Quality Low Protein Food

[olliesmommy]

Hi Everyone!

So, I have been told by my vet to put my baby boy on a low protein diet as he is having some liver issues. The vet recommended the prescription version of Hills, as it is low protein. However, when I looked at the ingredients, they were just filled with fillers and by-products! Can anyone here recommend a quality, low protein, food for my baby? I have been feeding him Natural Balance dry in the meantime, which is 18% protein, but I need to find something a bit lower. Wet or dry, either way. The vet recommended wet because he said the extra water is good for his liver. I can't believe that there aren't any quality, low protein prescription foods out there! Any recommendations would be great!

[iuplori]

I'm sorry that I can't help you with a recommendation, but I do hope your pup is on the mend soon.

It amazes me sometimes that these vets don't seem to care about the food content like I think they should!

[Ladymom]

Has he been diagnosed with a liver shunt? What tests were done? What were the results?

Too little protein is not good for his liver. Protein isn't harmful to the liver. It is the ammonia in animal proteins. If his liver is compromised, ammonia will get into his system and cause problems.

He needs high quality proteins that produce the least amount of ammonia. Cottage cheese, eggs and tofu are best as they are not from animals. Chicken and whitefish are the lowest ammonia producing animal proteins. Red meat is the worst and should be avoided.

This is a great article:

Liver | B-Naturals.Com Newsletter

I agree with you about not feeding Hills prescription diet. It is not a good quality food. I went through the same thing when Lady was diagnosed with diabetes. My vet recommended W/D. I read the ingredients and could not figure out why you would feed such garbage to a dog with a compromised immune system.

Have you considered home cooking? There are some wonderful diets in the bottom part of this link. including one from Dr. Center.

Nutritional Support for Dogs and Cats with Hepatobiliary Disease -- Center 128 (12): 2733S -- Journal of Nutrition

Here is Dr. Dodd's Liver Cleansing diet. I know many people who have used this diet with great results.

Liver Cleansing Diet and Milk Thistle

[Yorkieluv]

The type of protein is important...Vegetarian/dairy protein is what is recommended.
If you decide to go with Hill's, only use the L/D canned because it does not contain ethoxyquin like the dry does, and they do not use pork liver in it like they do in the other canned foods like K/D, S/D, I/D, etc..

Royal Canin makes a prescription food for liver compromised dogs as well: Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14... It only comes in dry and does NOT contain ethoxyquin which is a very good thing. It's very palatable.

[Ladymom]

I forgot to mention that you can buy vegetarian kibble. That's what I feed Lady combined with homecooked (brown rice, cottage cheese and either chicken breast, tilapia or eggs as her protein). She has liver damage from nine years of seizure medication.

Avoderm has a vegetarian formula:

AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Adult Dog Food

Natures Recipe also has a vegetarian formula:

Nature's Recipe Vegetarian Canine Formula - Food Center - Dog - PetSmart

Both Petco and Petsmart carry these brands.

[amyann]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I forgot to mention that you can buy vegetarian kibble. That's what I feed Lady combined with homecooked (brown rice, cottage cheese and either chicken breast, tilapia or eggs as her protein). She has liver damage from nine years of seizure medication.

Avoderm has a vegetarian formula:

AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Adult Dog Food

Natures Recipe also has a vegetarian formula:

Nature's Recipe Vegetarian Canine Formula - Food Center - Dog - PetSmart

Both Petco and Petsmart carry these brands.

Ladymom, have you tried Avoderm before? I am thinking about it and it would be very helpful to hear from someone who's got first hand experience. Thanks.

[mstrooperwife]

Originally Posted by olliesmommy

Hi Everyone!

So, I have been told by my vet to put my baby boy on a low protein diet as he is having some liver issues. The vet recommended the prescription version of Hills, as it is low protein. However, when I looked at the ingredients, they were just filled with fillers and by-products! Can anyone here recommend a quality, low protein, food for my baby? I have been feeding him Natural Balance dry in the meantime, which is 18% protein, but I need to find something a bit lower. Wet or dry, either way. The vet recommended wet because he said the extra water is good for his liver. I can't believe that there aren't any quality, low protein prescription foods out there! Any recommendations would be great!

We had a collie years ago that was put on that food by the vet. It did help her alot. SHe also had problems with her kidneys too. I'm not much help, with a different food, but helped her.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by amyann

Ladymom, have you tried Avoderm before? I am thinking about it and it would be very helpful to hear from someone who's got first hand experience. Thanks.

I've used Avoderm. It's excellent food.

Here are two other high quality, low protein commercial kibbles:

Holistique Blendz Adult Dog (fish)

WELLNESS® - Healthy Dog and Cat Food

[amyann]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I forgot to mention that you can buy vegetarian kibble. That's what I feed Lady combined with homecooked (brown rice, cottage cheese and either chicken breast, tilapia or eggs as her protein). She has liver damage from nine years of seizure medication.

Avoderm has a vegetarian formula:

AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Adult Dog Food

Natures Recipe also has a vegetarian formula:

Nature's Recipe Vegetarian Canine Formula - Food Center - Dog - PetSmart

Both Petco and Petsmart carry these brands.

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I've used Avoderm. It's excellent food.

Here are two other high quality, low protein commercial kibbles:

Holistique Blendz Adult Dog (fish)

WELLNESS® - Healthy Dog and Cat Food

Thank you so much. I will definitely check them out. I don't know whether my baby has problem with high-protein food but there is no reason to make her liver work harder than necessary. My sister's Yorkie died of liver failure so I am especially careful with mine when it comes to taking care of her liver.

[Deegan's mom]

My Trooper had liver shunt and had surgery last July for it. His surgeon still recommends that he be on a low or non-meat protien diet such as Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14. I also found a Liver Disease Yahoo Group that also recommends this food. You should check the group out - they've helped me out alot!! They are willing to help you learn and recommend food, anything that will help you help your furbaby. Here's the link:
DogLiverDisease : Dog Liver Disease

[PennysMum]

If you end up going with a prescription diet, I'd highly recommend opting for Royal Canin over Hills formulations. The RC ones use fewer by-products and safer preservatives.

[amyann]

Originally Posted by Deegan's mom

My Trooper had liver shunt and had surgery last July for it. His surgeon still recommends that he be on a low or non-meat protien diet such as Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14. I also found a Liver Disease Yahoo Group that also recommends this food. You should check the group out - they've helped me out alot!! They are willing to help you learn and recommend food, anything that will help you help your furbaby. Here's the link:
DogLiverDisease : Dog Liver Disease

Thanks, Deegan's mom and PennysMum. I will check-out the dog liver disease web site and keep RC on top of my list. I hope Trooper is doing well now.