Search Results for 'bladder stones'

Dog Food Advisor Forums Search Search Results for 'bladder stones'

Viewing 47 results - 351 through 397 (of 397 total)
  • Author
    Search Results
  • #44539
    Liz O
    Member

    My 4 month old female lab puppy developed a bladder infection. The vet said to feed her their Royal canin SO for urinary problems. I looked at the list of ingredients and can’t feed her that. Two of the ingredients are corn based and pork meat by products. The first antibiotic didn’t seem to work so yesterday she was put on a different one. She has crystals in her urine but not stones. There’s still blood in her urine after 2 doses of the new antibiotic and she’s still straining to urinate. Any ideas of what would be a reccomended food with 4 or 5 stars for this kind of issue? She is currently eating Kirkland Nature’s Domain Salmon, she was on Wellness Puppy at first but it didn’t really work for her. Thanks.

    #42184
    T
    Participant

    I agree with InkedMarie. Extra moisture is a big help in preventing crystals/stones. Another factor to consider is the amount of carbohydrates in the dog food. Foods with a lot of plant-derived ingredients (high in carbs) tend to support the formation of urine with a higher pH. Struvite crystals are most likely to form in urine with a pH above 7.0. Yet another reason to move toward a diet closer to the so-called ancestral diet of dogs which had very little carbohydrate.

    Another thing to consider is traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. It can clear up bladder inflammation in ways that antibiotics sometimes cannot. I have an article about bladder inflammation on my blog if you’re interested: http://naturalalternativesvet.com/bladder-inflammation-cats-dogs/

    Tabitha

    #41968
    Megan S
    Member

    My 4 year old Papillon, Bandit, has had recurrent problems with crystals (struvite) in his urine for the past nearly two years and had to have surgery to remove bladder stones a year ago. The two or three times a culture has been done the crystals that have been found were not bacterial based although I do think he’s had some urinary infections at times as well, he’s been on several rounds of antibiotics over this time frame. Anyway, after the surgery a few months later x rays showed small stones again beginning to form so I started him on Solid Gold’s berry blend twice a day over his Wellness CORE Oceanfish food. After about 6 weeks we did another x ray and the stones appeared to be dissolved so I thought the problem was solved. Recent urinalysis have shown he again has crystals in his urine however… though again not bacterial in nature according to the culture. Because of this my vet said it might be time to try the Science Diet C/D food….she knows I’ve been reluctant to do this and she was reluctant as well. In addition to my loathing of all things Science Diet Bandit also has a long list of food allergies (corn, chicken, eggs, rice, and wheat) of which two are in this food (chicken and corn). There has been a very short list of foods I’ve found that do not have these things in them, and I have worked hard for four years to get his allergies under control. I just didn’t feel like I had any choice but to try this, I can’t put him through surgery for stones repeatedly…my question is does anyone know of any better quality foods that are alternatives to Science Diet’s C/D for this problem? I can’t be the only one who has a dog with allergies that this is an issue for but I haven’t had much luck with my research thus far… There’s got to be some combination of nutrition levels I need to look for that C/D has that helps this specific issue…

    Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me!

    #41874
    Barbara B
    Member

    I notice that on the list of dog foods all the Hills Prescription and Science diets are included except for u/d, which is what my pug-a-poo has been on for nearly 3 years, since she is has had several bouts with bladder stones and has had 2 surgeries for Calcium Oxalate stones. I just wonder why u/d is not on your list.

    #41788
    Christina E
    Member

    I have a miniature schnauzer who was just diagnosed with bladder stones. The vet of course prescribed her to change her diet and eat Royal Canin s/o to try to dissolve the stones. I read the ingredients. Meat isn’t even listed first and it has corn in it. I’ve been researching online and it appears the best diet is a moisture rich food, so more likely canned food, grain free, low carb and potato (starch) free. I have been feeding her Nature’s Variety grain free and recently switched to Merrick b/c I didn’t like that Nature’s Variety adds tapioca, but Merrick uses sweet potatoes. Can anyone recommend a good canned food to help prevent the recurrence of struvite stones?

    Hello,
    First off I would like to say that the Food that you are feeding your dog, is contributing to the bladder stones and gaining weight.
    Diets high in grain and vegetables produce alkaline urine, which allows certain stones to form.
    1. thing to get changed right off the bat, is the food. Vets are very helpful with figuring out and helping to remedy problems that your dogs are facing. But many of them are uneducated with dog food nutrition. I have studied Dog and Cat nutrition very intensely due to my dog almost dying because our vet recommended Pedigree dog food.
    Science diet, Hills food from the vet and even in pet stores are CRAP. Any food that you can buy in a grocery store is CRAP. What you feed is what you get out of your dog. and I have helped MANY MANY pet parents learn how to better their dogs lives by just changing what they eat.
    Your dog needs to avoid food with Grains. If a dog food ingredients has Rice, Brown Rice, Barley, Corn, Grain, Whole Grain, or such grains in the first 5-10 ingredients, its not food your dog is suppose to be eating.
    GRAIN FREE FOOD is what your dog should be eating in order to loose weight and avoid bladder stones.
    I suggest Acana because they are Grain Free, First Mate because again they are Grain Free and have always been grain free (My dogs are on this) and other foods that are grain free!
    Your dog should also be eating twice a day only. As well needing to give it to her at a reduced amount till He/She looses weight.
    Once in the morning and once at night, food should be measured so you know how much your dog is eating.
    To help with arthritis, I would look into giving your dog some glucosamine and chondroitin.
    You can actually give the ones you get at your drug store and mix it in with wet food and give it to her one a spoon. Make sure to get the pill capsule ones so you can open it and mix in with wet food.
    As well, try and start giving Cranberry supplements to help with the unitary tract. You can as well use the ones you get at the drug stores or go with this brand for animals specifically
    http://cranimal.com/products.html

    You wouldn’t eat Macdonalds every day if you were trying to loose weight and care for your health would you? That is what you are giving your dog if you feed it Science diet, Hills or any food with Grains.

