Need To Put Weight On A Kidney Compromised Nine Year Old

[gracegirl]

Fenway was diagnosed with "minor kidney damage of an unspecified origin" a few years ago, probably when he was around 5 or 6. He is now nine and has his picky days that he doesn't want to eat his food. He eats Iams Healthy Naturals lamb. I have to make sure he's fed a food with 20% protein or less. He is otherwise in good health, I'd just like him to gain weight.

 

What home cooked recipe can I feed a kidney compromised dog that will help him gain weight?

[JAJ2010]

Green tripe! It's perfectly balanced and extremely low in phosphorus. I only know this because I thought Rainy was having kidney issues. So I freaked out and researched while we waited for a vet app.

[gracegirl]

Ugh. I don't know if my fiancé would be thrilled about that. He's not fond of the times I've given the dogs sardines.

[greysmom]

I don't know how you feel about Dr Dodds, but here's a link to the kidney diet on this site. Scroll down to the bottom

 

http://www.nutriscan.org/knowledge-center/cleansing-diets.html?utm_source=tumblr&utm_medium=blog%20post&utm_campaign=liver2014Q2

 

If he can do dairy, cottage cheese is a good food - low in protein but you can get it higher in fat. You might also try large bred puppy food, which will also be lower in protein, but higher in calories. Sweet potatoes and pasta will also help add calories to his diet. You'll want to avoid things like satin balls as the protein will be too high for his compromised kidney function.

 

Smooches for Fenway!

[gracegirl]

I don't know how you feel about Dr Dodds, but here's a link to the kidney diet on this site. Scroll down to the bottom

 

http://www.nutriscan.org/knowledge-center/cleansing-diets.html?utm_source=tumblr&utm_medium=blog%20post&utm_campaign=liver2014Q2

 

If he can do dairy, cottage cheese is a good food - low in protein but you can get it higher in fat. You might also try large bred puppy food, which will also be lower in protein, but higher in calories. Sweet potatoes and pasta will also help add calories to his diet. You'll want to avoid things like satin balls as the protein will be too high for his compromised kidney function.

 

Smooches for Fenway!

Thank you! I'll try cottage cheese and will look for a large breed puppy food. Good ideas.

 

He's a weirdly picky guy. He's not a fan of rice or pasta. Eggs are his favorite food.

[smurfette]

I add rice bran oil to my older boys diet. It is like natural anabolic steroids, helps with muscle building. My nearly 12 year old is healthier and more energetic than before the new oil.

[macoduck]

Percy gets a couple of tablespoons of the Select Pet chicken (in the refrigerated section of pet foods), with the OK of my vet.

[cleptogrey]

my kidney compromised scottie kept his weight up with rice and pasta. the carbs do it every time. he lived on a limited diet well past his anticipated life span, he had addison's disease and was on steroids since he was 2 years old. he made it to 12!!!

[XTRAWLD]

What about lentils? I don't know if they are too high in protein however for a kidney pup.

[gracegirl]

He's obsessed with cottage cheese now. Thanks!

[greysmom]

Welcome!

[gracegirl]

Well that only lasted a few days. Now we're back to not eating, even with the cottage cheese. I might have to start adding eggs and cheddar cheese to all meals now. He loves eggs.

[sobesmom]

Egg whites are better than whole eggs for dogs with kidney issues. But you can do scrambled, fried, boiled, etc egg whites. Bread is good! Toast, bagels, etc. Add no-salt butter to everything (fat is GOOD).

 

Loss of appetite is pretty normal for the kidney-compromised. Switch up the food often. Find other brands of commercial food that are appropriate, wet and dry and switch them out every couple days. Variety is now your new spice of life. Add-ins are important now. Calories!

 

Do a search on GT for my posts about Diana, or anything kidney-related. Tons of good info here.

Well that only lasted a few days. Now we're back to not eating, even with the cottage cheese. I might have to start adding eggs and cheddar cheese to all meals now. He loves eggs.

It's normal that something wonderful doesn't last long with a kidney dog. Rotate the add-ins.

[cleptogrey]

i would like to add that after boosting felix's carb intake he's up to the weight i like him at. he dropped a good 4+ lbs between being boarded and going on a low fat diet(87 calories less per cup). i have been cooking oatmeal, rice(white), small pasta(orzo) and yams or white potatoes and mashing them up and adding this gruel to his food. in one month, just adding 2 heaping tablespoons per meal. the carbs are easy on the kidneys and boy do they like that oatmeal!