It’s tough to hear a diagnosis of terminal kidney disease for a beloved old dog, but if the disease is in the early stages, a pet owner may be fortunate to still have a happy dog who feels well for many more months. With the help of an Animal Doctor in Honolulu, the dog will eat a diet that’s very beneficial for an animal with this disorder and be monitored to make sure no additional problems develop. Blood tests and urine analysis show the doctor whether the modified diet is improving results or at least holding them stable, or if further modifications would be beneficial.
Veterinarians generally advise that dogs in early-stage renal failure be fed a moderate-protein diet that helps keep phosphorous and nitrogen in check. The protein should be easily digestible. Certain kinds of dog food are particularly formulated for animals with this condition. An Animal Doctor in Honolulu can recommend the best brands or may even sell them at the clinic.
The pet owner may wonder if feeding this dog a higher-protein diet in its younger years led to the kidney problems. A vet at a facility such as The Honolulu Pet Clinic can assure this person that high-protein diets don’t cause canine renal failure. However, these diets may cause issues for a dog that has the disease, since protein in the diet leads to higher levels of nitrogen in the body as a digestive byproduct. Compromised kidneys have trouble filtering the nitrogen. That may cause the nitrogen to rise to toxic levels in the body.
It’s usually safe to continue feeding this type of dog supplements and medication such as glucosamine chondroitin and buffered aspirin or carprofen for arthritis. The client should ask the vet about this, however, and also about what types of treats are good for the dog now. The vet is likely to recommend crunchy vegetables over cheap processed treats available in grocery stores.
The right diet helps a dog to continue feeling well even when it has early-stage kidney failure. A pet owner can learn a great deal of important information through consultations with the dog’s veterinarian. You can also visit them on Facebook for more information.