    I know this will help a lot because I’ve done it personally myself. But I hope you try it and see for yourself.
    Cheers

    #34096

    In reply to: Senior dog food?

    checker
    Member

    With kidney issues,the food should be special. I am new to using Hill’s k/d renal.It is specially formulated for renal,kidneys.The food should contain low phosphorus,low sodium and low protein. I haven’t found a compatible good brand in my area,so I stick with the Hill’s for now. You may read borrow stories on the Hill’s and good reviews.Just keep in mind there are people out there writing bad reviews on behalf of other food companies or the companies themselves. I also gave my dog treats,and now I am using pieces of sweet potato as a little treat. I hope this helps. My 12 year old female Pomeranian had 2 kidney stones in which I need to maintain not get more or bladder infections. She also had a liver test was a little off,but still ok. I live in Windsor,Ont.Canada and so far found a reasonable price at pet value.I have to feed wet canned food due to her only having 2 teeth left. The Vet.cans were more expensive at $3.23/ can and pet value was $2.59/can and if buy a case of 12,you basically get a free can for the 10% off. I am not sure about online yet,I am still searching for reasonable prices myself. The dry dog food will probably last longer and be cheaper. I hope this helps and if anyone know where a cheaper price can be found or a different food besides making my own can be found. I would be grateful!!
    Sincerely,Kim

    #33554
    InkedMarie
    Member

    Dori: I wasn’t even talking about your spelling, I hadn’t noticed your spelling, sorry.

    My dog was a sheltie, Katie. She was eleven when we adopted her. She was obese. She was 14″ tall, should have weighed 25 pounds, max but weighed 43.7 pounds. She had double ear infections, had arthritis, a gross coat & was peeing blood. We found out within a month that she had hypothyroidism, bladder stones & bilateral hip dysplasia. We didn’t think she’d last a year but she got down to 26 pounds & we had her for 3.5 years.

    She was the only dog I’ve had to put down for ortho reasons. The day I made the appointment, she fell four times, turned and gave me a look, and I knew. I was blessed to be her mom.

    #32887
    baileysmom
    Member

    My bichon has the same issue. He is currently recuperating from his first bout of pancreatitis and is waiting for his 4th stone surgery. Diet had been hills ud which was high in fat. It did help with stones for 3 years until now. He’s now on hills I’d to help with pancreatitis, but it’s not good for bladder stones. Did you find a solution?

    #32653
    twin257
    Member

    My almost 3 year old Shi- Chon has been dealing with a UTI for 1 year. Two Vets later, and numerous Ultrasounds, Antibiotics, she had a Quarter Size Bladder Stone(Struvites) surgically removed, the Dr. still has her on Ciprofloxacin twice a day for the next 7 months, he also told me to put her on Cranberry D Mannose, due to her being prone to UTI’s. I have her on both now.
    My Vet suggests that I put her on a Special Prescription food Diet , that only the Vets sell.
    Everything that I have read says that Prescription diet dog foods only help to dissolve stones, they don’t prevent them, and if the dog is prone to UTI’s this special food won’t cure the problem.
    I’m worried about the long term effect of Ciprofloxacin to my dog, he did say it was safe, but I’m not sold on that, just like the expensive Special Prescription Dog Food they want to sell me. Has anyone dealt with a situation similar to this?

    #29392
    Bella
    Participant

    ChristyGH: I lost my beloved Shi-Tzu 6 days ago. She was fine, just at the Vet’s office 1&1/12 days before the horrible event started. I fed her her dinner about 6pm (ballpark time). She began vomiting within (again ballpark timing) 1-1&1/2 hours, which at first I wasn’t horribly concerned as she always had a very sensitive stomach, and it was all strictly her dog food that she vomited, I checked it (always)! By the 5th time I was getting concerned and sent a text to my Vet to let him know, as he always will advise me, she’s always been his special sweetly in his office. But I didn’t hear back and I continued texting a couple more times, with no answer back( I later found out he was out of the country) I then called the office for the Emergency Hospital number and took her there. Long story short, she passed away hours later. The ER Vet and the Vet at my regular Veterinary Office both looked at her blood work and point to toxicity. All her major organs were in complete failure they had told me at the Animal Hospital. ( to think she and i were playing with her toys that morning and she seemed fine, except after she ate her dinner from a NEW can of Hills Prescription W/D) The Vet is aiming at Hills Prescription WD, as she knew I just bought a case when I was there with her the night before, and it is what I fed her. (She was placed on it by my Vet after a surgery for Bladder stones and a mass of testing to figure out what could help her stone issue)
    When the Vet called me Monday morning after reading the Animal Hospitals notes and tests, she wanted the number & letters on the bottom of the can, and all info anywhere on the case packaging. I also took pictures of it all, and as I did I was noticing every can was dented except one, and I NEVER use dented cans and I check them even for myself. Who knows maybe the one I opened was slightly dented and was missed, but a tally NONE should be dented, as it’s a known fact that a slight dent can cause air to get in a can.
    The Vet came in the room to talk to me the night I brought her in ( I had her at home as I couldn’t handle not having her with me, she went everywhere possible I went. I miss her terribly, I’m so upset and very sad over her death.) when we talked I brought up doing a necropsy on her, as there was no good reason she died, the Vet said she was going to talk to name about getting permission to do one, so we were both in the same page. I asked if I could stay to observe…it’s very unsettling to know your beloved “little girl” died, and you have no good reasons …yet.
    Necropsy was done, tissue samples should be back in about a week and Toxicity should be back in about 2 weeks. Hoping to have answers then….. But this is so unsettling… I’m depressed as can be, she was my little baby girl, she’s all I had, she was the best company anyone could ask for.. I’ll keep updating as I learn more…

