Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any recipies for low protien diets for our little Kaia? We are having a heck of a time getting him to eat his kibble. It's a low protein food and he just doesnt like it. So we are thinking about cooking for him.
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David owned by Kona, Kiko & Kaia

Dave check out this link... lots of useful information on canine nutrition and also homemade recipes.
www.lowchensaustralia.com/HEALTH/diet.htm

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

David, what kibble are you giving Kaia? Murphy has been on K/D for most of his 3 years, and has done really well on it. I'm sure it must be more difficult for Kaia, since he is having to change from what he's used to eating. One thing I've done that has worked so nicely is to also buy the canned K/D and cut it into cubes, and also sticks to stick in Kong's, and then freeze it. He thinks it's a special treat. He will, from time to time, get really tired of his kibble and let a day's dish sit pretty much untouched. When this happens, I thaw some of the frozen, mash it up and mix it in.....presto, empty dish!

I'm sure you've been told no commercial treats, or rawhide. Murphy has a marvelous collection of Nylabones, in various stages of hard usage. You can also buy dog bisquits (usually at your vet's) that are complimentary to the low protein diet. Murphy loves those.

I also give him snacks of mini carrots, lettuce, and cucumber slices, which he loves. Just remember never to give him beans of any kind. They are really high protein!
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

I really can sympathize with how you are feeling about this. It's hard when they beg for snacks and you can't share. Murphy has learned that when I say "I love you enough to say NO", he might as well give up on the pathetic looks.

I read all the posts about cheese and peanut butter as "high value treats" and can't help but feel bad that he can't have such things, but when that blood work comes back good, I know it's so worth it!
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

I don't have any recipes or know much about such diets, but could you mix a little rice or pumpkin in with his kibble to get him to eat it? (That way you get the nutritional balance that someone else has already figured out and some incentive for him to eat it--if he likes rice or pumpkin.)

Rice is fairly high in protein. Pumpkin might be ok.
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

That is really odd since rice is a main ingredient in some low protein recipes though it is only a component of the recipe as a whole... I wonder if the rice has to be low protein or even gluten free? Example...

Canine Ultra Low Protein Diet
2½ cups cooked rice
1oz vegetable oil
1 large hard cooked egg
¼ tsp calcium carbonate**
¼ tsp salt
Balanced vitamin-mineral supplement in a quantity sufficient to provide the daily requirement for each vitamin and trace mineral.
Preperation...
Cook rice as per package instructions except use only 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add other ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate between feedings. Yield: 1.1 lbs.
**Calcium Carbonate Sources: Ground Egg Shells; Drug and Health Food Stores

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

My first Google search showed rice to be even higher in protein than green beans, which are not allowed for Murphy. In looking again, I find listings for Low Protein Rice and High Protein Rice, so maybe certain types are better than others. I'm sure no expert. I just am always watching for foods that Murphy can safely eat.
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

I'm no expert either. . . The rice (brown basmati) in my pantry has three grams of protein per serving, far less than meat. I think it depends what you serve it with, too (thinking of that cookbook popular in the 1970s--Diet for a Small Planet, which was all about complementary proteins).

Rice is not high in protein like meat is high in protein, but it does have a large amount of protein in it- something like 20% on a dry matter basis. It's how many of the not so wonderful dog foods out there can claim high protein levels even when they don't have a huge amount of real meat involved. Corn is similar- it too is relatively high in protein- plant protein.

How readily available the protein is to be used by the body is a different story. Simplistically speaking: carnivore body chemistry is designed to process meat protein and they don't have as many of the enzymes to process plant protein. Herbivores are the opposite having the ability to readily process plant protein and omnivores have an abundant supply of both.

Now, when you have a dog that isn't processing things as they should (Kaia and Murphy) tweaking out the diet is tough.

Do either of you guys have your dogs on digestive enzymes to help in this matter? It's only a partial help and may not be the exact reason for trouble, but tends to be worth a trial along with the food changes.

As for food choices- I always refer people to this website www.dogaware.com/ when dealing with food decisions.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles www.freewebs.com/performanceshibas

Hi Chelle, and thanks for your comments. No, we don't have Murphy on any type of supplements. When he was diagnosed with kidney damage, in December 2006, at age 7 months, our veterinarian put him on Science Diet K/D. He's been on that, plus some fresh veggies, as snacks, ever since. He's now just about to celebrate his 3rd Birthday and has never had a sick minute since his diagnosis. His weight remains steady, at 24 pounds, and his coat is thick and glossy. Energy level is high, as well. He has blood work every six months and all is normal, with the exception of one reading, which is high normal. But normal is normal. and we are very thankful that our boy is happy and healthy!!
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

With Tiko after much research we didn't go real low protein and focused on low phosphorus more. And I know Kaia has liver issues not kidney but this was a link I liked a lot
www.dogaware.com/kidney.html

and this from the whole dog journal
www.windyhollowvet.com/Document/info/ChronicRenalFailureDiet.pdf

innova senior used to have 2 formulas one at 14% protein and then the senior plus that was very low phosphorus, had glucosamine and some other supplements and was 18% protein - but high quality single source protein - no rice, corn or filler proteins. I'm not sure which product is on the market now since I no longer buy senior food, but I did notice that there seems to only be one senior formula now.
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Alicia,Owned by 2 Shibas, Niko and Avari, 3 cats, Miss Kitty, Mr. Grobbles and Al E. Cat and 2 beautiful daughters, Gwen and Penelope