[ntrep]

I hope that you can help me. I have a 14.5 year old English Setter who has renal failure. He was eating the Hills KD with no problem for a while. He had a stroke and a seizure, which we attribute to the Proin that he was taking. He has recovered from the stroke and is doing fine in that regard, however, he now refuses to eat the KD dog food. Our vet tells us at this point to just to get him to eat period. He has become quite finicky about what he will eat and not eat. We are also giving him 500cc of fluid subcutaneously every day, hence, he is becoming anemic. I spend a good deal of time cooking up different things to try to get him to eat, however, I would like to get back to the low protein foods. I would also like to get some more iron in him. Can anyone suggest some foods or recipes that could help. Thanks so much.

Last year I was dealing with a dog with congestive heart failure. She would also go through times of not wanting to eat. As your vet has told you and I heard as well--when it comes right down to it it's not about what they eat just that they eat. If they don't eat their organs will begin to shutdown and you don't want that.

So, to begin with--anything--chicken nuggets, hot dogs, liver, mackerel (smelly is good for stimulating appetite). Then try...

beef heart boiled with rice
chicken, chicken livers, green beans boiled with rice
fry up venison hamburger with garlic (NO ONIONS) and make a gravy...serve with rice or noodles or oatmeal

If you are wanting to limit the protein, cooking the rice with the meat will infuse the rice with flavor. You can also make a broth and then cook oatmeal in the broth and add veggies (green beans, spinach, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, peas, lentils).

Don't hide pills in their food. Libby would refuse to eat if she thought I'd done that....

[ntrep]

thank you so much for the info. Can a dog safely eat chicken livers? I've heard conflicting stories. I did panfry some up with bacon bits for him today and he couldn't eat it fast enough. He'll also eat hot dogs with reckless abandon. I'll try some of your other suggestions.
Thanks again

Originally Posted by ntrep

thank you so much for the info. Can a dog safely eat chicken livers? I've heard conflicting stories. I did panfry some up with bacon bits for him today and he couldn't eat it fast enough. He'll also eat hot dogs with reckless abandon. I'll try some of your other suggestions.
Thanks again

Yes, dogs can eat chicken livers. Under normal conditions you would want to limit them somewhat because they tend to be high in some nutrients that are fat-soluble. But, when it's feed them or they die, feed them! So, if your dog will eat chicken livers with bacon, give him/her chicken livers with bacon. Ditto for hot dogs. Canned mackerel smells nice and strong which seems to appeal to dogs--just be prepared for odiferous breath! Shoot, it was a vet-tech who started the chicken nugget craze with Libby--Libby was refusing food and the tech had nuggets left from her lunch and she offered Libby one and a craze was started.

When they are very ill and refusal to eat = death, anything goes (well, no chocolate, onions, avocados, or macadamia nuts).

Once the dog is back to eating, you can work on some healthier options.

I don't have experience with renal failure but there is a group on yahoo for this.

K9KIDNEYS@yahoogroups.com