Old dog-Renal Failure food ideas?

maimee_magic

Hi, my beautiful 15 year old cocker spaniel has been diagnosed with kidney failure. She's always been very fussy about her food so getting her to eat the Royal Canin wet renal food the vet prescribed is a nightmare. I've searched the internet and tried baking some sweet potato and making some of the tinned food into biscuits but she's hardly eating anything. If anyone's got any ideas I'd love to hear from you. I realise she might not be around for much longer but I want to keep her going as long as I can (as long as she's happy and not in pain of course).
My heart is breaking at the thought of what's to come!

no1catman

I don't no about dogs, but my previous cat this.


She would howl at night for water, we mixed her wet food with warm water, became more like a soup, but it reduced the discomfort and hence the need to drink.


The tuna flake food she used to love, she refused, but would go for the blander 'fish fingers'.


Now, I appreciate dogs are not into fish, just suggesting you try something 'bland'.


The thing you'll need to look out for is the muscle wastage!


Good luck

paddypaws101

I know for cats with renal failure, they advise adding chopped egg whites or cottage cheese to food as they are both high in protein but low in phosphorous.
TBH, if she will not eat the renal food you run the risk of her starving away....it may be worth a compromise to let her have a food she enjoys even if it is not ideal for the kidneys. Quality of life is important at this stage.

Gold_Dust_2

If your dog isn't eating the special food, your vet can give you a phosphorus binder to add to her normal food which will be better than her not eating much or eating her normal food alone. It's a powder - ask for Ipakitine. It won't help with the protein content, but as paddypaws said above, it's about quality of life at this point.

What stage is she in? My cat was diagnosed (never found out which stage) but he was pretty bad, drinking and peeing like no man's business. He did very well on the meds (fortekor and a phosphorus binder) for 11 months and might have lasted longer were it not for the sudden cancer.

maimee_magic

Thanks for all your comments. Not sure what stage she's in but her urea and creatinine were very high. She's not anaemic which is good but her back legs give way now and again. I'll definitely ask for the powder. She's on the fortekor already. Totally agree that it's about quality of life now. Had a terrible night with her last night as she was hungry but wouldn't eat the wet food or the sweet potato so gave in a gave her a little bit of chicken and some potato. Today she's enjoyed the biscuits baked using the wet food and some carrot so looking up a bit.

Dollardog

My friend's dog was put on the Royal Canin food and wouldn't eat it. She was told to go to a local pet shop that specialises in special diets. They recommended a Burn's equivalent which had the same ingredients and was also a lot lot cheaper. She was told she could ring the vet line for Burns to chat with them. She did that and they confirmed that it was basically the same thing. Her dog didn't like the wet food so it is the dry Burn's food she gives her, She also cooks chicken and gives her that and the juice it is cooked in. Try ringing Burn's, 'm sure you will be able to find the number if you google them. HTH

maimee_magic

Been back to the vets today to check her blood results and her Urea has come down to 140 still too high but lower than last time. The Creatinine is still very high. The good news is she's not been sick for 5 days and her back legs aren't giving way so there's still life in the old dog yet. Just picked up some Hill's and Purina renal food to try her on them but will now look into Burn's. Thanks everyone.

maimee_magic

The vet wanted to charge £71 for the Fortekor but I found it online for much less so paid £10 for the prescription. Got them from Viovet.co.uk and used a £3 off code. Just had an email from them with a code to pass onto anyone else placing their first order it's VRCJKXS70.

Gold_Dust_2

Thanks for the update! As for the fortekor/viovet thing - :money: so very MSE

It's good to hear that she hasn't been sick and that her urea value has come down. Did your vet think that the Ipakitine was suitable for her?

maimee_magic

Hi Gold Dust. Asked the receptionist about the phosphorous binder but she'd never heard of it but said she'd ask the vet. Forgot to ask again today! The vet asked if he could do a scan of her heart but I refused. Don't want to put her through that at her age. She's eaten half a tin of the Hill's today. Not enough but better than none. She's lost 1kg in the last two weeks. She's now refusing to take the Fortekor. Tried wrapping it in cucumber, tomato and carrot but she just spits it out! Any suggestions would be welcomed.

jumpedtheshark

For my fussy (read - v intelligent) older dog, I either smear the pill in peanut butter or pack it into a little strip of processed cheese (stickier than regular cheese if I'm trying to ensure she can't separate the pill from the cheese).