[SOLVED ] Q. My 13 year old Yorkie has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and is refusing to eat the prescription food.

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. Try to offer him this food for a few days (no treats etc). If he refuses to eat you should get a different brand food for him/her – there are plenty brands of food for dogs with kidney failure – you can get them from your local vets.

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Try canned

Wet foods are especially beneficial for dogs with kidney disease or urinary issues, and for dogs with a tendency to become constipated on dry food. “The downside to canned food is that the increased water content makes it less calorie-dense, meaning that large dogs need a lot of it,” says Basedow.

Dogs with kidney disease who refuse to eat are probably feeling nauseous. Changing up the food is an option, but it might be that they need to have some IV fluids at the vets to filter out the excess waste products which are causing the nausea, or they might need an anti-emetic to reduce the nausea.

The life expectancy for a dog with kidney failure can vary depending on the severity of the condition and how quickly it was diagnosed and how your dog responds to the initial treatment. With proper management and treatment, some dogs can live for several months to a few years after diagnosis.

Wet foods are almost always a better option for dogs with kidney disease than dry foods. If you are feeding your dog kibble, ask your veterinarian about adding water to the dry food or other ways you can supplement their water intake. It`s also important to keep an eye on the sodium levels in kidney diets for dogs.

Recommended dog food for pups suffering from chronic kidney disease typically includes a therapeutic diet containing reduced amounts of sodium, protein and phosphorus, combined with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids. In some cases, your vet may also recommend potassium.

Prognosis is associated with severity of disease. Studies have shown shorter median survival times in dogs with higher IRIS stages. Median survival time for IRIS Stage 1 dogs was over 400 days, Stage 2 ranged from 200 to 400 days, Stage 3 ranged from 110 to 200 days, and Stage 4 ranged from 14 to 80 days.

Your dog may become very lethargic, or sleepy, and have a hard time rising. They likely have lost a great deal of weight and their appetite is usually diminished. They may be too nauseous to keep food down. Confusion is often a sign of late-stage disease and is caused by the toxins present in the blood stream.

Unfortunately, CKD is usually a progressive disease. However, progression is relatively slow, and pets with CKD often survive for many months to years with a good quality of life. It is important to recognize that in pets with advanced CKD, treatment will not reverse or stop the disease but will slow it down.

Chronic Renal Failure

This type of kidney failure involves more gradual loss of kidney function (over weeks, months or years). Degeneration associated with geriatric decline is often to blame. While all kidneys have a natural lifespan, some dogs` kidneys will, unfortunately, deteriorate more quickly than others.

There are a few different types of stones that can form in the kidney or in the bladder, and Yorkshire Terriers are more likely to develop them than other breeds. We`ll periodically test his urine for telltale signs indicating the presence of kidney and bladder stones; they are painful!

Royal Canin Renal Loaf is a wet food diet tailored to help support adult dogs with Chronic Renal Insufficiency.

Supplement your dog`s vitamin intake with pet-safe fresh produce; carrots, green beans and broccoli are some of the best vegetables for dogs with kidney disease.

One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is a marked increase in drinking and urination. Dogs often drink copious amounts of water which is often referred to as polydipsia. Of course, this is logically followed by excessive urination (polyuria).

Chronic kidney failure can lead to tremors. So can neurological problems that may include inflammatory brain diseases. An Addisonian crisis, a condition related to an underactive adrenal gland, and demyelinating disorders may also lead to shaking in dogs. Dogs may shake when their anal sacs are full.

Is Dog Kidney Failure Painful? Kidney failure usually comes with a lot of pain. Most times we can see the signs; from the tremors to the vomiting and the loss of appetite. It is important that you prioritize your dogs` comfort.

Chronic kidney failure in dogs is typically caused by degeneration of the kidneys associated with aging. Although most dog are unable to fully recover from chronic kidney failure, this condition can often be successfully managed, allowing pets to enjoy a good quality of life for a number of months or years.

Healthy dogs can safely enjoy some table scraps like lean meats, bland rice or pasta, and some fruits and vegetables.

Tuna might be a favourite fishy snack for some dogs, but for dogs with kidney disease it`s a big no-go. Tuna contains high levels of phosphorus, which is damaging for a dog that needs to be on a renal diet.

