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Low Purine Diets for Dogs with Leishmaniasia

If you’re considering adopting a leish dog, or already have, no doubt you have heard or read about the need for a low purine diet as part of their ongoing care and management. This may be causing some confusion or worry about what this may entail, but rest assured – it’s relatively straightforward. 

The following information is intended to give prospective and current owners and adopters of leish dogs a good general understanding of low purine diets for dogs. However, there is no substitute for doing your own research on this topic, and coming up with a diet plan that suits both your dog and you!

What are purines?
Got any family members with gout? If so, you probably know that they shouldn’t eat foods rich in purines. Purines are heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds found in certain foodstuffs that, when oxidised, cause the formation of uric acid in the blood. Ordinarily, purine containing foods are an important part of a healthy diet for both humans and dogs, but in dogs with leish, and especially those being treated with Allopurinol, Zylapour or Soluric, high purine foods can cause the formation of kidney stones (aka: nephroliths) and bladder stones (aka: uroliths or cystic calculi). These stones are very unpleasant and painful for your dog, and can lead to infections and other complications including the need for surgical removal. Therefore, a low purine diet is important for your leish dog.

What’s safe to feed my dog, and what isn’t?
Food groups can generally be thought of as low, medium and high, or green, orange and red if you prefer. If you are unsure whether something you want to feed your dog is low, medium or high purine, a quick Google search should give you the answer – if you are still unsure, feed something else!

Low purine / green foods can be fed to your leish dog often, though on their own won’t necessarily provide all the nutrients required for a healthy diet. Low purine foods include:–
  • Fruits and vegetables (there are exceptions, for these see the high purine/red food list and the toxic foods list)
  • Wholegrain pasta and wholegrain yeast-free bread (proceed with caution when it comes to grains, many dogs are intolerant)
  • Eggs
  • Dairy products (cheese, milk, butter, yogurt)
  • Nuts (not macadamia nuts) and nut butters (if feeding peanut butter, ensure it doesn’t contain xylitol)

Medium purine / orange foods are acceptable for leish dogs. The following list of foods will provide your dog’s protein sources and can be fed alongside low purine/green foods:-
  • Chicken and turkey
  • Fish and shellfish (there are exceptions, see the high purine/red food list)
  • Lamb
  • Pork
  • Beef
  • Oats and oatmeal

High purine / red foods are high in purines and should be avoided or severely limited to prevent the formation of stones in your leish dog:-
  • Organs/offal – brain, heart, kidney, liver, sweetbreads
  • Vension
  • Duck and goose
  • Oily fish such as mackerel and sardines
  • Scallops
  • Spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms and peas
  • Legumes (kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas)
  • Yeast including nutrional and brewers (Marmite, Engevita)

Toxic foods
The following foods should not be fed to any dog, regardless of leish or not, as they are toxic and can make your dog very ill:–
  • Chocolate
  • Garlic and onions
  • Currants, sultanas, grapes
  • Cherry and apricot stones, and apple pips
  • Rhubarb
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Raw and green potatoes
  • Xylitol and other sugar replacers (found in some peanut butters nowadays, always check the label)

In addition, avoid feeding your dog human junk foods like pizza, biscuits, chips, crisps, cakes and pastries etc. If it’s not good for us then it’s not good for them, and there are plenty of delicious and healthy foods you can give your dog if you fancy treating them to something special. Read on for more ideas on treats and other goodies.

The above information is taken primarily from http://www.dalmatianwelfare.co.uk/living-with/feeding/

Great! So how do I feed these things to my leish dog?
It’s all very well and good knowing what you can and can’t feed your dog, but the next hurdle is actually getting these lovely low and medium purine foods into your dog. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending which way you look at it, there is a wide range of options you can look at when it comes to feeding your dog. Again, do your own research into what will suit both you and your dog best, and don’t be afraid to contact companies and manufacturers about their products if you need further information. Most will gladly help you.

Raw / BARF feeding
BARF can stand for either Bones and Raw Food, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, depending what floats your boat, and as a topic is worthy of its very own article, which is what we have done. BARF/Raw feeding is a great choice for leish dogs. Please follow this link to view the BARF/Raw Feeding advice sheet.

Commercial foods
Dry – kibble and biscuits
If you lack the freezer space or can’t stomach the idea of feeding raw meat, dry commercial food offers a convenient alternative. Dry food can be stored in bins or plastic tubs, and simply fed when needed, perhaps mixed with a little water or yeast-free gravy. Most dry kibble brands are complete and balanced, but some are much better than others. If you are feeding only dry food it is well worth forking out for the highest quality you can afford.

