Search Results for 'cranberry'

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  • Richard D
    Participant

    Hi all,

    First post here. Hoping for some advice regarding what I have been feeding my 6 month old large breed puppy (Bernese cross) since we got her at 9 weeks.

    I did a lot of research beforehand and concluded that I was aiming for:

    1.2% or less of calcium
    Calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:1 to 1.4:1
    Calories 3500/4000 per kg
    Protein of around 30%

    I wanted something with high quality meat ingredients and less carbs.

    We settled on Akela wholeprey, mixing both there chicken and salmon recipes 50/50 (listed below)

    Chicken:

    Freshly Prepared Chicken 80%, Sweet Potato 15%, Minerals, Chicken Stock 1%, Potato Fibre 0.7%, Linseed, Lucerne, Lentils, Tapioca, Chickpeas, Dried Egg, Glucosamine (1140 mg/kg), MSM (1140 mg/kg), Chondroitin Sulphate (800 mg/kg), Pre-Biotic FOS, Coconut Oil, Organic Dried Carrot, Organic Dried Pumpkin, Organic Dried Spinach, Aniseed, Fenugreek, Dried Seaweed, Dried Marigold, Dried Apple, Dried Camomile, Dried Dandelion, Dried Pear, Dried Peppermint, Yucca Extract, Dried Bilberry, Burdock Root, Dried Garlic 0.004%, Organic Honey, Dried Rosehips.

    Typical Analysis
    Protein 29.0%, Fat 17.0%, Fibre 3.0%, Ash 10.0%, Moisture 8.0%, Calcium 1.00%, Phosphorus 0.70%, Omega3 0.50%, Omega6 4.50%.

    3790kcal/kg

    Nutritional additives (per kg)
    Vitamin a 14423 IU, Vitamin D3 1923 IU, Vitamin E 96 IU, Zinc (Zinc Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 48mg, Iron (Iron II Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 48mg, Manganese (Manganese Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 34mg, Copper (Copper II Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 12mg, Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 0.96 mg, Selenium (Organic Selenium S. Cerevisiae Cncm I-3060) 0.17mg.

    Salmon:

    Freshly Prepared Salmon (61%), Dehydrated Salmon (15%), Sweet Potato (12%), Tapioca (6%), Salmon Oil (3%), Salmon Stock (1%), Chickpeas, Coconut Oil, Alfalfa/Lucerne, Linseed, Lentils, Vitamins & Minerals
    Prebiotic FOS (1900 mg/kg), Organic Spinach, Organic Pumpkin, Dried Cranberry, Dried Apple, Green Lipped Mussel, Seaweed, Joint Support [Glucosamine (1000 mg/kg), MSM (1000 mg/kg), Chondroitin Sulphate (700 mg/kg)], Yucca Schidigera Extract, Camomile, Marigold, Aniseed & Fenugreek, Peppermint, Dried Dandelion, Dried Pear, Blueberry, Fennel, Organic Honey <0.0001%, Burdock Root Powder, Rosehips, Garlic Powder <0.0001%.

    ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS:

    Protein: 34.5%
    Oils & Fats: 17%
    Fibre: 1.5%
    Ash: 9.5%
    Calcium: 1.4%
    Phosphorous: 0.9%
    Omega 6: 1.1%
    Omega 3: 4.7%
    Moisture: 8.5%
    NFE: 29%
    Metabolisable Energy: 367Kcal/100g
    Copper: 14.42mg/Kg
    Theoretical values: Sodium (Salt) 0.59%* Potassium 0.57%*, Copper: 20.4 mg/kg*

    NUTRITIONAL ADDITIVES:

    Vitamins: Vitamin A (retinyl acetate) 14,400 IU, Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 2,165 IU, Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) 95 mg; Trace Elements: Ferrous Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate 320mg, Manganous Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate 224mg. Sulphate Monohydrate 133.5mg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 105mg, Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate 58mg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 1.58mg, Sodium Selenite 0.64mg; Technological Additives: Enterococcus faecium cernelle 68 (SF68; NCIMB 10415) 1,000,000,000cfu

    So we switched from Royal canin Maxi puppy that she was weaned onto to the Akela. Her poo, energy, coat and everything has been great.

    We have noticed that when running though, she is hopping slightly on one leg.

    Could anything about the food contribute to something orthopedic?

    When mixed 50/50 the foods give:

    1.2% calcium
    0.8% phosphorus
    Vit D3 around 2000iu per kg
    Protein 32%
    Kcals 3730 per kg

    Any advice greatly appreciated

    #186559
    Belle N
    Participant

    I’ve been sourcing high and low but good ones with lesser worrying ingredients are so hard to obtain in my country…

    But I happened to chance upon a newly formed local brand which the ingredients list looked good, other than the beet pulp.

    Just want to check if anyone has feedback on the ingredient list.

    They have 2 options:

    1) Journey Premium Ingredients

    Brown Rice, Fish (Salmon, Cod Fish, Mackerel, Sardine, Tuna), Beet Pulp, DHA/EPA from Cod and Salmon, Hydrolyzed Fish (Amino Acid and Collagen), Sweet Potato, Apple, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cranberry, Tomato, Yam Tuber, Burdock, Sesame, Glucosamine, Essential Minerals & Chelated Minerals, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, D3, E, H2), Flaxseed, Egg (Lecithin), Spirulina, FOS, MOS, Yucca Extract, Fruit Enzyme (Papaya/Pineapple Extract), Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bacillus Subtilis Natto, Natural Antioxidants, Calendula Extract (Lutein).

    Guaranteed Analysis
    • Crude Protein 22%
    • Crude Fat 13%
    • Crude Fiber 4%
    • Omega 3 Fatty Acids 1.2%
    • Omega 6 Fatty Acids 3.5%
    • Moisture 9%
    • Calcium 1%
    • Phosphorus 0.8%

    2) Dazzle Premium Ingredients:

    Brown Rice, Fish (Salmon, Cod Fish, Mackerel, Sardine, Tuna), Beet Pulp, DHA/EPA from Cod and Salmon), Hydrolyzed Fish (Amino Acid and Collagen), Sweet Potato, Apple, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cranberry, Yam Tuber, Burdock, Essential Minerals & Chelated Minerals, Sea Kelp, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, D3, E, H2), Flaxseed, Egg (Lecithin), Spirulina, FOS, MOS, Yucca Extract, Fruit Enzyme (Papaya/Pineapple Extract), Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bacillus Subtilis Natto, Natural Antioxidants, Calendula Extract (Lutein).

    Guaranteed Analysis
    -Crude Protein 24%
    -Crude Fat 14%
    -Crude Fiber 4%
    -Omega 3 Fatty Acids 1.2%
    -Omega 6 Fatty Acids 3.5%
    -Moisture 9%
    -Calcium 1%
    -Phosphorus 0

    Thank you!!!! Really appreciate it. The limited kibbles option has been bothering me for many weeks.

    #178006
    nicole E
    Participant

    Hi All,

    My 5 month old Vizsla had a bladder infection. We found this out because he was peeing while he slept. We were able to get him in 3 weeks of antibiotics which cleared his urine of any infection. We tested him again due to incontinence and he has a 9 PH.

    We put him in hills for 4 weeks with no change.

    We are now introducing cornucopia wet foods as well as glucsocamine and cranberry supplements.

    It’s been 4 days and he is still peeing while he sleeps. I know I should probably give it more time… but I’m worried about stones or an ectopic ureter. Does anyone have any experience with this! I don’t want to over supplement him either. I just think an ultrasound/x ray will rule some more serious things out. I don’t even know how much they cost … I’m sure it’s expensive but this poor little guy is not improving!

    Thanks for any comments or advice!

