kidney disease dogs protein
Dietary Guidelines for Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
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CKD Diet: How much protein is the right amount?
Knowing what to eat when you have kidney disease is very important. Kidneys filter wastes created by the foods you eat to help to keep the right balance of nutrients and minerals in your blood and in your body.
We all need protein in our diet every day. Protein is used to build muscle, heal, fight infection, and stay healthy. Protein needs vary based on your age, sex and overall general health. Protein in the diet comes from both animal and plant sources.
Animal sources of protein have all the essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Animal sources of protein vary in their amount of fat, with fatty cuts of red meat, wholemilk dairy products, and egg yolks being the highest in saturated fat (less healthy for the heart). Fish, poultry, and lowfat or fatfree dairy products are lowest in saturated fat.
Plant sources of protein are low in one or more of the essential amino acids. Plant sources of protein include beans, lentils, nuts, peanut butter, seeds and whole grains. A plant-based diet can meet protein needs with careful planning by eating a variety of plant-based foods. Another bonus with plant proteins is that they are low in saturated fat and high in fiber.
You need protein every day to meet your body's needs, but if you have kidney disease, your body may not be able to remove all the waste from the protein in your diet. Excess protein waste can build up in your blood causing nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, and taste changes.
CKD Without Dialysis: Limit Protein
The more protein waste that needs to be removed, the harder the kidneys need to work to get rid of it. This can be stressful for your kidneys, causing them to wear out faster. For people with kidney disease who are not on dialysis, a diet lower in protein is recommended. Many studies suggest that limiting the amount of protein and including more plant-based foods in the diet may help slow the loss of kidney function.
On Dialysis: Increase Protein
On the other hand, once a person has started dialysis, a higher amount of protein in the diet is necessary to help maintain blood protein levels and improve health. Dialysis removes protein waste from the blood, so a low protein diet is no longer needed.
Know the Right Amount of Protein for You
The exact amount of protein you need depends on your body size, your nutritional status and your kidney problem. Since too little protein can lead to malnutrition at any stage of kidney disease, ask your healthcare professional about meeting with a kidney dietitian to find out the amount and type of protein that is right for you, even in the earliest stages of kidney disease. Your healthcare professional will watch your kidney function for any necessary diet or medicine changes.
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High Levels of Protein in Dog Urine (Proteinuria in Dogs)
What Is Excess Protein in Dog Urine (Proteinuria)?
Proteinuria means there is excess protein in your dogs urine. Although dogs usually have a small amount of protein in their urine, too much protein can be a sign of an underlying condition.
The most important condition associated with proteinuria in dogs is kidney disease, but it can also be caused by infections, inflammation or bleeding along the urinary tract, tumors, high blood pressure, and other conditions. In many cases of proteinuria that are not connected to kidney disease, the condition will resolve as soon as the underlying condition is treated.
Proteinuria caused by kidney disease is a sign that your dogs kidneys arent functioning properly. Kidneys are normally responsible for filtering waste from the bloodstream and balancing levels of certain nutrients.
In dogs with kidney disease, however, a filtering structure in the kidney called the glomerulus is not working as it should. This allows proteins that would normally be kept in the blood to spill over into the urine, where they can be detected by your dogs vet.
Proteinuria itself is not a diseaseinstead, its a sign there is an underlying condition that needs attention.
Symptoms of Proteinuria in Dogs
The symptoms of canine proteinuria depend on the underlying condition thats causing it. In many cases, dogs with proteinuria wont show any symptoms at all, and the condition will be discovered during a routine urinalysis at the vets office.
Proteinuria in dogs can be a sign of serious kidney disease, so if you see signs like lethargy or notice that your dog is drinking a lot more, you should seek out emergency veterinarian care as soon as possible.
Proteinuria in dogs may also be associated with any of the following:
Edema (swelling) in your dogs legs, lower chest, or abdomen. You may see pitting edema, where a dimple remains in the swollen area after you press it.
Difficulty breathing due to fluid in your dogs chest (pleural effusion) or abdomen (known as ascites or peritoneal effusion).
Blood clots. Symptoms associated with blood clots include difficulty breathing, painful limbs, vomiting, diarrhea, or collapse. The exact symptoms depend on where the blood clot is located. If your dog shows any signs that may be caused by a blood clot, they need immediate emergency care.
Causes of Proteinuria in Dogs
The causes of proteinuria include many issues that can occur anywhere along your dogs urinary tract, including kidney disease.
Hemolysis (when blood cells burst and release hemoglobin protein into the blood)
Rhabdomyolysis (when muscle cells break down and release muscle protein into the blood; this can be caused by strenuous exercise, fever, or seizures)
Infections (infection of the bladder, urethra, or ureter; genital infections; Lyme disease; anaplasmosis; ehrlichiosis; heartworm disease; dental disease; bacterial skin disease; endocarditis [infection on a heart valve]; Leishmaniasis)
Cancers (lymphoma, mast cell tumor, multiple myeloma, transitional cell carcinoma [cancer of the urinary tract], histiocytic sarcoma)
Inflammation caused by conditions like pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas), inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis
Kidney issues (injury, failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cancer of the kidney)
Fanconi syndrome (abnormal functioning of tubules in the kidneys)
Systemic lupus erythematosus
High blood pressure
Cushings disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
Diabetes mellitus
Genetic predisposition
Amyloidosis (a rare disease that causes high levels of certain proteins in the heart, kidneys, and other organs)
Idiopathic (unknown cause)
Dog Breeds That Are Prone to Proteinuria
How Vets Diagnose Proteinuria in Dogs
The most common test to detect proteinuria in dogs is a routine urinalysis. In this test, urine is collected from your dog and assessed by a lab or in a veterinarians office.
