A prescription kidney diet is a vet-authorized food made to lighten the load on a pet's kidneys, and it is recommended only after lab work shows kidney disease. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Allen is a vet in Allen, Texas, with an on-site pharmacy for the pets it treats, and its vets start with an exam and tests before any food is chosen.
Older pet drinking more or losing weight? Call (469) 289-2921, book online, or walk in.
Why does a kidney diet start with lab work?
At Petfolk Allen, the vet confirms kidney disease with blood and urine tests first, because a pet can look fine while the kidneys are already struggling. Kidney disease means the kidneys are slow to filter waste from the blood. Blood work shows how much waste is building up, and a urine test shows how well the kidneys concentrate urine. Those results tell the vet whether a kidney diet fits and how urgent it is. You can read more on our blood work and lab testing page.
What does a kidney diet actually change?
A kidney diet is usually lower in phosphorus, a mineral that builds up when kidneys falter, and the protein level is adjusted to match the pet. A veterinary nutrition article in Today's Veterinary Practice, written by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, calls diet the cornerstone of treatment for chronic kidney disease. Diets differ from brand to brand, so the Petfolk Allen vet picks a formula for your pet's stage and tastes, in dry or canned.
Older pets, quiet signs
Kidney trouble often shows up on routine lab work before a pet seems sick. Later signs can include drinking and urinating more, losing weight, eating less and a dull coat. That is why Petfolk Allen suggests blood work for older pets even when they seem well. A kidney diet is not for every older pet. If the tests are normal, the vet will say so and leave the food alone.
How do rechecks work on a kidney diet?
At Petfolk Allen, the vet repeats blood and urine tests after the diet starts to see how the kidneys are responding, and sets the timing based on your pet's results. If the numbers move, the food, the amount or other treatment may change. Bring a note on appetite, thirst and weight at home, since small changes show up there before they show up on a test. Gentle, Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, so repeat blood draws can go at your pet's pace.
Go slowly, and keep the extras small
Switching an older pet to a new food works best over a week or more, mixing a little more of the kidney diet into the old food each day. Pets with kidney disease can have a poor appetite, so tell the team early if yours turns the food down. There is often another formula or a canned version to try. Ask the Petfolk Allen team before giving treats, since many are high in phosphorus or salt, and ask about refills and online-order approvals.
You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. For help with ongoing medicine, see our pet pharmacy page.
When should an older pet go to a 24-hour emergency hospital?
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet stops eating and keeps vomiting, collapses, or cannot stand. A male cat straining in the litter box with little or no urine also needs one right away. Petfolk Allen is a primary and urgent care clinic, not an emergency hospital, so call us first for slower changes like picking at food or drinking more.
Find us on Bethany Drive
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Allen is at 931 W Bethany Dr, Suite J100, Allen, TX 75013, with free on-site parking, close to Watters Creek and Twin Creeks. We are open weekends and offer same-day appointments. Call (469) 289-2921 or book online.
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Questions about kidney diets
Kidney diets near W Bethany Dr