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is the last stage of long-term (chronic) kidney disease. This is when your kidneys can no longer support your body`s needs. End-stage kidney disease is also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Bad breath – Breath that smells like an outhouse can be seen in the advanced stages of renal failure in dogs. This is a result of the toxins that build up in the blood.

Typically, green urine indicates late-stage kidney failure, cancer of the kidneys, or extremely severe urinary tract infection. Urine may turn green because bilirubin makes its way into the kidneys, where it is not supposed to be.

Dogs with kidney disease sleep more and run around less but that doesn`t mean they should be stuck in the house all day. Taking a road trip with your dog is the perfect way to give them a little entertainment without having to move around and overexert themselves.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is harder to detect. It usually affects older dogs and can stem from cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or genetic factors. However, it`s important to note that CKD can also be caused by a dental infection.

He has lost interest in all or most of his favorite activities, such as going for walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats or soliciting attention and petting from family members. He cannot stand on his own or falls down when trying to walk. He has chronic labored breathing or coughing.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. My 13 year old Yorkie has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and is refusing to eat the prescription food.

ANSWER : A. Try to offer him this food for a few days (no treats etc). If he refuses to eat you should get a different brand food for him/her – there are plenty brands of food for dogs with kidney failure – you can get them from your local vets.

Read Full Q/A … : Renal Failure In Dogs – Houzz – GardenWeb

Q. My cocker spaniel is 9 years old. He has involuntary bowel movements (little drops) very frequently, especially when he is asleep.

ANSWER : A. Is your dog on a senior dog food? I would get your dog on a high quality high protien dog food. Ask a pet store assosicate or your regular vet for a food recommendation. When you buy a better food the dog will have to eat less to get the same amount of energy from the food. The dog has to eat more of the cheaper foods to get the energy it needs from it. Meaning more poop and buying more food. So the cost really evens out. So the lessen your dogs bowel movements get on a better senior dog food. Next talk to your vet they may have a recommendation. If you switch dogs do it slowly by mixing the foods. Start with 10% new 90% old mixed for at least a week until you have switched to 100% new 0% old. Senior foods have more fiber to help with bowel movements. Take the dog outside to go potty more frequently, right before bed time.

Read Full Q/A … : Symptoms Questions & Answers

Q. My 20 month Cavalier doesn’t eat unless I let him eat from my finger, then he eats. Sometimes he will only eat once a day and leave his food.

ANSWER : A. It is possible that your dog is just not satisfied with his current food, or may be a picky eater. There are several things you can try to encourage your dog to eat.

The first step is to remove any additional treats or people food that may be more enticing to your dog than his own meal. If you feel you must give him some form of treat, be sure to place them directly in his food bowl and mixed with his regular diet. This allows him to get some snacks while also “forcing” him to try out his current meal to get the reward.

Enticing your dog to try his food by adding a pet-safe gravy or even a few treats of plain boiled chicken mixed in can help. Be sure to mix the foods thoroughly so he must explore his own food before getting the treat.

Some small breed dogs may also have a hard time with certain bowls and their collars. If there is a metal name tag on the collar and a metal bowl, the clinking sound can sometimes scare off dogs and make them not want to eat from their bowl. Using a bowl of a different material, or removing the collar prior to a meal may help with this issue.

Your dog may also just not be into his current food and may like another variety better. You can try a new variety by gradually switching over a period of 7-9 days, slowly adding in more new food and removing old until it is switched. This change may encourage him to try out meals again, and the slow changeover will allow his body to adjust to the new diet without digestive upset.

Read Full Q/A … : HELP PLEASE! My 20 Month Old Son Wont Eat – Mamapedia

Q. Cat was vomiting for a few days. Took to vet, received anti-nausea medicine 2 days ago. Drinks and no longer vomits, but won’t eat. I’m worried

ANSWER : A. If your cat has been feeling nauseated, it is possible that the nausea, or just general illness is making him want to eat less. However, you can try enticing him to eat with a few tricks geared to cats.

