce and 7 grams of protein per ounce. Seafood is an excellent source of low-fat, high-quality protein.

Homemade Raw Or Store Bought: Discover The Best Dog Foods For Kidney Disease

So your vet just diagnosed your best friend with kidney disease. Your pet is not alone, 10 percent of dogs will be affected by the disease, and its especially evident in older dogs. While the truth is that kidney disease is a diagnosis that does not go away, the right diet can make a big difference in your pets overall health. Armed with adequate information and preparation, you can help your dog live a healthy life with kidney disease, and in some cases of acute kidney failure, you may even be able to turn the prognosis around.

In this article, youll learn more about kidney disease and renal failure, how to spot the signs in your dog, what can lead to the disease, and the benefits of a special diet. Discover the best types of treats to give a dog with kidney disease, how to make the switch to a renal-supportive diet, and what you need to know about proper meal prep. Experts will help you get to the bottom of common myths about renal diets for your dog.

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Helping Prevent Kidney Disease Through Diet

As with preventing many common ailments in cats and dogs, we always come back to nutrition. A natural, balanced diet high in protein with all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the right proportions will reduce stress on your pets organs and give them everything they need. In particular a moist diet, as with a raw meat-based diet, will help ensure proper hydration and therefore kidney function.

Early detection is the key, so it is important if your pet shows any signs or symptoms to get them checked by a vet. They will be able to perform further blood and urine tests to establish whether they are suffering from kidney disease and the severity. Get a check up with your vet twice a year and if you see changes in urination or water consumption seek their advice as soon as possible.

What To Look For In Chicken Broth For Dogs

As mentioned earlier, most chicken broths are perfectly safe for your pet, but there are a few things to watch out for. Chemical ingredients, add-ins toxic to dogs, or high sodium content are the biggest pitfalls. Brutus Broth for dogs is formulated specifically for canine needs and is a good off-the-shelf option.

Although Brutus Broth is formulated for dogs, it is still made from human-grade, natural ingredients. The product is made in the USA and comes in environmentally friendly, sustainable packaging. CARU Daily Dish chicken broth is another dog-formulated brand formulated by a veterinarian.

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Assuming you are looking in your own pantry and not sourcing chicken broth specifically made for dogs, here are a few recommendations. Low sodium Swanson broth is a good option for dogs as it only contains chicken stock, salt, natural flavoring, chicken fat, yeast extract, water, carrot juice, celery juice, and onion juice concentrate. Swanson Buyers Note: onions are toxic to dogs in certain amounts. It takes 100 grams of onion per 20 kilograms of a dogs weight to cause toxic effects. While you might be tempted to use organic label broths without looking at the label, that would be a mistake. For example, Pacific Foods organic chicken broth is seasoned with onion powder, and onions are toxic to dogs.

Features to look for in the best chicken broths:

• Low Sodium Content
• No Preservatives, Artificial Flavors Dyes
• Made in the USA

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Can Dogs Have Chicken Broth

In short, yeschicken broth is a generally safe addition to make to your dogs diet. I routinely recommend chicken broth as a palatability enhancer for dogs with picky appetites, says Dr. Valerie Parker, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and associate professor of clinical small animal internal medicine and nutrition in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

That said, be sure to take a look at the label before you feed your dog any ol store-bought chicken broth. Many broths contain additional ingredients like onion and garlic, both of which can be toxic to dogs, says Dr. Deborah E. Linder, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and research assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts.

Beyond this, even low-sodium broths can be very high in sodium, which may be a no-no depending on your dogs unique dietary needs, she says.

As is true any time you change your dogs diet, make sure to check in with your veterinarian before you add chicken broth to his food, especially if he has an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.

Ground White Meat Turkey

You may have noticed that turkey is a common ingredient in dog treats and dog food. Thoroughly cooked and drained ground white meat turkey, as long as it’s plain and has no additives or salt, is perfectly healthy for dogs. However, there are some parts of the turkey you should never feed to your pup. Obviously, never feed your dog turkey bones as they can splinter and cause serious problems for them. Also, the fat in turkey skin may cause pancreatitis, a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed and swollen, so you do not want to feed them the skin either. The seasoning added to pre-cooked store bought turkey and deli meat usually contains onion and garlic which can irritate your dog’s bowels and cause serious digestive issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

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Change His Feeding Situation

Being sick puts a lot of stress on a dog. It causes him to be less active, withdrawn, and just laid-back.