    If anyone else has had experience with this dog food > Hills Prescription W/D < PLEASE let me know…it’s worth it to sign up and post on here…

    Now I need to decide where I’ll have her cremated and have services for her…

    #Annie, I love you more than anything and will miss you forever~ love Mommy.many kisses and hugs~

    #29243

    In reply to: Cat food?

    cdubau
    Participant

    Hey thanks so much for the reply! I think I have figured out a food for her! Here her story. Oreo doesn’t have UTI’s but had bladder stones maybe two years ago? If feels like it was forever ago but I felt so bad. I had one of those automatic kitty litter boxes so I didn’t notice she wasn’t pee’ing a lot in one go. Anyway I took her in and finally got a pee sample and it looked like straight blood 🙁 Its been so long I can’t remember if they did an ultra sound. I want to say no. They has me switch her food and give her meds and try the pet fountain (didn’t work).
    Food wise she always gets dry food with wet food mixed, water added to make it gravy like. She was on science diet c/d but it seemed to make her sick sometimes. If i mixed to much water with the dry food she would vomit. Plus the watered down dry food would smell rancid in a very short time. So I called wellness and got their mineral counts one day and their weight loss formula was within the range that was listed on the C/d. So I switched to that and she hated it. She would lick the wet food off the dry food and leave the dry food in the bowl!! Low and behold I saw a lady in the store with the Purina Urinary tract health and asked her about it. She said her vet told her to switch her cats to that. Oreo will eat it….which is a lot coming from her. She will eat it plain too. She is picky about it being fresh though. But I’m glad I found a food she will eat, won’t break the bank and is a U/T food.
    I still need to find a way to get her more fluids though. Going all canned I just can’t afford. Its not in the budge so any other creative ways besides a fountain I’m up to trying.

    #28916
    Jeancar
    Participant

    My vet is suggesting a food trial for my 5 yr old cocker spaniel. He has unidentified allergies(chews his feet, and “goobery” eyes). We’ve tried several allergy meds, and he is presently eating “GO” salmon. He recently had crystals in his urine, so he’s taking a supplement for stone prevention. He will have to stop taking supplements during the food trial. He also has a sensitive stomach, he takes Pepcid to control acid production. Are there any foods that deal with more than one problem?

    She has suggested Hill DD potato venison. She feels the protein level is low enough to avoid bladder stones. This sounds reasonable to me, just interested if anyone else has the same issues, and possible feedback.

    #26066
    cockerspanielmom
    Participant

    I just wanted any recommendations you have.

    I have a 15.5 year old cocker spaniel, mostly healthy.
    We added a 10 month cocker spaniel puppy after losing our 13 year old earlier in the year.

    We also have two additional cockers living with my mother in law while we have our house built. a 13 year old tri girl with bladder stones eating a prescription diet WD or CD and a cancer surviving 13 year old buff boy with an enlarged heart but otherwise healthy.

    So we fed everyone WD for the past 7+ years due to the one dog who required it. With the puppy in the house, that’s not ideal so our vet suggested a senior formula for the two boys and a puppy formula for the new baby.

    We’ve tried Blue Buffalo, it’s our first choice. The puppy really needs grain free.
    They don’t like BB and will barely eat it. We tried some samples of Merrick and they love it but the protein is just too high. We’ve also tried Natural Balance Fish and Potato and Ideal Balance Fish/Potato.

    Ideal Balance is only rated a 3 (bleh) but they ate it best. Merrick replied that we should try Castor and Pollux as a lower protein option to Merrick.

    I just feel a bit lost because they don’t seem to like any of the foods we are trying yet. We want them to love the food, want to eat it, and it still be healthy. I’ve never had such picky dogs before and the puppy needs that grain free due to possible allergies and it’s just a mess.

    #25904
    theBCnut
    Member

    Bichons can be prone to bladder stones, so I suggest a high moisture diet, like canned food, or add water to his kibble.

    Nature’s Variety Instinct, Nature’s Logic, and Brothers Complete are all good foods with small kibbles. Nature’s Variety Instinct and Nature’s Logic also have canned.

    #25496
    pugmomsandy
    Participant

    Generally, meats are acidifying and increasing the protein in the diet can help with struvites. Try using meat treats like Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Crunch or Kisses, Vital Essentials freeze dried nibbletts, Fresh is Best dehyrated meat treats, Pure Bites, or some safe jerky. But you also want to increase fluid intake with these dried treats and overall to flush out the bladder. A wet food diet might be better. When her UTI is gone and she’s on regular food, give her urinary tract supplements. There is one called Wysong Biotic pH- and Clear Tract or Berry Balance, etc.

    http://www.wysong.net/products/ph-dog-cat-supplement.php

    http://www.wysong.net/pet-health-and-nutrition/urinary-problems.php

    #25462
    mikeyd
    Participant

    New member and thanks1 My 7 year old Beagle Honey recently had bladder surgery to remove hundreds of struvite bladder stones. Vet put her on Hill’s prescription WD food to help get her urine Ph to where it does not let the bacteria from her UTI feed and therefore produce the stones. I am trying to find a homemade treat recipe that will not negate the effects of her new food. I contacted Hill’s and they gave me two recipes making their food into a treat which is OK but I want to try dehydrated sweet potatoes, chicken jerky, etc but I am not a chemist and have no idea what I can use. The vet said the same thing. He has no degree in chemistry. Anyone out there in the same situation as Honey is and have a home recipe for this particular problem?

