Kidney Failure and Dog Food

There is a myth, common among even veterinarians, that a high-protein dog food can cause kidney failure. This has been disproven in numerous studies.  In one that I recall, dogs were fed a food with 50% protien as fed for three years with no increase in kidney function tests.

Now, it is true that if a dog has kidney problems, they can benefit from lower and higher-quality protein levels.  There are special prescription only dog foods just for this purpose and they are an important tool in managing the renal failure patient.

The reality is that we often never know the actual cause of renal failure in dogs.  It can vary from an infection like leptospirosis to an autoimmune condition. But, it ain’t the dog food.