Dante Carrillo
Bladder stones in dogs are a common issue that can cause pain, irritation, and blockage when passing urine. These stones are formed when substances in the urine crystalise and combine over time. While some bladder stones can be dissolved with prescription food or medicine, others require physical removal through surgery or techniques like lithotripsy or urohydropropulsion. Diet plays a significant role in treating and preventing bladder stones in dogs. Specific dietary changes depend on the type of stone, but some general recommendations include increasing water intake to dilute urine and adjusting the diet to change the urine's pH level. In some cases, a high-protein diet is recommended, while in others, a low-protein approach is suggested. Additionally, it is advised to avoid foods with high oxalate levels and opt for those low in oxalate, such as peeled apples, white rice, meats, and certain fish.
Characteristics and Values table for a dog's diet to prevent stones in urine:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Type | High-moisture, raw food diet; meat-based; fresh, whole food diet; therapeutic/veterinary diets; low-protein; low-purine; low-sodium; low-phosphorus; low-magnesium; low-oxalate; high-calcium; vitamin B complex supplement; fish body oil supplement |
| Water Intake | Increased; diluted urine; encourage water consumption; urine specific gravity (USG) below 1.020 |
| Urine pH | Slightly acidic (6-7.5); alkaline urine for cysteine stones |
| Nutrients to Reduce | Sodium chloride; silica; purine; urea; protein (for cystine stones); oxalic acid; calcium (with oxalate); vitamin C (with struvite treatment diets) |
| Nutrients to Increase | Animal protein; vitamin C (in general) |
| Herbs | Nettle, plantain leaf, and cleavers |
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What You'll Learn
- Struvite stones are caused by bacterial infections and can be treated with a low phosphorus and magnesium diet
- Urate stones can be prevented by increasing water intake and reducing protein and purine consumption
- Cystine stones can be treated with a low-protein, low-sodium diet
- Silica stones can be prevented by a diet high in animal protein and low in plant-based ingredients that are high in silica
- Calcium oxalate stones can be prevented by maintaining a more basic urine pH and avoiding foods with high oxalate levels
Struvite stones are caused by bacterial infections and can be treated with a low phosphorus and magnesium diet
Bladder stones are a common issue for dogs, and struvite stones are the most prevalent type. These stones are formed when struvite crystals, the most common type of crystal found in dogs' urine, combine with urease, a bacteria-produced enzyme. Struvite stones are typically caused by urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urease-producing bacteria.
Struvite stones can be treated with a therapeutic diet that is purposely formulated to be low in phosphorus and magnesium. These diets are designed to dissolve the struvite stones and may also feature reduced protein content, which contributes to the reduction of urea and acidifies the urine to a pH of less than 6.5. It is important to note that vitamin C should not be supplemented when feeding this type of diet.
The dietary treatment for struvite stones focuses on dissolving the existing stones and preventing the formation of new ones. This is achieved by promoting the production of acidic urine, which helps to break down the struvite crystals and discourage their growth. The diet also aims to increase diuresis (thirst and urination), which can help flush out the dissolved crystals and prevent new ones from forming.
In addition to the therapeutic diet, it is crucial to address the underlying bacterial infection that caused the struvite stones. Antibiotic therapy is often prescribed alongside the dietary treatment to treat the infection and prevent its recurrence.
While dietary changes and antibiotics are the primary treatments for struvite stones, in some cases, surgical or non-surgical procedures may be necessary to remove the stones. These procedures include urohydropropulsion, cystotomy, lithotripsy, and ultrasonic dissolution. However, the decision to perform any of these procedures depends on various factors, including the size and composition of the stones, as well as the overall health of the dog.
It is important to consult with a veterinarian to determine the best treatment plan for your dog, as individual needs may vary. Regular check-ups and monitoring are crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the chosen treatment and make any necessary adjustments.
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Urate stones can be prevented by increasing water intake and reducing protein and purine consumption
Urinary health in dogs is important, and bladder stones can be a recurring problem. These stones can develop when substances in the urine form crystals that link and, over time, combine to form one or more stones. These can become so big that they get stuck in the dog's urethra, requiring emergency surgery.
Urate stones are one type of bladder stone that can be prevented by increasing water intake and reducing protein and purine consumption. Urate stones are formed by purines, so reducing your dog's intake of purines is vital. Most high-protein foods are also high in purines, so commercial diets for dogs with urate stones are often low in protein. However, it is not the quantity of protein that matters, but the type. For example, eggs, cheese, and yogurt are high in protein but low in purines.
Increasing water intake is an essential factor in minimizing the occurrence of all types of bladder stones in dogs. Water helps to dilute the urine and increase urine flow, which prevents stone formation. Strategies to increase water consumption include feeding wet or fresh food or adding water to dry food.
