Since a number of renal toxins come from the metabolism of protein, one way to give the kidneys less work to do is to eat less protein. How much less protein depends on how serious the kidney disease is. Older animals tend to require a higher dietary protein level in general when compared to their younger counterparts. Protein also adds palatability to the food so that if we try to restrict protein too much we may end up with a pet who will not eat at all.
Further, there is a metabolic requirement for protein below which a diet cannot dip. This has led to diets with differing protein restrictions to fit with different stages of disease, less restriction for earlier stages.
- There is no protective value to restricting protein prior to the onset of kidney failure.
- High protein diets do not cause kidney failure (though they certainly make the patient worse after kidney failure is present).
This is an important part of a renal diet since phosphorus balance is crucial. Phosphorus comes into the body via the diet and leaves the body via the kidney, only in renal failure phosphorus is not well removed as it is supposed to. Obviously using less phosphorus in the diet may be adequate to keep the blood phosphorus levels normal, thus balancing the intake with the output, but sometimes addition of medication (i.e. a phosphate binder) is needed to further reduce intake. Restricting dietary phosphate has been shown to slow the progression of renal disease.
Home Cooking a Renal Diet
Home cooking an appropriate renal diet is a complicated task but it can be done. Because different pets experience different problems with their renal disease (potassium depletion or not, pH issues or not, different degrees of phosphorus restriction needed, etc.), the diet should ideally be tailored to the individual.
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Stage 5 Kidney Failure Treatment without Dialysis and Kidney Transplant
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