    #159127
    Joyce B
    Participant

    There is something in the diet causing this. A dog that is up all night gulping and licking is being fed wrong. Please try a single protein and carb. If the reflux calms down then stick with that for life, forget variety. If it doesn’t calm down, change it to another protein and carb. Don’t deviate, even with treats, until you get to the culprit. Those berries might not be helping either, I have one dog that got acid reflux from a cranberry supplement (among other things). Be patient and good luck!

    #155437
    Lindsy O
    Participant

    Hi all, I have a 10 month old black lab/retriever mix who had a bladder infection about 2 months ago. After antibiotics, it was found he had crystals in his urine.

    My vet put him on Royal Canine Urinary S/O and it has been nothing but problems since. He is always starving, he stinks (I bath him almost every second day to keep the stench away), he is always peeing and drinking excessive amounts of water.
    We have his mother, who was on the gastro Royal Canine and was not doing well on it (not gaining weight). We switched her to blue buffalo dog food (it is a non dairy, no gluten more “holistic” dog food), and she has been thriving on it. We have been feeding her the recommended amount for her targeted weight and she looks so healthy, and with the royal canine brand she was so thin, you could feel her spine. She did not look healthy when she was on it, and he does not look healthy right now either. It looks like we do not feed him because he is so thin! When he reality, he is suppose to be eating 3 1/2 cups of food a day, and we have him on 6 to try and get his weight up.

    I have been trying to convince our vet to let us try another brand of urinanry food, as we cannot get one without her consent, and she won’t (she sells the royal canine and only the royal canine). When she told us our girl needed to gain weight, I asked if we could try another dog food and she got snippy and said “Just feed her more, she’s a hard to keep dog”.

    My question here is, I don’t think the royal canine is working well for my dogs. He is always starving, to the point he starting eating her feces to get more nutrients. If I were to switch to a brand that is not meant for urinary problems, is there anything I can do to try and prevent crystals? At this point, he has figured out how to get the garbage can over because he knows there is food in there, and he is starving all the time. He is a little ninja, and he is eating food other then the special urinary blend from the vet. She has told us we just need to put the garbage can away (we have no where else to put it), “watch him better” etc etc.

    I Should also mention, when he had the crystals we were living in a house with very very hard water. We have since moved to a town with a special water filtration system for the taps.

    I have seen tips on soaking the food in water, and getting cranberry supplements. I wanted to try the blue buffalo with him, and then bring him in for a urinary test in a month to see if he still had the crystals. Any other tips??

    #150650
    Patricia A
    Participant

    Natures Logic has a Distinction line with singular protein. Example below.
    Ingredients
    Sardine, Sardine Meal, Millet, Herring Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Yeast Culture, Pumpkin Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Dried Kale, Dried Kelp, Spray Dried Porcine Plasma, Dried Tomato, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Apple, Dried Carrot, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberry, Dried Apricot, Dried Spinach, Dried Broccoli, Dried Parsley, Dried Cranberry, Dried Artichoke, Dried Mushrooms, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidium Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract.

    #132269

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    Melanie O
    Member

    Hello,

    I also have a dog that was just diagnosed with struvite crystals and the vet told me I had to put her on Royal Canin SO food indefinitely to dissolve the crystals and lower the PH of her urine.
    I cannot afford this. I buy her the best dog food I can, I read the ingredients of each bag to make sure I am getting a food that doesn’t have a lot of garbage in it – ultimately ending up in my spending about 36.00 a bag. This is at the high end of my budget and the royal canin, for a smaller bag is going to cost me double that.

    I am looking for alternatives to reducing the ph in her urine as well as dissolving the crystals. Nothing in her bladder, there was a tiny bit of bacteria but no blood. I was thinking of getting cranberry relief chews for her to help with infection but how do i dissolve the crystals in her urine and/or reduce the ph? I was going through a lot of the posts but there are so many I thought I would just go about it this way. You all are such a wealth of information I can’t wait to hear from you!

    #131473
    Hannah S
    Member

    I realize I am a little late to this conversation. I hope you have found a good food for your dog by now that helps prevent urinary stones. I just wanted to add that you can buy a potassium citrate and cranberry supplement called K-Plus that is a chewable tablet given twice a day. I buy it from Chewy, and it’s less than $20 for 100 tablets. We have 2 Maltese (had 3, but one passed a few months ago) that are prone to stones. The one that passed was a male, which made it that much worse. He had 4-5 surgeries over the last 7 years for stones. The vet eventually did a urethostomy to allow stones to pass more freely. She prescribed potassium citrate to help dissolve kidney stones. We were buying it from the pharmacy with a prescription at first, which was very expensive. Then I found these cranberry/potassium citrate tablets on chewy. They are a LOT less expensive and do seem to help prevent stones. This might be something you want to look into. Our dogs are small, so they only take half of a tablet twice a day. They eat it with no problem. I guess the cranberry gives it enough flavor for them to like it. They were also on the Royal Canin SO for a long time, and it seem to work well. However, one of the girls now has an enlarged heart. The SO works by encouraging them to drink more water by increasing sodium content. It’s not enough to harm most dogs, but bc of her heart condition, they changed her to Hill’s c/d. Apparently it helps to dissolve stones without the added sodium. Now we are making another change. The oldest of the two (she’s the mom to the other) has had bloody stool lately, so we are trying the Royal Canin gastro diet. I’m worried about the possibility of the forming stones after taking them off of the urinary care food, but I guess in her older age (she’s 12), she needs something more palatable. If any of you have any suggestions as far as any other foods that might be better, I’m all ears! Thanks so much! Hope your fur babies are all doing well!

    anonymous
    Member

    No.
    Have you checked the internet for prices? As long as your vet okays it you don’t have to buy it from him.

    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/07/more-nonsense-from-holistic-vets-about-commercial-therapeutic-diets/
    Copied from a previous post:
    Also, if the dog is overweight, get the extra weight off, increase walks/exercise/activity.
    Work closely with your vet, when the dog has been stable 6 months to 1 year then you can talk about diet changes.
    “Dogs that get urinary tract infections and bladder stones tend to have a genetic predisposition, combine that with not enough water intake, not enough opportunities to urinate and you have a problem”.
    “Whatever you decide to feed, add water to the kibble or canned food, even presoak and add water. Take out to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to bladder stone formation”.
    “Always have fresh water available for the dog 24/7”.
    “Supplements are crap, don’t waste your money unless your vet recommends something specific for your dog”.
    Ps: You think the prescription food is expensive. Try emergency surgery for a blocked urethra.
    Been there, done that.
    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry
    Also there are prescription meds for stubborn cases, talk to your vet.
    Was an ultrasound done? Dogs can have more than one type of stone, such as calcium oxalate and struvite…that was the case with my dog that had reoccurring UTIs.
    This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.
    PS: Note recent question on struvite in comments: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/09/science-based-veterinary-nutrition-success-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-121266
    Good luck

    #129524

    In reply to: Crystals in Dog Urine

    anonymous
    Member

    https://bichonhealth.org/kidneysbladder/management-of-bichons-with-urinary-stones/

    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/07/more-nonsense-from-holistic-vets-about-commercial-therapeutic-diets/

    Copied from a previous post:
    Also, if the dog is overweight, get the extra weight off, increase walks/exercise/activity.
    Work closely with your vet, when the dog has been stable 6 months to 1 year then you can talk about diet changes.
    “Dogs that get urinary tract infections and bladder stones tend to have a genetic predisposition, combine that with not enough water intake, not enough opportunities to urinate and you have a problem”.
    “Whatever you decide to feed, add water to the kibble or canned food, even presoak and add water. Take out to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to bladder stone formation”.
    “Always have fresh water available for the dog 24/7”.
    “Supplements are crap, don’t waste your money unless your vet recommends something specific for your dog”.
    Ps: You think the prescription food is expensive. Try emergency surgery for a blocked urethra.
    Been there, done that.
    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry
    Also there are prescription meds for stubborn cases, talk to your vet.
    Was an ultrasound done? Dogs can have more than one type of stone, such as calcium oxalate and struvite…that was the case with my dog that had reoccurring UTIs.
    This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.
    PS: Note recent question on struvite in comments: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/09/science-based-veterinary-nutrition-success-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-121266
    Good luck

    #128367
    Fanette R
    Member

    Hello,

    My dog has been diagnosed from IBD for over a year now, and from Pancreatitis for almost 2 years. His diet has been manageable before his IBD but since his IBD I have been trying different kind of food, and even though he is doing so much better than he was a year ago, I know that his current diet isn’t perfect still.

