We found out last week our beautiful 16 month old Boxer has kidney failure, not hereditary just a cruel trick of nature, problem is she will not touch the Renal diet offered by our vet, we have discussed cooking our own and wondered if any of you have any experience or recipes for low protein low phosphorous and low sodium diets we have found a few from the net but are just looking for more ideas to make her last few months as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Hi S/boat, really sorry to hear about your young dog. Here`s a recipe from Dr Pitcairns book for kidney probs.
1/2 cup or 1/4 pound regular fat hamburger (mince).
2 +3/4 cups cooked white rice, enriched.
1 egg.
2 tbsp cold pressed safflower, soy or corn oil.
600 milligrams calcium.
1/8 tsp iodized salt.
2tbsp parsley, finely grated carrot or other vegetable(optional).
1/2 to 1 clove garlic minced or crushed( for flavour).
20 milligram level B complex
5,000 IU vitamin A
Dog vitamins (as recommended on label for medium sized dog)
1,000 milligrams Vit C(1/4tsp sodium ascorbate)
Mix all ingriedients together & serve raw if the dog will accept it. Otherwise, mix all but the vitamins together, bake about 20mins in moderate oven, wait till it cools before adding vitamins & serve. Occasionally substitute 1to3tsp of liver for part of the meat. Be sure to provide fresh pure water, filtered or bottled, at all times.
Yield: Generally feed as much as your dog will eat, but, as a guidline this recipe should feed a 10 pound toy for 3 days or a 40-pound dog for a day. By tripling it you can feed a 60-pound dog for 2 days. Multiply the recipe as needed. Note; if your dog isn`t eating well force feed vits separately, using these daily levels:toys & small dogs-10milligrams Bcomplex & 250 vitC, medium dogs- as indicated in recipe: large & giant dogs-50 milligrams B complex & 2,000 milligrams vitC.
He goes on to say -; this recipe provides about 16 percent protein of high quality, & the use of enriched white rice is better digested than brown & contains higher levels of iron & major B vits, which are hard to supply in a low meat diet. Choose a well assimailated form of calcium, such as calcium lactate, calcium gluconate or chelated calcium. If you can`t find one of these use calcium carbonate or eggshell powder in the recipe (1/3 tsp). Avoid calcium supplements containing phosphorous. The pet vitamins ensure adequate amounts of essential nutrients which could become low in this diet.
He also a few herbal/homeopathic to try as well. Hope this helps.
Christine, Spain.

Don't know of any recipes, justed wanted to say how sorry I am. I lived with a Boxer with a heart problem for 2 years knowing that there was no betterment for him. {{{Hugs}}}
Anne

Thanks Anne, it was such a shock as she has been running around full of the joys except for the increased thirst a bit of vomiting and slightly smelly breath, the vet has no idea how she can seem so healthy when her results are so bad,

Thanks also Christine I will try the recipe.

My boy was normal active puppy, then he started having fainting fits. It was a terrible shock but I have to say his breeder was excellent very supportive. Do you have any idea of the outlook in terms of time for your girl? Keep in touch and let us know how she's doing
Anne

Hi Anne
our vet is unsure he says to expect no more than months and anything else we get is a bonus unfortunately you do not know there is anything wrong until 75% of Kidney function is lost as a dog can live quite well on half a Kidney so she must have very little kidney function and by this time the damage is permanent, saying that since we have put her on the reduced protein etc. diet she has picked up big time I will keep you informed.
I am her breeder so I also have had the worry of whether the rest of the litter are ok but fingers crossed everything seems ok and my vet assures me this is just bad luck and not passed down but I am going to get her litter sister tested just for peace of mind.
Debbie

Hi Debbie
So sorry to hear about your pups problem. 2 yr ago my cat Damian was diagnosed with kidney failure in the October , similar to you I was given the prognosis of weeks. She did not take to the low protein-phosphorous-sodium/renal cat food I was given by vet at first so I persevered and gradually increased the amount into the rice and chicken (which was all she would eat) I was feeding her until she accepted it.
If it is any consulation she actually maintained good quality of life, although had gradual weight loss, until the following February , then it was obvious one day her condition and awareness dropped drastically within a matter of hours and she was beginning to suffer and I had to get her put down. She was 14 so had had a good life which it seems your pup will miss out on , but Im sure you will make her remaining few months here as happy as possible.
Best Wishes
Karyn