Table 4. Diets and recipes used in dogs with liver disease: protein source, protein provided (g/kg body weight) and energy distribution Diet Protein source Diet protein8 Energy distribution Protein Fat Carbohydrate g/kg body weight % W- Low protein1,2 Corn, chicken, meat, liver, eggs 1.7 12 55 34 W- Medium protein3,7 Meat, chicken, rice 2.6 18 60 22 W- Hepatic support1,3,4,7 Corn, chicken, milk 2.0 15 25 60 H- Senior3,7 (dry) Corn, poultry by-product meal, 2.7 19 24 59 rice, soy bean run H- Geriatric3,7 (canned) Chicken, rice, corn, liver 2.2 15 31 54 (dry) Corn, poultry by-products 2.4 17 24 59 H-Low protein1,2 (canned) Meat, liver, casein 1.6 11 49 40 (dry) Rice, corn, egg 1.7 12 38 50 H-Low salt cardiac2,7 (dry) Corn, glandular meat, poultry by-products, egg 2.0 14 42 44 (canned) Chicken, corn, rice, liver 1.9 13 52 35 H-Fiber supplemented1,3,7 (canned) Corn, chicken, egg, liver 2.3 16 30 54 (dry) Corn, chicken, casein 2.7 19 19 62 Homemade diets Diet A5 Dairy/wheat germ 1.4 11 46 44 Diet B5 Dairy 0.9 7 42 51 Diet C5 Egg, rice 1.1 9 22 70 Diet D3,7 Meat, egg, rice, bread 2.3 18 26 56 Diet E3,7 Meat, rice 2.7 21 21 56 Diet F1,3,7 Dairy, egg, farina 3.3 26 39 35 Diet G1,3,7 Casein, egg, chicken 2.4 19 26 55 Diet H1,3,7 Tofu, casein 2.9 23 45 32 Diet I6,7 Casein, egg 2.2 15 55 30 Diet indications: 1 Chronic liver disease accompanied by episodic HE. 2 Chronic liver disease complicated by ascites; sodium-restricted diets moderately protein restricted. 3 Chronic liver disease, no HE. Alternatively use a good quality maintenance canine ration. 4 Diet is formulated with high biologic value, restricted quantity protein, with additional fiber (crude fiber 3.9 g/400 kcal) and zinc specifically for support of dogs with hepatic disease. 5 Initial presentation with severe HE; short term use, followed with titration to maximal tolerable protein. 6 Copper restricted for dogs with severe copper storage hepatopathy unable to accept chronic zinc therapy for control of enteric copper uptake. 7 Active necroinflammatory liver disease: Diets should have protein content providing 2.0 g/kg if not encephalopathic. 8 Calculations done assuming dietary protein has 85% availability, in a 17 kg dog requiring 1000 kcal (4.19 MJ) ME per day. Homemade diets: Diet A: 3 cups nonfat dry milk, 1 C wheat germ (raw), 3 cups cornstarch, 1 cup safflower oil, cup animal fat, cup blackstrap mollasses, 1/5 cup bone meal, 1 tsp iodized NaCl (Strombeck et al. 1983). Diet B: 2 lb (lowfat) cottage cheese, 1lb, 3 T sugar, 1 lb 5 T cornstarch, cup safflower oil, lb animal fat, 1 oz bone meal, 2 tsp iodized NaCl, 3 t iodized KCl (salt substitute) (Strombeck et al. 1983). Diet C: 1 hard cooked egg, 2 cup cooked rice, 2 T safflower oil tsp calcium carbonate, tsp iodized NaCl (Bauer and Schenck 1989). Diet D: 1 hard cooked egg, 2 cups cooked rice, 3 slices white bread, lb regular ground beef (braise, retain fat) (Bauer and Schenck 1989). Diet E: 2 cups cooked rice, 1 T safflower oil, (lean) ground beef (braise, retain fat), 2 tsp dicalcium phosphate Marks et al. (1994), (Bauer and Schenck 1989). Diet F: 1 hard cooked egg, 1 cup creamed cottage cheese, cup cooked farina, 3 T sugar, 1 T safflower oil, 1 t dicalcium phosphate, 1 tsp calcium carbonate, 1 tsp iodized KCl (salt substitute) (Bauer and Schenck 1989). Diet G: cup raw rice, cup low fat cottage cheese, 1 egg, cup diced poultry, 2 T animal fat, 1 T vegetable oil (safflower), 1 tsp bone meal, tsp salt substitute (Marks et al. 1994). Diet H: 1 lb tofu, 2 lbs cottage cheese, 4 cups cooked rice, 6 T safflower oil, 1 tsp salt substitute, 6 tsp dicalcium phosphate, 1-1 tsp pectin. Can use a strong low salt cheese to flavor. (Center S. A., Reynolds, A., College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853). Diet I: cup raw rice, cup cottage cheese (low fat), 2 hard boiled eggs, 3 T animal fat, 1 T vegetable oil, 1 tsp bone meal, tsp lite salt, 1 multi-vitamin and mineral tablet. Puppies receive 1 cup homemade diet or 1 cup of dry Prescription DietCanine u/d (Hills Pet Products, Topeka, Kansas) to one of the following: 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 cup hamburger, or 2 hard-boiled eggs (Marks et al. 1994). Each diet is supplemented with 1 multivitamin tablet per day. If unspecified, supply bone meal or dicalcium phosphate and calcium carbonate to maintain calcium/phosphorus adequacy. W-Low protein: Waltham low protein diet, WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, UK. W-Medium protein: Waltham Medium Protein Diet. W-Hepatic Support: Waltham Hepatic Support Diet. H-Senior: Hills Canine Senior Science Diet, Hills Pet Products, Topeka, Kansas. H-Geriatric: Hills Geriatric Diet. H-Low protein: Hills k/d Diet. H-Low salt cardiac: Hills h/d Diet. H-Fiber supplemented: Hills w/d Diet.

Return to article