    I’ve tried homemade food, my vet and holistic vet are all about raw and homecooked food, but with Furby’s situation and after trying a several time, that this isn’t working for him at the moment. He cannot have too much carbs, because of his pancreatitis current situation, or too much starched veggies, and he needs low fat meats or fish. So basically, he would need a green veggie / low fat meat diet, which would result in so much quantity for him to eat each day so he can have enough calories out of it. We’ve tried, and tried again, giving him 7-8 meals a day to see if this would help, but it doesn’t. His stomach cannot take that amount of food for now.
    So, even my vets that are pro raw and homecooked diet, told me that we should look into dog food at the moment, and maybe try to go back to homecooked or even raw later on.
    So first of all, please don’t message me to say that yes, he needs a homecooked or raw diet, because trust me I’ve tried everything, for months.

    I’m in France so I don’t have the same products as people who are based in the US, so I made a lot of researches to find food that seems pretty good quality, and that are low fat, grain-free and with only a tiny bit, or not at all, starches.
    Now, I’m wondering if I can write the composition and info right so you guys tell me your thoughts about it ?

    Brand : Terra Cannis
    Dry food :
    Canireo is the first dry food in the specialist retail trade made from 100% certified food-grade ingredients, based on pure fresh meat, with 64% muscle meat and grain-free. This unique quality distinguishes it from all other dry pet foods.

    We absolutely do not use meat-, bone-, fish- or feather flour. The flours typically used for dry food are usually made of “category 3 material” (waste material that is not approved for human consumption) and are in no way comparable with food-grade ingredients in terms of quality. Another aspect that makes Canireo stand out is that it is made exclusively with fresh meat – 64% fresh muscle meat and 1% fresh liver. Furthermore, it is not cold pressed or extruded, but naturally baked until crisp. All the aspects that we have this far considered critical for dry food are thus optimised.

    The result is a natural, crispy baked dry food of uncompromising quality. The 100% food-grade ingredients, the exclusive use of fresh meat, the high muscle meat content of 64%, and the valuable coconut flour make Canireo unique. Not using grains, and instead using plenty of healthy vegetables, fruit, and herbs, as well as all-natural nutritional supplements, make Canireo a natural dry food that is truly appropriate for the species.
    Link to the product : https://www.terracanis.co.uk/canireo-trockenfutter-wild.html

    Product : Canireo dry food, game
    Composition
    Fresh venison muscle meat (64%), potato flakes* (15%), coconut flour (5%), apple* (2%), brewer’s yeast*, parsnip* (1.67%), carrots* (1.52%), courgette* (1.44%), celery* (1.2%), fresh venison liver (1%), powdered eggshell (1%), pumpkin* (0.8%), linseed, apricots* (0.5%), fenugreek (0.4%), parsley root* (0.4%), rapeseed flour, mineral earth, spinach (0.16%), seaweed*, dandelion* (0.1%), rose hip* (0.1%), chamomile* (0.1%), rosemary*, thyme*
    *dried

    Analytic Constituents
    Protein: 29.4%, fat content: 12.5%, crude fibre: 2.8%, crude ash: 5.1%, moisture: 3.7%
    MJ/kg: 15.5

    2nd Product : Canireo dry food, chicken
    Composition
    Fresh chicken muscle meat (64%), potato flakes* (15%), coconut flour (5%), apricots* (2%), carrots* (1.5%), courgette* (1.4%), celery* (1.2%), fresh poultry liver (1%), brewer’s yeast (1%), linseeds (1%), apple* (0.9%), pumpkin* (0.8%), parsnip* (0.8%), powdered eggshell (0.7%), beetroot* (0.5%), mineral earth (0.5%), parsley root* (0.4%), fenugreek (0.4 %), rapeseed flour (0.4%), dandelion* (0.3%), rose hip* (0.3%), chamomile* (0.2%), chokeberries* (0.2%), spinach (0.2%), seaweed* (0.1%), rosemary* (0.1%), thyme* (0.1%)
    *dried

    Analytic Constituents
    Protein: 29.2%, fat content: 12%, crude fibre: 2.4%, crude ash: 4.9%, moisture: 4.7%
    MJ/kg: 15.4
    Link to the product : https://www.terracanis.co.uk/canireo-trockenfutter-huhn.html
    ————————————————————

    2nd Brand : Herzens Hund
    Product : Organic Sheep meat & Organic Zucchini (wet food)
    This complete feed for dogs “Bio Sheep meat & Bio Zucchinic” consists only of natural organic ingredients. It is consistently produced without binding substance, without synthetic vitamins, flavour intensifiers and without any kind of additives. In such a way, fruits and vegetables used in are not contaminated with pesticides and the meat comes from a species-appropriate attitude.

    Apricot consist of beta-carotin, which turns into Vitamin A in organism. Vitamin A is an important nutritive substance for eyes. Apricots are rich in fiber, which stimulate bowels work and improve toxins removing.
    INGREDIENTS
    Organic sheep (72%)Organic zucchini (17%)Organic buckwheat (4%)Organic salad (3%)Organic apple (2%)Organic linseed oil (1%)Organic apricot (1%)
    ADDITIVES
    Phosphorus (1271 mg/kg)Calcium (169 mg/kg)
    ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS
    Moisture : 84.3%, Crude protein : 7.4%, Crude fiber : 1.3%, Crude ash : 0.8%
    Crude fat 0.7%

    2nd Product : Horse meat & Organic Pumpkin
    INGREDIENTS
    Horse (70%)Organic amaranth (16%)Organic pumpkin (13%)Organic evening primrose oil (1%)
    ADDITIVES
    Phosphorus (1443 mg/kg)Calcium (786 mg/kg)
    ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS
    Moisture : 73.3%, Crude protein7.5%, Crude fat : 2.4%, Crude fiber : 1.1%
    Crude ash 1%

    —————————————-

    Herrmann’s Dog Food :
    Product : Venison with Apple & Amaranth
    Composition: 50 % deer (60 % muscle meat, 25 % heart, 10 % lung, 5 % liver), courgette*, 8 % apple*, 6 % amaranth*, linseed oil*, eggshell powder* – *organic – 50 % from organic ingredients
    Analytical Constituents : moisture: 76.36 %, crude protein: 12.1 %, crude fat: 4.0 %, crude fiber: 1.0 %, crude ash: 1.2 %

    2nd Product : Venison with Sweet Potato
    Composition:
    50% vension (60% muscle meat, 25% heart, 10% lung and 5% liver), 25% sweet potato*
    fruits* (berry-mix), linseed oil* *-organic – 50% from organic
    Analytical Constituents : crude protein 8,40% crude fat 2,80% crude fiber 1,60% crude ash 1,30% moisture 78,90%

    3rd Product : Venison with pumpkin, quinoa and cranberry
    Composition:
    50% deer (60% muscle meat, 25% heart, 10% lung and 5% liver), 12% pumpkin*, 8% quinoa*, fruits* (berry-mix), eggshell powder*, *-organic, 50% organic
    Analytical Constituents :
    Moisture : 77.77%, Crude protein : 12.46%, Crude fat : 2.8%, Crude fiber : 1.03%
    Crude ash : 0.87%, Calcium : 0.03%, Phosphorus : 0.03%

