Chi Dog: Discover A Holistic Kidney Diet For Dogs

When your dog has kidney issues, finding the right nutrition is essential to supporting their health. Chi Dog offers a specially formulated, holistic kidney diet for dogs, designed to help manage their condition while providing balanced and wholesome ingredients.

 

With a focus on natural, Eastern medicine-inspired recipes, our dog food for kidney disease can make a big difference in your dog’s well-being. Let's take a look at some of the symptoms of kidney disease as well as how a tailored diet can support your pet’s kidney function and overall vitality.

 

Signs Of Kidney Disease In Dogs

While the following can be signs of kidney disease and kidney failure, these symptoms also could be indicative of other conditions. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian as quickly as possible to get to the root of the problem.

 

1. Excessive Thirst & Urination

Two of the most common signs of kidney or renal failure, including diabetes, are increased thirst and increased urination. If your dog seems to be heading to the water dish more often than usual (and it’s not a hot day or after exercise) or needing to urinate more often than usual, this could indicate a kidney issue. Keep an eye on the color of the urine. Is it light in color? Does it contain any blood? These may indicate issues with the kidneys.

 

2. Decreased Appetite

Dogs with renal disease often lose interest in food due to nausea or the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream. Additionally, noticeable weight loss also can be a sign of kidney disease in dogs.

 

3. Frequent Vomiting & Diarrhea

Dogs with kidney disease also may experience frequent vomiting and diarrhea.  These gastrointestinal issues occur due to the buildup of waste products in the blood.

 

4. Weakness & Lethargy

Lethargy, or a noticeable reduction in energy, is another common symptom, and you might notice that your dog is having difficulty walking or seems weak and unsteady.

 

5. Bad Breath & Mouth Ulcers

Dogs with kidney disease often have a metallic or ammonia-like smell on their breath due to the accumulation of waste products. In severe cases, dogs with advanced kidney disease may develop ulcers in the mouth due to the high levels of toxins in their system.

 

Unfortunately, by the time a dog displays these signs, the kidneys likely have been damaged significantly. This is why it’s so important to schedule regular checkups and blood work with your veterinarian. Spotting kidney issues early allows you to make dietary adjustments that can preserve the kidneys and keep them functioning at a high level.

 

Which Dog Breeds Are Prone To Kidney Issues?

While every dog is unique, certain dog breeds may be prone to developing chronic kidney disease, including boxers, bull terriers, cairn terriers,  West Highland white terriers, cocker spaniels, shar-pei, Bernese mountain dogs, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and others. For these breeds, getting started with a holistic dog food that supports and protects the kidneys can go a long way toward preventing kidney issues as your dog ages.

 

A Kidney Diet For Dogs

Typically, for dogs with chronic kidney disease, feeding your dog with ingredients that are low in sodium, potassium and phosphorus is crucial. When your dog suffers from kidney disease, their kidneys have a difficult time filtering the blood and these excess nutrients can damage their kidneys.

 

Kibble and canned dog food tend to be high in phosphorous as well as sodium. Additionally, a myriad of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives are added to these low-quality foods, all of which can put unnecessary stress on your dog’s kidneys. A diet of high-quality, human-grade ingredients is the healthiest option, provided that these ingredients are low in phosphorus.

 

At Chi Dog, we have developed five holistic dog food varieties based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), the concepts of Water, Fire, Metal, Earth, and Wood represent the Five Elements Theory or Wu Xing, which is used to understand the relationships and interactions between different aspects of an animal’s health. Each element is associated with specific organs and functions in the body, and we’ve developed each of our dog food varieties to match these five elements.

 

In TCVM, these elements are used to diagnose and treat health conditions by balancing the energy (Qi) flowing through the body. In addition to traditional Western treatment options, TCVM practitioners may use acupuncture, herbal remedies, diet changes, and other therapies to restore harmony between the elements in an animal’s body. Here’s a look at each of our element diets and their dietary applications.

 

1. Wood Diet

• Organ Systems: Liver and Gallbladder
• Function: Associated with growth, movement, and flexibility. In animals, a balance in the Wood element ensures smooth muscle and tendon function. Imbalances may lead to irritability or issues with the liver or muscles.
• Recommendation: This is a good option if you need a sensitive stomach dog food, a dog food for liver disease or dogs prone to seizures.

 

2. Fire Diet

• Organ Systems: Heart and Small Intestine
• Function: Fire governs warmth, circulation, and vitality. It influences an animal’s spirit and mood. Excess Fire can lead to hyperactivity or restlessness, while a deficiency may cause lethargy or depression.
• Recommendation: If you need a low fat dog food for pancreatitis or a dog food for Cushing’s disease or heart disease, this is a good choice. It also can help dogs with skin allergies, eye inflammation, chronic urinary tract infections and even anxiety.

 

3. Earth Diet

• Organ Systems: Spleen and Stomach
• Function: Earth is linked to digestion, nourishment, and stability. It controls the muscles and flesh, and imbalances can lead to digestive issues, muscle weakness, or inflammation.
• Recommendation: If you want the best weight loss food for dogs, this is a light, low-fat diet that can help with obesity. It’s also recommended for cancer remission and prevention and also can help reduce inflammation.

 

4. Metal Diet

• Organ Systems: Lung and Large Intestine
• Function: Metal governs respiration and elimination. It also regulates boundaries, such as skin and fur, which act as protective layers. Imbalances in Metal can cause respiratory issues, skin problems and more.
• Recommendation: While some dogs need to lose weight, the Metal Diet is a good option for dogs that need to gain weight. It’s also ideal for dogs with dry skin and for dogs with lung issues or diabetes.

 

5. Water Diet

• Organ Systems: Kidney and Bladder
• Function: Water is associated with storage, growth, and reproduction. It is crucial for the bones, joints, and reproductive health. An imbalance may lead to issues like joint pain, urinary problems, or fearfulness in animals.
• Recommendation: If you need kidney friendly dog food, this is the diet we recommend, so let’s dive a little deeper into the Water Diet.

 

The Water Diet

If you’re searching for a dog food for kidney disease, the Water Diet is an excellent match. This gentle diet includes lean pork as the main source of protein and pearled barley as the carbohydrate source. This menu is low-carb with only 9% of each portion devoted to carbs. We also add green peas, watercress and sweet potato to provide further nutritional support.

 

This diet also is recommended for picky eaters as well as dogs with inflammatory bowel disease, urinary incontinence, food allergies and dogs that are prone to vomiting and diarrhea. As with all of our diet plans, the Water Diet contains only human-grade, non-GMO ingredients that are gently cooked. The gentle cooking process allows us to lock in nutrients while making the food a bit easier for our furry friends to digest.

 

The Importance of Hydration

For dogs with kidney issues, hydration is key, but we know that some dogs seem disinterested in the water dish, so what can dog parents do? At Chi Dog, we offer raw goat milk for dogs on our website, and goat milk, unlike cow milk, is easier for dogs to digest and provides both hydration as well as helping the body properly absorb phosphorus.

 

Adding an ounce or two of water to your dog’s foot also can be beneficial, and mixing the food and water can create a stew-like consistency that your dog may enjoy. Providing hydrating treats, such as a morsel of watermelon or cantaloupe or a couple of blueberries also can be a good idea. These offer high water content but are low in calories and low in phosphorus.

 

Switch To A Kidney Diet For Dogs

Whether your dog has kidney issues currently or perhaps you have a breed prone to kidney disease and want a preventative option, our Water Diet can be an excellent dog food for kidney disease. We invited you to take a look at each of our diets, and please contact us if you have any questions about which food option is the best fit for your sweet dog.