Note: There is now a dry kibble prepared especially for dogs with leishmaniasis!
https://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/ADVANCE-Veterinary-Diets-Leishmaniasis-Management-Canine/p/I9004772
This is also available on Amazon.

Lower end dry food brands will often have a very high proportion of cereal content, and really low amounts of “meat and animal derivatives” – sometimes as low as 4% meat. As mentioned earlier, many dogs are intolerant of grains. Intolerance to grains can cause loose stools, itchy skin, hotspots, hair-loss and ear infections. I would personally recommend that foods with high levels of grain (eg: more than 50%) are avoided, especially for leish dogs which can suffer from dry and flaky skin as a common symptom of leish.

These low-end foods also tend to contain high levels of sugars, to make your dog want to eat it, as well as artificial colourings and flavourings that can have adverse effects on your dog’s behaviour, including hyperactivity, aggression, disobedience and destructiveness. Although these foods may seem great value for money, the nutritional content is so low that you have to feed much higher amounts of it than you would have to with high quality foods such as those listed below. Because of this, they end up costing you pretty much the same in the long run!
Avoid: Bakers, Pedigree, supermarket own brands, anything with cereal as the main (first) listed ingredient, and sugars/oils/fats.  

Some brands of dry food are made with either white or brown rice, which is far more digestible for dogs. Chicken/turkey and rice dry foods are acceptable for leish dogs, but look out for added yeast or peas on the label.
Look for: James Wellbeloved, Burns, Symply.

If you want to go up a price-bracket look for grain free dry food. Grain free dry food will have a much higher proportion of meat compared with food that include grain or rice. They are more expensive, but as your dog is receiving better nutrition you don’t need to feed as much. Again, some grain free dry food will contain peas, yeast or other no-no’s for leish dogs, so do your research. The “bulk” in mid-range grain free dry food is often potato but can sometimes include pea starch.
Look for: Barking Heads, James Wellbeloved Grain Free.

The very best (and most expensive) dry dog foods will be grain free and have a meat content of 70% or more. Sweet potato is often used in these foods, which is very good for dogs and more easily digested than regular white potato. Once again, check the labels for high-purine ingredients and their amounts.
Look for: Applaws, Orijen, Aatu.

Wet – tins, trays and pouches
Arguably more natural for dogs than dry food, wet food is also more palatable and is very useful for fussy eaters, giving tablets, and dogs recuperating from illness. Wet food tends to be more expensive than dry counterparts, even from the same brand, and have a shorter life once opened – tins and trays should be refrigerated after opening and used within 24-36 hours. Wet food can cause looser stools because of the higher moisture content, whereas biscuits, especially high-quality ones, should result in firmer ones.

Much like dry food, wet food can be fantastic quality, or really poor. And much like dry food, some will have high levels of grain in them, some will be made with rice, and some will be pure meat and veg. Some are even just 100 meat. Generally speaking, the good and bad brands mentioned above apply to their wet foods as well.

Usually on the label for wet and dry foods it will be stated what the main animal protein source is, but you can’t be 100% that high purine foods, like organs and offal, don’t make up some of that figure. It’s always worth contacting the manufacturer for confirmation if you suspect a wet or dry food contains levels of high-purine foods that you find unacceptable for feeding to your dog.

Feeding wet and dry together?
It’s perfectly OK to feed wet and dry commercial foods together in varying ratios. However, if you feed your dog mostly dry food, and then suddenly give it a tin of wet one day, expect to experience some “digestive side effects”. If you want to feed both, it’s much better to feed them mixed together daily so you don’t upset your dog’s stomach.

Feeding commercial and raw together?
This is a no-no – don’t feed raw and commercial foods together. Commercial foods are cooked, whereas raw isn’t (obviously) and as cooked and raw foods will move through your dog’s digestive tract at different speeds it can cause illness. Leave 4 hours after a raw meal before feeding commercial food, and 12 hours following commercial food before feeding raw. Eg: feed raw/BARF for breakfast, and commercial for dinner. Done this way it is possible to feed commercial and raw/BARF foods.

