Is Akela suitable for dogs with kidney/renal/urinary tract problems?

In short, yes, but as with all medical conditions check with your vet first. We would recommend our raw food range for owners worried about renal issues as it has the most digestible form of uncooked protein and a high moisture level. Our wet food range is similar but cooked and of our dry food range the Free-Range Chicken recipe has the lowest phosphorus level at 0.7%.

The function of the kidneys is to filter urea and excess minerals from the bloodstream, and in doing so that produces urine. Urea is produced when surplus amino acids that have not been digested (amino acids are the buildings blocks of protein) are broken down by the body. Kidney Disease can therefore be managed in the following ways:

• Feeding a smaller amount per meal of a food containing high-quality protein rather than feeding higher amounts of food containing lower-quality indigestible protein; therefore reduces the amount of surplus amino acids in the bloodstream
• Addressing the mineral levels in the diet and making sure that they are not too high as certain minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are amongst the leading contributors to urinary stones. High sodium levels should also be avoided, particularly found in red meats
• Beneficial ingredients such as cranberry and cowberry may help to maintain healthy urinary tract function
• Upping the moisture content in the diet to keep bodily fluid levels up to help keep the kidneys working sufficiently (for example by feeding raw or wet food)
• Increasing water intake is important
• Ensuring that you are not over-feeding by checking the feeding guidelines and monitoring bodyweight