Leena Watts
A urinary diet for dogs is a special diet that is used to treat urinary tract problems. It is recommended for dogs that have bladder stones or are prone to developing them. Bladder stones in dogs can be dissolved using prescription food or medicine, and sometimes through surgery. The type of treatment depends on the type of bladder stone. For example, struvite stones are common in dogs and can be dissolved with food or medicine, whereas calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved and have to be removed through surgery. Urinary diets aim to create the right conditions in the urine so that bladder stones can gradually dissolve.
Characteristics and Values of a Urinary Diet for Dogs
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To treat and prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections |
| Dietary Composition | Reduced levels of protein, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and oxalates; increased levels of salt; promotes acidic or alkaline urine depending on the type of stones |
| Product Options | Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, Hill's Prescription Diet, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St, Wynwood Dog Food Urinary Support |
| Feeding Guidelines | Gradually transition to the new diet over 7-10 days; follow veterinarian's instructions for proper weight maintenance |
| Storage and Handling | Keep frozen until use; thaw in the refrigerator and use within 5 days; store in a sealed container; maintain hygiene |
| Veterinary Recommendation | Urinary diets should be recommended by a veterinary professional based on a thorough medical workup, including urinalysis and blood tests |
| Additional Considerations | Avoid treats as they can reverse progress; look for bulk discounts for long-term diets |
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What You'll Learn
- Urinary diets are recommended by veterinary professionals to treat cystitis or urinary disease
- A urinary diet can help prevent bladder stones, which are common in dogs
- Struvite stones are a type of bladder stone that can be dissolved with food or medicine
- Calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved with food but can be prevented with a specific diet
- A urinary diet can help reduce the risk of recurrence of bladder stones
Urinary diets are recommended by veterinary professionals to treat cystitis or urinary disease
There are different types of bladder stones, and each type requires different treatments. Struvite stones (also called magnesium ammonium phosphate) are quite common in dogs and can be dissolved with food or medicine. Diets used to dissolve struvite stones have reduced levels of protein, magnesium, and phosphorus. This type of diet also creates acidic urine. Good options for dog food that can dissolve struvite stones include Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, Hill's Prescription Diet, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St.
Calcium oxalate stones are another common type of bladder stone in dogs. Unfortunately, there is no way to dissolve calcium oxalate stones, so they have to be removed via surgery, lithotripsy, or urohydropropulsion. However, therapeutic foods can help prevent their return. An appropriate diet for calcium oxalate stone prevention reduces calcium levels, avoids ingredients that contain a lot of oxalates, creates dilute urine, and maintains urine that is slightly more alkaline than normal to discourage stone formation. Dog food that can help prevent calcium oxalate stones includes Hill's Prescription Diet, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St.
Cystine stones are less common in dogs than struvite and calcium oxalate stones. The dietary parameters used to dissolve cystine stones (low protein, low sodium, and promoting alkaline urine) can also be used for prevention. Hill's Prescription Diet u/d is a good option for dogs with cystine stones.
It is important to gradually change a dog's diet because sudden changes can cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. Before recommending a urinary diet, a veterinarian will perform a thorough medical workup, including a urinalysis to look at the pH of the urine and analyse any cells, including bacteria, present.
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A urinary diet can help prevent bladder stones, which are common in dogs
Bladder stones are a common problem in dogs, and they can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. A urinary diet can be a great way to prevent bladder stones and maintain your dog's urinary health.
A urinary diet for dogs is a specific type of diet that is designed to support urinary health and prevent problems such as bladder stones. It is important to note that not all dogs need a urinary diet—it is usually recommended by a veterinarian after a thorough medical examination. This may include a urinalysis to check the pH of the urine and analyse any bacteria or crystals present.
A urinary diet can help prevent bladder stones by altering the conditions in the urine that contribute to stone formation. For example, a diet that reduces protein, magnesium, and phosphorus levels can help dissolve struvite stones, which are common in dogs. Additionally, increasing salt intake can make the urine more acidic, which can also help dissolve these types of stones.
Another type of bladder stone, calcium oxalate stones, cannot be dissolved by diet or medicine. However, a urinary diet can help prevent their recurrence by reducing calcium levels and avoiding ingredients high in oxalates. This type of diet also focuses on creating dilute urine that is slightly more alkaline than usual to discourage the formation of calcium oxalate stones.
There are several commercial therapeutic dog foods available that are formulated to promote a urinary environment unfavourable to the development of bladder stones. These include Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, Hill's Prescription Diet, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St. It is important to gradually transition your dog to a new diet to avoid any gastrointestinal issues. Always consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog's diet.
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Struvite stones are a type of bladder stone that can be dissolved with food or medicine
Struvite stones, also known as magnesium ammonium phosphate, are a common type of bladder stone in dogs. They are formed when a dog's urine becomes very concentrated or alkaline, causing struvite crystals to form and develop into bladder stones. These stones are usually a complication of a bacterial bladder infection, with the bacteria producing an enzyme called urease.