Treats and special foods
We all love our dogs, and we also love to feed treats and special goodies. Unfortunately with leish dogs that can be slightly trickier, as store-bought treats will often contain high-purine foods or be of very poor quality. Luckily you can simply offer foods from the low and medium-purine lists as your training or good behaviour treats. Boiled egg, cheddar cheese and cooked chicken breast will all be readily received by your dog, leish or no leish. If you do want to buy leish-suitable treats, I would recommend the following, both of which my two go nuts for:–

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_treats_chews/natural_treats_fish/180597 - Dried fish wrapped in chicken breast

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_treats_chews/dog_chews/rocco_chings/402434 - Dried carrot or banana wrapped in chicken breast

For treats that will keep them busy that bit longer, Kongs stuffed with peanut butter or other treats are a good bet. Put these in the freezer in the summer for a refreshing treat. Also look out for the Weight Bearing Bones mentioned earlier. RMB’s like lamb necks are a good special treat or meal replacement once a week.

Supplements and Additives for Leish Dogs
No matter what you eventually choose to feed your leish dog, you may want to consider further helping them out by adding herbs, supplements or other healthy additives to their meals. The following list are the most commonly recommended things to add. Again, do your own research and make sure that none of these are unsuitable for your particular dog.

  • Coconut oil (FANTASTIC for leish dogs - and humans!)
Suggested benefits include: Clears up eczema, aids flea allergies, contact dermatitis and itchy skin, reduces allergic reactions, creates sleek and glossy coats, prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections, when applied topically coconut oil promotes wound healing, helps with hot spots, dry skin and hair, bites and stings, improves digestion, increases nutrient absorption, helps with colitis and inflammatory bowel syndrome, reduces or eliminates bad breath, helps with coughing, assists with weight loss, powerful antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal agents, balances insulin and promotes normal thyroid function, aids arthritis and ligament problems, helps prevent infection and disease, aids in increasing energy.

  • Salmon oil
Suggested benefits include: Improved coat and skin condition, reduced inflammation, prevention of skin allergies, helps with IBS, regulation of the immune system, calming overactive immune systems for dogs with allergies or autoimmune diseases, improved cognitive function in older dogs, lowered blood pressure and triglycerides, support for dogs with kidney disease, fights heart disease, is preventative against cancer, helps promote weight loss in overweight dogs, helps in producing more collagen, useful in the treatment of kidney problems (frequent urination, loss of appetite), helps with joint health.

  • Linseed/Flaxseed
Similar to salmon oil as it’s made up primarily of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) which is an omega 3 fatty acid too, but being plant based is not so readily metabolised by dogs. Still beneficial, just not AS beneficial as salmon oil.​

  • Seaweed (red, blue and green algae)
Suggested benefits include: greater energy, a healthier coat, stronger resistance to illnesses and better weight management due to a well-functioning thyroid, removal of the plaque on dogs teeth, good source of iodine, may alleviate symptoms of arthritis.

  • Apple cider vinegar
Suggested benefits include: popular as a digestive aid and to support healthy weight, is acidic, helps balance out pH levels and has antibacterial properties. ACV contains iron, potassium and magnesium and other essential vitamins and minerals. The acidity and live enzymes are said to kill bacteria that cause flaking skin conditions.

  • Billy No Mates! - A Herbal Supplement to Naturally & Effectively repel Fleas, Ticks & Mites
Taken from website - “Looking for a natural flea treatment for your dog or cat? Billy No Mates! is a very effective, natural flea, mite and tick repellent. The aromatic combination of mint, seaweed, fenugreek, neem leaves and lemon balm should be simply sprinkled over your dog - or cat's food and as well as repelling 'boarders' is great for skin and coat condition. As the product can take up to 6 weeks to really get into the dog's system, we would recommend you start using BNM from around Easter onwards.”

Happy feeding!
​

Disclaimer
The above information is intended as a general guide for the dietary maintenance of dogs with leishmaniasis and it not intended as a substitute for correct veterinary care and/or medication. If you are at all concerned about your dog, please consult your vet immediately. The author accepts no responsibility for harm or illness arising from following this information, and strongly urges all readers to carry out their own research before changing their dog’s diet in any way. Always ensure your dog has access to fresh drinking water at all times. 

References and Further Reading
www.sitstay.com
www.dalmatianwelfare.co.uk
www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com
www.yourolddog.com 
www.dodsonandhorrellpetfood.co.uk
www.dogfoodadvisor.com
www.nurturingbynature.co.uk

BARF/Raw Feeding Information Page