Nutritional needs of pets with chronic kidney disease | What should they pay attention to in their diet?

Kidney disease is a common health issue among older pets, and many owners are familiar with it. While many mistakenly believe that only cats need to pay special attention to kidney health, dogs are also at high risk.

There are many reasons cats can develop kidney disease, including a lack of water intake, dietary composition, and genetics. However, kidney disease in dogs is often a complication of other health issues, such as diabetes or heart disease. These conditions can put increased strain on the kidneys, affecting their function.

How do veterinarians typically test kidney health?

• Hydration status assessment :
  Dehydration can cause abnormal renal function, so veterinarians will first assess the animal's hydration status. Once the animal's body water levels are adequate, a blood test will be performed.

• Blood tests:
  • Creatinine (CREA): This is a waste product produced by muscle metabolism and is normally excreted by the kidneys. When kidney function declines, the creatinine level in the blood increases.
  • Urea nitrogen (BUN): Urea is a product of protein metabolism and is also excreted by the kidneys. An increased BUN concentration can also reflect impaired renal function.

• SDMA:

  Traditionally, abnormal creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations indicate that kidney function has declined below 25%. To address this challenge, methods for measuring SDMA levels in the blood have recently been introduced. Elevated SDMA often precedes elevated creatinine levels, enabling earlier identification of kidney failure and facilitating early intervention and treatment.

👇🏻 Veterinarians generally classify the kidney failure of pets according to blood test indicators.

Nutritional needs of cats and dogs with kidney disease

1. Small amounts of high-quality protein

Kidney disease affects the kidneys, which are unable to effectively eliminate nitrogenous waste products from protein metabolism. Therefore, your pet needs a healthy protein intake in their daily diet. Excessive protein restriction can lead to muscle loss and even cachexia, a condition characterized by weight loss, loss of muscle and fat tissue, and general weakness, which can worsen the disease and shorten survival.

Therefore, pets with kidney disease need a balanced and nutritious diet to maintain muscle mass and overall health.

2. Phosphorus content and calcium-phosphorus ratio

Decreased kidney function prevents the body from effectively excreting excess phosphorus, leading to high blood phosphorus levels and accelerating the progression of kidney disease. Reducing phosphorus intake can help slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. A proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio can also help maintain bone health and reduce complications of kidney disease.

3. Palatability

Numerous scientific studies have shown that cats and dogs that consume prescription kidney-related diets live longer. However, many pets experience anorexia during stages 2 to 3 of kidney disease. Therefore, choosing a palatable food can help promote a healthy diet for cats and dogs.

Hill's K/D Kidney Care Prescription Food Series

Hill's K/D Kidney Care is designed for pets requiring kidney care to balance fluids and minerals, stimulate appetite, and support caloric intake to maintain lean muscle mass. This formula includes ActivBiome+ Kidney Defense, a unique prebiotic fiber complex scientifically proven to revitalize the gut microbiome and help protect kidney function.

In addition, the k/d series also adds Appetite Enhancement Technology (EAT) , which is specifically designed to stimulate the appetite of cats and dogs and increase their food intake, especially in the face of anorexia, which is common in kidney disease.

Key Features:

• Proprietary prebiotic blend reduces phosphorus and sodium levels to protect kidney function
• Stimulate appetite and increase food intake
• High-quality protein, helps maintain muscle mass

🛒 Save on Hill's K/D Kidney Care Prescription Food Series

From now until 31/Dec/2024 , Pettington and Hill's have teamed up to protect your pet's kidney health. New customers who purchase Hill's K/D series prescription food on the website and enter the discount code 'HILLSKD' can enjoy a $20 product discount !

all Hill's K/D Series 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4e7HleM