Things You'll Need
- Prescription appetite stimulating medication
- Nutrition supplement (Nutrical, etc.)
- Foods to tempt your dog
- All bones from a roast chicken (and giblets if possible)
- 4 qts cold filtered or spring water
- 2-4 chicken feet or legs
- 2-5 carrots (chopped)
- 1/2 bunch celery (chopped)
- Any added vegetables your dog enjoys (excluding onions)
- Kelp
- Cleaver/hammer
- Stainless steel stock pot
Instructions
Improving the Appetite of a Dog with Kidney Disease
Speak to your veterinarian about putting your dog on medication to stimulate his appetite. These include Meclizine, Mirtazapine, Ondansetron, Cerenia and Cyproheptadine. Also ask about a nutrition replacement supplement such as Nutrical, a paste which contains nutrients for pets who refuse to eat.
Begin a trial and error process by offering your dog any food you think he may eat. Make a note of foods that work so you know to try offering them again. If your dog has a favorite food, use it to tempt him to eat.
Cook up a nutritious broth containing both nutritious and palatable ingredients for your dog. Offer the broth througout the day to keep up your dog's strength.
Nutritious Dog Broth
Chop bones (and feet, if using) into several pieces using a cleaver or break the bones using a hammer.
Place all meat and bones into a stainless steel stock pot, add vegetables and enough water to cover the ingredients.
Bring ingredients to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. If frothy "scum" rises to the top of the pot, remove it,
Allow the broth to reduce. As it reduces,the pot will be only half full. Add enough water to fill the pot once more. Cover and simmer broth for 12 to 24 hours, adding more water as needed.
Refrigerate. Once cold, fat in the broth rises to the top. Skim this off as well. Use broth within one week.