What Is Kidney Disease And Renal Failure
Kidneys are the two bean-shaped vital organs that have the primary tasks of taking waste out of your blood, balancing your body fluids, and making urine. In this manner, kidneys act as your bodys filter. Kidney disease occurs when kidneys have damage and cannot filter blood correctly. Over time, the damage accumulates and causes waste to build-up in the body, which can cause additional health problems, and eventually lead to kidney failure. In dogs, the kidneys use about 20 percent of their hearts blood to operate. Unlike the liver, kidneys cannot rejuvenate. Some other functions of the kidneys in the body are:
- Balancing the water level
- Regulating the red blood cells
- Regulating the acid level
Some causes of kidney problems, especially in acute kidney disease, are easy to diagnose and treat. The onset of CKD is slower, making the causes harder to diagnose and treat. Causes of acute kidney disease in dogs are the result of eating some type of toxins such as poisonous plants, antifreeze, certain medicines, or bad foods. Accidental ingestion of pesticides or the chemicals we use to rid our houses of pests is one of the top causes of acute kidney failure. Even natural human supplements, such as vitamin D, a supplement people take to help with a lack of sunshine can be very poisonous to your dogs organs.
These breeds are more predisposed to kidney disease and failure:
- English Cocker Spaniel
Is Tuna Fish Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease
Commercially available kidney support diets tend to be quite palatable because it is so important for these dogs to eat in a way that slows the progression of their CKD. If needed, adding water, tuna juice, or low sodium chicken broth may increase the flavor and acceptance.
Foods High In Potassium
People with kidney problems must avoid or limit food that are high in potassium. Damaged kidneys are not capable of processing these foods, so it leads to fatigue, muscle cramps and heart problems.
If you must have these fruits, ensure that you have very small portions, maybe just one or two cherry tomatoes for your salad and a few raisins with your oatmeal.
- Nuts, beans and legumes
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Can Dogs Eat Tuna In Water
Most tuna in water contains added salt some cans contain up to 40% more sodium than tuna in oil. While its not poisonous or dangerous for dogs, too much salt may lead to excessive thirst, which makes your dog drink more water than usual.
Can dogs eat tuna in water safely? You can feed your dog some canned tuna in water without worrying about toxic chemicals because tuna are low on the food chain and dont accumulate mercury.
Canned tuna with added spring water is usually lower in salt than standard canned tuna, so choose this variety if its available to you. Watch your dogs water intake if you feed him saltier types from time to time.
Case Of The Month: Pancreatitis And Renal Disease In A Dachshund + Two Recipes
This month I wanted to talk about nutritional management of two diseases that we see very commonly. A 9-year-old female spayed Dachshund was referred to us for a nutrition consult, as the referring veterinarian had correctly decided that there was no commercial therapeutic diet to suit this patient’s needs.
Commercial renal diets are too high in fat, and low fat gastrointestinal diets are too high in phosphorus . The owner had a preference to use turkey in one of the recipes, and also mentioned that the dog really enjoyed different kinds of fish. The nutritional goals for this patient were, therefore, to create a low fat, moderate to low protein, phosphorus-restricted diet, enriched with mixed fermentable fibre, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Unfortunately, it can be a challenge to create highly palatable recipes when both fat and
protein restriction are required. By necessity, these recipes contain mostly carbohydrate.
It is therefore important that for these cases, we make sure that the carbohydrate component of the diet is as tasty as possible. Sometimes we do this by using vegetables like sweet potato and pumpkin, and sometimes we add some homemade broth to the recipes, to add as much flavour as possible.
Protein restriction is a more debated goal, and will the sole topic of an upcoming blog post. To summarise, there are three main reasons why restriction of dietary protein for renal patients is recommended:
Required ingredients:
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Can Cats Eat Tuna
Fresh tuna or human-grade canned tuna are both not suitable as a major part of your cats diet.
While tuna isnt on the toxic foods list for cats, it certainly cannot be recommended if you wish to feed your feline friend a balanced diet.
This is because neither fresh nor canned tuna is nutritionally balanced and complete for cats and over time, deficiencies can develop.
There are also potential issues with nutrient excesses.
A nutritionally balanced and complete diet is one that has the appropriate protein, carbohydrate, fats, vitamins and minerals in the amount for that stage of life.
Different Types Of Tuna
There are more than 20 different species of tuna fish. Only about five of those species appear regularly on peoples plates. These include skipjack, yellowfin, albacore, bigeye, and bluefin.
Can dogs eat tuna fish? To a certain extent, this could depend on the size of the tuna fish being served. For example, the relatively small skipjack tuna weighs around 42 pounds at maturity. Contrast this with the bluefin, which can weigh a robust 1,000 pounds or more!
This is relevant because, well, you dont even need to guess which tuna has more mercury. The albacore tuna is the next smallest fish, weighing in at around 73 pounds at adulthood. Mature yellowfin and bigeye tuna tend to weigh in around 400 pounds. So when feeding tuna fish for dogs, always choose skipjack or albacore tuna for a lower mercury content per serving. Research shows that each fish has the following mercury content:
- Skipjack . 0.12 parts per million.