Warming up wet foods or even bland people foods such as plain chicken or boiled hamburger can make food more interesting to cats. Cats tend to go for aromatic rather than flavorful foods, so making the food as “smelly” as possible may encourage your cat to take a bite. Bland foods are also good for helping to soothe upset stomachs, which may still be happening if your cat had recently had a vomiting episode.

However, if enticing your cat to eat does not work, or he continues to refuse to eat any food, it is best to contact your local veterinarian for more care and testing. Cats can become very ill if they refuse to eat for more than a few days, and finding the underlying cause can help your cat feel better.

Read Full Q/A … : Vomiting cat won't eat (kitten, eating, weight, vomitting …

Q. My cat will not eat the renal food my veterinarian recommended, can I feed a grocery store food?

ANSWER : A. Your veterinarian recommended a therapeutic kidney diet because it has ingredients that will help slow the progression of your cat’s conditions, especially phosphorus and lower protein levels. Many of the non-prescription or grocery store foods generally have high levels of phosphorus and would not be ideal for your cat.

To help your cat accept the new food It is important to do a transition. There are two reasons to do a transition:

1) Occasionally a pet will have a GI upset when switched to a new diet,

2) A pet will accept a new food better when a transition is done to allow the pet to get use to the new texture and flavor.

There is more of a chance with a hydrolyzed protein or different (high or low) fiber level food to cause a GI upset. Transition recommendation:

1) Recommend ¾ old diet – ¼ new diet

2) Do this for a few days; if no GI upset, go to the next step

3) ½ old diet – ½ new diet

4) Do this for a few days; if no GI upset, go to the next step

5) ¼ old diet – ¾ new diet

6) Do this for a few days; if no GI upset, go to the next step

7) End with 100% of the new food.

Sometimes a transition should be longer, especially for cats. Use the same recommendation, but instead of a few days, recommend doing each step for a week or more. If you cat is still not interested in the new diet you can research other non-prescription diets focusing on the labels for appropriate levels of phosphorus and protein.

Also, home cooking may be an option but make sure to provide adequate nutrients. A good website to consult is balanceit.com. This website helps you to create well balanced home cooked recipes and offers supplements to add into the diet.

Read Full Q/A … : The Best and Worst Pet Foods: 13 Pet Foods Ranked

Q. My dog won’t stop eating cat litter, old diapers and she even tried eating glass

ANSWER : A. Don’t let your dog have access to cat liter and old diapers. Have a trash with a lid for the diapers and put a hood on the cat box or put it in a room the dog can’t get to. If your dog is trying to eat other things maybe he’s looking for more nutrients in his diet that his food isn’t giving him. Look for a higher quality high protien food at the pet store. Have someone help you at the pet store pick out a food or ask your regular vet their food recommendation. One with the first ingredent as a meat like deboned chicken. If your dogs foods main ingredient (first one listed) is a corn or chicken by product that is bad. You will need to slowly transition the dogs food over by mixing the foods and slowly adding more new and less old to the food for at least a week.

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Q. My cat can only eat strained baby food consistency food. What do I add to strained meat to give her what she needs? She is a torti Persian 5 lbs

ANSWER : A. You should be offering her some wet cat food. Any brand is okay, but you could find a high quality food if you look hard. Cats prefer getting their water from their food, so it’s important to use wet food for a cat instead of just dry food. It’s okay to feed her white meat chicken, and things like that if you want, but you should definitely be feeding some sort of CAT FOOD.. and I bet wet food would be appealing to her considering it’s very moist, like baby food. You can even mash it up further, and look for a food that is really liquidy.

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Q. How much dry kitten food should my 16 week old kitten be eating?

ANSWER : A. It would actually be better to feed your kitten canned food, as dry food has a lot of carbohydrates. Cats are obligatory carnivores, and not carb-eaters. In order to give you an amount to feed for dry food I would need to know which food you are feeding as they are all different. I suggest you check on the cat food bag. If the bag does not give you an amount, I would not trust it to be a complete food. You should then get a food from a reputable company such as Hill’s Science diet, or similar. As for wet food feed three times daily around 2oz each time, best to feed the pate style food.

Read Full Q/A … : Feeding a Kitten: Kitten Food Types and Schedule – WebMD