Some changes can be seen quite quickly — for example, improvements in energy levels, stool quality, or appetite may appear within a couple of weeks. Other benefits, such as changes in weight, coat condition, or blood test values, can take several weeks to months, depending on your dog’s health and the reason for the new diet. Every dog is different, so part of the consultation follow-up is monitoring progress and adjusting the plan as needed.

Yes, in theory, you can create a balanced home-prepared dog diet without supplements, but in practice, it’s rarely possible. Meeting every nutrient requirement through food alone would require a wide variety of ingredients, which can be costly, hard to source, or unpalatable to your dog. Carefully chosen supplements fill these nutrient gaps, ensuring your dog eats a healthy and balanced diet.

Yes, one of the many benefits of a homemade diet is that it can be tailored to address several health concerns at the same time. In cases where a dog has multiple health issues with conflicting nutritional needs, the diet is always formulated first for the more immediately serious disease. From there, we adjust as much as possible to support the other condition(s) too. This way your dog still gets a safe, balanced diet that’s designed around their unique health needs.

Yes! Online dog nutrition consultations follow the same structure as face-to-face appointments but offer greater flexibility — no travel, less stress for your dog, and still highly personalised. Research in human healthcare has shown that remote consultations can be just as effective as in-person ones for many conditions. In fact, this is especially true for me, because my diets are formulated using your dog’s medical history and your vet’s diagnostic results, rather than relying on a physical examination.

NRC recommendations are based on a dog’s body weight (kg^0.75), which makes it ideal for tailoring diets to each individual dog. FEDIAF and AAFCO use a more general, energy-based format (per 1,000 kcal). This works well for commercial diets, where a single food needs to suit a wide range of dogs. While FEDIAF is updated more often, its core values still come from NRC. This is why NRC guidelines should always be the standard when formulating personalised homemade dog diets.

My current lead time is 5-7 business days.

There isn’t a single, definitive list of oxalate values for foods. Levels can vary depending on where and how a food is grown, the plant variety, and even how it’s prepared. For example, boiling can reduce oxalate content. Different studies also measure oxalate in different ways. Two widely used references are the Harvard Oxalate Food List and the University of California, Irvine Kidney Stone Center tables, both of which provide well-researched guidance.

There isn't a single best diet for all dogs with calcium oxalate stones. The goal is to create the right urinary conditions while limiting the building blocks of stone formation. How this is best done can differ from dog to dog. In general, a diet should keep the urine dilute, limit oxalate intake, provide balanced calcium, and avoid overly acidic urine. Wet or homemade diets are preferable to dry diets, as they help increase water intake and support more favourable urine conditions.

Calcium oxalate stones have a high recurrence rate, so starting a prevention-focused diet as early as possible is key. It’s also important to work with your vet to set up a plan for regular urine monitoring, as this helps track risk factors such as urine concentration and pH over time.

Very important. Keeping the urine dilute is one of the most effective ways to reduce stone risk, as it lowers the concentration of calcium and oxalate. Feeding wet or fresh home-prepared food can help increase water intake, as can adding water to meals or placing several water bowls around the house.

Low oxalate foods can be used as treats, such as lean meats, poultry, eggs, cauliflower, apples (peeled), strawberries, blueberries, cucumber and melon. In many cases, using part of your dog’s regular diet as treats is the safest and most consistent option.

No. Unlike some other bladder stones, calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved with diet alone. They usually require surgical removal or other veterinary procedures. However, diet plays a key role in preventing recurrence.

Yes, a homemade diet can be beneficial due to its higher moisture content and the ability to control ingredients. However, it must be carefully balanced and follow appropriate stone-prevention guidelines.

Very high-protein diets may increase risk by making the urine more acidic. Most dogs with calcium oxalate stones do better on a moderate amount of high-quality protein that meets their needs without pushing intake too high.

Vitamin C supplements are generally avoided in dogs prone to calcium oxalate stones, because high vitamin C intake can increase oxalate in the urine and may raise the risk of further stones.

No, and this is a common misconception. In fact, too little calcium can increase stone risk by allowing more oxalate to be absorbed. The goal is to provide a balanced amount, as both too little and too much can increase risk.

Calcium oxalate stones are more likely to form in acidic urine (below pH 6.5). A slightly more neutral pH is generally preferred, alongside keeping the urine dilute.

Yes, a fish body oil supplement can be beneficial, as it may help reduce inflammation in the bladder. However, cod liver oil should be avoided, as it contains vitamin D, which can increase calcium absorption and potentially raise stone risk.

Potassium citrate is a supplement, not a food, that can help reduce stone risk by making urine less acidic, which may help prevent crystal formation. It is sometimes recommended alongside dietary changes. However, it should only be used under veterinary guidance, as the correct dose will depend on your individual dog.