    ———————————————–

    My holistic vet looked at all of them and the one that seems the best to her was the one from Herrmann’s : Venaison, Apple & Amaranth.
    But after being back home from my appointment I got quite confused and I wanted to talk to you guys about it. She said that the other ones weren’t good enough especially because the amount of protein wasn’t high enough. She told me that to her it should be at least 10% of protein on the wet matter basis for wet food. But if I calculate correctly dry matter basis, a product like the one from Herzens Hund (Sheep & Zucchino), has 7.4% of crude protein on a wet matter basis but has around 47% of protein on dry matter basis (if I do the calculation right), which should be a good amount right ?
    So I’m quite confused about that;

    She doesn’t know those brands so it’s tricky for her. I wanted to try the brand that she does know, which is an amazing local company that does amazing products, but their fat content for their wet food are around 6,4% on wet matter basis, and I made the calculation from the moisture and it’s about 27% of fat on dry matter basis which seems way too much for my dog. But my vet said that in those formulas there were no starch, no grain, so nothing that usually irritate my dog’s pancreas. So in this case the fat content could be higher and find for Furby. Which kind of make sense, maybe the reason why it has to be so low fat usually for dogs with pancreatitis is because most of those products are full of starch. But I still wanted to talk to you guys about it before making any changes.

    Have a great day and so sorry about that huge message!
    Fanette

    #123308
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Tanya,

    if she is throwing up I would take the vet food back to vet office for a refund or exchange, tell receptionist what is happening & can you try a different brand WET vet diet, the receptionist will go & see vet & ask him, you shouldn’t have to pay again for another vet visit..
    ask can you try the Hill i/d™ Low Fat Canine Rice, Vegetable & Chicken formula,
    it Reduces risk of urinary stone formation, has OK ingredients & is LOW in fat, Shih Tzu are prone to pancreatitis, I wouldnt be feeding a 10 yr old a high fat diet maybe the vet diet she is eating is high in fat or she could be vomiting cause she has only ever been fed the one food her whole life, I always recommend to rotate between a few different brands so immune system strengthens, plus some dry dog foods are high in toxins, heavy metals & contaminates especially the fish dry foods..
    Here’s the Hill I/d vet diet to try just till you work out what your doing & stop her vomiting.
    https://www.hillspet.com.au/dog-food/pd-id-low-fat-canine-rice-vegetable-and-chicken-stew-canned#accordion-content-400284275-0

    Which vet diet was she put on
    Royal Canine S/O Urinary wet & dry or
    Hills C/d Multicare wet & dry formula’s?

    She should be on a wet vet diet not a dry vet diet…

    I’d be contacting a Vet Nutrionist & ask about making a home made balanced wet diet, or you can contact “Balance It” they have nutritionist who prepare special diets & you add Balance it powder to balance diet.
    https://secure.balanceit.com/index.php?rotator=Front

    also are you adding Vitamin C Powder to diet?
    http://web-dvm.net/vitamin-c-for-prevention-of-chronic-urinary-tract-infections-in-dogs/

    Have a look at “D-Mannose” Pure Powder alot of people say its really good you also add cranberry powder aswell.
    https://www.nowfoods.com/supplements/d-mannose-powder

    Here’s a good link explaining how low protein isnt needed.
    https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_4/features/Detecting-Urinary-Stones-Dogs_16215-1.html

    Here’s a good face book group to join you dont have to feed raw or cooked but will get some good advise, “Raw & Holistic Cat & Dog Support Group”
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411906099101822/

    Also follow “Dr Judy Morgan”
    look thru her video’s link below,
    I’m pretty sure her 17 yr old dog has urinary problems & she cooks for him, her recipes are very easy. Even if you feed 1/2 cooked diet & another food…
    https://www.facebook.com/pg/JudyMorganDVM/videos/?ref=page_internal

    also here’s “Just For Dogs” special diets
    https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/

    #123138
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Tara,
    TOTW is a high Legume diet, I’ve been seeing alot of dogs on f/b groups & on DFA, dogs that were eating Zignature who were feed a high legume diet they keep having UTI’s…
    Look for a Potato, Sweet Potato, Oats, Rice food that has NO Lentils or Chickpeas…

    Also stop feeding any fish pet foods as fish is the worse dog food for Heavy Metals, Toxins & Contaminates.. The TOTW Pacific Stream has been in the top 10 worse dry foods high in heavy meatals for the last 1 & 1/2 yrs…. 299 dry dog foods are tested every 3 months & TOTW Salmon & TOTW High Prairie formula’s have both stayed in the bad top 10 dry dog foods…
    Change her food to a different brand, feed more of a wet diet then dry diet…
    Can you cook or feed a raw diet instead of a dry diet?? wet diet would be heaps better then a dry diet even when you add water its still a dry process diet full of toxins….

    Have you tried D-mannose??
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27424995

    D-Mannose has been known to disrupt the ability of e-coli bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. It is derived from mannose, which is a sugar molecule (binding). Some have reported combining cranberry with a dosage of D-Mannose and have seen great improvements in their dogs’ urinary tract conditions.

    Also Vitamin C has been known to help stengthen immune system & help with Urinary tratc problems..
    http://web-dvm.net/vitamin-c-for-prevention-of-chronic-urinary-tract-infections-in-dogs/

    #123128
    Tara M
    Member

    Hello all. I have an 8 year old spayed female pitbull with consistent recurrent UTI’s. X-rays are always negative. She’s on cranberry supplements as well as multiple immune support supplements. She eats Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Salmon recipe dog food (she also has allergies and salmon was recommended for thi). A friend who is very into the dog show world mentioned today that she thinks the fish-based dog food is what is causing my dog’s UTI’s and that I should change it to one of the more novel proteins such as kangaroo. Has anyone else heard of fish-based dog foods causing UTI issues? I can’t find anything about it anywhere online but she says that everyone in the breeding/dog show world will NOT feed their dogs primarily fish-based diets for this reason.

    #120339
    Laura R
    Member

    Hello everyone,
    The vet tried to cath him to take a sterile sample but my dog would not allow that without sedation. He has an MDR1 mutation which makes many drugs toxic to him so we did not risk sedating him to do that. So, YES, we have seen the vet MULTIPLE times and NO we have not done a sterile sample.

    He is on cranberry pills, Nutramax Crananidin.

    We did add a teaspoon of broth to his water yesterday, and that did encourage him to drink. Even when he is out in summer heat running around and is visibly hot, he does not like to drink water.

    So, I do believe this is a product of not drinking enough, and really the underlying “problem” is lack of thirst. Can someone please tell me why a dog would not want to drink? I have had dogs all my life and never had this problem.

    Thank you,
    L

    #120332
    joanne l
    Member

    HI, Laura have you ask the vet about cranberry pills for dogs? That may help. I think also you should try the food Susan suggested the Royal Canine prescription diet. I hope your dog gets better.

    #118593
    Chloe B
    Member

    Just looking for some more opinions on dog food. I’ve found one called Canagan which I think is pretty good, but I’d like to hear what you guys think of it. I’ve heard that sweet potato can lead to bladder stones in dogs, but I’m not sure if there’s any truth to it? It’s just really hard to find a decent dog food over here.

    Ingredients:

    Freshly Prepared Deboned Duck (16%), Dried Duck (12.5%), Sweet Potato, Dried Herring (8.5%), Freshly Prepared Deboned Venison (7.5%), Peas, Potato, Turkey Fat (5%), Dried Rabbit (4%), Dried Venison (4%), Dried Egg (3.75%), Alfalfa, Pea Protein, Salmon Oil (2.25%), Chicken Gravy (1.5%), Potato Protein, Minerals, Vitamins, Apple, Carrot, Spinach, Seaweed, Fructooligosaccharides, Psyllium, Camomile, Peppermint, Marigold, Cranberry, Aniseed & Fenugreek.

