Treats for a dog with kidney failure
A dog with kidney failure is usually on a specific vet-directed diet that manages protein and phosphorus levels carefully, and any treat given alongside it needs to fit within that plan rather than being chosen independently. This is a question to take back to the vet managing your dog's kidneys, not one a treat aisle can answer on its own.
Why treats matter more here than usual
Kidney disease is managed largely through diet, with controlled levels of phosphorus and often a specific protein amount and quality, because the kidneys are less able to filter certain waste products. A treat that seems harmless on its own can undo some of the careful balance of a prescribed renal diet if it is high in phosphorus or protein.
This is why a generic "good for sensitive dogs" treat is not automatically appropriate here — kidney disease has specific dietary needs that differ from a general sensitivity, and what suits one does not necessarily suit the other.
What to check with your vet
Ask the vet or vet nurse managing your dog's diet whether they have a specific treat recommendation compatible with the prescribed food, since some veterinary diet brands make treats formulated to match their renal ranges. This is a more reliable route than choosing from the general shelf and hoping it fits.
If a specific treat has not been discussed, plain, single-ingredient options in a small amount are sometimes suggested by vets as lower risk than a processed treat with added salt or phosphorus additives, but this should be confirmed for your individual dog's stage of kidney disease rather than assumed.
Signs it is time to speak to the vet again
If your dog's appetite changes, they seem increasingly reluctant to eat their prescribed food, or you are unsure whether a treat you have been giving is appropriate, raise it at the next check-up rather than guessing. Kidney disease is monitored over time, and treat choices are worth reviewing alongside the rest of the diet.
Never introduce a new treat, however small, without checking it fits the plan first — the whole point of a renal diet is careful control, and a single unchecked addition can work against months of otherwise well-managed feeding.
Why the same rule applies to everyone in the household
A dog on a strict renal diet needs everyone who feeds them — other family members, visitors, a dog walker — to know that treats are restricted and why, since a well-meaning extra given by someone unaware of the diet can undo careful management just as easily as a treat you choose yourself.
Write down what has been agreed with the vet, including any approved treat and the amount, and keep it somewhere visible if more than one person is involved in your dog's care, rather than relying on everyone remembering a verbal instruction.
If your dog begs persistently and treats are tightly restricted, non-food rewards such as attention, a game, or a longer walk can help fill the gap without working against the diet, and are worth discussing with your vet as part of the wider management plan.
Foods formulated for this
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- Can dogs with kidney failure have any treats at all?
- Often yes, in careful, limited amounts, but which treats are appropriate depends on your dog's specific diet and stage of kidney disease. This is a decision to make with the vet managing the case rather than choosing independently, since even a small amount of the wrong ingredient can work against a carefully balanced renal diet.
- Why can't I just give low-phosphorus treats without asking the vet?
- Phosphorus is one factor among several in a renal diet, alongside protein quality and quantity, and a treat marketed as low-phosphorus is not automatically suitable for every stage of kidney disease. Your vet can advise what actually fits your dog's individual treatment plan rather than relying on a label claim alone.
- Are there treats specifically made for dogs with kidney disease?
- Some veterinary diet brands make treats designed to complement their renal food ranges, formulated with the same dietary controls as the main diet. Ask the vet or vet nurse managing your dog's kidney disease whether they stock or recommend one compatible with your dog's specific prescribed food.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.