Clinical Nutrition in a Dog with Renal Failure

A 6-year-old dog was presented with acute vomiting, dehydration and lethargy. Clin- ical examination, urinalysis and blood work revealed that the dog was suffering from acute renal failure. the dog was referred to the iCu for fluid therapy. During the hospi- talization the dog was offered a recovery food but did not eat sufficient amounts to ful- fill resting energy requirements (rEr), and the dog kept on vomiting, so the dog was put on parenteral nutrition. During the fluid therapy and parenteral nutrition , the dog improved and was offered a liquid recuperation supplement. finally the dog started eating a recovery diet and the blood levels were stable. the dog was send home with a renal diet. after 2 weeks the dog came in for a control visit. the dog refused to eat several commercial renal diets, so the dog was referred to the nutritionist to provide a homemade recipe. after 6 months being fed the homemade recipe, the dog was still performing well and blood levels remained stable. this case report reflects the differ- ent approaches needed for management of a dog with renal failure. nutritional support is important during the hospitalization phase because hospitalized animals are in a cat- abolic phase, characterized by increased needs for energy and protein. after a switch from the catabolic to the anabolic phase, the dietary plan has to be re-evaluated, espe- cially in case of renal failure. Compliance to, and acceptance of, a renal diet is challeng- ing. if dogs refuse to eat several commercial renal diets, homemade recipes, provided by a board certified nutritionist, can be very helpful.