    #25209
    K6RBS
    Participant

    Hills SD Killed our pug Abigail.

    5 years old, history of bladder stones.
    Started with a UTI, vet x-rayed her, put her on antibiotics and Hills SD (to dissolve the struvite stones). I gradually weaned her on to the SD (took a week). In the mean time the vet got the urinalysis tests back and the stones turned out to be calcium oxylate (?sp). I had 2 cans of SD left so we decided to leave her on it for a couple more days.
    Next morning she is lethargic, vomiting and off her food.
    She died a horrible death 5 days later due to pancreatitis followed by other organ failure caused by the fat content in the SD. I pleaded with Hills to put a warning on their cans and send a strong warning to the vets – they refused. Search the web – Abigail is not the first victim of Hills SD Dog food.

    https://www.facebook.com/abigail.pugsly

    • This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by K6RBS. Reason: Added URL to Abby's FB page
    • This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by K6RBS.
    #24416
    GaitedGurl
    Participant

    Found this information on one of the sites provided above. Thought I would post for anyone else looking.

    Dogs with Cushing’s disease should be fed a high-protein diet. Protein can help prevent muscle wasting. High quality proteins are also good for the skin and immune system. Also, since dogs with canine Cushings disease are prone to develop hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides) and pancreatitis, the amount of fat in the diet has to be moderately low.

    Finally, dogs with this disease are susceptible to the formation of calcium oxalate bladder stones. Therefore, avoid giving them too much calcium and vitamin C. Also make sure that they have plenty of water intake to avoid stone formation. – See more at: http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/canine-cushings-disease.html#sthash.9TDdaP2J.dpuf

    Also said these herbal drops may help also… http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/products/cushex-cushings-disease-remedy-for-dogs.html?cj=3036157#ysmtac=cj&ysmchn=affiliate&ysmcpn=cj&ysmgrp=3036157

    #24374
    shaunamacd
    Participant

    I have a schnauzer who has had panreatitis and is therefore on a very low fat veterinarian dogfood however has just had struvite crystals removed from his bladder. Although there is a food to decrease his chances of getting further stones, it is quite high in fat. Any suggestions with respect to diet?

    #24280
    sparkles1962
    Participant

    I have a Jack Russell that I have had the same issues as the Mini-Pin. Had bladder issues years ago, and vet put her on urninary so. For years was throwing up on the food, not an issue for the vet. Then last year started with the pancreatitis. We have been working with a holistic vet, acupuncture, and herbal/homeopathic remedies. Amazing results. But, still working on it. I am now making her dog food. That really helps. I used Darwins raw food/chicken and duck. The only issue I had with that is the small bones, she was throwing those up and it was too costly.

    My dog has a duality of chronic inflammatory pancreatitis that is creating damp phlegm in her kidneys and hence bladder stone issues. This is what the holistic vet is working on. It surprises me, that the regular vets don’t even know this. However, I am looking for a good nutritionist vet, for making the appropriate raw diet myself. There is someone online, that you can pay for this service (but I’m a little leary to give my personal info online)! Here is the information I found online, if you are interested. She had some good things to say, such as me feeding a natural diet that included sweet potato is not good for my dog because—if the stones she is forming are calcium oxalate, you should not be feeding sweet potatoes due to their content of oxalic acid. It is also vitally important for kidney health to have sufficient calcium in the diet to 1. meet the dog’s needs and 2. bind excess phosphorus, and in typical, supplemented diets this is usually severely deficient.
    Looking online at dog diets with pancreatitis….is overwhelming!!!
    — Sabine Contreras
    Canine Care & Nutrition Consultant
    Creating Healthy Lifestyles for Canines
    BetterDogCare.com – DogFoodProject.com

    #22242
    mah4angel
    Participant

    Thanks! I’ve actually comprised an all-natural herbal prevention plan with Only Natural Pet products. So, no more chemical heartworm prevention for Louie ^_^

    I did not know that milk thistle has properties that would help with the cleansing of the liver! We’re going to have him re-tested for the liver enzymes soon. The vet said that the elevation was so small that it most likely is less than nothing to worry about, and that when she re-tests they should be back to normal.
    I’m pretty much 99.9% sure that I know what happened, though. The HW pills we’ve been using (Quadriguard) was from the previous vet that saw him, and the new vet had never heard of it. The new vet didn’t know that the Quadriguard had wormers already so she would give him additional wormers every month (which is one of the things I pointed out early on because I found it strange that she was giving him wormers even though he tested negative for heartworms).
    I kind of think she didn’t believe me when I said we had him on something. Every time we go to the vet, the computer system tells the vet tech to ask if we wanted to put him on heartworm prevention because “it says he’s not covered” even though we’ve told them over and over and over again that we have him on Quadriguard. I’m kind of done with Banfield. I want to find a local Holistic vet, but all of them are quite a drive and Louie gets DEATHLY carsick. Also, the two holistic vets within half an hour of here have pretty awful ratings on Yelp 🙁

    I’m actually finalizing my purchase from Only Natural Pet. I’m getting a ton of stuff. Two different kind of prevention (the HW Protect Herbal Formula and the Para-Gone), the Herbal Defense Oil Blend (to prevent bugs from biting in the first place), and Cranberry Wellness for his UT issues (apparently he has crystals in his urine that make him more likely to have bladder/kidney stones and UTI’s). I currently have him on FirstShield for fleas and ticks but I want to move away from chemical flea and tick prevention as well.

