Treats for a dog with kidney disease
A dog with kidney disease is normally managed with a specific vet-prescribed diet, and any treats given alongside it need to fit that plan rather than work against it. None of the everyday treats in our general range are formulated specifically for kidney disease, so this page is about what to look for and check, rather than a single answer that suits every dog.
Why treats matter more once kidney disease is diagnosed
Dogs with kidney disease are typically moved onto a diet that manages the levels of protein, phosphorus and sodium they take in, because the kidneys are less able to process and clear these than in a healthy dog. Treats given on top of that diet count towards the daily totals just as much as meals do, so an unsuitable treat can undo some of the care that has gone into the prescribed diet.
This does not mean treats are off the table altogether for most dogs with kidney disease — it means the choice matters more than it would for a healthy dog, and it is worth checking with your vet what fits alongside the specific diet they have recommended.
What to look for, and what to ask your vet
Broadly, treats lower in protein, phosphorus and salt are more likely to fit alongside a renal diet than a typical high-meat treat, but exactly how much of any of these is appropriate depends on the stage of your dog's kidney disease and what their vet-prescribed food already contains. This is genuinely not a one-size question.
Some vets are comfortable with small amounts of a dog's own prescribed food used as the treat itself, which sidesteps the question of finding a separate suitable product entirely. It is worth asking whether that is a sensible option for your dog before assuming you need a dedicated treat product.
Where our everyday range fits in
The treats and food-related products we stock are aimed at the general pet population rather than any specific medical condition, and none of them are formulated as a kidney-friendly product. If your vet has confirmed a particular type of treat is fine in small amounts for your dog, our general treat range may include something suitable, but check the specific product's ingredients against what you have been told to avoid.
For many dogs on a strict renal diet, the safest approach is treating with a small amount of their own prescribed food rather than introducing anything new, at least until you have discussed other options directly with your vet.
What we stock
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 disease have any treats at all?
- Often yes, in careful amounts and depending on the stage of the disease, but what is appropriate varies a great deal between individual dogs. Always check with your vet before introducing a new treat, since it needs to fit around the specific diet they have already prescribed.
- Is a low-protein treat automatically safe for a dog with kidney disease?
- Not necessarily — phosphorus and sodium content matter as much as protein, and a treat can be low in one and still high in another. This is why checking with your vet rather than judging a treat by a single figure on the packaging is the more reliable approach.
- Can I use my dog's normal prescribed food as a treat?
- Many vets are comfortable with this, since it avoids introducing anything outside the diet that has already been carefully balanced for your dog. Ask your vet whether this is a sensible option before assuming you need to find a separate treat product.
- Do you sell treats specifically for kidney disease?
- No, the treats in our everyday range are not formulated for any specific medical condition, kidney disease included. If your vet has told you a certain type of treat is fine for your dog, check the ingredients of anything from our general range against what you have been advised.
Related
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.