What Can I Feed My Dog That Is Low Protein?

Most dogs need a moderate to high level of protein, but certain health conditions such as renal failure may require a special diet. You can take your dog's diet into your own hands and prepare food yourself instead of relying on the many commercial brands of low-protein dog food available. A good number of foods, however, are both nutritious yet low in protein. Your vet can prescribe a low-protein diet when your dog needs it and can suggest dog food brands and recipes.

  1. Home Recipes for a Low Protein Meal

    • Hill's Dog Food, a leading dog nutrition company, suggests a homemade recipe for dogs on a restricted protein diet. To make one daily portion for a 40-pound dog, mix a quarter pound of ground beef (not lean ground chuck) with two cups of cooked, unsalted white rice. Add a finely chopped hard-boiled egg and crumble three slices of white bread into the mix. Finally add one teaspoon of calcium carbonate or a crushed Tums tablet and mix all the ingredients well. The mixture will be dry, and you can add water to increase its palatability for your dog. Make sure all the ingredients are well cooked. The mixture will keep if you cover it in the fridge, and you can adjust the recipe or portion the food according to your dog's weight. A 20-pound dog, for example, should be fed half of this recipe for a daily meal, while a 10-pound dog would ideally be fed a quarter of it.

      Another recipe that Hill's provides, called the Ultra Low Protein Diet, uses two and a half cups of cooked white rice, two tablespoons of vegetable oil, one finely chopped hard-boiled egg, plus one quarter teaspoon each of calcium carbonate and potassium chloride. This yields approximately one pound of food, or the daily portion of a 20-pound dog, and you can adjust it likewise to the weight of your dog.

    Other Foods

    • Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and papayas are also very low in protein, and you can experiment with them and your dog's tastes. Since protein is such a vital part of a healthy dog's diet, a low protein diet requires careful monitoring so your dog doesn't become malnourished. If you choose to prepare home cooked meals, do your research and make sure that you're incorporating the proper nutrition. Most green vegetables are very low in protein and provide other essential vitamins and minerals that your dog needs. You can also experiment with unsalted vegetarian soups, condensed soups such as cream of mushroom, and carrot juice for additional moisture and nutrition in the food. Many other foods are also available, and the USDA publishes a list each year of healthy, low-protein foods that you can adapt to help create recipes for your dog.

    Commercial Brands

    • Most major dog food brands provide a low protein kidney diet for owners who don't wish to cook homemade food for their dog. If you choose this route, your vet will likely outline a few options. The most common of these is Hill's Prescription Diet k/d, which is one of the most popular commercial brands for dogs requiring low protein. This is often a much more expensive route, and many owners find that they can purchase the dog food, or similar products produced by other manufacturers, through other vendors, successfully eliminating any markup they would otherwise pay by purchasing it through the vet.

      Iams produces an Early Stage dry food formula for dogs with kidney problems. It focuses on retaining the optimum amount of protein in your dog to retain muscle mass and strength, while reducing other substances such as phosphorous. If your vet has prescribed your dog a low protein diet due to renal problems, you may wish to consider this brand.