Veterinary therapeutic diets are available to prevent struvite stones, which are the most common type of crystal found in dogs. These diets are typically low in phosphorus and magnesium, and may also feature reduced protein content. This helps to reduce urea and acidify the urine to a pH of less than 6.5, dissolving the struvite stones.
It is important to work with your veterinarian to develop a plan for urine testing and monitoring for the recurrence of stones.
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Cystine stones can be treated with a low-protein, low-sodium diet
Bladder stones are a common occurrence in dogs and can be a recurring problem. They develop when substances that are normally dissolved in urine form crystals that link and, over time, combine to form one or more stones. These can become so big that they cannot pass through the dog's urethra, trapping them in the bladder.
Cystine stones are a rare type of bladder stone, with 98% of cases occurring in male dogs. They are caused by high testosterone levels, pH level, and diet (too much protein/methionine). Cystine is an amino acid created in the liver from the amino acid methionine. A low-protein diet is invariably recommended for dogs with cystine bladder stones because feeding a dog less protein means less methionine and, therefore, less cystine.
A low-sodium diet is also recommended to decrease the amount of cystine in the urine. In addition, extra hydration is important to dilute the dog's urine. This can be achieved by adding water to dry food or feeding canned food. The urine pH should be kept slightly alkaline, and the dog should be given plenty of opportunities to relieve itself so that its urine does not become saturated with cystine.
Prescription diets such as Hill's U/D or Royal Canin UC Low Purine are recommended for dogs with cystine bladder stones. Since cystine crystals do not form well when urine pH is higher than 7.2, your veterinarian may recommend urine alkalinizing agents like potassium citrate, in addition to prescription diets.
In selected cases, small cystine stones may be removed non-surgically by urohydropropulsion, in which the bladder stones are flushed out of the bladder using a special urinary catheter technique.
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Silica stones can be prevented by a diet high in animal protein and low in plant-based ingredients that are high in silica
Bladder stones in dogs can be a recurring problem. These stones develop when substances in urine form crystals that link and combine over time. They can become so large that they get trapped in the bladder. Diet can play a major role in the treatment and prevention of bladder stones.
Silica stones are a type of bladder stone that can be prevented by a diet high in animal protein and low in plant-based ingredients that are high in silica. Plant-based ingredients such as corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, rice hulls, and root vegetables are often high in silica. By reducing the amount of silica in a dog's diet, you can help prevent the formation of silica stones. It is also important to prevent dogs from eating soil or drinking water that may be high in silica, as this can contribute to the development of silica stones.
Veterinarians often recommend a diet high in animal protein and low in plant-based ingredients to prevent silica stones. This may include high-quality, grain-free canned dog foods or prescription diets such as Hill's Prescription Diet Derm Complete. It is also important to increase water consumption to dilute urine and keep the urine pH slightly alkaline.
In addition to dietary changes, it is recommended to increase urine volume and alkalization to prevent the recurrence of silica stones after surgical removal. This can be achieved by encouraging water consumption and providing multiple sources of clean, fresh water. Maintaining a urine-specific gravity of less than 1.020 is ideal. It is also important to monitor urine sediment and pH routinely and treat any UTIs promptly.
While dietary changes can help prevent silica stones, it is always best to consult with a veterinarian to determine the most appropriate diet for your dog's specific needs. They may recommend prescription diets or suggest home-cooked meals that are safe and nutritionally complete for your dog.
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Calcium oxalate stones can be prevented by maintaining a more basic urine pH and avoiding foods with high oxalate levels
Calcium oxalate stones in dogs can be prevented by maintaining a more basic urine pH and avoiding foods with high oxalate levels. Bladder stones in dogs are formed when substances in urine crystallise and combine over time. These stones can be large enough to get trapped in the bladder and may require surgery to be removed.
Diet is a key factor in the treatment and prevention of bladder stones. A dog's diet determines what ends up in their urine, so feeding them specific foods can reduce the building blocks needed to create bladder stones. While changing a dog's diet won't get rid of calcium oxalate stones, therapeutic foods can help prevent their return.
To prevent calcium oxalate stones, dogs should avoid foods high in oxalates and calcium. This includes plant-based foods such as spinach, rhubarb, beets, green beans, and sweet potatoes, and certain nuts, including peanut butter. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yoghurt should also be avoided. Meat and fish are excellent choices for a low-oxalate diet, and white rice and corn/maize are safe grain options.
To maintain a more basic urine pH, it is important to monitor a dog's pH levels and watch for signs of imbalance, such as changes in urine colour and odour, increased thirst and urination, behavioural changes, and frequent infections. Using a specially formulated pH shampoo and conditioner can also help maintain healthy pH levels in dogs.
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