[Dailydrool] Homemade Diet for Dogs with Liver Disease (L/D)

[Sandi Wittenberg]

Home-made diets can be used for dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts
and other liver 
diseases.  Remember that each commercial diet has been formulated to meet
the lifelong 
nutritional needs of a pet.  If substitutions are made, it changes the
balance of the diet.  The same 
is true for home-made diets;  if you choose to feed your dog a diet such as
the one listed below, 
you should not change the components of the diet or you may affect his
long-term health.   

Canine Low Protein Diet for Liver Disease
Revised by Dr. Claudia Kirk, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary
Nutritionists,
April 18, 2005

¼ lb of ground beef (not lean chuck) 
2 Cups cooked rice 
1 hard cooked egg, finely chopped 
3 slices of white bread, crumbled 
1 tsp powdered bone meal for feeding (if you can’t find this, substitute
calcium carbonate) 
¼ tsp lite salt 
1 Centrum vitamin-mineral supplement 
1 tsp corn oil 
100 IU vitamin E capsule 
1 gram fish oil nutritional supplement 
1 tsp Metamucil 

Cook rice in advance.  Cook beef in skillet, stirring, until lightly
browned.  Mix cooked beef with 
remaining ingredients.  Store refrigerated. 
The mix is somewhat dry; moisture and palatability can be improved by adding
warm water or 
low sodium chicken broth.   

Yield: 598 grams (1.25 pounds) and 936 kcal/batch 

Analysis (% Dry Matter): 
Protein 19% 
Fat 19% 
Carbohydrate 54% 
Sodium 0.5% 
Calories  750 kcal/lb. 

Feed sufficient amount to maintain normal body weight (approximately ¼ lb
food per each 5 lb 
body weight). 

Supplements: SAM-e, ursodiol, and L-carnitine as indicated by your
veterinarian.


Sandi Wittenberg
Red Bay Bassets