    This is also their website: https://www.canagan.co.uk/dog-food/dry-dog-food.html
    Thank you so much everyone.

    Marjorie M
    Member

    I’m at my wit’s end! My 11 year old female dog was recently diagnosed with a struvite bladder stone (felt, not X-rayed). The vet told me 6 months on canned Hill’s s/d. Umm, that will cost over $1,000! And I’ve heard the food isn’t very good for dogs. Is there a more natural/holistic diet that I can put her on to dissolve the stone? Does Royal Canin SO dissolve the stone? (it’s a little cheaper than Hill’s). Assuming (praying!) the stone dissolves, do I need to keep her on a special diet the rest of her life or can I feed her a good quality food and add acidifiers(sp) like cranberry etc? I’m so overwhelmed! Anyone have better alternatives to dissolve the stone (and save money?!)? Thank you so much!

    #113874
    Beliz M
    Member

    Can someone please advise on the ingredients of the above? I couldn’t find any reviews on the Internet, much appreciated!

    Ingredients: rice, poultry fat, barley, protein soya isolate, chicken liver hydrolysate, lamb meal, salmon oil, linseed, sugar beet pulp, dried eggs, dynamic micronized clinoptilolite (1%), fructooligosaccharide (FOS), cranberry dried, borage oil, chicory extract, green tea, marigold meal flower, grape seeds extract.

    Analytical constituents: crude protein – 21%, crude oils and fats – 18%, crude ash – 6,2%, crude fibres – 1,5%, moisture – 9%, calcium – 0,9%, phosphorus – 0,8%, potassium – 0,6%, sodium – 0,4%.

    #113166
    anonymous
    Member

    Copied from a previous post:
    Also, if the dog is overweight, get the extra weight off, increase walks/exercise/activity.
    Work closely with your vet, when the dog has been stable 6 months to 1 year then you can talk about diet changes.
    “Dogs that get urinary tract infections and bladder stones tend to have a genetic predisposition, combine that with not enough water intake, not enough opportunities to urinate and you have a problem”.
    “Whatever you decide to feed, add water to the kibble or canned food, even presoak and add water. Take out to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to bladder stone formation”.
    “Always have fresh water available for the dog 24/7”.
    “Supplements are crap, don’t waste your money unless your vet recommends something specific for your dog”.
    Ps: You think the prescription food is expensive. Try emergency surgery for a blocked urethra.
    Been there, done that.
    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry
    Also there are prescription meds for stubborn cases, talk to your vet.
    Was an ultrasound done? Dogs can have more than one type of stone, such as calcium oxalate and struvite…that was the case with my dog that had reoccurring UTIs.
    This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.
    PS: Note recent question on struvite in comments: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/09/science-based-veterinary-nutrition-success-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-121266
    Good luck

    #112601
    Kathy B
    Member

    yes! please let me know if it helps. I do see cranberry in the turkey formula or perhaps it’s just because I’m looking at the label? We have given her the turkey and the next bag we bought is the multi-protein. One thing I do like is the variety of “blends” and that you can switch between them. Our girl is a rescue and we had a horrible time with diarrhea when she first came to us I also always watch the fiber %. Molly had so many UTIs that she had gotten into the habit of waking me up every couple of hours to go out, which was better than going in the house but has become somewhat aggravating now as she’ll walk out look over the backyard and walk back in! Hopefully we’ll overcome that too!

    #112421
    Kathy B
    Member

    Like all dog parents I try and research to find the best food to feed our four legged babies. I finally landed on Zignature. Our girl got repeated UTIs and Zignature has cranberry and blueberries which I hoped would help and it has… Now we are thinking of adding another baby to our household and where Zignature says it’s for all life stages I want to make sure I’m doing what is best for our large breed puppy. Does anyone have any experience feeding Zignature to puppies? Thanks in advance!

    #109970
    anonymous
    Member

    I have never tried Evo, therefore I am not familiar with it.
    I have had good luck with Zignature whitefish and Nutrisca salmon.
    Both are grain free and potato free.
    Pro Plan Focus for sensitive stomach and skin is potato free, not grain free.
    Three or four small meals per day instead of two.

    The most important thing, as you have learned is, add water, presoak kibble too, if need be. Also, make sure to offer frequent bathroom breaks, opportunities to urinate.
    Stagnant conditions in the bladder contribute to stone formation.
    Some dogs just don’t drink enough, if at all. Combine that with a genetic predisposition and you have trouble.

    copied from one of my previous posts regarding a similar topic:
    “Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry
    Also there are prescription meds for stubborn cases, talk to your vet”.
    “Was an ultrasound done? Dogs can have more than one type of stone, such as calcium oxalate and struvite…that was the case with my dog that had reoccurring UTIs”.

    This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

    PS: Note recent question on struvite in comments: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/09/science-based-veterinary-nutrition-success-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-121266

    #109553

    In reply to: Frequent UTIs

    anonymous
    Member

    Copied from a previous post:

    Also, if the dog is overweight, get the extra weight off, increase walks/exercise/activity.
    Work closely with your vet, when the dog has been stable 6 months to 1 year then you can talk about diet changes.
    “Dogs that get urinary tract infections and bladder stones tend to have a genetic predisposition, combine that with not enough water intake, not enough opportunities to urinate and you have a problem”.
    “Whatever you decide to feed, add water to the kibble or canned food, even presoak and add water. Take out to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to bladder stone formation”.
    “Always have fresh water available for the dog 24/7”.
    “Supplements are crap, don’t waste your money unless your vet recommends something specific for your dog”.
    Ps: You think the prescription food is expensive. Try emergency surgery for a blocked urethra.
    Been there, done that.

    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry
    Also there are prescription meds for stubborn cases, talk to your vet.
    Was an ultrasound done? Dogs can have more than one type of stone, such as calcium oxalate and struvite…that was the case with my dog that had reoccurring UTIs.
    This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.
    PS: Note recent question on struvite in comments: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/09/science-based-veterinary-nutrition-success-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-121266
    Good luck

    #109546

    Topic: Frequent UTIs

    in forum Diet and Health
    Kathy B
    Member

    Our 2 year old has had her 2nd UTI since August the vet indicated we could try CD prescription food which is used when dogs have frequent stones but she does not. Also indicated a cranberry supplement might help. Does anyone have any suggestions? Switching to grain free, particular food that is known to help with this?

    #106066
    anonymous
    Member

    Also, if the dog is overweight, get the extra weight off, increase walks/exercise/activity.
    Work closely with your vet, when the dog has been stable 6 months to 1 year then you can talk about diet changes.
    “Dogs that get urinary tract infections and bladder stones tend to have a genetic predisposition, combine that with not enough water intake, not enough opportunities to urinate and you have a problem”.
    “Whatever you decide to feed, add water to the kibble or canned food, even presoak and add water. Take out to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to bladder stone formation”.
    “Always have fresh water available for the dog 24/7”.
    “Supplements are crap, don’t waste your money unless your vet recommends something specific for your dog”.
    Ps: You think the prescription food is expensive. Try emergency surgery for a blocked urethra.
    Been there, done that.
    Per the search engine: /forums/search/urinary+tract+infections/
    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry
    Also there are prescription meds for stubborn cases, talk to your vet.
    Was an ultrasound done? Dogs can have more than one type of stone, such as calcium oxalate and struvite…that was the case with my dog that had reoccurring UTIs.
    This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

    PS: Note recent question on struvite in comments: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/09/science-based-veterinary-nutrition-success-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-121266
    Good luck