If high levels of protein are detected in your dogs urine, your vet will recommend follow-up testing with a second test called a urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR). The UPCR test is considered the gold standard test to measure protein levels in dogs. It will likely be conducted along with other tests to measure your dogs kidney health. During the UPCR test, urine will be collected from your dog and analyzed in a lab to detect the exact levels of protein in the urine. This helps your vet identify whats causing the condition.
If a UPCR shows significant proteinuria (a value greater than 0.5), your vet should confirm it by testing two additional samples of urine taken directly from your dogs bladder with a needle. Additional testing is recommended because proteinuria in dogs can be temporary and may not require treatment.
A urine culture may need to be ordered to determine if a urinary tract infection is present, since a urinalysis can miss a urinary tract infection. A urine culture is the best way diagnose or rule out an infection, especially if a dog has proteinuria and is having symptoms that would support an infection.
Treatment for Proteinuria in Dogs
Proteinuria itself is not a condition, but it may indicate a more serious underlying health problem.
If your dog has proteinuria, your vet will first identify the underlying cause. This will likely involve additional tests, along with a detailed history of your dogs health and any changes in their behavior. They may also prescribe medications to prevent blood clots, such as a very low dose of aspirin or clopidogrel, a blood thinner.
Once the underlying cause has been discovered, your vet can develop a treatment plan. Some of the conditions and related treatments that are linked to proteinuria include:
Kidney Disease
Proteinuria is found in dogs with kidney disease, including chronic kidney disease (CKD) and sometimes acute kidney failure. If your dog is diagnosed with kidney disease, your vet will develop a treatment plan to relieve symptoms and restore your animals quality of life as much as possible.
Treating kidney disease in dogs can be complex and difficult, but it usually involves regular testing to monitor kidney function and medications that reduce the pressure on the kidneys and help them function better.
Common medications include high blood pressure medications (see below) and possibly, diuretics such as furosemide or spironolactone, if edema is present. These medications reduce the amount of swelling or fluid in your dogs chest or abdomen. Your dog may also be prescribed a special diet with low sodium, low protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Infections
Infections causing proteinuria, including urinary tract infections, are often treated with antibiotics. The proteinuria often goes away after successful treatment.
High Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure can cause proteinuria in dogs by forcing protein into the urine in the kidneys. Common medications used to treat high blood pressure in dogs include amlodipine and telmisartan. Your vet may also prescribe ACE inhibitor medications including enalapril or benazepril.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myelomas are tumors that produce antibodies. They also produce special Bence-Jones proteins that are small enough to pass through the kidneys filter and into the urine. These proteins cause proteinuria and can damage the kidney. A special Bence-Jones protein test can detect these proteins if your veterinarian suspects your dog has multiple myeloma.
Recovery and Management of Proteinuria in Dogs
Resolving proteinuria means treating the underlying condition. Its best to detect proteinuria as early as possible so your vet can figure out whats causing it and develop a treatment plan. In some cases, such as lower urinary tract infection, the condition can be treated relatively easily and the proteinuria will go away.
Chronic causes of proteinuria, such as inflammatory bowel disease, Cushings disease, or diabetes mellitus, may require long-term treatment. During treatment, your vet will try to stabilize the disease and prevent long-term kidney damage.
Dogs diagnosed with severe kidney disease, such as severe inherited kidney disorder, cancer in the kidney, or kidney failure, may not be able to stabilize the disease or will only be able to do so for a short time.
Proteinuria in Dogs FAQs
What does it mean if a dog has protein in their urine?
Dogs normally have a small amount of protein in their urine. When the vet sees that there are higher-than-normal levels of protein released into your dogs urine, your veterinarian will perform tests to rule out several possible causes of proteinuria, including kidney disease. Proteinuria should be diagnosed and confirmed by a vet.
How do I reduce protein in my dog's urine?
Some of the most common causes of damage to a dogs kidney are infections. Keep your dog up to date on heartworm prevention as well as flea and tick control. Treat skin infections and dental disease early.
Why does my dog have high protein in his urine?
High protein in the urine may indicate an infection, blood in the urine, broken red blood cells, muscle proteins, or albumin in the urine. Sometimes, the protein indicates a problem in the kidneys glomerulus (filtering apparatus), causing protein loss from the body into the urine.
What is urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) in dogs?
This is a measurement of the ratio of urine protein to a substance called urine creatinine in your dogs blood creatinine. Creatinine is a normal waste product found in the blood. This test is considered the gold standard for measuring proteinuria in dogs. Normal UPCR levels are less than 0.5. This test is often used in conjunction with other kidney tests to measure overall kidney function.
WRITTEN BY
Jennifer S. Fryer, DVMVeterinarian
Jennifer S. Fryer, DVM graduated with Honors from Brown University with an AB in Development Studies, an interdisciplinary study of the...
