Lurchers & CKD 🐾 💕🐾

I asked AI for dietary advice for Lurchers with Chronic Kidney Disease, having lost Sonic and with the best interests of Kiki in mind.

This is the output that was generated, which I hope is of use to other animal lovers in a similar situation.

Kiki GPT 5 – Advanced AI advice 🐾 💕 

You’re doing a great job caring for your senior lurcher — balancing kidney disease, weight, and appetite can be tricky. I’ll give you some tailored suggestions, but please use them alongside advice from your vet, since kidney disease can vary a lot in severity and management.

1. Managing Hunger While Protecting the Kidneys

Dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often feel hungry because their body is less efficient at using nutrients, and renal diets are deliberately lower in protein and phosphorus, which can make meals feel less “satisfying.”

Safe ways to bulk up her meals:

• Low-calorie vegetables (in moderation, and cooked/mashed for digestibility):
  Green beans, courgette (zucchini), pumpkin, carrots, cucumber. These add bulk without adding much phosphorus or protein.
• Boiled white rice or pasta (small amounts): Easily digestible carbs can help fill her up without burdening the kidneys.
• Sweet potato (cooked, plain, small portions): Gentle on digestion and more filling.
• Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil): Already often recommended in CKD for their anti-inflammatory effects — ask your vet for a safe dose, as too much fat may worsen weight gain.

⚠️ Avoid high-protein treats (meat, cheese, eggs), salty foods, and high-phosphorus snacks (like dairy, bones, or fish skin).

2. Feeding Strategy

• Multiple smaller meals: Feeding 3–4 smaller meals instead of 1–2 big ones can help reduce hunger pangs.
• Soak food in water/broth: Adding warm water or a small amount of low-sodium, kidney-safe broth can make meals more satisfying and support hydration.
• Slow-feeding bowls or puzzle feeders: Slows down eating and makes her feel fuller.

3. Comfort & Quality of Life

• Hydration support: Kidney dogs often dehydrate. Offer fresh water in multiple bowls, consider a pet fountain, and ask your vet about subcutaneous fluids if needed.
• Joint support: At 10+, lurchers can develop arthritis. Soft bedding, ramps/steps, gentle walks, and supplements like glucosamine/chondroitin can help.
• Temperature comfort: Lurchers have thin coats — make sure she has warmth in winter and cool shade in summer.
• Routine & enrichment: CKD can make them feel “off” at times. Gentle mental stimulation (sniff walks, food puzzles, calm interaction) helps wellbeing.
• Regular vet checks: Blood pressure, bloodwork, and urine checks can help catch complications (e.g., anemia, acidosis, hypertension) early and keep her comfortable.

✅ Summary:
To help her feel less hungry, bulk up meals with safe, low-protein, low-phosphorus fillers (veg, rice, pumpkin), split meals into smaller portions, and use feeding enrichment.

For comfort, focus on hydration, soft supportive bedding, joint care, and a consistent, calm routine.

Would you like me to put together a sample “hunger-friendly” daily meal plan using common renal diet foods + safe extras, so you have something practical to follow?

Great — here’s a sample daily feeding plan for a 10+ year old lurcher with CKD, a little overweight, and always hungry.

I’ll assume she’s already on a prescription renal diet kibble/wet (e.g., Royal Canin, Hills, or similar). Adjust amounts depending on her exact weight and the portion guidance from your vet.

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🌿 Sample Daily Meal Plan (for a renal dog who feels hungry)

Morning (Breakfast)

Renal diet wet food or soaked kibble (main portion per vet guidance)

Add-ins for satiety:

1–2 tablespoons cooked pumpkin (or butternut squash)

A small handful of steamed green beans (chopped, soft)

Hydration: Mix in warm water to make it a “stew”

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Midday Snack

A few slices of cucumber or carrot sticks (soft-cooked if her teeth are worn)

Optional: Renal-friendly dog treat (low protein/phosphorus — some brands make them, or use baked sweet potato slices at home)

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Evening (Dinner)

Renal diet portion (wet/kibble as guided)

Add-ins:

1–2 tablespoons cooked white rice or pasta (plain) for bulk

A teaspoon of plain mashed sweet potato

Mix with water/broth for hydration and fullness

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Evening Snack (if she seems restless/hungry before bed)

A small handful of steamed courgette or broccoli stems (chopped, soft, plain)

Optional: Lickimat spread with renal food or pumpkin → keeps her busy, slows eating

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🐾 Feeding Tips

Puzzle feeders / snuffle mats: make her work for her kibble → extends meal time, reduces hunger.

4–5 smaller meals can keep her more satisfied than 2 large ones.

Omega-3 fish oil (vet-approved dose) can be added once a day — supports kidney health and joints.

Treat calories count! Swap high-calorie treats for veg or a bit of her renal food used as training rewards.

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🚫 Avoid

Meat, cheese, eggs (too much protein & phosphorus)

Bones, dairy, fish skin, peanut butter (high phosphorus/fat)

Grapes, onions, garlic, chocolate (toxic)

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Would you like me to also make you a homemade renal-friendly topper recipe (like a veggie mash you can batch-cook and freeze) that you can safely mix into her prescription diet to bulk it up?

Perfect — here’s a homemade renal-friendly veggie topper recipe you can batch cook, freeze in portions, and mix into your lurcher’s prescription renal diet.

This is not a full diet (the prescription food remains the mainstay), but it’s a healthy, kidney-safe way to bulk up meals and keep her satisfied.

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🥦 Renal-Friendly Veggie Mash Topper

Ingredients (makes ~6–8 portions)

1 medium courgette (zucchini)

1 medium carrot (peeled)

½ cup pumpkin or butternut squash (peeled, diced)

½ medium sweet potato (peeled)

½ cup green beans (fresh or frozen, ends trimmed)

2 tbsp white rice (optional, for a bit more bulk)

Water for boiling/steaming

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Instructions

1. Chop all veg into small pieces.

2. Place in a pot with enough water to just cover, add rice if using.

3. Simmer until soft (about 15–20 minutes).

4. Drain (reserve some cooking water if you want to thin it later).

5. Mash or blend into a soft mash/purée — lurchers often prefer smooth textures.

6. Let cool, then portion into small tubs or ice cube trays.

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Feeding

Add 1–3 tbsp of veggie mash to each meal (adjust based on her weight, hunger, and vet’s calorie advice).

Mix with her renal food and a splash of warm water for hydration.

Store in fridge up to 3 days, or freeze up to 2 months.

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Notes

Low protein, low phosphorus, high fiber → makes meals more filling without overloading her kidneys.

Avoid adding salt, seasoning, oil, or garlic/onion (toxic for dogs).

You can rotate safe veg for variety (courgette, pumpkin, green beans are the safest staples).

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✨ Extra tip: Some owners also make “frozen veggie lollies” by freezing this mash in silicone moulds — they work as a long-lasting treat, especially in summer.

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I hope this is of help to other Lurcher Lovers who are looking to care for their Speechless Ones 🐾💕✨

Needless to say, the same principle applies to other animals, just prompt your favourite AI by asking for specific advice, providing as much information as possible.

Please discuss the results with your Vet for completeness if you have any concerns.

Kind Regards,

Gabriel