What To Look For When Buying Food For Dogs With Urate Stone Issues
To prevent and dissolve urate stones in dogs, your vet may recommend a specialist diet. Your dog will benefit from a diet that is lower in protein, as these diets are lower in purine, a building block of urate crystals.
The ideal diet will also be non-acidifying, prompting a slightly alkaline environment in the bladder. It is also important to incorporate moisture into the diet to promote hydration and bladder health. As such, your vet may recommend a wet food or a dry diet, but at least mix a cup of water before feeding.
So, to recap what to look for in a suitable diet:
- Promotes neutral or alkaline urine pH
- Added moisture for urine dilution
- Veterinary-specific and approved
What Are Struvite Crystals In Dogs
Struvite stones, or urinary tract stones, are one of the several types of stones that can form in a dogâs bladder.
They are formed from struvite crystals, which are a regular occurrence. However, when these crystals group and form large stones in the dogâs urinary tract, problems occur.
Female dogs are more susceptible to this problem. Itâs observed that only 15% of male dogs will suffer from urinary tract stones.
In most cases, struvite bladder stones are caused by a urinary tract infection.
However, a small percentage of less complicated cases have seen metabolic or sterile struvite stones, which arenât caused by an infection.
These stones tend to dissolve faster, but they are treated the same way as any other type of struvite crystals in dogs.
Struvite stones are formed in alkaline urine, and one of the things you will have to do to treat and prevent them in the future is to find ways to make your dogâs urine more acidic.
This is where adjusting to a diet for dogs with struvite crystals will help. This article will not cover the condition, so if you want to learn more about this type of urinary crystals in dogs, see the Merck Vet Manual guide here.
Hereâs what a dogâs bladder stone looks like:
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Any general recommendations that Dr. Dobias makes are not a substitute for the appropriate veterinary care and are for informational and educational purposes only.
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Firstmate Australian Lamb Meal Formula Limited Ingredient Diet Grain
Main Ingredients: Potato, Lamb Meal, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat, Potassium Chloride
You may think that bladder stones are not connected to the digestive system, but there is a direct connection. Everything absorbed from the digestive system goes into the urine. Unwanted minerals can end up building up bladder stones. I believe that the safest option for dogs who are prone to bladder stones is a limited ingredient diet .
This L.I.D is made up of healthy, safe ingredients. Its grain-free, gluten-free, and pea-free, which aids digestion. Moreover, it is free of magnesium, phosphate, vitamin C, and vitamin D, all of which are unsafe for dogs with bladder stones.
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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Solid Gold Holistique Blendz Oatmeal Barley & Ocean Fish Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Oatmeal, 2. Pearled Barley, 3. Peas, 4. Ocean Fish Meal, 5. Dried Eggs
Whats better than improving both your dogs urinary and digestive health at one time? Solid Gold Holistique Dog Food aims to fulfill that purpose with their special recipe that provides controlled amounts of minerals and lots of fibers and probiotic support to give your dog the best of both worlds.
The dog food is made from ocean fish meal and highly-digestible grains such as oatmeal and barley to provide complete nutritional support. The diet minimizes mineral density to prevent the buildup of bladder stones while still fulfilling your dogs micronutrient needs. Aside from that, the dog food also uses a mix of superfoods that strengthen your dogs immune system while benefiting their overall health.
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Work Closely With Your Veterinarian
Bladder stone management isnt a one-size-fits-all model. It requires the expertise of someone who understands how food impacts stone development. Your vet is your pets first line of defense.
Overall, this is not a condition that a pet owner can reliably fix by changing dog foods, says Ishak, who is board-certified in internal medicine. This is one problem that does call for professional help to solve most expeditiously. There are some stones that form with certain medical conditions , complicating diagnosis and management further.
Other factors add to the complexity. Sometimes the urine may need to become more acidic but other times it may need to become more basic, he says. In addition, different stones require different mineral or protein reductions.
Mineral concentration and pH can potentially be manipulated with diet, says Dr. Jonathan Stockman, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. However, it can be complicated when management of one type of crystal increases the risk for the formation of a different type of crystal.
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Types Of Kidney Stones And Management Of Homemade Urinary Diet For Dogs
Kidney stones in dogs may be of various forms: struvite, urate, and calcium oxalate. Depending on the type of stone infecting your dogs urinary tract, a healthy meal needs to be planned.
In the case of struvite stones, they can be dissolved entirely just with the help of a special diet. Encourage your dog to drink a good amount of water regularly, which dissolves the stones. Besides, the consumption of proteins and minerals has to be controlled to change the acidity in urine.
On the other hand, for calcium oxalate stones, they are generally more aggressive. They cannot be dissolved just with the help of homemade dog food for calcium oxalate stones. These stones are usually formed due to a higher concentration of calcium or oxalate in the bloodstream.
However, a diet can be designed to reduce the risk of calcium oxalate stones in dogs.
Finally, urate stones are generally caused due to some genetic predisposition and are related to liver diseases. These stones are made from a compound called purine.
Food high in purine includes seafood, fish, meat, and organs like the liver and heart. These stones can be dissolved by providing your dog with a low purine diet and by treating liver disease in the first place.