    #106060
    Robin B
    Member

    I just spent 4 hours and $800 at an after hours emergency veterinary clinic with my rescue mutt. He was unable to pee, straining with leg up for ages, repeat. Then he started leaking in dribbles. This appeared to come on suddenly. Examination, urinalysis, X-ray, ultrasound: struvite crystals in urethra, stones in bladder. He had a catheter flush & sent home with prescription canned Hill’s S/D. It looks disgusting but he will eat it. We’ll see our vet at our regular clinic next week to check for progress on dissolution of crystals & stones.
    He had been eating quality kibble ( no grain, limited ingredients etc.) enhanced with Wellness canned food (beef, turkey, chicken, lamb in rotation. Who doesn’t like a little variety?) Good news: we might be closer to guessing his breed combo (a little schnauzer in there, they tend toward this problem) and he started peeing the morning after his procedure & the prescription diet is temporary. Unlike me, he’s not a big drinker and he seems to have a bladder that will hold forever, likely one source of the problem.
    So, I think I have deduced the cause: not enough water & infrequent elimination breaks both easily remedied although he only likes to pee on his walks.
    My plan is to resume his regular diet when I get the “all clear” from the vet, add water to his kibble/canned meal combo. Introduce vitamin C & cranberry supplement. Offer homemade broth in addition to water to keep him hydrated. (I’m cheating and already making & giving the broth).
    My question: do I wait until he is crystal clear before adding supplements & broth to his prescription food?
    Your question: I’m new to the journey but hope I’m on the right track, commercial food with quality locally sourced ingredients, combo wet & dry (quality wet alone is too rich for my budget), water or bone broth added to food, lots of water available & broth if pup won’t drink water, frequent opportunity to pee (I think that was our downfall).
    Good luck & advice is welcome.

    #105153
    anonymous
    Member

    Regarding cranberry supplements. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry. (excerpt below)
    Bottom Line
    Despite some promising laboratory studies suggesting cranberry supplements might help prevent or treat urinary tract infections, the evidence of studies in clinical patients has been disappointing. Conflicting studies in humans suggest, on balance, that there is probably no significant benefit. And now a high-quality clinical trial in dogs has failed to find any effect, even in the the of infections the pre-clinical research most strongly suggested there should be one.

    While the risks of cranberry supplements are probably negligible, pet owners should understand, and veterinarians should make in clear to their clients, that there is no good reason to believe they have any real value in preventing or treating urinary tract infections.

    #105152
    Noelle M
    Member

    This is a hot topic for me lol
    I have a dog with struvite stones and chronic utis.
    Of course when we were given this diagnosis we were recommended a prescription diet from our vet. I immediately cringed at the ingredient list that was majority corn. There was no way I was going to feed my dog what was essentially corn meal with chicken fat half way down the list for the rest of his life. So I began my very long, very draining journey into finding a decent food that wouldn’t cause a flare up.
    First I had to figure out WHY the prescription diets worked. Right on the Hill’s website they explain that the food contains controlled levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium to manage the development of stones.
    So I took the calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels from the prescription food and started comparing them to other foods. SO many foods. Many of which I had to email the company directly because they didn’t have those levels available online.
    Essentially I looked for food with calcium and phosphorus levels below 1%, the lower the better. There are actually quite a few to choose from!
    My boy has been on Performatrin Ultra Grain Free Senior for the past number of months, his meals are floated in water and I add a cranberry supplement. His condition has been kept 100% under control and he is doing wonderfully overall on this food.
    Generally I have found that senior or large breed formulas are more likely to have sub 1% calcium and phosphorus.

    Some of the brands I have found that could work are:
    Performatrin Ultra Grain Free Senior
    Nutram Sound Senior and Large Breed
    Diamond Naturals Grain Free Chicken and Sweet Potato

    I give bonus points to foods that contain cranberry already, though I continue to supplement it.

    Bottom line is the prescription foods WILL work to treat a specific condition, but I personally could not bring myself to feed it long term based on the ingredient lists. There ARE decent quality foods out there that match or come close to matching the analysis of the prescription diets that should manage the dog’s symptoms and are generally much healthier overall. Look for subzero levels of calcium and phosphorus, float the food in water and consider a cranberry supplement.

    Obviously I cannot gaurentee that any of these foods will work, but it is definitely worth a shot imo and has worked beautifully for my dog who had pretty severe and chronic symptoms.

    Good luck!

    #104241
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Croeber,
    I think it is really important to rotate between diiferent brands & feed a diffferent meat protein source & different ingredients, a rotational diet allows a beter chance of providing a more complete & balanced diet, while most dog food sold has been balanced to meet nutritional guidelines there’s always a chance that one brand might be a little deficient in a nutrient compared to another brand, by rotating a variety of foods your pet is less likely to suffer any deficiencies & rotating helps strengthen the dogs immune system & may reduce the risk off allergies or sypmtoms developing later on as teh y age this is very important for young animals…
    You know your girl does well on Merrick so now look for another brand with a different protein source & different ingrdients but stay around the same protein % & fat % it doesnt have to be exactly the same fat & protein 1-3% higher or lower… some people rotate with the same brand that’s not a good idea, say that brand has toxins or high contaminates in their fish formula then the other formulas may also have the fish meal or whatever is in that brands meats etc so best to look for another brand it doesn’t have to be real expessive to be really good, look at “*********** Project” pet food testings some of the very expensive brands had the highest toxins & Purina got 4-5 stars ause of the lean meats tehy buy, Turkey & Chicken are suppose to be very clean meats….

    I can’t be too fussy with what I feed my boy, I have to feed him what agrees with him, he was a rescue I rescued at age 4, he suffers with IBD, Skin Allergies & food intolerances, vets & his nutritionist said he probably was feed the same cheap Aldis dog food & when he was reacting with diarrhea & vomiting the owner didn’t bother changing his food or the owner changed & feed another poor quality brand that had the ingredients he was sensitive too & was reacting too, he is a prime example of a dog feed a very poor diet & was never introduced to a lot of different foods…probably why he ended up at the pound cause of his IBD, when I got him he was pooing blood & weeing blood, vet said the weeing blood would have been from being used for breeding..
    I’m feed “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb grain free with Lamb meal, sweet potato, potato, peas, egg, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, formula, TOTW Roasted Lamb is Patches go to kibble that he does the best on so far…
    I’ve just finished introducing Hills Science Diet, Sensitive Skin formula it’s a grain formula with rice, corn, pork meal & egg formula, I’m trying this in my rotation cause it has Pork Meal & Hills gave me a free voucher-$140, my IBD boy does really well on his cooked Pork rissoles & Sweet potato, so when I saw Hills had a Pork meal formula I had to try it & see how he does on it & he’s doing really wll he gets bad acid reflux so its very hard finding foods that agrees with his stomach & he doesn’t grind his teeth & doesn’t swollow & swollow & lick his lips, I was rotating & feed “Canidae” Pure Wild Boar & I tried the Pure Meadow Senior, “Canidae has some really good grain free & grain kibbles….
    I have to give treats instead of adding foods to his kibble, he gets 1-2 freeze dried, “K-9 Natural” Green Lipped Mussels, the mussel shell is high in Glucosamine & Chondroitin for his joints & bones.
    “Love Em” Mini Cookies Chicken Liver & Cranberry with DHA for immune support biscuits an Australian Brand, I’ve just started these, he was getting peeled apple pieces, he gets his Yakult probiotic drink, he gets about 1/4 of the Yakult probiotic drink in between feeds when his stomach acids are low so they dont kill the live bacteria in te probiotic & I drink the rest of te Yakult drink, he gets his yogurt ice cream only about 1 teaspoon after his dinner & if I’m running late or on the computer he tells me about his ice cream yogurt he whinges & barks at me till I get it out of the freezer. I can’t remember what else he gets at teh moment, I’ve had him 5 yrs this November & he has tried heaps & different brand kibbles & foods the Australian kibble brands are really good but some are way to high in protein & fat for him, no vet diets have worked for Patch, TOTW has been the best dry kibble so far that covers all his health problems, I’ve strengthen his gut (immune system) heaps since I got him 5 yrs ago he was always very sick before, but now he has a beautiful shinny coat, he is very healthy runs, jumps acts like a puppy doesnt seem to have any arthritis yet, (fingers X) he’ll be 9 years old on the 20th Novemeber & it’s the same day I rescued him 5 years ago his “Got You Day” he was being Put To Sleep on his birthday..