Yes, peanut butter is high in oxalate and is best avoided in dogs prone to calcium oxalate stones. Even small amounts given regularly as a treat or to administer medication can contribute to higher oxalate levels in the urine.

The most common signs include drinking and urinating more than usual, loss of appetite, weight loss, and reduced energy. Some dogs may also develop vomiting, dehydration, or bad breath. In the early stages of CKD, however, you might not notice any changes at all, and the condition is often picked up by chance during routine blood or urine tests. This is why yearly vet check-ups are so important, especially for senior dogs.

Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, once kidney tissue is lost, it cannot regenerate. However, with the right dietary management and veterinary care, progression can be slowed significantly and many dogs maintain a good quality of life for years after diagnosis.

The prognosis is quite variable depending on how early the disease is diagnosed and how well it is managed. In my experience, dogs diagnosed early and managed appropriately can maintain a good quality of life for many years. Diet plays a significant role in this, a 2020 study found that dogs fed therapeutic kidney diets lived longer and took much longer to develop severe symptoms than dogs on regular diets.

Dietary management should begin as early as possible, ideally at diagnosis, even in the early stages. In stages I and II, the focus is on slowing progression by controlling phosphorus and managing protein leakage into the urine. In later stages, the diet shifts towards easing symptoms and maintaining quality of life. The earlier you start, the more you can do to protect remaining kidney function.

There isn’t a single “best” diet for all dogs with kidney disease, as nutritional needs change depending on the stage of the condition and the individual dog. However, a home-prepared diet formulated by a qualified nutritionist is often the most effective option, as it allows precise control of nutrients such as phosphorus and protein, and can be tailored to your dog’s individual preferences and stage of disease.

For dogs with both kidney disease and pancreatitis, a home-prepared diet is often the best choice, as it can be tailored to manage both conditions. If you rely on commercial food, first clarify whether your dog has chronic pancreatitis, an acute flare-up, or simply a past episode. Some dogs recover fully, while others are repeat offenders who need long-term fat restriction. If pancreatitis recurs, it must take priority, as it can be painful and life-threatening, while kidney disease is progressive but slower to develop.

Fresh home-cooked food or wet food are generally preferable to dry food because of their much higher moisture content, around 75% or more compared to just 8-10% in kibble. Since hydration is critical for dogs with CKD, a high-moisture diet helps support kidney function and reduces the risk of dehydration. See the Water section above for more tips on keeping your dog well hydrated.

Aside from foods that are toxic to all dogs (such as grapes, onions, and leeks), there aren’t any single foods that are completely off the menu for dogs with kidney disease. The overall goal is to keep the diet within an appropriate range for certain nutrients, particularly phosphorus and protein. For example, although eggs are relatively high in phosphorus, small amounts may still be included as part of a balanced diet.

Yes, absolutely, but the diet must be carefully formulated to meet nutritional needs and follow the disease protocol. Working with a qualified nutritionist is a must. Starting dietary management early is essential to slow disease progression, so getting it right from the beginning is key.

When the kidneys aren’t working properly, they struggle to remove excess phosphorus from the body. This leads to rising levels in the blood, which can worsen kidney damage over time. Controlling dietary phosphorus helps restore balance and slow disease progression. See the Phosphorus section above for a more detailed explanation of how this works.

This is a topic that still sparks plenty of debate. Dogs with kidney disease generally require less protein than healthy dogs, but severe restriction isn't always necessary. The aim is to provide enough high-quality protein to maintain muscle, while avoiding excess that produces waste the kidneys struggle to clear. See the Protein section above for a more detailed explanation, including how the right amount depends on your dog's individual stage and condition.

Yes, dogs with kidney disease often lose more fluid through urine, which increases the risk of dehydration. Fresh water should always be available. Feeding a high-moisture diet (such as wet or homemade food) can also help support hydration.

Yes, absolutely! There aren’t any foods that must be completely avoided for dogs with kidney disease; the goal is to reduce phosphorus and control protein intake. I don’t tend to worry too much about treats, since they make up only a small part of the diet and the phosphorus they contain usually doesn’t contribute significantly. That said, it’s best to avoid treats that are notoriously high in phosphorus, such as bully sticks, rawhides, pig ears, and raw bones.

The most important supplement for dogs with kidney disease is fish body oil (not cod liver oil). Specifically EPA and DHA, are one of the most evidence-backed nutritional interventions for dogs with kidney disease. They help reduce inflammation and support healthy blood flow within the kidneys, both of which can slow disease progression.

Dogs with CKD often lose their appetite or develop food aversions. Never force-feed, and see your vet if your dog stops eating completely. Small, frequent meals, plenty of water, and flexibility with textures, toppers, or feeding location can all help. If your dog still won’t eat, consider a home-prepared diet. Most dogs find homemade meals more appealing, and recipes can be tailored to tempt even the pickiest eaters.