The good news is that struvite stones can often be dissolved with food or medicine. Therapeutic diets are carefully formulated with high-quality ingredients to reduce the compounds that contribute to stone formation while still providing good nutrition and taste. These diets are designed to encourage greater water consumption, which dilutes the urine, making it less concentrated and less likely to form struvite crystals. They also contain controlled amounts of protein and certain minerals, such as reduced levels of magnesium and phosphorus, and are formulated to create acidic urine, which helps to dissolve struvite stones.
Some specific examples of therapeutic dog food that can help dissolve struvite stones include Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, Hill's Prescription Diet s/d or c/d Multicare, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St. These diets not only help dissolve existing struvite stones but also reduce the risk of recurrence. It is important to note that dietary changes should be made gradually over 7-10 days to allow your dog's digestive system to adjust.
In addition to dietary changes, antibiotics are usually necessary to treat struvite stones in dogs, as they are often associated with bacterial infections in the bladder. During the dissolution process, trapped bacteria are released into the bladder, and antibiotics help prevent further infection. Dissolution of struvite stones can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on their size and other factors.
If dietary changes and antibiotics are ineffective or the stones are too large to dissolve, other methods of physical removal may be considered, such as surgery, lithotripsy (using sound waves or a laser to break up the stones), or urohydropropulsion (using a special catheter to flush out small stones). Your veterinarian can recommend the best treatment plan for your dog's specific needs and monitor their progress with regular urinalysis and bladder X-rays.
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Calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved with food but can be prevented with a specific diet
Calcium oxalate stones are the second most common type of urinary stones in dogs, after struvite stones. They are formed of microscopic crystals of calcium oxalate and can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys if left untreated.
Unfortunately, calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved with food or medicine. The only way to remove them is through surgery, lithotripsy, or urohydropropulsion. However, a specific diet can help prevent their formation and reoccurrence.
A raw or cooked natural diet is recommended to reduce the chances of calcium oxalate stones forming. Kibble and other dehydrated foods should be avoided as they can cause highly acidic urine, which increases the likelihood of stone formation. It is also important to ensure your dog is drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated.
To prevent calcium oxalate stones, the urine pH should be maintained at a slightly more alkaline level than normal, typically around pH 7.0. Carbohydrate-rich foods can help achieve this by making the urine less acidic. In addition, it is important to reduce calcium levels in the diet and avoid ingredients with high oxalate content, such as spinach, wheat, and strawberries.
Some therapeutic dog foods designed to prevent calcium oxalate stones include:
- Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St
- Hill's Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit
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A urinary diet can help reduce the risk of recurrence of bladder stones
A urinary diet is a therapeutic diet for dogs that is often recommended by veterinary professionals to address urinary issues, such as bladder stones. Bladder stones are a common problem in dogs, and they can recur if preventive measures are not in place. A urinary diet can help reduce the risk of bladder stone recurrence by altering the conditions in the urine that contribute to stone formation.
Different types of bladder stones require different treatments. Struvite stones (magnesium ammonium phosphate) and calcium oxalate stones are the most common types of bladder stones in dogs. Struvite stones are often associated with bacterial infections in the bladder and can usually be dissolved with food, medicine, or antibiotics. On the other hand, calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved and must be removed through surgery or other physical methods.
To prevent the recurrence of struvite stones, a urinary diet aims to create a urinary environment that is unfavourable to crystal formation. This is achieved by reducing the levels of protein, magnesium, and phosphorus in the dog's diet, increasing salt intake, and promoting the production of acidic urine with a lower pH. Specific commercial diets recommended for this purpose include Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, Hill's Prescription Diet s/d or c/d Multicare, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St. These diets are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs while addressing their urinary health issues.
For dogs prone to calcium oxalate stones, a urinary diet focuses on reducing calcium levels and avoiding ingredients high in oxalates. It also aims to create dilute urine and maintain a slightly more alkaline urine pH to discourage stone formation. Recommended diets for this purpose include Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St. It is important to note that while dietary changes can help prevent the recurrence of calcium oxalate stones, they cannot dissolve existing stones.
It is always advisable to consult a veterinarian before making any dietary changes for your dog. They will recommend the best treatment plan based on your dog's specific needs and health conditions. A urinary diet can be an effective tool in managing bladder stones and reducing the risk of recurrence when combined with other recommended treatments and medications.
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Frequently asked questions
A urinary diet for dogs is a diet that is used to treat urinary issues in dogs. It is usually recommended by a veterinarian and can be used to treat issues such as bladder stones and urinary tract infections.
Some signs that your dog may need a urinary diet include blood in the urine, straining to urinate, changes in the frequency and timing of urination, changes in the colour of urine, and changes in drinking habits.
There are several commercially available urinary diets for dogs, including Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO, Hill's Prescription Diet s/d or c/d Multicare, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St.
It is important to gradually transition your dog to a new diet over 7-10 days to avoid gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhoea. It is also important to avoid giving treats as they can reverse the progress made on the diet.
Some home-cooked options for a urinary diet include beef and potato or chicken and rice. It is important to ensure that these meals are balanced and provide the necessary nutrients for your dog.