Because of this, he may need more private places to eat. Perhaps eating in the open is making him more anxious.

If there are other pets at home, try feeding the sick one alone.

Fights during meal times are not meant for sick pups. Again, it may not work but it certainly is worth trying.

Raw Diet For Dogs With Kidney Disease

One of the most recurring things about dogs with kidney disease is that they are easily dehydrated.

Frequent urination, vomiting, and diarrhea all cause large volumes of water to leave the dogs body.

To keep dehydration at bay, a raw diet is a good idea as it introduces moisture to the dogs body.

Typically, dry dog food has a moisture content of less than 10%.

Things like kibble strain the kidneys a great deal and can worsen the symptoms over time.

Wet food, on the other hand, has plenty of moisture.

A good balanced raw diet should have an abundance of high-quality protein, fruits, and vegetables.

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Preparing Meals For A Dog With Kidney Disease

Whatever you and your veterinarian decide to go with, whether canned or dry dog food, or fresh and cooked meats, the hardest thing about having a dog with kidney disease is often not what to fix but to make sure your dog is eating regularly, Dr. Bailey says.

“Dogs with kidney disease tend to have trouble keeping weight on,” Dr. Bailey says “They tend to not have a great appetite, so I would lean towards feeding your dog a few times a day.”

She adds that you’ll also want to make sure your dog has easy access to water. That’s vital for all dogs, of course, not to mention all living creatures, but especially so if your dog has kidney disease.

If your dog has not been diagnosed with it, it may be hard for you to know for sure whether your dog has kidney disease. But at least at feeding times and every time you fill the water bowl you can feel good knowing that you’re making a difference in your dogs quality of life and possibly extending his or her lifetime by years.

“As a general statement, a lot of what you do at home has a very good chance of extending your dog’s life,” Dr. Bailey says.

“We can only make the recommendations. What you do at home definitely matters in this case. It’s kind of like going to your cardiologist. They tell you to go on certain medications, and it’s your decision whether you do it or not,” she says. “Your pet’s health is to some extent in your hands, so you want to make sure you make good choices.”

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Potassium And Canine Kidney Disease

For dogs with kidney disease, potassium is another important electrolyte to consider. Because dogs with kidney disease may have potassium levels that are too low, many prescription low-phosphorus diets contain a higher level of potassium to offset that deficit.

However, in some cases, this higher level of potassium may be harmful to the dog. Although this is more likely to occur in dogs with acute kidney injury, dogs with chronic kidney disease may also end up with hyperkalemia . Thus, it is very important to work with your vet to find out how much potassium your dogs food should have.

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Is Chicken Broth Good For Dogs 5 Ways To Use It

When your pup is off his food, many pet owners are looking for ways to get them a little nutrition. And just like we turn to a soothing cup of chicken noodle soup, the stuff you have in the pantry might just do the trick. Chicken broth for dogs is one of the few home remedies that are veterinarian-approved. Just be careful about choosing a brand without harmful added ingredients.

In addition to some harmful chemical preservatives, common food ingredients like garlic or onion that might be added to commercial chicken broth can be toxic to your canine companions. The other big no-no is the high sodium content in many broths. Lets talk about what to look for and how to use chicken broth appropriately to supplement your dogs diet.

Final Thoughts on Chicken Broth for Dogs

Benefits Of Chicken Broth For Dogs

Ultimately, the main benefit of chicken broth for dogs is probably what you have in mind for it alreadyenticing your pup to eat when hes not feeling super hungry.

Pouring chicken broth over your dogs dry food can soften it up and add a flavor boost to a bland diet without further disrupting an upset stomach.

As for other health claimsa cure-all for gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and constipation, a shiny coat, and moreresearchers have yet to dig into them just yet.

