Most people want high-protein diets for their dogs, and most companies provide them. However, if your dog is suffering from kidney problems or if your vet recommends it, it is sometimes preferable to feed them low-protein food.
The average protein content on a dry matter basis is over 18%, and most dry foods contain 22%, so any diet considered low-protein would have to fall below this percentage. Fortunately, there are some renal support diets that are not only tasty but will also keep your dog healthy.
We’ve tried some of the best products on the market right now to help you out with choosing which one is best for your Doggo.
1. Royal Canin Renal Support
While this Royal Canin dog food requires a prescription, it contains all of the antioxidants and fatty acids that your dog requires to stay fit and healthy. Not only that but some ingredients are included to ensure that even your pickiest eater cannot resist this tasty kibble.
The protein content is 15% on a dry matter basis and the phosphorus content is relatively low which is always a benefit when we talk about renal support. Nevertheless, we did note that the kibble size was way too big for some of our smaller doggos and it is rather on the expensive side so keep that in mind.
If you want to reduce your dogs’ protein intake even further, this Hills prescription diet is for you. It includes only 12% protein on a dry matter basis and has very low phosphorus and salt content, all of which are essential when it comes to kidney support.
This also does not use by-products, and the kibble is manufactured from whole protein (chicken), so you don’t have to be concerned about the food’s quality. However, we did observe that some of our fussy eaters did not enjoy the taste, so you may need to provide some incentive for them to eat this kibble.
Veterinarians have long recommended this particular food and for good reason. Not only does it include only 12.5% protein, but it also has low salt and phosphorus levels to keep your dog’s renal system in tip-top shape.
And, while we enjoy this particular alternative, as do our dogs, it does contain by-products that we dislike. Furthermore, because it is a fairly expensive alternative, we would not recommend it to you if you are seeking low-protein dog food on a tight budget.
If you’re not a fan of dry kibble and prefer a wet meal with low protein content, Blue Buffalo’s product will be exactly up your alley. It contains 13.5% protein and several antioxidant-rich fruits like cranberries, which is a good indicator when it comes to kidney support.
And as it is grain-free and contains no by-products even your most allergy-prone dog will be happy. We did observe, however, that the wet food is rather chunky, and we had to smush it before some of our smaller breeds could consume it. It also has a pungent odour, which we didn’t care for.
If your dog isn’t suffering from any renal troubles at present but you worry that it may develop in the future then this non-prescription diet may be just what you are looking for. It contains 17% protein on a dry matter basis, which is slightly lower than other brands but not as low as many other prescription-based foods on our list.
Not only that, but because it is low in fat, it is ideal for any dog with weight issues. Our dogs enjoyed the texture of the cylindrical kibble and couldn’t get enough of it. It does, however, include by-products, and we would not recommend it for dogs that have severe renal concerns.
If you liked the prior Purina product, you will love the wet food version because the ingredient list is nearly identical. On a dry matter basis, it contains 14.62% protein and has a low salt level. It is not grain-free, but this isn’t always a bad thing because it can sometimes benefit dogs with intestinal disorders.
It does contain by-products, but it is also the most affordable prescription low-protein wet food alternative we could find (that doesn’t suck). Nevertheless, this has a very strong odour, which dog owners will have to get used to. However, we recommend consulting with a veterinarian before implementing this diet because it may aggravate your dog’s allergies.
These are just a few of the low-protein dog foods, and we’re sure there are many more but these are the ones that worked best in our experience. After all, it’s not just the protein content that matters, but also the other ingredients and whether your dog is allergic to any of them. We haven’t forgotten to talk about the flavour either. After all, not every dog will enjoy chicken, so there will be some trial and error as always.
However, we hope that this list was helpful in deciding which food to feed your dog. And, if you believe we left out a particular brand or product that you love, please let us know in the comments section below, we’d love to hear from our readers.
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