How To Make Homemade Dog Food for Dogs with Kidney Disease

Rocky Kanaka   |  

Jun 16, 2023

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If your dog has been diagnosed with kidney disease, there’s no need to panic! There are plenty of things you can do to help your dog live a happy life with kidney disease, including cooking healthy meals for them. 

In this guide, we’re covering what you need to know about making homemade dog food for kidney disease, including foods to avoid, important things to include, and veterinarian-approved recipes. 

Foods To Avoid Giving a Dog with Kidney Disease

Diet has an enormous effect on the progression of canine kidney disease since the kidneys play a role in processing food and nutrients in your dog’s body. By feeding your dog a balanced diet approved for dogs with renal disease, you can help prevent the disease from progressing more quickly and treat symptoms to give your dog a happier, healthier life. 

In addition to feeding your dog the right foods, you’ll also need to learn what not to feed your dog with renal disease. Remember, most of these foods can still be fed to your dog in moderation, but they shouldn’t be a key source of nutrition for your dog. 

Protein

A dog with renal disease still needs protein, but you should avoid feeding high-protein diets like raw diets. Reducing protein intake can help reduce strain on the kidneys, which can in turn help to slow the disease progression. 

Fat

Like protein, fat is still necessary for your dog to get proper nutrition, even if they have renal disease. You don’t need to cut fat out of your dog’s diet entirely, but vets do recommend reducing your dog’s fat intake following a kidney disease diagnosis. Some high-fat foods to remove or limit from your dog’s diet include:

• Fatty meats 
• Dairy
• Vegetable oils

Phosphorus

By reducing your dog’s protein intake, you’ll naturally be reducing their phosphorus intake, too, which has been shown to help slow the disease progression of canine kidney disease. Some ingredients that are particularly high in protein and should be limited in your dog’s diet include:

• Seafood 
• Eggs
• Organ meats
• Bones & bone meal
• Wheat bran
• Whole grains
• Lentils & legumes
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes

Sodium

Salty foods and added sodium are a no-go for dogs with renal disease. In particular, you should avoid feeding your dog scraps of human food, since our foods contain a lot of added salt. Salt can also affect blood pressure and put more strain on the kidneys. 

Oxalate Rich Foods

Oxalates are known to contribute to the formation of kidney stones, which can be extremely painful and dangerous for dogs with kidney disease. Some oxalate-rich foods to avoid feeding your dog include:

• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes

Key Features of Dog Food for Dogs with Kidney Disease

Don’t worry, a kidney disease diagnosis doesn’t mean your dog can’t enjoy tasty meals. Homemade dog food for kidney disease doesn’t look that much different from regular dog food, and most dogs really enjoy eating high-quality home cooking, no matter what the ingredients are. 

Moisture

A common symptom of kidney disease is excessive urination and improper flushing of toxins by the kidneys. In other words, your dog will likely need to pee more, but they’ll be flushing less of the “bad stuff” and more hydration. To ensure your dog stays hydrated and has enough water to properly process everything in their body, dogs with kidney disease should consume more moisture. 

Adding broth or water to your homemade dog food for kidney disease is one way to increase their moisture intake, but you can also choose to add more hydrating ingredients or give them hydrating treats like celery or cucumber. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

While it’s important not to give your dog with kidney disease too much fat, omega-3 fatty acids specifically are excellent for dogs with renal disease. Omega-3s help to reduce inflammation and slow kidney disease progression. Some good options for added fatty acids include flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, or fish oils. 

Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Kidney Disease

1. Turkey, Oat & Pumpkin Dog Food for Kidney Disease

This recipe comes to us from Migos Dog and was formulated by a certified canine nutritionist to be perfectly balanced for dogs with kidney disease. This recipe includes an interesting ingredient: grass-fed butter! 

Grass-fed butter contains Butyric acid, which has been shown to be beneficial for dogs in the early stages of renal disease according to some studies. 

Note: This recipe contains eggs. Eggs in moderation may be a good source of protein for dogs, but some veterinarians will recommend not feeding eggs to some dogs with renal disease. As always, chat with your vet to decide if this is a good recipe for your pup. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
• 3 oz sprouted rolled oats
• ½ cup water
• 4 oz 100% pumpkin puree 
• 2 egg whites
• 6 oz broccoli, finely chopped
• 1 TBSP grass-fed butter

Instructions

1. In a large non-stick pan, cook ground turkey on low heat for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add sprouted oats and water to the pan and simmer until the oats are tender.
3. Add pumpkin puree, raw egg whites, broccoli, and butter. Stir to combine and cook for another 2 minutes or until the eggs are cooked through. 
4. Remove from the heat and add any supplements, allow to cool, and serve.*

2. Low-Phosphorus Chicken & Rice Dog Food

Created by vets at Beyond Pets Animal Hospital in Marietta, Georgia, this recipe for homemade food for dogs with kidney disease features simple ingredients that can be cooked ahead of time and mixed together to create balanced meals. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 cup cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, shredded
• ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
• ¼ cup steamed carrots, mashed
• ¼ cup steamed green beans, mashed

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well before dividing into serving sizes for your dog.*
2. Keep refrigerated if using immediately, or freeze for longer storage. 

3. Low-Protein Beef, Rice, & Squash Dog Food for Kidney Disease

While not formulated directly by a vet, this recipe for homemade dog food for dogs with renal disease, this recipe was created by a dedicated dog owner in collaboration with his vet. Here’s what the creator has to say about it: “Ultimately, this is a recipe written by a man who loves his dog above all else these past 18 years and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him…and the least I can do is making him remaining months full of quality and love, which starts with his diet.” 

This recipe is a little more complicated than the others, but it makes a downright delicious—and balanced—dog food. 

Ingredients

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 12 egg whites
• 1 lb broccoli, roughly chopped
• 2 cups uncooked rice
• 2 lbs acorn squash, peeled and cubed
• 3 TBSP coconut oil
• ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Cook rice according to package instructions. Add parsley once cooked, stir, and set aside to cool. 
2. Boil squash in a large pot with enough water to cover for about 20-25 minutes or until the squash is fork tender.
3. Steam broccoli.
4. Cook beef in a frying pan over medium heat until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
5. Once all ingredients have cooled slightly, combine ⅓ of the beef, half of the squash, and half of the broccoli in a large blender. Blend until smooth and pureed. 
6. Add puree to the cooked rice, followed by the remaining beef, squash, and broccoli. 
7. In the same frying pan you used to cook the beef, heat coconut oil over medium-low heat. Once fully melted, add egg whites and scramble until cooked through, around 4 minutes. 
8. Add egg whites to the rest of the ingredients, stir well, and portion before serving.*

*Serving sizes for these recipes depend on your dog’s breed, weight, activity levels, and kidney disease progression. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate serving size for your dog.

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