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Bone Broth For Dogs With Joint Pain

One of the biggest claims about bone broth is that it can help dogs with arthritis or bone disease by providing collagen. This claim might be a bit overblown. While bone broth does contain collagen, there are currently no studies that verify whether or not this collagen helps with canine osteoarthritis or if dogs can even use this type of collagen to improve their bone and joint health.

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What Treats Can You Give A Dog With Kidney Failure

Treats have always been big in the canine world. No dog can say no to a bowl of delicious yogurt or chicken flavored greenies.

The one suffering from renal failure needs treats even more than a healthy one.

With the loss of appetite, a random snack in the middle of the day can make all the difference.

Healthy natural treats introduce all the right nutrients to your dogs body. They add vitamins and minerals without needing to be filtered by the kidneys that much.

The best thing about them is that they are readily available at home. You have probably stocked them in your pantry already. These include the following:

• Carrots: Packed with beta-carotene among other vitamins, carrots are great treats for virtually all dogs. They are crunchy, delicious, and nutritious and most pups love them. Just slice them into bite-sized pieces and offer the pup.

• Broccoli: You can also steam some broccoli and give it to the dog as a healthy treat in between meals. Roasted and raw work just as well.

• Apples: With a ton of fiber and nutrients, apples qualify as good treats for a sick dog.

• Green peas: Whether frozen or fresh, green peas are some of the most amazing treats for a pooch with kidney failure.

• Squash: Cooked squash is another super healthy treat for your beloved pet. Just choose dog-safe types of squash such as zucchini, yellow squash, and butternut squash.

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Snacks To Pair With Home Cooked Dog Food

• Peanut butter: Rascal has his own dedicated jar of peanut butter. He loves a traditional kong but you can also mold and freeze peanut butter in any shape for a quick frozen treat. When the jar is almost finished I break out my peanut butter spoon.
• Greek Yogurt Ice Cream: In the summer we blend up unflavored Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and peanut butter. Place a spoonful or two into a silicone cupcake pan and freeze for a few hours. These make for a great dog ice cream.
• Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes: Rascals favorite easy treat. We love bringing these over to family and friends houses so Rascal always has a healthy treat on hand.

Fermented Fish Stock For Dogs

Fermented fish stock is made from wild North Atlantic sardines. This stock is better than fish oil and is a healthy way to replace probiotics and supplements for joint, enzyme, thyroid, and kidney support.

Dogs with allergies should be fed beef or chicken broth if your dog is allergic to fish.

Serving Suggestion

Consider feeding 3-4 times per week using the following serving sizes*:

• Up to 20 pounds: ¼ cup per day
• 20 50 pounds: ½ cup per day
• 50 pounds and up: ¾ cup per day

Storage & Handling

Fermented fish stock can be stored in the freezer and thaw out over a few days in the fridge until needed. It usually lasts in the refrigerator for up to 14 days.

Benefits of Fermented Fish Stock

Joint Support Fermented fish stock contains glycosaminoglycans, which are a major component of glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and joint cartilage.

Thyroid Support Rich in iodine and other thyroid supportive nutrients.

Kidney Support Fermented fish stock is beneficial for pets with kidney disease who are put on a low protein diet. It reduces the bodys need for protein by up to 50%. Rich in arginine, fermented fish stock helps to metabolize protein waste and reduces blood pressure, which puts less strain on the kidneys.

Skin / Coat Support Ground fermented sardines provide a dense source of all Omega fatty acids, which are essential for optimal skin and coat health.

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Visible Kidney Disease Signs May Take Time

Kidneys are made up of microscopic nephrons. As your dog ages or if the kidneys become damaged, some nephrons begin to die and other reserve nephrons take over. Once there are no extra nephrons remaining, your dog may begin to display signs of kidney damage such as loss of appetite, weight loss, increased thirst, and anemia. However, this often only occurs once 75% of kidney function has been lost. This is why it so important you bring your dog to veterinarian at least once a year and remain vigilant for unusual signs in your dog’s behavior. It may help prevent your dog from developing kidney disease in the first place.

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