Types

• Dental problems may cause chronic kidney disease.teeth image by krysek from Fotolia.com
  
  According the ASPCA, there are two types of canine kidney disease: acute and chronic. Acute kidney disease is brought on by sudden toxic ingestion, such as radiator fluid or spoiled food. Toxic poisons may also build up quickly if the dog's blood and oxygen circulation is compromised or it is suffering from a urinary infection or blockage. Chronic kidney disease progresses over time. Underlying causes include genetic predisposition and dental disease. Regardless of the type of kidney disease, minimizing toxins in the dog's bloodstream is critical, and a restrictive diet is immediately prescribed.
  
  

Significance

• Reducing sodium aids dogs with kidney disease.salt image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
  
  Special kidney diets reduce stress on the kidneys to ease their workload. As the kidney tissue dies off, it cannot be restored and kidney function begins to cease. Three ways to ease stress on the kidney's function is to reduce phosphorus, sodium and protein intake. VetInfo4Dogs.com explains that reducing phosphorus, in particular, minimizes the amount of minerals the kidneys must process, which, in turn, eases the kidneys' workload.
  
  

Warning

• Dogs need to remain active for optimal health.Black Dog Jumping image by Bestside from Fotolia.com
  
  These diets do not come without controversy, however, VetInfo4Dogs.com reports. If the dog's protein is restricted too much, the canine risks malnourishment, naturally causing more harm than good. Staying active is critical to a dog's overall health, and low protein diets tend to deplete the dog's energy resources and starve muscle mass. Kidney diets must be monitored carefully to ensure the dog is receiving adequate amounts of protein to maintain healthy tissue without adding additional stress on kidney function.
  
  

Options

• Dog owners can make the special kidney diet from scratch.beef image by les sanders from Fotolia.com
  
  Once it is determined that the dog must begin a special diet for kidney health, Mar Vista Animal Medical Center indicates there are several options the owner and veterinarian can choose from. Numerous pet food manufacturers produce veterinary-prescribed diets for many types of conditions, including kidney disease. These foods are formulated to address the special dietary restrictions of the kidney disease patient, containing reduced amounts of protein, phosphorus and sodium. Some also include omega-3 fatty acids that are believed to aid in kidney health.
  
  Another option for the dog's owner is to make the food herself. Under the consultation of the dog's veterinarian, recipes can be formulated to meet the dog's nutritional needs, while keeping the kidney condition in mind. This option gives owners the ability to choose the exact ingredients they want in their dogs' food, assuring utmost quality and freshness.
  
  

Considerations

• Special kidney diets are not always tasty to the dog.dogs look image by muro from Fotolia.com
  
  Most humans prefer a plate of french fries to salad and the canine is no exception. Special diets formulated for kidney health are rarely palatable, and transitioning a dog to this diet may prove challenging. It is critical, however, that the animal not be starved in an effort to force it to eat the new food. Should the dog refuse to eat one brand of kidney diet dog food, Mar Vista Animal Medical Center recommends trying another. Regardless of the brand chosen, VetInfo4Dogs.com cautions that, although dry food is available in these special formulas, dogs with kidney disease should only eat wet food to avoid dehydration.