For the Nutritional Management of Dogs with Kidney Disease. There are many causes for kidney disease (also called renal disease) resulting in a variety of uncomfortable and life threatening symptoms for your dog. Kidney disease can be either sudden (acute) or occur gradually (chronic). Prescription Diet k/d Canine dog food is specially formulated by veterinarians to help manage dogs with kidney disease. Kidney disease may develop because of other diseases or changes in health, breed/hereditary tendencies and even nutritional factors. Signs of kidney disease don't usually appear until more than two-thirds of kidney function is lost. Prescription Diet k/d Canine is clinically proven to extend and improve quality of life in dogs with kidney disease. The nutritional formulation of Prescription Diet k/d may also be useful for pets with a variety of conditions.