    I’d really love to see how his liver and the rest of his body will react to the lack of chemicals! I’m spending so much money to do this whole chemical cleanse but it’s SO worth it!

    #21384

    In reply to: Multivitamin :)

    mah4angel
    Participant

    Okay! And the cod liver oil would not supplement the omega-3’s, correct (I believe you said before that in order to get enough omega-3’s through cod liver oil, you’d be getting excessive amounts of vitamin a and d)? I actually am going to try to go the non-supplement route especially considering I have a ton of flax seed that I bought at Costco that is a possible source of manganese if I supplement with it correctly, and because I just think it’s an all-around better option for my Louie.

    SO I’m wondering if this will work for the morning:
    1/2 cup whole grind (rotating between protein sources)
    1/2 cup XKALIBER green tripe grind (greentripe.com)
    Alternating between Dr. Harvey’s and Daily Greens super food supplements
    Swanson’s glandular supplement (not sure of the dosage since it’s a human supplement)
    1/8 capsule of 200 IU vitamin e (25 IU)
    Salmon oil (should I give this daily or maybe alternate between this and ground flax seed/others nuts and seeds?)
    Daily cod liver oil (not sure how much to give my 10 pound dog – I know you give your babies one 1.000 mg capsule)

    I was also looking at urinary tract boosters because Louie apparently has crystals in his urine and a much higher risk for UTI’s and kidney/bladder stones.

    I feel so close to getting this down AH 🙂

    #21025
    kateagray
    Participant

    Hi!

    I’ve been posting in different threads with questions on different dog foods/supplements and then just realized…HELLO…there are forums on this website as well, thanks to Inkedmarie who suggested I check out a sub forum with different dog foods that were grain free with no potatoes. Thanks! I’ve decided to send my question out forum wise instead of post wise so I can keep better track of the advice that I am receiving.

    Here is my dilemma:

    In 2006 I took Nikki, my 13 year old Miniature Schnzauzer in for allergy testing – she is allergic to pretty much everything environmental is what I found out. She was on a duck and potato formula then. She had a couple of bouts of pancreatitis due to some pain medication she was prescribed for something else and then because someone in my family was naughty an fed her some sausage. My vet put her on a prescription diet of Purina HA. I believe that my vet is being super cautious as schnauzers are prone to bladder stones, pancreatitis/hyperlipidemia, and hypothyroidism. Nikki seems to do ok on this dog food, which I get but every time I ask her for an alternative she says absolutely not this is the only dog food she can tolerate. I don’t like that answer. There has to be alternatives.

    I called them back recently and got a different vet in her practice – my regular vet is out for a time due to sick family member, and he couldn’t figure out why Nikki was on this dog food. He thinks it’s because of the food allergies. I ask him what food allergies and he can’t answer me. I thought she was on this food due to a sensitive stomach. So, I’m confused. I was also told to give her rice cakes as treats and tofu to give her any medications so that is all she has been getting. She can’t eat anything other than that is what she tells me and she pushes low protein which I’ve been reading may not be the answer. She’s been on this prescription diet for a few years and everything I’m reading now says that it might not be good to have a dog on that diet for so long. She’s been on and off antibiotics, anti bacterial pills, temaril p for years to help with her allergies and yeast infections. Nothing really seems to help and I’m worried I’ve just completely ruined her system with years of this. Purina HA has a low protein (18%) and fat content (8%) with hydrolyzed protein of soy. I honestly feel I can do better by her with a different dog food.

    About a year ago Nikki was diagnosed with Melanoma. A tumor on the pad of her paw that was removed (but not a clean removal). She has been taking the Melanoma Vaccine every 6 months. The cancer does not look to have come back so far. (knock on wood) She also has gallstones that don’t seem to bother her but do show up in x-rays. She has a heart murmur and Also, on her last urinalysis I was told there was protein in her urine. We did a protein/creatinene ratio and it came back ok, so I’m told I don’t need to worry about that right now.

    I’ve been researching dog food and supplements now for about 2 weeks and am now more confused than before. I purchased a probiotic from Nusentia (waiting to get it in the mail) that supposedly should help with her yeast issues and possibly allergies.

    Do I stay with her current food and just give supplements or do I completely switch foods over (slowly)?

    She’s 13 years old with a lot of health issues – I don’t want to rock the boat, but I also want to do my due diligence in finding her something to make her healthy and happy for the remainder of her life.

    Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. I may have left some things out and if so, I’d be happy to clarify.

    Kate

    TheyCallMeBT
    Participant

    Hi all. I’m having a hard time with my Bichon Frise. She’s 12 years old, 15 to 18 pounds. We’ve had her on Beneful original food for a while. At one point, her vet put her on a certain food (I forgot what it was) because it was the second time she had gotten surgery for bladder/ kidney stones and this had something in it to help with that. They were really bad stones, especially considering her size, with huge spikes.

    So we tried that food for a couple of weeks. She hated it so much and was hungry to the point that she went kind of wild eyed. It was pretty bad. After dealing with that, we talked to the vet again and he agreed that it was better for her to go back to what she liked rather than be hungry and have a horrible quality of life due to that.

    Fortunately, she hasn’t had trouble with the stones since then, which has been 2 or 3 years. We also switched her to bottled water only. So hopefully the tap water was the cause.

