The Worst Food for Dogs with Kidney Disease

🚫 Does Your Dog Have CKD? Avoid This Food (Give Them These Instead)

If your dog has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), you’ve probably been told by your vet to buy a “special renal formula” — usually a dry, prescription-only dog food (kibble) that costs a small fortune.

But here’s the shocking truth:

💀 That bag of “kidney care” food might actually make your dog’s kidney disease worse.

Let’s dig into why this happens, how it affects your dog’s body, and what you can do right now to help your senior dog live longer, even with kidney disease.

🐕 By the way, CKD is NOT a death sentence in most cases.

If your dog is diagnosed in stage 4, where the disease sneaks up on you and the vet (usually this is caused by another issue in the body or extreme old age), then we have to focus on palliative care.

💪 However, in stages 1, 2, and 3, there is SO much we can do to help our dogs live better, longer, happier, and healthier. However, the first step is getting rid of THIS food:

💧 1. The Moisture Crisis: Why Dry CKD Kibble Hurts Failing Kidneys

Dogs with kidney disease already have reduced kidney function. Their kidneys can’t filter waste efficiently or concentrate urine properly. That means your dog’s body must flush out toxins like urea, creatinine, and phosphorus — and water is critical for that process.

Now, compare two food types:

🥣 Homemade or fresh food: ~70% water
🦴 Dry dog food (kibble, biscuits, pellets, however you say it in your neighbourhood) (including “renal” formulas): 8–10% water

That’s a huge gap.

And, it isn't just that dry food has less moisture. It actually PULLS MORE water from your dog's system to make the food digestible, passable, and usable.

This means that dry food actually DE-hydrates your dog.

When you feed a low-moisture diet, your dog must drink significantly more water just to stay hydrated at the base, basic level. But many adult and senior dogs already don’t drink enough — either due to fatigue, reduced thirst response, or simple confusion.

Now add in a dehydrating food plus kidneys that are desperate for more moisture, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.

➡️ Result: Dehydration → Increased kidney stress → Faster disease progression

In cats (where more research exists), studies show that high-moisture diets improve renal function and reduce kidney stone formation. One study from The American Journal of Veterinary Research found that cats eating moist food produced more dilute urine and had lower risk of stone formation — all signs of healthier kidneys.

🐕 While direct canine studies are limited, it’s safe to say dogs benefit from the same principle: more hydration = less kidney stress.

💡 Tip: Transition your CKD dog to lightly cooked, high-moisture meals — or at least rehydrate dry food with warm low-phosphorus bone broth. Healthy homemade dog food is always best, especially if your dog has CKD, Cancer, Liver Problems, etc.

🔥 2. The Heat Problem: How Processing Destroys Nutrients

Commercial CKD dog food, and commercial dog foods in general, go through multiple high-heat processing stages — extrusion, drying, baking, and sterilisation. Each of these steps destroys delicate nutrients and natural enzymes your dog’s body needs to fight inflammation and heal.

For example, a simple food like red cabbage — rich in antioxidants, vitamin K, and phytonutrients — can be lightly cooked at home and retain most of its goodness. It can be fed raw. It can be cooked in broth...

All of these options will have your dog eating red cabbage, and receiving the health benefits that come with this powerful vegetable.

However, when a good food like red cabbage is processed industrially four times over, it becomes nearly worthless nutritionally.

Even worse, all that heat creates compounds known as Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) in dog food.

🧪 What Are AGEs?

AGEs form when sugars bind to proteins or fats under high heat. These compounds are pro-inflammatory and oxidative, accelerating aging and damaging organs.

In humans, AGEs are strongly linked to:

🩸 Worsening kidney disease
🍩 Insulin resistance & diabetes

💔 Premature aging and inflammation

And although research in dogs is newer, the effects are likely similar — since their metabolism and inflammatory pathways share key similarities with ours.

🔥 Bottom line: Every scoop of dry, ultra-processed food adds fuel to the inflammatory fire in your dog’s kidneys.

🌾 3. The Ingredients Problem: Cheap Fillers and Fake Proteins

Open the label on most “renal” or “prescription” kibbles and you’ll see something like this:

Ingredients: Rice, Brewer’s rice, Egg product, Hydrolyzed chicken flavor, Corn gluten meal, Soybean meal…

Let’s break that down:

🍚 Rice (twice!) — two versions of the same cheap carbohydrate.

🥚 Egg product — not whole eggs, but a processed derivative lacking full amino acids.

🌽 Corn protein meal — incomplete, poorly digestible, and pro-inflammatory.

🧂 Artificial flavors — used to mask the lack of real meat or fat.

That means three carbs before any true protein source, and even that “protein” is of low biological value.

Hills:

Royal Canin:

Purina: (by the way, how nice of them to offer you this sack of corn, rice and literal sugar for only 122.00USD for 10kg)

Look at the Purina ingredients. There are literally NO protein sources besides 'dried egg product.'

Not eggs.
Not egg yolks.

Dried. Egg. Product.

This is a 10kg bag of corn (whole grain, so it must be healthy), rice, and sugar. No hyperbole. SUGAR is listed as the 4th ingredient.

All this for over $120.

Vile.

👉 Dogs with CKD need moderate, high-quality, easily digestible animal protein — not protein from corn or soy.

When they eat poor-quality protein, their kidneys must work harder to eliminate nitrogen waste, increasing their metabolic load.

