kidney failure dog/diet and homeopathy

Question
QUESTION: since i am going to follow your advice, i wanted to make sure i am following it exactly. please permit me to spell out what i believe you said

white meat chicken, as well as dairy contains phosphorous which is ok in moderation but is difficult on the kidneys.

so, i should feed her twice a day...giving her 1/4 c. meat  [cooked a little] 1/4 c. raw vegetables [i give her sweet potatoes and  zucchini mostly], and a 1/4 c. brown rice [how do i know if it is unprocessed?]

what kind of veges are ok...can i give her lima beans, which i know are a source of protein. would you please tell me what veges are good for her and which might be harmful to her kidneys?

then i give her her pills with cottage cheese and yogurt. so i should give her a little twice a day, but not to exceed the limits you stated.

are there any other foods i could give her and any i should NOT give her?? [for example, i use to give her a raw bone every day, bu since the vet did not want raw, i stopped it. so i would like to know what other things i could give her and what i should definitely not give her]

i am sorry to ask so many questions, but i want to do the right thing, and since the only thing i am amending is the diet, i would like to do it right. [i will get the cranberry powder and the supplement] i am currently giving her omega 3 and a renal supplement.

thank you so much for helping me figure out what to feed her.

one last things, she seems to have some dry skin like a dermatitis in one spot [i think she has been biting it and scratching. someone suggested giving her a 1/2 a benedril to stop the itch cycle. do you concur?

thank you again for helping me do the right thing. it is very overwhelming to be in this position of not having the knowledge to adequately help her. i feel like since she is at the very beginning that i might be able to help her, but i need the knowledge to be able to do so. thank you for providing it. my baby thanks you too!!!

ANSWER: Hi again -  Glad you are going to start home cooking!!!  Good for you:  As for the renal supplement, you won't need cranberry if you continue with the renal supplement you mentioned.
Please do start on the NuVET powder supplement as it balances out home cooking...
NuVET info here:
http://www.nuvet.com/81098
YOU are looking for the powder of nuvet plus:  ( don't worry about veggies because you will be giving the NuVet supplement)  (minimal veggies are fine)

white rice - Not the instant ...that is processed

potato, boiled with skin

rice, long-grain, cooked

No beens ***( lima and such ) too much Phos
GREEN beens are fine and low in Phos

Broccoli is fine

Cabbage is good

Carrotts are fine, too

sweet potato baked ( not mashed )  plain baked

 Alway mush up the veggies - or Grate them - Hard to digest in whole form.

Feed 2 - 3 very small meals per day -  small means about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per meal.
Just start out and see how you do ..  If he is very hungry add a little more food to each meal.

Treats - Only Grain free :  ( grain free dog biscuts)
Anything in moderation that is a grain free treat from a quality company.

As far as the scratchng - the NuVET will take care of that - it reduces inflammation and helps the skin to heal.  You can do the 1/2 of a 25 mg Benadryl until the NuVET arrives.
Call today and they will get the NuVET right out to you...
1-800-474-7044  Use my order code 81098 and ask for the powder and ask about the 15% off discount when you call in.



I sure hope you have fun with the cooking :
I am sure he will like MOM cooking for him.
YOU can do yogurt and cottage cheese daily but in Small amounts.

Good Luck
Marie Peppers LPN MA

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: marie,

thank you for taking the time to spell out the diet i should follow, but since i am going to be following to the "t" what you say, i want to clarify something you may have misunderstood...i have ALWAYS fed her home cooking...she has never had canned or bagged or any kind of dog food...only organic chicken and beef and sweet potatoes and zucchini [about 1 cup] a day  and then she would have a few chicken feet or a raw beef bone in the morning [i had been told they were good for the future to stave away the possibility of osteoarthritis]

so the only thing i would be changing is not giving her white chicken and cooking the meat a little bit[i believe you said dark chicken, beef, lamb are all ok] the veges i assume i still give her raw, and i will add the sweet potato, potato, or the rice.

and what about the zucchini..can i continue that or not???

also, is the smaller portions and more often to benefit her kidneys or just a good way to feed her?

is this diet to help her kidneys or just what you believe is a good diet?

are there any foods that are indicated and contraindicated for kidneys [so far you said beans [i was giving her lima beans as a treat, but i will stop] and white chicken meat are detrimental for the kidneys]

what about tofu..i have been giving that to her with her food, because i thought it was a good source of protein.

pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by grain free...what kind of treats could i get?

i have run out of the renal supplement....should i give her the cranberry powder instead?

i went out tonight and bought the activia..i usually give her fat free plain, but they did not have plain, so i did not buy a fruit, but i bought vanilla? is that ok?? you said to use activia because the probiotic quality is superior

that is what is so frustrating...not knowing what to do to retard the deterioration of her kidneys [innocently, i was giving her lima beans, and i did not know that could hurt her] that is why i keep trying to seek as much information as i can, as to not hurt her. is there a resource i could go to so i do not keep bothering you

i just do not understand what i am doing to help her, since the food is basically what i have always given her. thank you for your patience with me...as you can see, i am desperately searching for answers.

is this nuvet product yours? obviously, you believe in it, so i will order it right away. i believe you said the wafers the first time but this time you said the powder. could you clarify?


so jo grain free treat   ANSWER: NuVet comes in powder or wafers - you may just want to get the powder and mix the small amount into the food 1 x per day.  Many of my clients take NuVET, Natures Sunshine, and a few probiotics that tend to work fast!


Tofu - You can use this Without eggs -  don't do Tofu and eggs at the same time.

Yes, Zucchini is fine...not too high in phos.

Feeding times : ( feed 2 times per day - easy on the body)*********************

As far as the care you gave little Finster..... some pets are predisposed to kidney disease because of genetics.  I am sure you did a great job and had no idea that the genetics many have been working against you.  Don't feel guilty about this.

No more raw bones or chicken feet ..... as you have figured is not good for Finster at this time.

Activia Yogurt if Wonderful - Good choice and the Van flavor is fine.

Grain free treats -  here are some from SoJo - see the 2 that are grain free:
this is what I am talking about....  Great treats...  very small

http://www.sojos.com/index.aspx?affiliate=petnurse


As for the supplement for the kidney health - just continue witht he one you have.
Unless your were unhappy with it - then sure try another one.

Hope this helps......
When you have a question about a veggie or food - just ask me and I will tell you YES or NO.
OK

Marie Peppers LPN Ma
Ask the Pet Nurse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you

i just have a moment and i want to ask you about the renal supplement. i have to reorder [it is from vetriscience] but is there something you recommend. you said to use the cranberry powder...did you say to use that instead?

thanks for being there.

Answer
Staci - Did you order the NuVET yet?  Let's get that ordered so you can get it,  "In Hand".

*yes, as far as the Cranberry : see here: Revival Animal Health:

This is from Revival Animal health - mixed into the dog food each day...

http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/1995-Doc-Roy-s-Potassium-Citrate-Cranberry..