Food Review: 4.5 of 5 paws

I spent the majority of my career as a food critic, never really thinking twice about what it felt like on the other end of my review. So, when I decided to cook for the toughest critic of them all, I realized quickly how nerve wracking it can be… and I’m sorry.

One of the hardest things about kidney disease is finding food that is digestible, nutritious and tasty enough that your dog will eat it.

With toxins building up in his system, Cy’s appetite is up and down. Since we don’t know what he’s like before his illness, we don’t really know if he’s a picky eater or if his CKD has lead to him being choosey.

They say that dogs often will reject food for fear of making them feel sick. Cy definitely has dealt with some major nausea, which has left him skeptical of the same meals he’s thrown up previously.

So I decided to attempt making him some food while we figure out his balance.

On the menu…

• Boiled Skinless Boneless Chicken Thigh
  Cy’s favorite, though we know that it’s not the best protein choice being higher in phosphorous than some other meat choices.

• Steamed Green Beans
  Good source of vitamins and minerals, such as protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins B6, A, C, and K.

• Baked Winter Squashes: Acorn and Butternut
  While carbs from these offer no nutritional values they are low in phosphorous and have antioxidants such as Beta Carotene which help fight inflammation.

• Baked White and Sweet Potatoes
  Sweet potatoes offer the same benefits as winter squashes while white potatoes help settle his stomach. Cy also really likes white potatoes.

At the end of the day, Cy loved gave his home cooked meal 4.5 out of 5 paws, would have gotten 5 out of 5, but the green beans just weren’t doing it for him.

Unfortunately, after discussing his menu with a few fellow CKD pet parents, veterinarians and a nutritionist at Just Foods For Dogs, while a great treat and low in phosphorous and sodium, my menu doesn’t provide enough nutritional value that he would need to maintain his overall doggo health.

It was fun playing restaurant though.