💬 In other words:

You’re paying premium prices for a bag of carbohydrates that raises blood sugar, worsens inflammation, and dehydrates your dog — all while claiming to “support kidney health.”

🧬 4. The Omega Imbalance: Too Many Omega-6s, Not Enough Omega-3s

Another major flaw in these formulas is the fatty acid ratio.

Healthy kidneys (and the rest of your dog’s body) depend on a delicate balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

🐠Omega-3s (from fish oil, sardines, krill, etc.) are anti-inflammatory and protect kidney cells.
😷Omega-6s (from corn, soy, and seed oils) are pro-inflammatory when over-consumed.

Yet most commercial “renal” kibbles are overloaded with omega-6 seed oils and contain almost no EPA or DHA (the active omega-3s).

🐟 Quick Fix: Add a vet-approved fish oil supplement or small amounts of sardines in water to your dog’s meals (check phosphorus levels). It can make a measurable difference in inflammation and kidney health.

🧂 5. Hidden Sodium, Synthetic Additives & Preservatives

Even “prescription” foods contain synthetic vitamins, artificial flavours, and preservatives like BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin — compounds that have raised health concerns for decades.

While these additives extend shelf life, they add zero nutritional value and can irritate sensitive kidneys.

🧠 Remember: your dog’s kidneys are detox organs. The more synthetic compounds you feed, the harder those kidneys must work.

🥩 So What Should You Feed a Dog With Kidney Disease?

Here’s the good news: you can support kidney health naturally through smart, homemade or fresh-food diets.

Here are a few core principles:

✅ High moisture content: add bone broth, filtered water, or hydration recipes (see below).

✅ Moderate protein: focus on quality meats like turkey, pork, duck, or eggs.

✅ Low phosphorus: use lean meats, egg whites, and healthy fats like coconut oil or butter.

✅ Healthy fats: add omega-3s (fish oil), MCT oil, or grass-fed ghee.

✅ Low carbs: skip the rice and corn; use pumpkin, cauliflower, or green beans.

And most importantly —

Avoid ultra-processed, high-heat foods that come in a bag. Avoid THIS food - Click Here

Note: Your vet will likely recommend a phosphorous 'blocker' at some point. These are supplements/medications that help bind to phosphorous in the blood, and carry it out of your pup's body before it can be absorbed.

While these are not classically powerful 'drugs,' do not underestimate the impact a simple, cheap, calcium-salts based supplement can have on your dog's kidney health and longevity.

💧 Free Resource: 5 Hydration Hacks for Dogs With CKD

We put together a free guide you can grab in the first comment of the video or from our website.

It covers simple (and mostly free) hydration strategies you can use today to:

💦 Encourage drinking naturally - even if your dog is hard-headed about drinking water

🍲 Add safe moisture to meals

🧊 Use electrolytes and CKD-specific broths to improve kidney comfort

Keeping your dog hydrated is one of the most powerful things you can do to extend their lifespan and improve their comfort.

🧠 Nerd Alert:

High moisture diets

Improve renal function and reduce kidney stone risk in cats (and likely dogs)

Am. J. Vet. Res., 2006

Advanced Glycation End Products

Increase inflammation and oxidative stress, worsen CKD

Front. Vet. Sci., 2021

Omega-3 supplementation

Slows CKD progression and lowers creatinine in dogs

J. Vet. Intern. Med., 2017

Ultra-processed foods

Linked to chronic inflammation and aging in pets

Front. Nutr., 2020

❓ FAQ: CKD Dog Food Questions Answered

Q1. Should I stop feeding prescription renal kibble immediately?

If your dog is stable, you can gradually transition to fresh, moisture-rich food over 5–7 days. Always consult your vet before major dietary changes, especially if your dog is on medication.

Q2. Can homemade food really help kidney function?

Yes — studies show that fresh, lightly cooked diets (or raw) healthy homemade dog food with balanced moisture and omega-3s improve quality of life and slow CKD progression. The key is using moderate, but super high quality, protein and low phosphorus ingredients.

Q3. How do I keep my dog hydrated?

Add low-phosphorous bone broth, low-sodium water flavourings (like tuna water), or mix in moisture-rich foods (zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber). You can also use your free hydration guide linked below.

Q4. My vet says only prescription food is safe — what do I say?

Many vets receive limited training in canine nutrition and rely on manufacturer data. Respectfully ask for a nutrient breakdown and compare it to homemade recipes verified by veterinary nutritionists.

But, more to the point, YOU should read the ingredients and decide what's best for YOUR dog. They get one life with you...

Q5. What supplements support kidney health?

• Omega-3s (EPA/DHA)
  

• CoQ10 or Ubiquinol

• SAM-E - this combined with Silybin Phosphocomplex is fantastic for kidney health, especially if your dog is on chemo:

  
  

• Vitamin E
  

• Probiotic foods like greek yogurt, kefir, raw goat's milk, etc (reduce uremic toxins)
  

• Cordyceps or Rehmannia (kidney-supportive herbs)
  

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❤️ Final Thoughts

Your dog’s kidneys are fighting hard every day — don’t make their job harder with dehydrating, over-processed, high-carb food that claims to “support kidney health.” CKD can be brutal. Let's make it as easy as possible for our furbabies.

Choose fresh, moist, nutrient-rich meals, give them hydration support, and you’ll be amazed how much energy, appetite, and life they can regain.

🔥 And if you’ve been feeding a bag of that “CKD-specific” kibble?

You know what to do — it belongs in the incinerator, not in your dog’s bowl.