Doggie Losing Kidney Function

Hi. I posted about a month back with a senior, overweight Min Pin who was experiencing possible kidney failure.

Since the initial visit we've had her on an all wet diet...Wellness Senior. She loves it and has actually lost 1/2 a pound.

We took the baby (Bandit) back to the vet because he wanted to run additional tests on the kidneys and urine. Turns out her potassium level is okay and she is no longer holding her urine, which is great. But she is showing signs of kidney function loss. The doctor recommended putting her on Royal Canin N/F or K/D for the next 3 weeks and then retesting.

Anyone have any experience with these? Are there any premium foods that will help with putting less stress on her kidneys?? Thanks!!

IN dogs with kidney issues ... IT has been proven protein should be under 21%....I suggest looking at senior ... most lights will also work but leave ya with the you didnt feed me look ...

I have three kidneys dogs( not my own ) on natural choice senior

Sorry to hear this

I really recommend that you bring your dog to see a canine nutritionist/holistic vet for some nutritional counselling. Not at a regular vet. I went to one last week and I was amazed at what I found out about diets via the vet. She was very helpful and helped me formulate a good diet based on my dog's individual needs.

My dog doesn't have kidney problems, but the vet did mention that for those dogs, there is a different "formula" to feeding them. I wanted to learn about it, too, just for future reference, but we ran out of time.

At a time like this, I honestly believe that the best thing you can do for your Min Pin is to see a vet who's up to date on nutrition and can help you figure out the best diet possible for your dog. It may include home-prepared meals, but everything is worth it for our beloved pets
Personally, I have stopped bringing my dog to see vets who have the mindset that kibbles are the best foods for our furries - I LOVE it when I see a vet who recommends a more natural diet.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. I have had her on Wellness Senior since the first vet visit. Now, this is my mother's dog, so I'm not sure how far she'd go for her...I'm definitely over the top for my cats. Nothing is too much. I'd love to take her to a vet down the street from my job. He "does not believe in prescription diets" and is a huge advocate of Wellness foods. So that right there tells me he is the one we should see. I'm not too happy with the holistic vets in the area. They seem more like self-proclaimed holistics and I wouldn't feel right going there.

I guess my first plan of action is to call the vet and see if he can recommend something that is NOT a prescription diet. I'll tell him what she is eating and ask him what supplements we could add to help her kidneys. Because quite frankly I cannot see how the corn and animal digest in the prescriptions diets will help her kidneys if they just have to filter all that extra "stuff" through her body.

Thanks, wish me luck!!

I like the et... Wellness is very good ... Gigi says CORE tastes great

Originally Posted by sharky

I like the et... Wellness is very good ... Gigi says CORE tastes great

Click to expand...

My little punks hate Core!! They love Nutro canned and the dry I have them on now is Solid Gold, Indigo Moon...too fancy!!! Ha. But it's the only high protein, low carb dry they'll eat.

I'll hope for the best. Oh and thanks to you and this forum, I've converted my sister, my friend and my mom to feeding their dogs premium food.

Gigi is a dog

Zoey only really like taste of the wild ... I like the fact it is 50-75% less$$ than the other grain frees... SG s grain free hasnt made it here yet

Originally Posted by sharky

Gigi is a dog

Zoey only really like taste of the wild ... I like the fact it is 50-75% less$$ than the other grain frees... SG s grain free hasnt made it here yet

Click to expand...

Maybe the Core canine is tastier!! haha.

Yeah, the prices on those are crazy high!! And the Solid Gold was brand new here. They didn't even have samples for me. But the kritters loved it!!

And with the price, they just get it as a little addition to the canned...especially since Pico, my male cat, absolutely loves it so much that when I decide to give them a meal of all dry he wolfs it up and barf it all over the floor. Yeah after 2 times of that, they don't get a full meal of dry anymore.... At least not all at once. jeez!

So I called our regular vet about Bandit and asked if I could discuss supplements because I really did not want to feed her the K/D. They were really nice and said I could come in any time to discuss them, as well as the recipes they have in house for home made food for dogs with kidney problems. Yay!! Now to make it over there.

Thanks again!!