- Albacore . 0.32 parts per million.
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Is Broccoli Good For Kidney Disease
Cabbage, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are all from the cruciferous family of vegetables. Theyre on the alkaline side, making your diet less acidic and providing less pressure on your kidneys. Plus, they are loaded with vitamins A and C, as well as calcium and other important minerals.
Can Dogs With Kidney Disease Eat Tuna
When your dog has persistent health problems, such as kidney disease, they will need a significant nutritional overhaul to keep healthy. Some researchers have found that pets who eat diets tailored to their condition may live twice as long as those who consume a general diet.
Can dogs eat tuna safely with kidney disease? In general, a diet tailored for dogs suffering from chronic kidney disease should have less protein, phosphorus, and salt consumption while having more omega-3 fatty acids.
Tuna is a fantastic supplier of omega 3 fatty acids, but its also high in protein. In addition, if canned tuna has been kept in brine, its more likely to be salty. So unless your dogs vet tells you otherwise, it is recommended to look for an alternative omega-3 fatty acid source for your dog.
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Can Dogs Eat Tuna And How Much Can They Have
Tuna is fine when consumed in moderation, but dont feed your dog tuna daily because it will increase the amount of mercury in his tissues.
Feed them one tablespoon of any tuna. Avoid feeding your dog simply because he is hungry. Keep the quantity of tuna you give your dog to a minimum, and only offer it to him once or twice a week. When giving your dog new food, start with a tiny amount and observe for any symptoms of illness.
If you have a big dog, feed them no more than a can of tuna every seven days, and dont offer them one every week. Because small dogs have a reduced tolerance, they should eat even less: as little as half a can per week. Do not let your dog eat an entire tin of tuna in one sitting, regardless of their size.
Can dogs eat tuna every week? If you give your dog tuna, dont give them any more for a few weeks. Larger dogs can consume tuna again sooner than smaller breeds, but most people take the cautious side and keep tuna as a special treat.
To be safe, avoid feeding your dog tuna regularly. A spoonful of tuna in their dinner every few weeks should not cause any problems. So, if youre making yourself a tuna sandwich or a pasta bake, save the rest of the fish for an occasional treat for your dog.
Rethink What Treats You Give Or Eliminate Them Altogether
Many dog treats contain high levels of protein, phosphorus and sodium, so youll want to rethink what treats you offer your dog with CKD. Treats that are high in protein and, subsequently, phosphorus include treats such as jerky, deli meats, cheese, rawhides, pig ears and others made predominantly with meat or meat meals. High-salt-containing treats to avoid include cheese, deli meat, bread and many commercial dog treats.
While forgoing treats altogether is always an option, it isnt necessarily a practice that most dog owners want to stop. So instead, you can substitute low-protein and -sodium options such as baby carrots, green beans, broccoli, apple slices, banana or air-popped popcorn without salt or butter. You can also use a canned kidney diet to make homemade treats.
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Is Canned Tuna Fish Good For Dogs
Among the many edible species of fish, tuna is not good for your dog with kidney disease. The protein in this fish is rich in thiamine, an anti-inflammatory. The meat of tuna is also high in potassium and contains several B vitamins. However, canned tuna is high in sodium. This is because tuna lives in salty waters and can absorb a lot of the salt when cooked.
A diet for a dog with kidney disease should limit the protein content of the pets diet while increasing the intake of dietary omega-3 fatty acids. Fish such as tuna are an excellent source of these omega-3 fatty acids. Despite being high in animal protein, they are not dangerous for dogs with kidney disease, and they will most likely enjoy it. Tuna is a good addition to your dogs diet as a treat, but be careful not to overfeed it. Salmon is another good source of omega-3 fatty acids and contains less sodium.
Adult dogs with kidney disease should avoid eating too much tuna. Tuna contains higher levels of mercury than smaller tuna. But, small amounts can be fed to your dog only occasionally. Make sure that you buy light tuna in stakes to ensure a good quality. Also, you should avoid giving your dog fishbones or bones. These bones may aggravate kidney disease in your dog. Ensure that your dog eats fishbone-free tuna, as fishbones can penetrate the digestive tract and exacerbate the condition.
What To Eat And What Not To
Food is not just the fuel that makes your body run. What you eat forms the building blocks for your cells. You really are what you eat. So, your food can, and does, affect your health. When you have CKD, one way to feel better and protect your kidneys is to take a fresh look at what you eat. See if you might want to make some changes to your diet. Your care team may give you some tips as well.
Foods that are close to nature like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and peas, whole grains, and lean meats are best for your body. Food that comes in a can, box, jar, or bag has been processed in a factory. Most processed foods have lots of chemicals, preservatives, and fillers . Some, like natural peanut butter, canned beans, or frozen vegetables, are good choices. How do you know which are good? READ LABELS. When a food has more than a few ingredients or a fresh food, like meat or fish, has an ingredient list at all be wary. Look for foods that have no more than five or six ingredients. You may want to make a fresh choice.
