
If your dog is suffering kidney disease and has been asked to be fed with low protein dog food, here are some great recipes for your adorable pet.
As the name suggests, low protein dog food contains comparatively lesser protein than normal pet food. Protein serves as a building blocks for dogs as well and is essential for their normal growth and well-being. In fact, dogs require about 18 percent protein in their diets in order to meet their daily dietary and nutritional requirements. On an average, an active and healthy dog weighing 20 pounds must get at least 600-800 calories per day, while big dogs must get 1000-1500 calories per day.
However, if a dog is diagnosed with certain kidney or urinary tract problems, the first step of the treatment is to cut down on the protein intakes, since regular or over consumption of proteins under such circumstances can worsen the pet’s condition.
Even though there are several brands and varieties of both dry or canned low protein dog food available these days, they often contain chemicals and artificial preservatives that may not be good for your dog’s health. Hence this brings us to only other feasible option, i.e. to prepare it at home. Given below are some easy-to-make and healthy low protein dog food recipes that you can use.
Beef and White Rice
Ingredients
- ¼ lb ground beef
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 1 hard cooked egg (finely chopped)
- 3 slices brown bread crumbled
Directions
Rice and bread have very less protein and are easy to digest, however these must be combined with vegetables in order to maintain the necessary nutritional value. Cook the beef in a frying pan until it is slightly brown. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Serve to the dog, as per his size and requirements (speak to your vet about it) and keep the rest covered in a refrigerator.
Vegetables and Brown Rice
Ingredients
- ½ pack salad macaroni (cooked)
- 1 cup brown rice (cooked)
- 2 eggs hard-boiled and chopped up finely
- ½ pkg frozen broccoli
- ½ pkg frozen carrots (steamed until crisp/tender and chopped)
Directions
Take a large mixing bowl and combine all the ingredients together. Add ½ – 1 tbsp low calorie cottage cheese, if desired.
Chicken and Potato Diet
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cooked chicken breast
- 3 potatoes, boiled with skin
- 2 tbsp chicken fat
Directions
Potato is often used in commercially sold dog food as well, however, it must always be baked or cooked and never served raw. Take a large mixing bowl and combine all the ingredients together. Serve it to the dog and refrigerate the remaining food.
Low Protein Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups rice flour or white all-purpose bleached flour
- 6 tbsp low sodium, low fat chicken broth
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 cup cooked vegetables (winter squashes, zucchini, and sweet potatoes) ground up
Directions
Take a mixing bowl, and combine the flour, chicken broth, and vegetables, and then pour cold water to form a smooth dough. Now pat the dough into ½ inch thickness and cut into desired shapes. Place the cookies on a non-stick sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350 ºF for 20 – 25 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the wire rack and store in a jar.
These recipes can be easily prepared at home to help your pet recover. Ensure that you consult a veterinarian before feeding anything to your dog and also ask him for a diet plan which can be combined along with the aforementioned homemade recipes.