Dog Food For Oxalate Bladder Stones

Make Sure Your Dog Drinks Lots Of Water

This may seem obvious. But, no matter what type of stones your dog has dont underestimate the power of water to help. Its an important part of bladder stone management that vets often overlook.

Most dogs develop bladder stones when they are on kibble. Moisture in kibble is only 9% to 11%. A raw diet contains 80% or more moisture.

Keep your dog well hydrated to dilute minerals in the urine. This can help prevent stones from forming.

Feeding a high moisture diet is a good start. If youve ever switched a dog from kibble to raw youll have seen how much less water your dog drinks on a raw diet.

Make sure your dog has ready access to ample filtered or spring water . Some things that can encourage your dog to drink more are

• More water bowls around the house and yard
• Flavoring the water with broth
• Water fountains with running water
• Feeding bone broth or adding it to food

But keep it voluntary. Dont ever force your dog to drink more than he wants.

And of course, with increased drinking, make sure he gets plenty of opportunities to go out to pee.

What To Look For In A Good Dog Food For Bladder Stones

When choosing a dog bladder stones diet, there are two primary goals to focus on. The first is to dilute the urine with an increase in moisture intake. Diluting the urine helps prevent stones from forming.

The second goal is to reduce the intake of compounds which make up bladder stones. To choose the best dog food for bladder stones, you may need your veterinarian to perform tests to identify the type of stone so you know what foods your dog should avoid.

If your veterinarian is able to identify which type of stone your dog has, he may recommend a therapeutic diet. If youre simply looking to reduce stone formation or prevent bladder stones, however, there are a few things to look for in a dog bladder stones diet:

Remember, there is a difference between diets made to dissolve bladder stones and diets made to prevent them. If your veterinarian recommends a therapeutic diet for a specific type of stone, that is your best bet.

Keep in mind that, in order for dietary dissolution of bladder stones to work, you need to feed your dog the special diet exclusively. This means no treats and no supplements while your dog is on the diet unless they are approved by your vet.

Now that you have a better understanding of bladder stones in dogs and what causes them, youre ready to start shopping for a dog bladder stones diet! Take what youve learned here to start shopping around or simply choose one of our top dog food picks above. Best of luck to you and your dog!

The Honest Kitchen Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food

Most Popular: If your dog has a sensitive stomach on top of urinary health issues, you need to be extra careful about what you feed him.

The best non-prescription dog food for urinary health and sensitive stomach might be something like this dehydrated recipe from The Honest Kitchen.

It is dehydrated rather than cooked at high temperature which preserves more of the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients. Plus, you need to rehydrate it with water or broth before serving which makes it a moisture-rich diet for your dog.

This particular recipe features free-range chicken as the main ingredient with grain-free carbohydrates like flaxseed and sweet potatoes with dried fruits and veggies to provide a boost of premium-quality nutrition.

It is complete and balanced thanks to fortification with essential vitamins and chelated minerals, plus it provides the optimal balance of protein and healthy fats.

• Pros: Dehydrated not cooked at high temperatures, high moisture content when rehydrated, free-range chicken as main ingredient, highly digestible and nutritious
• Cons: Expensive compared to most kibbles, some dogs dislike the texture of dehydrated food

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Food That Contains An Abundant Amount Of Vitamin C:

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and very helpful for humans and pets. It is a harmful free ingredient, which helps to reduce inflammation and cognitive aging. Dogs synthesize vitamin c in their own, and when there is vitamin c deficiency in the body, then supplementation may offer. Besides these benefits, vitamin c is also the cause of kidney stones gradually.

According to Dr. Richard Pitcairn informs giving 100 500 mg of vitamin c is recommended for dogs. This dose may vary from puppy to dogs. Over Feeding of vitamin c can also cause looseness of the bowels and that singular resistance levels change.

What Are The Signs Of Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones

The signs of bladder stones are very similar to the signs of an uncomplicated bladder infection or cystitis. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are hematuria and dysuria . Hematuria occurs because the stones rub against the bladder wall, irritating and damaging the tissue and causing bleeding. Dysuria may result from inflammation and swelling of the bladder walls or the urethra , from muscle spasms, or from a physical obstruction to urine flow. Veterinarians assume that the condition is painful, because people with bladder stones experience pain, and because many clients remark about how much better and more active their dog becomes following surgical removal of bladder stones.

Large stones may act almost like a valve or stopcock, causing an intermittent or partial obstruction at the neck of the bladder, the point where the bladder attaches to the urethra. Small stones may flow with the urine into the urethra where they can become lodged and cause an obstruction. If an obstruction occurs, the bladder cannot be emptied fully if the obstruction is complete, the dog will be unable to urinate at all. If the obstruction is not relieved, the bladder may rupture. A complete obstruction is potentially life threatening and requires immediate emergency treatment.

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Royal Canin Urinary Dog Treats

Royal Canin offers Urinary Dog Treats which are often permitted even to dogs who are on a medicinal kibble. Royal Canine Dog Treats are based on veterinary science and are veterinary-exclusive. Dogs who are on the Royal Canin Urinary Diet require a prescription from the veterinarian before ordering.