Most food cans in the U.S. are lined with bisphenol A . BPA has been linked with high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Many canned foods tend to be very high in salt or sugar and highly processed, too. Glass jars or shelf safe cartons dont have BPA.
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Why Is Knowing About Protein Important For Someone With Advanced Ckd
Protein is an essential part of any diet. Proteins help build and maintain muscle, bone, skin, connective tissue, internal organs, and blood. They help fight disease and heal wounds. But proteins also break down into waste products that must be removed from the blood by the kidneys. Eating more protein than the body needs may put an extra burden on the kidneys and cause kidney function to decline faster.
Health care providers recommend that people with CKD eat moderate or reduced amounts of protein. However, restricting protein could lead to malnutrition, so people with CKD need to be careful. The typical American diet contains more than enough protein. Learning about portion sizes can help people limit protein intake without endangering their health.
What Homemade Food Is Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease
For dogs with renal health issues, feed them a diet of high-quality protein with low phosphorus and sodium, and added omega-3 fatty acids, such as a mix of good quality meat, veggies like bell peppers, and either a supplement of omega-3s or fish, flax, sardines, or anchovies.
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What Is A Chronic Kidney Disease Diet
A CKD diet limits protein, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. Liquids may also need to be limited in later stages of CKD. This diet can help slow down the rate of damage to your kidneys. Your diet may change over time as your health condition changes. You may also need to make other diet changes if you have other health problems, such as diabetes.
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Diet For Dogs With Kidney Disease
If you would like to arrange for a consultation, please and we will be happy to advise.
There are two types of kidney disease chronic and acute.
Acute kidney disease tends to present very suddenly and is more easily reversed than chronic forms of the disease.
On the other hand, chronic kidney disease is more long term and doesnt always present suddenly, but instead can develop over time.
Unsurprisingly, the treatment and prognosis for dogs diagnosed with CKD differs to that for dogs with an acute form of the disease.
This post will focus on chronic kidney disease, not acute kidney disease.
What the kidneys do
The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and produce urine. The waste products removed by the kidneys are generated from old cells, the digestive process , medications and even poisons.
The filtering is done by a network of over 1 million tiny tubes called nephrons. As blood passes from the capillaries through the nephrons, essential chemicals and molecules are kept, but waste products are removed and passed into urine collecting tubes. They are then expelled from your dogs body with water as urine.
But filtering blood isnt all these small but complex organs do. The kidneys also help regulate
- The amount of water in the blood
- Urine production
On top of all this, the kidneys produce three important hormones:
Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease
These include:
- Blood in the urine
- Lack of appetite and weight loss
Learn more
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Can Dogs With Kidney Problems Eat Chicken
Whether you like the word wet or not, its important to keep it in mind while feeding a dog with renal disease. An internet essay about how its the worst word ever went viral and had four million views.
Since kidneys are made entirely of water. Everyones kidneys benefit from water as it aids in the removal of blood waste, which the body excretes as urine.
According to Los Angeles-based holistic veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney, When a dog is experiencing kidney failure, its crucial that his food is moist to offer much-needed hydration. He runs California Pet Acupuncture and Wellness and treats cancer patients at the Veterinary Cancer Group using a holistic approach.
According to Dr. Mahaney, renal failure occurs when the body is unable to adequately excrete toxins through the kidneys. Therefore, in order to remove nitrogen, creatinine, phosphorous, and other metabolic wastes from the body, more moisture is required. As a result, my main suggestion is to offer a diet that is low in sodium, moistened by water, and free of vegetables of the onion and garlic variety.
This does not necessarily imply that you should only purchase canned kidney-diet-specific dog food or that you should avoid kidney-diet-specific dry dog food.
According to Dr. Mahaney, protein sources should also be highly bioavailable, which indicates that the nutrients will be easily absorbed and wont put too much strain on the bodys digestive system.
How Do Nutritional Requirements Differ For Dogs With Ckd
Water. Diseased kidneys are not as effective at excreting waste products from the body through the urine. One consequence of CKD is a decreased ability of the kidneys to concentrate the urine. In order to continue to rid the body of its toxins despite more dilute urine, the body compensates by stimulating greater thirst. This makes it critical for you to provide your dog with an unlimited supply of fresh water. Canned food can help increase your dog’s intake of moisture. To encourage more water intake, change your pets water several times a day and clean your pets water bowl daily.
Protein. Decreased dietary protein appears to slow the progression of CKD by decreasing the workload on the kidneys to excrete protein waste products. Less protein also means less need for the excretion of protein itself through the filtration mechanism of the kidney, which helps preserve kidney function. The recommended range of protein on a dry matter basis for dogs with CKD is less than or equal to 14-20%.
Phosphorus. Limiting dietary phosphorus in dogs with CKD appears to help delay the progression of CKD, although the precise mechanism is unknown. The recommended phosphorus range on a dry matter basis for dogs with CKD is 0.2-0.5%. Since phosphorus content is related to protein content, it is impossible to achieve these lower levels of phosphorus without limiting protein content.
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