High creatinine 2 dogs (nonGSD)

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

This summer I had blood work done on two of my dogs - one who is 7 and had HGE in November 10 and was in her for her wellness visit so I figured I'd like to see how things were looking. All pretty nice but a slightly high creatinine number. By slightly I am saying just a bit over the line, but enough to retest at 6 months after. Mariele is a Chow-Spitzy type mix.

The other a senior at 9 so doing yearly bloodwork. She has had a trend with the creatinine being slightly higher. Again, just over the line. Anna is a GSD mix with something! I know some breeds can have blood work differences (like Greyhounds and WBC).

Both have good BUN.

Anyway for the past few years they have been eating foods from Acana, Nature's Logic, Pinnacle (the two new ones - Turkey/Salmon formulas). I rotate around. In August I switched to Solid Gold Millenia (beef) and now they are eating GO! Salmon/oats. This was kind of a little low protein experiment with no other things added (like CoQ10 or things that are supposed to help with that supposedly).

Any thoughts on foods for them or if the GO is a good choice - they love it. They are going to have their bloodwork redone either next month or January. Thanks.

[sable123]

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

This summer I had blood work done on two of my dogs - one who is 7 and had HGE in November 10 and was in her for her wellness visit so I figured I'd like to see how things were looking. All pretty nice but a slightly high creatinine number. By slightly I am saying just a bit over the line, but enough to retest at 6 months after. Mariele is a Chow-Spitzy type mix.

The other a senior at 9 so doing yearly bloodwork. She has had a trend with the creatinine being slightly higher. Again, just over the line. Anna is a GSD mix with something! I know some breeds can have blood work differences (like Greyhounds and WBC).

Both have good BUN.

Anyway for the past few years they have been eating foods from Acana, Nature's Logic, Pinnacle (the two new ones - Turkey/Salmon formulas). I rotate around. In August I switched to Solid Gold Millenia (beef) and now they are eating GO! Salmon/oats. This was kind of a little low protein experiment with no other things added (like CoQ10 or things that are supposed to help with that supposedly).

Any thoughts on foods for them or if the GO is a good choice - they love it. They are going to have their bloodwork redone either next month or January. Thanks.

Any good quality 25/15 with chicken and whole grains should be fine. There are good ones for $1lb.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

One complication! I try to keep all the dogs on the same food and have a few that do not do well on chicken - itchy, etc. They did okay on the Orijen chicken but trying to stay away from that.

I keep reading about the ash thing - that should be listed on the analysis right?

[BowWowMeow]

Jean,

I have seen no evidence that a low protein diet helps the kidneys or lowers Creatine. BUN measures hydration so it does not necessarily go up when the Creatine goes up. From my own experience with Cleo and from everything I've read the source of protein is more important and a low phosphorous diet is very important (for actual kidney disease). Beef is the hardest protein to digest and, of course, grains can also be hard to digest for some animals (to be avoided for cats for sure).

Probiotics do seem to help with kidney health. They certainly helped Cleo.

[Rott-n-GSDs]

A good kidney diet is low phosphorous, moderate protein.

[sable123]

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

One complication! I try to keep all the dogs on the same food and have a few that do not do well on chicken - itchy, etc. They did okay on the Orijen chicken but trying to stay away from that.

I keep reading about the ash thing - that should be listed on the analysis right?

No it is not required, but some have it or you can call the company.

If you must stay away from chicken then try turkey or duck. When you get into the red meats, pork and many fish diets the ash goes up dramatically. They will normally add vegetable proteins to compensate and boost protein. Low ash red meat foods are very expensive.

http://www.vfcomplete.com/products/a...urkey-and-rice

This could work very well given the ages of your dogs.

[sable123]

Originally Posted by BowWowMeow

Jean,

I have seen no evidence that a low protein diet helps the kidneys or lowers Creatine. BUN measures hydration so it does not necessarily go up when the Creatine goes up. From my own experience with Cleo and from everything I've read the source of protein is more important and a low phosphorous diet is very important (for actual kidney disease). Beef is the hardest protein to digest and, of course, grains can also be hard to digest for some animals (to be avoided for cats for sure).

Probiotics do seem to help with kidney health. They certainly helped Cleo.

Phosphorous is one of the main components of 'ash'

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

This is interesting/difficult. I screwed up then giving them the beef, crapola. That might throw off my 'experiment' maybe.

I cannot get that VF Complete here. As far as I know - I can ask my food guy. The Pinnacle turkey: Pinnacle® - Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dry Dog Food I can get.

My dogs LOOVE fish anything. The GO that they are eating:
Crude Protein (min) 22% Available in 1lb, 3lb, 8lb,
and 25lb bags
Crude Fat (min) 12% Crude Fiber (max) 3.75% Moisture (max) 10% Calcium (min) 1.3% Phosphorus (min) .9% *Omega 6 Fatty Acids (min) 2.5% *Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min) 0.6%More info: Go Natural Salmon and Oatmeal Dog Food
That looks pretty okay? I think? I like this food for whatever reason - they have (seriously) the most perfect on it.

Here's a duck:
Dry Dog Food: Duck Meal | Holistic Select
Their fish blend looks nice too?

So I was looking at the Fromm Duck:
Fromm Family Foods - Four-Star Duck & Sweet Potato Holistic Entree
And they sell a breeder bag!

Pinnacle Duck:
Pinnacle® - Duck & Potato Recipe Premium Dry Dog Food
Has taters and I am not sure how I feel about them.

Tempted to try their chicken Pinnacle® - Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Premium Dry Dog Food but they always seem to start itching on chicken.

Kangaroo! Natural Dog Food, Cat Food and Puppy Food for Pets With Food Sensitivity ? California Natural

What about venison or bison typically? Just looked at this one and it's 1.3% (and high protein - they've had NL and done well before) so what is a good percentage?

I rotate foods - my dogs are really good about it (knock wood) stomach wise. So I like to have a few I can go to and hopefully (once I do it right!) it will make a difference on those levels. It is interesting because both of these dogs do not drink a lot. Or is that not interesting? I don't know.

Where's the stinkin' ash info on these sites too! Jeez!

Thanks for the help - they appreciate it as do I.

[jprice103]

What is the max ash that a food should have? Fromm's website does list ash and I believe it is like 6.5%. Is that reasonable or too much?

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I do not know. I remember reading ash in cat foods for a long time but not sure about this stuff at all.

Ask me about calcium and puppies and I do better!