Hannah Zulueta Chronic Kidney Disease
When Fear Meets Hope
Your dog's kidney diagnosis, and what we can do about it
A kidney diagnosis can feel like the ground has gone out from under you. I work with that fear from both sides, as a certified dog food formulator and a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine food therapy practitioner. There is a great deal we can do through properly formulated, healing food.
Start here
In Chinese medicine, the kidneys hold fear.
When our dogs sense our anxiety about their condition, it can scatter their Qi, their vital energy, and that works against their healing. So a calm, confident home matters just as much as the food in the bowl.
Hold on to this: you are not alone, and there is so much we can do to support your dog through food.
Where East meets West
Two lenses, one bowl
My approach pairs the precision of Western nutritional standards with the older wisdom of Chinese medicine food therapy. Your dog gets both.
Every recipe meets or exceeds NRC or AAFCO requirements. Precise nutrient calculations, careful phosphorus-to-protein ratios, and the right caloric density for your dog.
Foods are chosen not only for their nutrients but for their energetic properties, their warming or cooling nature, and their ability to support kidney function, Qi, and essence.
Reading phosphorus
Not all meat is equal
Phosphorus is generally lower in cooked muscle meat, and higher in organs. These small details shape a kidney-friendly meal. And protein itself is a balance: do not feed an ultra-low-protein diet to a kidney dog. Moderate, high-quality, protein-dense meals suit stages one to three. Stage four can go lower, but not to kibble levels.
The word "beef" hides a wide range
Same recipe line, very different phosphorus. The cut you choose matters.
Read more on phosphorus, and on switching to fresh food through base mixes.
Per 100g, lowest first
Phosphorus in what you feed
Tap a category. Phosphorus in mg. This is the chart every kidney-dog parent should have, whether you work with me or not.
How to use organ muscle meats
Organ muscle meats, the gizzards and hearts, carry more taurine, choline, and minerals. Keep them to 5 to 20% of the diet at most. Five percent covers most meals and most dogs. Pork heart is a great choice for a dog with a low appetite, since its high B vitamins can help jump-start eating. Asian markets often carry gizzards and hearts fresh or frozen. If you would rather not feed raw, dehydrate them sliced thin at 155 degrees for a treat, or simmer in a little water, taking care not to overcook so the food keeps its integrity.
How to use organ meats
A tiny amount is plenty. A 20 lb dog needs only about 5g of raw beef liver per meal. Red organs carry more iron and copper. Poultry organs often do not carry enough copper, so for my own dogs I skip chicken liver and stick to beef, calf, or veal liver.
A note on seafood
I list oysters and shellfish for reference only. I do not think dogs need shellfish, given the contamination risks. With everything else on your plate as a kidney-dog parent, there is no need to complicate things with shellfish.
Why the numbers matter
The same food, read two ways
Western nutrition reads the phosphorus. Chinese medicine adds another layer.
How I build a meal
Three things at once
Why an experienced formulator
Every bite counts
I am not handing you recipes from a computer program. Every formula I create is tested in my own kitchen, refined through real feedback, and often eaten by my own dogs. I know the practical side: the dog turning their nose up at dinner, the night you are running late, the tricks that make organ meats appealing, how to batch cook without losing nutrition.
- Kitchen-tested and dog-approved before it reaches you.
- Adjusted on real-world results, not left to a printout.
- A full nutrient analysis with every recipe.
- Support through the whole transition, not just a set of recipes.
- A fellow dog parent who knows both the fear and the bounce-back.
From fear to a plan
What working together looks like
Questions
A few things people ask
How does TCVM work alongside Western nutrition?
They complement each other. Western nutrition makes sure every essential nutrient is present in the right amount. TCVM principles help optimize how your dog's body actually uses those nutrients.
Can you work with my veterinarian?
Yes. I regularly collaborate with veterinarians so your dog gets comprehensive care.
How do I know the recipe meets standards?
Every recipe is formulated with professional software and checked against both NRC and AAFCO guidelines. You receive a complete nutrient analysis with each one.
Ready when you are
Let's start your dog's healing.
A kidney diagnosis is a lot to carry, and the math behind a therapeutic diet is real. If you want it done for you, I formulate recipes built around your dog's bloodwork, their constitution, and what they will actually eat, with three months of support while you settle in.
Book a kidney support consult →
