Hi Sara B:
Your Vet is helping your dog IMO. If you are not comfortable with his advice I would get a second opinion.
Increasing H2O intake is very important along with frequent bathroom breaks. Some OTC supplements can exacerbate the condition. I never used any for that reason alone.
Honest Kitchen recipes are created by a person with an agriculture degree in equine studies. She has no education or credentials in small animal nutrition. To my knowledge she does not employ anyone full or part time with credentials in small animal nutrition. Lots of things can go wrong with a dog’s health when a diet is not formulated properly.
I unfortunately have had a few experiences with UTI’s & stones in my pets over the years. One involved emergency surgery with a positive outcome the other involved a reoccurrence that I blame myself for. I only fed the Rx food for a week or two because I made an executive decision he was doing well and didn’t need it. 🙁
Here’s a site I refer to for up to date info. Your Vet may have even sent your dog’s sample to U of M.
https://www.vetmed.umn.edu/centers-programs/minnesota-urolith-center/recommendations
Good synopsis:
Dietary treatment of bladder stones
For a home made diet option check out Balance IT.com. Your Vet would have to contact the Vet’s there to discuss the lab results so they could formulate a balanced diet that is best for her condition. I have used their OTC vitamins and recipes in the past for my dog, he really enjoys and does well on it. The meals are super easy to make and you can find most if not all ingredients from your local grocery store.
I hope your pup is feeling better, good luck!!
Here’s some more info that you may find helpful:
Why you shouldn’t judge a pet food by its ingredient list
Questions You Should Be Asking About Your Pet’s Food
Much Ado About Therapeutic Diets
http://vet.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/DecipheringFactFromFictionIngredients.pdf