    Steve Brown was asked if you had to pick 1 food to add to your dogs diet to make it healthier what would you add & Steve said, “Mussels” you can buy them in the freezer section or buy freeze dried mussels, Mussels are very healthy they have Manganese, Iodine, Fats, Vitamin D he said alot of raw diets are short of Manganese, Iodine fats & Vitamin D so add about 1-2 mussels a day + 1 tablespoon salmon & a pinch of Kelp to your dogs diet….

    Follow “Rodney Habib” on his face Book page, you’ll learn heaps about adding really good healthy fresh whole foods to your dogs diet…
    Sounds like your doing a pretty good job already….

    #102994
    anonymous
    Member

    Bump (response from previous thread on the same subject)
    “Dogs that get urinary tract infections and bladder stones tend to have a genetic predisposition, combine that with not enough water intake, not enough opportunities to urinate and you have a problem”.
    “Whatever you decide to feed, add water to the kibble or canned food, even presoak and add water. Take out to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to bladder stone formation”.
    “Always have fresh water available for the dog 24/7”.
    “Supplements are crap, don’t waste your money unless your vet recommends something specific for your dog”.
    Ps: You think the prescription food is expensive. Try emergency surgery for a blocked urethra.
    Been there, done that.
    Bump (response from a previous thread on the same subject)
    Per the search engine: /forums/search/urinary+tract+infections/
    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry

    I’m hoping someone might find this information helpful (even if the op doesn’t) 🙂
    After all, this topic comes up at least once a week.

    #102958
    Christine C
    Member

    My dog has a history of getting crystals in her urine and our vet has always just given us antibiotics. She is currently on the the hills C/D urinary dry + canned food and this has helped her urine problem; however, the cost has been a big burden. I was shocked to see the ingredients in it and wouldn’t making homemade obviously be healthier? I would like to start making my own dog food, but I’m not sure if this would be the best option. I do not want to rely on the vet because they obviously would go against it and are money hungry. I have been reading other forums and many dog owners seem to feed their pets cranberry supplements? What are your thoughts on this and getting off of the prescription diet? Also how do I get my dog to drink more water?

    #102934
    anonymous
    Member

    No and No.
    Per the search engine: /forums/search/urinary+tract+infections/

    Regarding cranberry: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry

    #102933
    Christine C
    Member

    My dog has a history of getting urinary infections/crystals found in her urine. She is on the Hills C/D urinary dry and canned food but we want to get her off of it because of the cost and she does not enjoy her food. Is it safe to do this as long as shes getting the proper nutrients? I am also thinking of starting to feed her cranberry supplements

    #102931
    Christine C
    Member

    My dog has a history of getting crystals in her urine and our vet has always just given us antibiotics. We feed her the hills C/D urinary dry + canned food and this has helped her urine problem but we want to get her off of it. This has been a huge burden on our family due to the expensive cost and I really want to start making my own dog food because it really seems to be the most healthy. I do not want to rely on the vet because they seem to just want to make money off of us. I have been reading other forums and many dog owners seem to feed their pets cranberry supplements? What are your thoughts on this and getting off of the prescription diet? Thank you!!

    • This topic was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Christine C.
    #101554
    Emily V
    Member

    I have been using the raw diet on my dogs fro over 10 years and forums have been a lifesaver for me. I’m hoping you all can help with a mysterious lameness problem in our 2 year-old German shepherd. I’ll try to be as brief as possible here on the sequence of events that were observed:
    1. Tsavo discovered a deer carcass in our woods and was chewing on the bones.
    2. About a day later, he was slightly lame in his back leg. No physical causes were detected. he had some diarrhea.
    3. The lameness moved to his left forefoot about two weeks later and became more pronounced. He would sometimes yip when jumping off the bed. The lameness would improve if he ran around but worsen when he was at rest or walking.
    4. Tsavo then began marking in the house and the diarrhea increased.
    5. X-rays indicated no issues. The vet confirmed Lymes and erlichia tick diseases were present so Tsavo was treated. It was discovered Tsavo also had crystals in his urine and he was also treated for that. He was also given a homeopathic liver cleanse. Most of the marking behavior and diarrhea disappeared, though he was still lame.
    5. After some research, I began supplementing Tsavo with cranberry pills and ascorbic acid, thinking there was a remote chance that the lameness was caused by pain from urinary crystals. After two days, the lameness and marking issue were resolved.
    6. A week later, my daughter discovered that Tsavo found an errant bone from the deer carcass and he was chewing on it. The next day, Tsavo had a slight limp in the same foot. He also had diarrhea. It’s been about three days and he currently is not marking, but the lameness is getting worse, despite my continued use of cranberry and ascorbic acid.

    Help! What could the lameness be attributed to? I don’t think it’s related to Lymes or erlichiia because there was no relief after he was treated for those diseases….

    #94489
    heather k
    Member

    My male dog had been to the vet in December and then he had white blood cells and blood in his urine. His ph level was 7.5 at the time.. the doctor also did blood work and all blood work came back ok except high white blood cell count and I dont remember his number though. And the xrays he did showed no stones but something that loom like sludge/sediment per the vet. He was pushing me to go a special food but right now wasn’t necessary unless the antibiotics didnt clear it up. Which the antibiotics did clear it.
    Now 2 months later I took in another urine sample his ph level is 8 and he had blood and white blood cells in his urine again meaning another uti. Except this time two vets put me down for feeding my dog 4health dog food saying its a bad food and they should be on Purina. But with argument we changed the subject.
    both times my dog has had trouble urinating either going a little or not at all and straining and going alot small amounts to just a couple dribbles. I know thisnis normal from what I’m being told.
    my question is now the vet has Aries on science diet urinary care c/d. And I’m willing to try it but I cant seem to get him to eat it.
    And us there anything I can do to stop him from getting the yti?
    I seen people post about Cranberry supplements, Vitamin c helping. How much and what kind.
    sorry I was just very uncomfortable with the vet today who wasnt my usual vet.
    thanks again

    #94403
    anonymous
    Member

    Check the search engine, example: /forums/search/calcium+oxalate/

    Excerpts from previous posts:
    As your vet will confirm, dogs that have a tendency to make bladder stones have to be on a special diet the rest of their lives, this is a serious condition and it just doesn’t go away.
    I would comply with the prescription food for now.
    And don’t forget, water, water, and more water added to the diet. Ask the vet ….but I believe this helps big time. And frequent bathroom breaks, opportunities to urinate.
    “My dog had both (struvite and calcium oxalate), no symptoms till the age of 11, started with UTIs. He has had no recurrences in 4 years since his emergency surgery.
    “There is a genetic component and some breeds are more prone to bladder stones”.
    “Anyway, if you do nothing else, add water and take her out to urinate frequently”.
    PS: Soak the kibble, even the prescription food in water overnight in the fridg, add more water prior to serving. Keep the bladder flushed. Maybe add a little canned prescription food as a topper.
    Don’t add supplements unless recommended by a veterinarian that has examined the dog.
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry

    #94277
    Suzanne F
    Member

    I used to feed raw, but now I feed canned only. For now it’s Wild Calling rotational diet Bison, alligator and rabbit. Wild calling is like 92% protein and no carbs. He eats sweet potato or yams and dehydrated pumpkin & cranberry by Diggin FirmUp on occasion. He’s not a fan of canned pumpkin. The doctor did a blood test to test for allergies and I did Dr Dods saliva test to test for food intolerances. He has many of both. Since I’ve made the changes he’s more willing to eat and less reflux. Also switch between Apple cider vinegar powder capsules and Zantac 150 mugs 2 times a day, ProPlan FortiFlora probiotics once a day. I feed him 3 times a day and a snack before bed. The empty stomach can make him throw up bile or or a white foam. Hope this helps. If you have any suggestions I’m all ears.