    In the past month, she started having pretty bad upset stomach problems. She also likes to have treats, or else she very finicky. Even with the Beneful– which she would pick out certain pieces that she liked. The treats we have given her are Pupperoni and something that looks like bacon strips.

    So a couple of weeks ago, we asked for advice and decided to try Royal Canin – Indoor Adult. We also completely cut out treats. She acted like she loved it at first. But I think she was just that hungry. Since then, she won’t eat it (without something in it) unless she gets really hungry by late in the day and knows that she’s not getting anything else. I have gone back to giving her a little piece of a treat and then she might eat the food with it. Or putting chicken in with it.

    So at 12, I know she’s at a point in her life where she might only have a year left– or could still live eight or more years. That depends a lot on her food being healthy AND her liking the food and actually eating. So I’ve got to find something that she will actually eat that tastes good to her.

    I appreciate any help you folks can give me. It’s frustrating when I know that she’s miserable and I can’t do anything to help.

    #18580

    In reply to: Urine Special Diet

    Hound Dog Mom
    Participant

    Hi jenfin –

    What you should feed your dog for stones can vary depending on the type of stone your dog has, without knowing it’s difficult for anyone to give you any specific recommendations.

    Here are some articles that you may find useful though:

    http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_4/features/Detecting-Urinary-Stones-Dogs_16215-1.html

    http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_5/features/Dogs-With-Kidney-Stones_16222-1.html

    http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_6/features/Kidney-Stones-Bladder-Stones_16231-1.html

    #18549
    jenfin
    Participant

    My Husky has balder stones and was put on Royal Canin IO – I previously fed her grain free Wellness Core Fish. I would like to find a better quality grain free food for the bladder stones longer term… any recommendations?

    #17873

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    Hound Dog Mom
    Participant

    Hi Srmeadow –

    Does your dog currently have stuvites or have they been dissolved? Does your dog currently have a urinary tract infection? Stuvites only require treatment if the dog has a UTI and having stuvites does not require being on a prescription food or low protein diet for life.

    —————————————————————

    From Merck’s Veterinary Manual:

    “Struvite crystals are commonly observed in canine and feline urine. Struvite crystalluria in dogs is not a problem unless there is a concurrent bacterial urinary tract infection with a urease-producing microbe. Without an infection, struvite crystals in dogs will not be associated with struvite urolith formation.”

    ———————————————————————

    An article on Struvites written by CJ Puotinen and Mary Straus published in Whole Dog Journal states:

    “Struvite crystals do not require a change in diet. Because struvite crystals do not pose a problem unless the dog has a urinary tract infection, there is no required treatment for crystals, including dietary changes. If the dog does have a urinary tract infection, a prescription dog food will not cure it.”

    “If your veterinarian finds struvite crystals in the urine and suggests a diet change, you’d be well advised to find a new vet. You have to wonder how many other things he or she is misinformed about. It isn’t just a case of not keeping up with newer research; this recommendation is just plain wrong.”

    “Dogs prone to forming struvite stones should not be kept on a special diet for life. Struvites almost always form because of infections, for which dogs with a history of stones should be closely monitored and properly treated. No long-term dietary change is required, nor will a special diet prevent the formation of infection-induced struvites. However, short-term changes may help speed the dissolution of stones.”

    “Low-protein diets do not prevent stone formation. A low-protein diet can speed the dissolution of struvite stones — when accompanied by appropriate antibiotic treatment — but it is not necessary for the prevention of struvite formation in dogs who are prone to this problem. For almost all dogs, controlling infections will prevent more stones from forming.”

    ———————————————————–

    To prevent the re-occurrence of struvites it’s recommended to do the following:

    -Closely monitor your dog’s urinary pH to detect UTIs (dogs should have a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0).

    -Supplement with cranberry capsules. Compounds found in cranberries help to prevent bacteria from attaching to the tissue that lines the bladder and urinary tract.

    -Supplement with probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria. A healthy population of beneficial bacteria in the dog’s system will help to combat any unhealthy bacteria (such as the bacteria that causes UTIs).

    -Vitamin C is often recommended for dogs prone to UTIs due to its antiiinflammatory properties.

    -Uva Ursi is an herb often used to treat UTIs due to its anti-bacteria properties. It should only be used intermittently for short periods of time.

    • This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.
    • This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.
    #17871
    Srmeadow
    Participant

    My mini Aussie has been diagnosed with struvite crystals. She is 9 months old. Vet prescribed Royan Canin Urinary SO dry dog food and my dog only ate it for a few days and then refused to eat it. Vet then gave me the canned dog food and she does like it much better. However, I’m struggling with the fact that she’s on canned dog food and the only alternative dry food I know of is Hills Science Diet urinary food. I’ve heard that just increasing water intake and occasionally feeding canned food is acceptable. My only worry is if she does develop stones, this will require surgery. I’m avoiding this at ALL costs even if it does mean feeding her a lower quality of food. I’m at a loss and don’t know what to believe. The vet says one thing and many internet forums say other things. I want to listen to my vet, but does my dog REALLY need to be on prescription dog food forever to avoid further bladder issues. Help! Thanks in advance.

    #17692

    In reply to: bladder stones

    pugmomsandy
    Participant

    I don’t have any advise for a diet for 3 types of stones (what are they?) but if you go the homemade route, be prepared to do frequent urine tests to make sure all is good. You can get urine pH strips and check for that yourself but will need to drop a sample off regulary to see how the crystal situation is going.