The Royal Canin treats work by promoting an environment that is unfavorable to the development of bladder stones. Also, the company claims their food can help with the formation of struvite crystals. The treats are appropriate for all dogs regardless of age, and the first ingredients in the list include brewers rice, corn and chicken fat which makes this high-quality product.

Home Remedies For Bladder Stones In Dogs

Bladder stones in your dog can be a scary problem. Because your conventional vet will probably tell you the best option is surgery.

Sometimes that may be true, if your dog has a severe case. Other times your vet may offer some more conservative options. You can read about all the conventional treatments in Bladder Stones In Dogs: Is Surgery The Only Option?

But there are cases where you can use diet and home remedies to manage your dogs bladder stones.

Read on to learn how you can avoid surgery and prevent your dog from getting bladder stones again.

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How Can I Prevent Bladder Stones

Most cases of bladder stones are caused by a mix of genetic, dietary and environmental factors. So can you prevent them?

1) Drink more water: the ruffwear mountain stream collar is designed to keep dogs hydrated in hot and cold weather

2) Feed your dog a diet that does not contain too many refined carbohydrates: Hills Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Feline Formula is specially created to reduce urinary tract bacteria growth.

3) Keep the area around your dog neat remove any invasive plants on which he has been toileting or that have leaves with sharp edges e.g rosemary, lavender, privet, pyracantha. These are very common culprits but there are many more.

4) Keep him at a healthy weight: excess weight puts extra strain on his joints and bladder

Homemade Urinary Diet For Dogs: What You Should Give

According to a study, the occurrence of lower urinary tract stones is higher in dogs than in humans. One of the best ways to treat kidney stones in dogs is with the help of dietary regulations. Good homemade dog food for kidney stones can make the difference between a healthy and a struggling dog.

Here are some of the things that you should consider including in the diet of your furry friend, who is suffering from kidney disease:

• Hydration of the dog is critical because it helps dilute the urine. Make sure that your dog drinks fresh water, which is changed regularly.
• If your dog suffers from kidney disease, ensure that the homemade diet has lower oxalate levels. Consider including food like white rice, peeled apples, and fish.
• You can give your dog boiled vegetables, and theres a theres to reduce the oxalate level of the vegetables. Drain away the water as much as you can before you serve the boiled food to your dog. This brings down the level of oxalate in the food.
• You may also include root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips in the homemade dog food for kidney stones because they contain low amounts of purine.
• Eggs can also be given.
• Another great thing to offer to a dog with kidney disease is cranberry. Cranberries play a significant role in flushing out bacteria from the urinary system, so the chances of new infections are lowered to a great extent.

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My Dog Has Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones What Are They

Bladder stones , are rock-like formations of minerals that form in the urinary bladder, and are more common than kidney stones in dogs. There may be a large, single stone or a collection of stones that range in size from sand-like grains to gravel.

One of the more common uroliths in the dog is composed of calcium oxalate crystals.

Signs & Symptoms Of Bladder Stones In Dogs

Dogs with very small bladder stones will not always exhibit symptoms. Often, these small stones will pass through the urinary tract without being noticed, especially in female dogs. However, larger stones may interfere with urination or irritate the lining of the bladder or urethra. Signs and symptoms include:

• Discomfort and difficulty urinating

• Urinating small amounts very frequently

• Blood in the urine

• Pain in the abdomen around the kidney area

• Change in energy level

• Vomiting

Its important to note that not all of these symptoms may present themselves. Pain may be the only indicator that bladder stones are present, so it can be difficult to diagnose.

Its nonetheless important to figure out if your dog is suffering from this ailment: if left untreated, stones can cause blockages, chronic urinary tract infections, and be potentially life-threatening.

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Feed Foods That Help Prevent Bladder Stones

Whatever your dogs condition, feeding a fresh, whole food diet is the healthiest strategy. Avoid highly processed, starchy kibble diets, especially if your dog has struvite stones.

And this includes prescription diets your vet might try to persuade you to feed. These diets might help short term but they offer very poor nutrition for your dog.

Instead, here are some dietary recommendations for the different types of stones. Homeopath and Certified Canine Nutritionlist Brenda Tobin DiHom, DVetHom, Cert CN offers the advice below on diets for struvite and calcium oxalate stones.

Food To Manage Struvite Stones

Dogs develop struvite stones when their urine is alkaline and saturated with magnesium and phosphate. Struvite stones usually stem from bacterial infections. Dogs who produce a high concentration of urea may be more susceptible to struvite stones. Thats because bacterial urease converts urea to ammonia, a component of struvite.

Animal proteins are acidifying. So, to manage struvite stones, feed your dog a raw meat based diet with other acidic foods.

INCLUDE Acidic Foods For Struvite Stones

• Chicken
• Beef

• Veggies collard, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, okra

Food For Urate Stones

Dogs like Dalmatians who are prone to urate stones need to eat low purine diets. Feed a fresh, whole food diet focusing on low and medium purine foods from the list below. Avoid high purine foods.

