Could anyone recommend some low protein foods? My 4 year old spayed lab has was recently diagnosed with liver disorder. She has allergies to wheat, corn etc,. so it has to be pretty much grain free as well as lower protein. Thanks in advance. peace, Lucia

What about Canidae Platinum? It's got 18% protein...

Has your vet recommended any particular foods? It's going to be difficult to find a food that is both low protein and grain-free, unfortunately :(

Cal Natural Lamb.....very digestible and will not over tax liver.( 21 % protein)

You might want to supplement with Sam-E or Milk Thistle (talk to your Vet first as you may be giving similar products from him)

What about Natural Balance Potato and Duck? It's 21% protein and grain-free.

I think it's important to work with your vet on this. Everything I've read suggests that dogs diagnosed with liver disease need diets tailored to their specific condition.

For example, Hill's L/d prescription diet (for dogs with liver disease) has a protein percentage of 14.5%. That's a lot lower than what you'll find in most commercially available dog foods.

l/d® Canine

For the Nutritional Management of Dogs with Liver Disease

Protein 14.5 min

Your dog’s liver is its largest internal organ and is responsible for ridding the body of toxins and many other functions. Prescription Diet® l/d® Canine dog food was created by veterinarians specifically for the nutritional management of dogs with liver disorders that cause reduced liver function. It is highly digestible, with high quality protein sources that reduce the liver workload and aid in the regeneration of liver tissue. Added antioxidant nutrients like Vitamin E, Vitamin C and selenium, help combat oxidative stress. The nutritional formulation of Prescription Diet® l/d® may also be useful for pets with a variety of conditions.

http://www.hillspet.com/hillspet/products/productDetails.hjsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=8455244417 60644

Here's an article that explains the principals you're trying to achieve with a liver-supporting diet. I think it would be an excellent discussion tool to take to your vet when deciding on a food.


The "low protein" might be misleading, as the most important decision about the protein may be the source, i.e. low-ammonia producing proteins like chicken, fish, cottage cheese, eggs, etc. Red meats (beef, lamb) produce more protein, and wouldn't be ideal for a liver-supporting diet.
Proteins that produce the least amount of ammonia include eggs and dairy products (yogurt and cottage cheese). Fish and chicken produce lower amounts of ammonia. Red meat appears to produce the most ammonia.

Complex carbohydrates also contribute soluble fiber, which helps absorb ammonia and reduce nitrogenous wastes. Some carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, contain much more soluble fiber than others and are therefore recommended in diets for liver disease.


To summarize, the recommendations for a good diet for liver disease include:

Protein:
High quality, low ammonia producing animal proteins are very important.

Carbohydrates:
Complex carbohydrates are best, especially those with a lot of soluble fiber. The fiber content helps absorb excess ammonia and other toxins.

Fat:
Fat is important, but the fats used should be easily digestible and should be used in moderate amounts.

Good foods to use for a dog with liver disease include:

Protein sources:
Eggs, low fat cottage cheese, yogurt, chicken (with skin and visible fat removed), and fish.

Carbohydrate sources:
Oatmeal, barley, whole wheat bread, pulped vegetable skins and canned pumpkin.

Fat sources:
Meat fat, Omega 3 fatty acids such as fish body oil or salmon oil (NOT cod liver oil). Omega 3 fatty acids help with organ function.
A sample diet might look like this:
50% cottage cheese, egg and chicken (cooked, with fat drained) 30% oatmeal 20% canned plain pumpkin.

While some may interpret this diet as being 50% protein, please remember that the protein sources listed are high in moisture, fat and connective tissue. The actual amount of protein is less than 20%.

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/liver/

I agree with ZenCat, my Nittany was dx with liver fibrosis and now I have her on EVO (grain-free but HIGH protein) and homecooked/raw. She is doing extremely well because she is getting high quality proteins and not a bunch of junk and grain fillers. She gets 1/2 caplet of Liver Support Factors through the week (off on weekends) to support her liver. She is 12 now, almost 2 years past diagnosis and doing great.