    #17687

    In reply to: bladder stones

    theBCnut
    Member

    If you are willing to go homemade, have your vet go to Balanceit . com and have a diet custom made for your dogs problems.

    #17662
    brittlestar02
    Participant

    hi I have a schnauzer bichon mix, I had to have an operation done on her to get bladder stones taken out. i have her on royal canin food a very expensive perscription diet. The vet said she has three different types of stones. is there any other type of food that will work to help her better than this diet she is still showing crystals in her urine.

    #15229
    janet5130
    Participant

    Hi there. I’m new to this site. I rescued a beagle/terrier/mix (maybe Jack Russel in her but must also be something bigger because she’s taller than a beagle and has a greyhound build) a few weeks ago named Sydney. Her foster was feeding her Purina Pro Plan Selects dry food and mixing in a tablespoon or so of wet Alpo canned food so I continued with this. I’ve noticed she scoots alot on the carpet and I see her licking her private area and butt and chews her paws sometimes. Her anal glands were expressed right before I adopted her so I don’t believe that is the issue. I also notice that when she does poo, it’s much more runnier than any dog I’ve had prior. I wouldn’t say it’s diarrhea but it’s mushy and you can’t really “pick it up” when she does it while I’m walking her.

    I had a beagle prior to this dog and fed her Iams Healthy Weight dry dog food which I now see on this site is not good. She developed bladder stones later in life. I had to put her down a few months ago as she had cancer. :o( I’ve heard that feeding all dry dog food can cause bladder stones but I’m not sure that is true. I’ve also heard that feeding a dog dry dog food helps keep their teeth clean but I find that hard to believe also, since nobody brushes their teeth with a cookie. ha!

    Anyway, sorry to go on and on…… My question is, bearing in mind that I’m not rich but I’m not exactly poor either, what would you all recommend I feed Sydney? I’m thinking of trying a grain-free food but there’s so much information on here I’m confused. I was thinking about Earthborn Holistic grain free but it is quite pricey. And then, I’m wondering, should I mix in some wet food also?

    Also, what about better quality treats and bones? My hubby keeps telling me to stop buying the Dingo bones because they are made in China and probably horrible but what else is there?

    Please educate me!

    Thanks,
    Janet

    #15223
    K6RBS
    Participant

    Our 6 year old pug has a history of struvite bladder stones and following surgery to remove them she spent a year on Canine C/D. She recently developed a UTI and while diagnosing that the vet found that she had stones again. He put her on antibiotics and Canine S/D (to try to dissolve the stones). When the lab tests came back they showed that the stones were actually calcium oxalate and therefore could not be dissolved. By then she was fully on the S/D food (which she loved). The following day she started vomiting, became lethargic and shows signs of severe distress.

    The diagnosis was pancreatitis, triggered by the high fat content of the S/D food.
    5 days (and many $$$$ later) she is slowly recovering and we need to find a food that is low in fat (< 10%) yet unlikely to add to the calcium oxalate stone problem.

    Ideas are welcome.

    Thanks.

    #14299
    Jackie B
    Member

    Prince Poodle had 2 UTI’s a couple years ago. Since I switched him to all wet/moist food (4 or 5 star rated only) and some homemade food (recipes from Feed Your Best Friend Better by Rick Woodford) and bought him a circulating pet fountain, the UTI’s have not returned. Definitely try that out. I just had him blood tested again (they tested him for diabetes after the 2nd UTI) and his blood tests has improved quite a bit.

    There is one type of rare bladder stone that does not appear on x-rays. When I took Prince in for his 1st UTI, my vet told me he had only removed 2 such stones in his whole career. And he has them in a baggy and showed them to me. 😛 I’m assuming your vet is aware of that and is investigating it.

    Solid Gold brand also makes a product called Berry Balance, for urinary health. Don’t use it at the same time as prescription dog food (I’d avoid most RX dog food if you can help it).

    #14265
    kyle6286
    Participant

    Hello,

    Our two and a half year old shih tzu started showing blood in his urine last night. My wife and I noticed this last night because there’s snow on the ground, so we immediately realized it when the snow was a little red. It’s not a lot of blood. Instead, he urinates fine for the most part, and then when he goes to squirt out the last few drops, it’s blood. We looked online and the most common cause of this is a UTI. We brought him to a vet today to be safe and she ran a urine analysis. Initially, the test came back negative for a UTI, but she was sending it out-of-house to get results. Not sure if they analyze the urine differently at a lab. Since our little guy isn’t showing any signs of pain, she said she wouldn’t worry about it. We had the option to wait until Wednesday for the lab results to come back and then go from there, but we were nervous so we had the x-ray done today. The x-ray came back fine, with no stones or anything, but she said the urine analysis could come back with a minor UTI or small bladder crystals which can turn into stones. If either of those happen, we will treat him accordingly. Our biggest concern about this is cancer. As I mentioned earlier, he’s less than three years old, and we’re terrified that something could be wrong. We’re nervous wrecks today, and we’re willing to do anything to make sure he is ok. Has anyone had any experience with this before? We appreciate your help.

    Kyle

    #14188
    danirobinson
    Participant

    I am so confused and asking for your help.

    To keep it short, my 7-year-old neutered male Pug was hospitalized for 3 days with urinary obstruction caused from a UTI and struvite crystals. He was being treated (x10 days) for a UTI (positive UA, negative culture) by our regular vet when he became obstructed on a weekend and we had to go to the animal ER. He received aggressive irrigation of his bladder and no stones were obtained, but massive amounts of sediment and crystals were irrigated. X-ray and ultrasound do not show stones. Lab analysis only identifies struvite crystals. His UA showed bacteria and WBCs, culture was again negative. He received a 10-day course of Clavamox and is now on a 10-day course of Baytril.