FEED Low and Medium Purine Foods

AVOID High Purine Foods

• Legumes

What Is The Cost Of Treating Bladder Stones In Dogs

The presence of bladder stones may require a variety of tests. For example, a urinalysis can run between $65$175 x-rays anywhere from $50 and up ultrasounds, $250 and up bloodwork at least $100 or more. Considering that these are only diagnostic tests, the total cost for a case of bladder stones can be quite high.

Surgery starts around $700 and can run upwards of $1700, depending on the particular vet or specialist and your geographic location. Some offices charge separately for the anesthesia/sedation.

Post-surgery costs to consider are follow-up visits, medication, and possibly a prescription diet that your dog may need to remain on for the duration of his/her life.

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Antibiotics For Bladder Stones

Bladder infections are a common cause of struvite bladder stones. If your dog is suffering from struvite stones, your vet may prescribe antibiotics to treat his or her bladder infection. In the case of struvite stones, its essential to treat the underlying issue that caused them, as well as the stones themselves. If the condition at fault is left untreated, your dog could develop struvite stones again.

How Common Are Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones

Bladder stones are somewhat common in dogs, and calcium oxalate bladder stones are the second most common type of stone, second only to struvite stones. Together, struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths have been found to comprise over 85% of all canine uroliths. Based on the results of tens of thousands of stone analyses, it has been found that the number of struvite bladder stones has been declining in dogs, while the number of calcium oxalate stones has been increasing during the past ten years. Struvite uroliths were noted to be more common in female dogs and calcium oxalate uroliths in male dogs. Breeds most commonly diagnosed with struvite and calcium oxalate bladder stones included Shih Tzus, Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, and Yorkshire Terrier.

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Summary Of Bladder Stones In Dogs

Bladder stones are a rock-like formation of minerals, ranging in size, that are developed in the urinary tract. Maintaining a well-balanced diet as well as ensuring your dog always has access to plenty of water, so they can flush out the bladder consistently, will help you prevent bladder stones from developing. Complete prevention of bladder stones in dogs is very hard, but annual check-ups with your veterinarian will help your dog stay healthy.

Natural Balance Lid Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Bison Formula Grain

Main Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, Bison, Potato Protein, Pea Protein, Canola Oil

This limited ingredient diet is grain-free and has no wheat, soy, or corn, which is perfect for dogs with digestive issues. Ease of digestion is always a goal for dogs who have bladder stones. It has just enough fiber to keep the dogs insides clean without getting rid of too many fluids.

One thing I love about this dog food is the balanced ingredients containing just the right amounts of necessary vitamins and minerals. Being bladder friendly, it doesnt contain any minerals that lead to the formation of stones.

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What Causes Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones To Form

The exact cause of calcium oxalate bladder stones is complex and poorly understood at this time. Normal dog urine is slightly acidic and contains waste products from metabolism including dissolved mineral salts and other compounds. These mineral salts will remain dissolved in the urine as long as the pH stays within a narrow range, and as long as the urine does not become too concentrated.

Current research indicates that urine high in calcium, citrates, or oxalates and is acidic predisposes a pet to developing calcium oxalate urinary crystals and stones. Recent studies have shown diets that cause high urine acidity may predispose dogs to develop this type of bladder stone.

There are likely other causes of calcium oxalate bladder stones. Over-usage of antibiotics may reduce numbers of the intestinal bacteria Oxalobacter formigenes whose sole nutrient is oxalate. In dogs with low populations of Oxalobacter, excess oxalate is secreted in the urine, increasing the likelihood that calcium oxalate crystals and stones can form if the urine is highly concentrated or becomes acidic.

Treatment For Bladder Stones In Dogs

Treatment for bladder stones depends largely on the type and location of the stone. Options include surgery, lithotripsy , a change in diet, and medication.

With struvite stones, there are multiple options to consider, each carrying pros and cons.

Unlike struvite stones, calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved through dietary changes. If they are tiny, flushing the bladder and forcefully expressing the stones may be possible otherwise they will need to be surgically removed.

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Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites Urinary Tract Support

Bonus Review: Making sudden changes to your dogs diet can upset his stomach and might do more harm than good if hes already suffering from health problems.

If your veterinarian doesnt think your dogs diet is a problem but he still has urinary issues, you might consider simply adding a urinary health support supplement to his daily routine.

These Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites come in a delicious chicken flavor and are formulated to balance your dogs urine pH while also supporting other aspects of his urinary health.

This supplement features Cran-Max with patented Bio-Shield technology to flush out bad bacteria and promote healthy bladder and urinary function. Simply follow the feeding instructions on the package to give your dog 1 to 3 chews a day. Its that simple!

The Basics About Urinary Tract Health in Dogs

Aside from the territorial aspect of it, peeing is a normal behavior for dogs. When you notice changes in your dogs urinary habits, it should be cause for concern.

Here are some of the most common things that can affect urinary tract health for dogs:

Urinary habits vary greatly from one dog to another, so just because your dog only pees twice a day doesnt necessarily mean something is wrong.

Here are some other warning signs that your dog might have a urinary health issue:

• Painful urination or difficulty urinating
• Changes in water consumption
• Lack of energy or interest in play
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine