Hannah Zulueta Chronic Kidney Disease
Low-Phosphorus Foods for a Kidney Dog
The grains and starchy vegetables, ranked
Cooking for your dog is the best way to feed them after a kidney diagnosis, and lowering phosphorus is the heart of that diet. Here are the grains and starchy vegetables you can build kidney-friendly meals around, ranked by how much phosphorus they carry.
If you remember one thing
Keep phosphorus as low as you can.
It is the single biggest factor in extending a kidney dog’s life. Everything else on this page serves that one goal. And check bloodwork regularly: every 30, 60, or 90 days when you are starting out, then on the schedule your vet sets once you know you are on track.
The reason behind it
Why phosphorus matters here
When kidney disease damages the tubules, waste that should leave in the urine backs up into the blood instead. There it turns toxic. Phosphorus is one of those wastes.
In a kidney dog, phosphorus interacts with calcium, pulling calcium out of the bone and leaving mineral deposits in places that should stay clear. The kidneys themselves can mineralize, which speeds the disease along. Lowering phosphorus is how you slow that down.
The numbers
What to aim for
In a homemade diet I keep protein at least twice the AAFCO recommended amount and phosphorus at the minimum. Hitting the CKD range is hard with commercial food. A home therapeutic diet gets closer, through the ingredients you choose and using powdered eggshell as the calcium source.
Using starchy carbs
When and how much
A home-cooked kidney diet often cannot lean on fat for energy, so starchy vegetables carry some of that load, along with fiber. Reach first for butternut squash, sweet potato, pumpkin, and yam. If your dog will not eat them or is sensitive, move to other carbohydrates. Rice is on the list below, but reach for a grain like barley before you build a meal around rice.
Per 100g, lowest first
Phosphorus by food
Tap a filter. Phosphorus in mg, calories on the right.
Beyond phosphorus
What else a kidney dog needs watched
Phosphorus is the headline, but it is not the only number. These all matter in a CKD diet.
The easiest way to start
Base mixes you can cook today
Note: Some links in this article are affiliate links (Amazon Associates or other programs I participate in). At no charge to you, as an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can start today. Dr. Harvey’s makes base mixes you cook the same day you buy them. You add your own protein and oil to their mix, and they use eggshell as the calcium source, which helps keep phosphorus down.
Before you portion it, read how many calories your dog needs so you feed the right amount.
Keeping inflammation down matters too. Kidney dogs are often sensitive to oil, so if yours cannot take more, from diarrhea or pancreatitis, use a powdered Omega 3 instead. The calculators tell you how much.
If you would rather not piece it together
I can build the recipe for your dog.
A kidney diagnosis is a lot to hold, and the math behind a therapeutic diet is real. If you want it done for you, I formulate customized recipes built around your dog’s bloodwork and what they will actually eat. I wish you and your dog good health.
Have a recipe formulated for your dog →Phosphorus and calorie values compiled per 100g. Therapeutic phosphorus ranges per clinical nutrition guidance.
Hannah Zulueta obtained her Certificate in Canine Nutrition from CASI Institute. She is also studying for her Doctorate in Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Herbalism from the esteemed Pacific College of Health and Medicine. If you’re as keenly interested in health for yourself, visit her website for human health: Satori Acupuncture and Herbs.
She resides in San Diego with her three dogs, Maggie, Orbit, and Mr. Higgins.
She is available for one on one consultations. She develops evidence-based recipes that meet both NRC and AAFCO nutritional standards while integrating the therapeutic food principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine into her formulations.
Additionally, you can find her sharing free content on Instagram.
Hello, My name is Vera Haitayan and I have a 10 year old, 94 lbs black Lab mix dog who has prostate cancer. His name is Kasper.
Kasper received chemo and radiation and at this time the cancer has been under control. His most recent bloodwork/urine test showed an elevated protein levels and his UPC is 1.1. However, his kidney function is normal according to the bloodwork.
His vet recommended that he starts on a renal diet from Hills Science brand but Kasper wants absolutely nothing to do with it.
I came across your site and looking for help from you. I am not sure what coach/plan I should sign up for in order for me to prepare a home cooked meal using the renal diet guidelines.
I am overwhelmed and fearful of making a mistake and making matters worse for my boy by just picking up a recipe from other online sources.
Can you please direct me with the plan that I should pick? Thank you Vera.
Hello Vera,
Thank you for your inquiry. I recommend the Canine Kidney Disease package. You can find them all here: https://dailydogfoodrecipes.com/your-dogs-food-coach/
Blessings,
Have any of your kidney clients had success in improving their bloodwork results from using your recipes? I’m very interested in booking a session but my vet has me afraid to home cook.
Hello Eva. I just saw your question. Yes. I’ve had clients tell me their dogs have done well. I also do work with a TCVM vet so that you can first consult with him for herbal prescription.
Just like in human health there are varying opinions as to how to approach kidney health. I would never want you to proceed with a plan that goes against what your vet recommends.
I believe that dogs should be fed a species appropriate diet. I also believe that to feed something that is alive (your dog) they should be fed that is alive (real food) and I do not believe that processed food made in a factory has the best energy. Certainly it checks all the boxes when it comes to nutrition. What it lacks is vitality.
To think that home cooking is something to be afraid of means we don’t trust each other to learn how to use what mother nature has provided us in terms of ingredients we can turn from – the land and the sea. I think that for my own dogs, I would certainly always turn to food that I prepare myself in my own kitchen as opposed to one that was produced in an industrialized plant.
And I also respect… at the end of the day…. the person on handing that bowl to their dog has the final decision and so it goes… to each their own health journey.
Sending you and your dog blessings.