    #94191

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    Tammy I
    Member

    Should I go with a grain-free diet for my dog after he has a bladder stone removed. There are so many things I’ve read that food has nothing to do with it but I’ve also read the opposite. Frankly I’m so confused and frustrated I have no idea what to do and I don’t trust my vet with the answer… They just want me to put him on prescription Hills crap they give at the vet in which I have also researched and most sites say it’s an awful diet and will not affect the pH in any way. Just found out cranberry tablets will do nothing either so I am just clueless on what to do and who to believe at this point.

    #94190

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    anonymous
    Member

    “Despite some promising laboratory studies suggesting cranberry supplements might help prevent or treat urinary tract infections, the evidence of studies in clinical patients has been disappointing. Conflicting studies in humans suggest, on balance, that there is probably no significant benefit. And now a high-quality clinical trial in dogs has failed to find any effect, even in the the of infections the pre-clinical research most strongly suggested there should be one.
    While the risks of cranberry supplements are probably negligible, pet owners should understand, and veterinarians should make in clear to their clients, that there is no good reason to believe they have any real value in preventing or treating urinary tract infections.” (excerpt from link below)
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2017/01/evidence-update-finally-a-clinical-trial-of-cranberry-supplements-for-urinary-tract-infections-in-dogs/

    #93589

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    anonymous
    Member

    Per the search engine here /forums/search/cranberry/

    #93475
    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Hi Matthew C-
    I believe the vet is telling you not to use Vit c or cranberry supplements with the prescription food because it will over acidify the pH of your dog’s urine. That situation could cause the other type of stones. Struvite stones are formed in alkaline urine. The prescription foods help acidify the urine and increase thirst in your pup. More water and moisture as Anon mentioned will help dilute the urine.

    Struvite stones in dogs are often associated with infections as you mentioned. One of my cats had a blockage and ended up in the emergency clinic for three days due to Struvite crystals. I now feed him mostly canned food, keep his litterbox clean, and have a water fountain available. I hope you can find something that works also. Good luck!

    #93463
    anonymous
    Member

    Did you check the search engine here? /forums/search/bladder+stones/
    Excerpts from previous posts:
    As your vet will confirm, dogs that have a tendency to make bladder stones have to be on a special diet the rest of their lives, this is a serious condition and it just doesn’t go away.
    I would comply with the prescription food for now.
    And don’t forget, water, water, and more water added to the diet. Ask the vet ….but I believe this helps big time. And frequent bathroom breaks, opportunities to urinate.
    “My dog had both (struvite and calcium oxalate), no symptoms till the age of 11, started with UTIs. He has had no recurrences in 4 years since his emergency surgery.
    “There is a genetic component and some breeds are more prone to bladder stones”.
    “Anyway, if you do nothing else, add water and take her out to urinate frequently”.
    PS: Soak the kibble, even the prescription food in water overnight in the fridg, add more water prior to serving. Keep the bladder flushed. Maybe add a little canned prescription food as a topper.
    Don’t add supplements unless recommended by a veterinarian that has examined the dog.
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry

    #93462

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    brit
    Participant

    my 11yo dog is on a home made diet and tested high Ph and struvite crystals last fall but no infection. Never had him tested before so who knows how long he has had this, my holistic vet put him on a cranberry/herb supplement and told me to make sure he drinks plenty of fluids. I give him distilled water altho he doesn’t really drink much so I make him a bone broth and give him a cup 2xday and home made food with plenty of liquid. I use fewer veggies in his food than I was using as they are alkaline. I bought some Ph test strips and so far his morning urine is perfectly normal. I read somewhere just to go by the morning urine. I also give approx 250mgs ester C daily and a couple of tsps Cranimals (he weighs 50lbs).

    #92613
    D S
    Member

    I did a bit of research on UTI’s in dogs, going to treat one of our corgis with this as many women use it and it works very well. D Mannose with or without cranberry extract seems to work very well for both dogs and cats for UTIs. The cranberry keeps the urine acidic and the D Mannose keeps bacteria from sticking to the tract. These are pretty popular on Amazon. Half pill for small dogs and cats daily, whole pill for medium dogs up to 40lbs. Some people treat with antibiotics first and then give this daily, humans usually take it every few hours for a day to 3 days to treat and then take it daily. Drink lots of water to flush out the bacteria. Each time urine leaves the body more bacteria leaves too. https://smile.amazon.com/Cranberry-DMannose-Urinary-Tract-Support/dp/B00FPZFNBQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

    #92390
    anonymous
    Member

    Some recent research on cranberry:
    “Evidence Update- Cranberry Extracts and Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs”
    April 12, 2016
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cranberry

    #92385
    Lisa F
    Member

    My 25 lb Chihuahua mix has been urinating in the house. She can’t hold her urine over 4 hours. I have had urine tested a month ago and she had a UTI and bacteria in urine she was prescribed antibiotics for 14 days. She did well and stopped peeing in house for about 3 weeks then it started back up again. I brought in another sample and was told it was high in PH, contained crystals, inflammatory cells, but no bacteria. Tomorrow she is going in so they can take the urine directly from her bladder. I’ve been told she has a recessed vulva that could contribute to frequent UTI’s. She is not overweight despite her breed mix.. she was recently on a diet and went from 30 lbs back to 25 by feeding a LID diet and green beans. she is now at a healthy weight for her size. Doctor also told me probably good to put her on Hill’s prescription diet and she can NO longer have any vegetables or other food. She loves eating her veggies, apples, sweet potato etc.. I don’t want to stop that. Hill’s doesn’t look as healthy as her current food either. The vet also said she thinks that the no grain diet could be a culprit, exact opposite what I’m reading. I’m concerned for her and rather her be on natural supplements such as cranberry or vit C to help correct her PH levels.

    #92091
    Lisa S
    Member

    Hello,

    I have a 65-pound pit bull mix with a PH level of 8.5. He has already been treated twice by two different antibiotics that didn’t work. The vet also ran a bunch of other tests on him and said there were no other big issues but really the only other way to control the PH level would be to change his food to Hills prescription Urinary Care, or to Royal Canin prescription. Both of these contain chicken that he is allergic to. He said these are my only options to lower his PH. So can someone please explain what type (of the three) cranberry supplements I would need simply to lower PH (we were never told there were crystals). Or can someone explain the Vitamin C option?

    #92029

    In reply to: Struvite Crystals

    J S
    Member

    My dogs have only thrown up yellow bile when they didn’t have enough food on their stomachs, and they were/are the nervous-ninny types.

    The blood in the urine is a red (no pun!) flag that you have a serious infection and need antibiotics. Frequent urination can also be an indicator, but I noticed that the new formulation of Royal Canin dry food has added salt for the very reason to make the dogs pee more, to keep the bladder and kidneys flushing. We have to give our girl extra trips outside and give her more than one chance to squat before coming back inside.

    After our last round of antibiotics, she’s on dry RCanin, floating in water/broth, with no-grain wet food and part of a Vit C capsule sprinkled on top, along with a mini scoop of Cranberry Relief. So far no “pee-crawling” for over a month!

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