    The vet is insistent on feeding him Royal Canin Urinary SO. I would like your thoughts on this.

    Thank you.

    #12451
    Hound Dog Mom
    Participant

    What type of stones did your dog have?

    asmit49
    Participant

    Our Min Pin Bandi, 8 years old. He was on Prescription Diet W/D his whole life. Never had health issues until he was diagnosed with bladder stones about 3 years ago. He had the surgery to remove them and turns out they were the kind that can be treated with the right kind of food, so they put him on Urinary SO by Royal Canine. He did fine with the food. A few months later we did another X-ray to see if he had anymore stones and he did not. However, they did find a herniated disc in his back. They put him on oral Prednisone to help with this issue. On Day 20 he developed an acute attack of Pancreatitis and almost died. After 2 weeks in the hospital, he pulled through. The doc suggested we put him on a low-fat food to get his diet right to keep the pancreatitis from returning because he couldn’t say 100% if the pancreatitis was from the new food, Urinary SO, or the Prednisone. So, he was put on Royal Canine Gastrointestinal Low-Fat. A few months later, peeing blood, took him in…more bladder stones. Had bladder stone removal surgery #2 and switched him back to the Urinary SO to prevent more stones. Several months later, he had another attack of pancreatitis. The only weird he did right before this was eat an apple he stole from my toddler. This time not as severe as the first because I brought him straight in. He recovered. Food was swapped AGAIN because the vet didn’t know if the apple or the SO food caused the pancreatitis so back to the Low-Fat Gastrointestinal, because the doc said Pancreatitis was more life threathening than the stones and we needed to focus on that. Well, he we are a few months later and last night he couldn’t urinate…took him to the emergency vet, said he had 20 stones in his bladder, 1 blocking his urine flow, and 2 in his penis. So, back to the vet this morning for his 3rd bladder stone removal surgery. Needless to say we are at our wits in with our baby Bandit. The thousands of dollars we have spent are insane, but he is our baby and not helping him is not an option. So…my question is…is there an answer for a dog who is suseptible to both Pancreatitis AND bladder stones??? No one seems to have an answer for us. Multiple vets have called the food manufacturers who don’t even have answers. If anyonr has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you soo much!!!

    #12243
    flovlt
    Participant

    Thanks everyone ? We are adjusting and doing things a bit more in line with better health in mind for our little one. Thank you to all. flovlt

    #12217
    Jackie B
    Member

    Dogs have different reasons for forming bladder stones. You need to figure out what type your pup had so you can choose a food that is low in the mineral that contributed to the formation. Also I recommend feeding exclusively wet or moist food, and getting a circulating pet fountain. The more moisture moving through the system, the better urinary health.

    #12152
    Hound Dog Mom
    Participant

    Hi sisu –

    I don’t think dog food manufacturers “over state” the amount that should be fed to sell more product. I’ve actually had the opposite experience – my dogs generally eat much more than what’s recommended on feeding charts. There’s no standard when it comes to how much a dog should eat as there are so many variables, so most feeding charts are just a ball park figure. According to SD’s feeding chart a 70 lb. dog should eat about 4 cups a day @ 413 kcal. per cup that’s only 1,652 kcal. per day – my 70 lb. female eats 2,500 kcal. per day.

    #12122
    aimee
    Participant

    Hi Flovlt,

    This link may be helpful.

    http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=587755&sk=&date=&&pageID=1

    You didn’t say what stone type your dog had but this covers the most common types.

    #12073
    sisu
    Participant

    Science Diet CD has 413 calories per cup. According to their feeding chart a 10 lb. dog should receive 3/4 to 1 cup per day. Dog food manufacturers often over state the amount that should be fed to sell more product. For example, my 15 – 16 lb. dogs get a little less to a level cup of a food that is 415 calories per cup. Feed 1/4 cup twice a day and the weight should come off.

    Link to previous DFA review and discussion of Science Diet CD.
    /dog-food-reviews/hills-prescription-diet-cd-canine-dry/

    Hills Science Diet site with nutrition, feeding and calorie information:
    http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-cd-canine-urinary-tract-health-dry.html

    flovlt
    Participant

    We have been feeding our dog Science Diet C/D since her stones were removed. I really think this food has a lot of junk in it. Does anyone have any advice for me. My vet seems to steer all his patients to prescription brands of food that he sells. My dog has gained so much weight on this. His answer was to feed less 1/4 cup twice a day. She was a 9lb. when she started on this now she is pushing 14. Oh when we started her on c/d we were told to give 1 1/2 to 2 cups per day. Any ideas would be a great help. Thank you

    #11211

    In reply to: ringworm

    Jackie B
    Member

    It is difficult to transfer cats to wet food, but really it is better for them in the end. Male cats are prone to bladder stones and can get urinary tract obstructions, especially if they only eat dry food. My friend’s cat had to have surgery on his urethra– he was an all dry food cat. A circulating pet water fountain can encourage cats and dogs to drink more. Although it doesn’t help with supplements.

    #10806

    In reply to: prescription dog food

    Hound Dog Mom
    Participant

    dowsky –

    U/D and C/D are dog therapeutic foods manufactured by Hill’s Science Diet available with a prescription only. U/D is designed to promote non-stuvite urinary tract health and c/d has reduced levels of protein, magnesium and phosphorus to help limit the formation crystals and bladder stones.

Viewing 47 results - 351 through 397 (of 397 total)