A BARF kidney diet is recommended for dogs with progressive kidney failure in order to protect the organ. Unfortunately, kidney failure is one of the most common fatal diseases for dogs. In addition, the insidious disease is usually only diagnosed relatively late, as symptoms only appear when more than 50 percent of kidney function has failed. In these cases, a kidney diet is usually recommended for the dog, which can be carried out with BARF. The BARF is flexibly adapted to the circumstances.
For a BARF kidney diet, it is important to understand the effects of various minerals, trace elements and more. This starts with a moderate protein intake, because protein puts a strain on the kidneys by creating nitrogen compounds. But that does not mean that you should completely avoid protein, because that would lead to a breakdown of muscles and tissue in the long term.
In addition to proteins, a balance in the calcium-phosphorus ratio is important. Phosphorus forms phosphates in the body, which are excreted via the kidneys. If there are more phosphates in the organism than the body can excrete, then an excess occurs in combination with a calcium deficiency. This deficiency ultimately leads to calcification of the kidneys. With the BARF kidney diet for your dog, you can counteract this process with calcium, which you can find in bones and cartilage, for example. Ensure a ratio of 1.3:1 so that there is slightly more calcium than phosphorus in the food.
With a BARF kidney diet, your dog also benefits from vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. The B vitamins are water-soluble and can therefore be excreted in greater quantities. Therefore, supplementing the diet can be useful. In addition, vitamin D is not converted properly as a result of kidney damage, which you can compensate for by administering calcitriol, among other things. The omega-3 fatty acids also have a positive effect on inflammatory processes and reduce arterial blood pressure. The fatty acids are mainly found in fish products or in certain oils for dogs .
You should definitely discuss the diet for a dog with kidney failure with a veterinarian. You can also send your pet for a preventive examination once a year.