When providing a homemade urinary diet for dogs, it is important to contact your vet and consult him before choosing a diet. The dietary regulations have to be followed very closely to restore the health and wellbeing of your dog.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Health Extension Chicken Grain
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Water Sufficient for Processing, Guar Gum, Agar-Agar, Natural Flavor
- Guaranteed Analysis: 11% Crude Protein, 9% Crude Fat,1% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 545 kcal per 13.2-oz can
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, with no rendered animal fats or by-products, no added sugar, no carrageenan, and no corn, wheat, or soy.
- Average Price: 31.08 per 12 × 12.5-oz = $2.59-can
Health Extension Grain-Free Dog Food removes the extra ingredients and gives you 95% pure chicken in a can and natural preservatives. This food is for puppies, and it eliminates the guesswork of finding out which ingredients are giving your puppy a problem. The higher moisture content of canned food makes it a good option for dogs with urinary tract issues. Once any urinary tract problems pass, it makes a great occasional snack.
Prescription dog foods that are only available if prescribed by veterinarians, not reviewed here, include:
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How Can You Prevent Your Dogs To Havning A Kidney Stones
Diet management is just one of the best choices for preventing kidney stones in dogs.
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Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for yourself.As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.As a Chewy affiliate, I earn commissions for qualifying purchases.
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Brewers rice, corn, chicken fat, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice flour, corn gluten meal, natural flavors, salt, powdered cellulose, potassium chloride, vegetable oil, calcium sulfate, fish oil, monocalcium phosphate, DL-methionine, fructooligosaccharides, L-lysine, choline chloride, taurine, vitamins , trace minerals , marigold extract , L-tryptophan, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
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This diet contains 3741 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram or 333 kilocalories ME per cup on an as fed basis .
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1 1/4 cups 1 3/8 cups 18 lb 1 1/4 cups 1 1/2 cups 1 3/4 cups 22 lb 1 1/2 cups 1 3/4 cups 2 cups 2 1/8 cups 2 3/8 cups 2 3/4 cups 44 lb 2 5/8 cups 3 cups 3 3/8 cups 55 lb 3 1/2 cups 4 cups 3 1/2 cups 4 cups 4 5/8 cups 77 lb 3 7/8 cups 4 1/2 cups 5 1/8 cups 88 lb 4 3/8 cups 5 cups 5 3/4 cups 99 lb 4 3/4 cups 5 1/2 cups 6 1/4 cups Mixed Feeding
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What Is Relative Super Saturation
Relative Super Saturation is the stuff that analytical chemistry nerds dream of.
The concept is often used to predict the size of crystals when chemists are precipitating them out of a solution. The idea behind it is that the slower the precipitation happens the bigger the crystals produced are.
However, nutritionists and veterinarians found a medical use for this concept. They deduced that by playing around with diet composition they could reach RSS values where precipitation would not only be slowed down but also prevented.
Some crystals like Struvite, can also be dissolved at a low enough RSS value.
Low RSS values are achieved by reducing the concentration of the offending mineral in the urine and modifying urine acidity or alkalinity.
Struvite dissolution is achieved at RSS levels of below 1 and prevented at levels between 1 and 2.5. Oxalate cannot be dissolved but can be prevented at RSS values of below 14 but ideally below 10.
The Best Diy Dog Food With Turkey And Veggies
Ever since we published our first Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe we have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have told us that they have already made the leap and are preparing fresh meals for their pups at home! Ditching processed kibble once and for all is one of the best things you can do for your dog. We learned this ourselves this last year after our 11-year old dog had an incredibly positive change to his health once we moved to a healthy dog food! Recently, I developed a new 100% human grade homemade dog food recipe that utilizes some of the best fall produce for your dog like sweet potatoes, cranberries, rosemary, and sage! Our dogs love it so much I decided to share it here too so you and your pup can celebrate the best the season has to offer.
***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarians careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human grade food diet for your pup.*** Updated with video 9/4/2021
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Things To Know About Treating A Dog With Bladder Stones
After a routine visit to your dogs least favorite person: the veterinarian, you are horrified to discover that your best furry friend has been diagnosed with bladder stones. You never knew canines could suffer from kidney stones, let alone bladder stones, and you may feel confused, guilty, or nervous about the future. The medical world can often be overwhelming and full of frightening terms, but you dont have to walk this journey with your pet alone.
Purina Veterinary Dry Dog Food Best Overall
When your dog suffers from bladder stones, the Purina Veterinary food is ideal for supporting and offering balanced nutrition. It is formulated with reduced sodium, phosphorous, and protein to lessen the workload on the kidneys.
This dog food is made in the U.S.A. and contains 12.5% protein, 0.5% calcium, and 0.4% sodium and phosphorus. The main ingredient is whole grain corn, followed by brewers rice. To decrease the amount of protein in the food, it doesnt contain meat-based protein but instead uses corn and rice. There are added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to provide complete nutrition for your dog.
The Purina is a large kibble and may be challenging for smaller dogs to chew, but it can be moistened with water for easier eating. Some low-sodium dog foods are bland and it can be difficult to find one that your dog will eat, but most dogs love the taste of the Purina Pro Plan for kidney function.
Our pick for the best dog food for bladder stones for the money is Blue Buffalo Basics because it is high in nutritional value while decreasing food sensitivities. If your dog suffers from calcium oxalate stones, this dog food is optimal because it doesnt contain any wheat. Canned food also adds water to your dogs diet, which is an important factor in preventing stone formation.
On the downside, this food is pricey, but it can be fed to all breeds of dogs, small and large. Royal Canin has 17% protein, 10% moisture, and 0.75% calcium.
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