Nephrotic syndrome

[Rubi]

Hi there, as I posted in the general discussion forum, my six y.o. Rubi was recently diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. The vet has recommended a prescripcion diet (k/d from Hills). Well, Rubi just hates it and I was wondering whether any of you could give me some insight into a home-made diet that could work well for this kind of condition. Thanks.

[Yorkiekids]

What exactly is that syndrome?

[Rubi]

It is characterized by an excessive loss of protein through the urine. As a result, there's liquid build-up in the chest and abdomen. It seems that veterinary care aims at treating just the symtoms because this syndrome can be caused by a large variety of conditions ranging from the very serious, like tumor to some milder ailments. As far as I know, it also affects humans.

[Yorkieluv]

How was your dog's condition diagnosed? Does he also have liver problems?

[Yorkieluv]

If you want to try a homemade diet, you just need to make sure that it's low in sodium, and from what I've read about this condition, low in protein as well. You could try calling a nutritionist and have them formulate a diet for your furbaby. Just make sure you have a record of all bloodwork, tests, etc that have been done so that the nutritionist knows all about your baby's condition. One that I've heard of people having great success with is Dr. Susan Lauten at University of Tennessee.

[spydergurl]

Here is the diet my Vet gave me:

1/4 lb ground beef (do not use lean round chucK)
2 cups cooked white rice without salt
1 hard cooked egg, finely chopped
3 slices white bread, crumbled
1 t (5 g) calcium carbonate (ground egg shells; drug and health food stores)

Also add a balanced supplement which fulfills the canine MDR for all vitamins and trace minerals.

Cook beef in skillet, stirring until lightly browned. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well. This mixture is somewhaqt dry and its' palatability can be improved by adding a little waqter (not milk). Keep covered in refrigerator. Yield 1 1/4 lbs.

Analysis

Protein........6.9%
Fat.............5.5%
Carbohydrate....21.1%
Moisture....65.5%
Metabolizable energy....750 Kcal./lb

This diet supplies 17% protein caqlories, 30% fat calories, and 53% carbohydrate calories.

Feeding Guide

Feed sufficient amount to maintain normal body weight.

Body Weight Approx.Daily Feeding

5 lb 1/4 lb
10 lb 1/2 lb
20 lb 1 lb

For smaller dogs, just figure it out.


I gave some of the K'/D Hills (canned) and mixed it with her dry food, and she loves it! Try it that way.

[Yorkieluv]

The k/d dry contains ethoxyquin, so if at all possible, I would avoid the dry kind. Good luck and please let us know how your baby is doing!!

[spydergurl]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

The k/d dry contains ethoxyquin, so if at all possible, I would avoid the dry kind. Good luck and please let us know how your baby is doing!!

Now I'm worried....does the canned food have that? And, what is that?

[spydergurl]

I kind of answered my own question......the canned does NOT have that.....but I still don't know what it is.

[Yorkieluv]

do a search on here and you should get lots of info. Also, here are some links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethoxyquin
http://www.avianweb.com/ethoxyquin.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/mp30/ethoxyquin.html
http://www.executec.com/nutra.htm
It's basically an artifical preservative that has been linked to many illnesses in dogs...It's particularly not good for a dog who has liver or kidney issues as those are organs that are necessary for "filtering" and this type of chemical stresses the liver and/or kidneys too much.

[spydergurl]

Thanks for the info.....isn't that crazy that they put that in the K/D dry and it's supposed to be for dogs that have kidney disease? That's just more of the greedy company's wanting to make money and they don't care how they do it.
Grrrrrrrr. I hope the canned is okay. I looked at the ingredients and there isn't anything in it that I don't recognize.

[Yorkieluv]

It's in most regular dog foods (not the high quality foods though).

You wouldn't believe how many things actually contain BHA/BHT/ethoxyquin.

Next time you buy frozen pizza, take a look at the ingredients...

I can't eat frozen pizza anymore...I make my own now! LOL

[spydergurl]

Well, many thanks for the heads up! We learn something new everyday, huh!

Now I have to go check their dry food. I have 5 big dogs that live outside (we live in the country) and a yorkie that's inside of course.

Thanks again. Knowledge is good!

[Sandysbabies]

Along with our yorkie we have 2 schnauzers. Both are girls and one has kidney disease. I feed her the k/d. I hate anything Science Diet puts out but since she has to have low protein there is not too much of a choice. I found Innova to have the lowest protein. What I do, and I don't know if this would work for you, but, I feed her K/d in the morning and 1/2 can of Innova or Welliness at nite. She is 12 now and I am just not going to deprive her of something that tastes better than that ole' rubberie, if thats a word, dog food. It looks horrible and just like rubber, but she will eat it. Good luck with your baby, I know its hard when they have special needs.

[spydergurl]

I agree, it is rubbery.....but I mix it with water, smash it with a fork and then mix it with the dry food. She LOVES it, and she is very fussy, believe me. {smile}