[Kim P]

A great webpage with info on all types of canine bladder stones:

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

Please note – SILICA STONES are very different from the other types of canine bladder stones, and their approach as far as foods is far different also.

Finding foods without potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, brown rice, apples, carrots, spinach and other root vegetables has been next to impossible.

I continue to feed my dog Natural Balance, which so far is the only food that comes close to being 100% free of silica-containing ingredients:

This is a new part of Natural Balance’s product line-up:

** L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets® High Protein Beef Formula Dry Dog Food **

Beef, Pea Protein, Beef Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Starch, Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Flaxseed, Salt, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Menhaden Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

[Kim P]

(cont)

Presently, I’m feeding my dog a combination of these foods…

For Dry – Natural Balance has a new product out that contains NO potatoes, tomato, apples, carrots, etc etc etc… it DOES have flaxseed, though, which is on the “no no” list:

** L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets® High Protein Beef Formula Dry Dog Food **

Beef, Pea Protein, Beef Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Starch, Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Flaxseed, Salt, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Menhaden Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

**************************************************************************

For his canned food (to provide extra moisture to keep his kidneys/bladder flushed and keep him well hydrated) – it DOES contain Wheat Starch & Corn Starch, though:

** Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Moderate Calorie Morsels in Gravy Canned Dog Food **

Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork By-Products, Chicken, Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Natural Flavors, Calcium Sulfate, Sodium Carboxymethyl-Cellulose, Fish Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Taurine, Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Biotin, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Trace Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Marigold Extract (Tagetes Erecta L.).

***********************************************************************

Until I can find something better – this will have to do. I’ve searched EVERY dog food label known to mankind at this point, and there really isn’t anything that is 100% free of ingredients that contain silica.

[Kim P]

I’m continuing my hunt for the right food for my 11 yo border collie who recently had silica stones removed. It’s incredibly difficult. Some of the foods suggested here by members contain many of the ingredients that should be AVOIDED in the food that you choose to feed your pet. Here is a list:

From: https://franklintnvet.com/canine-silica-stones/

Feeding to Prevent Canine Silica Stones & Crystals
Eliminate foods containing whole grains. Or, if you feel you must include whole grains in your dog’s diet, check the silica content at the USDA food ingredient website.
Certain natural diets also contain silica. Diets containing substantial corn gluten feed (not corn gluten meal), or intact grains (with hulls) often contain silica. Always read your labels!
The following is a list of foods known to contain silica. Avoid all foods on the list!
Bell peppers
Soybeans
Oats
Brown rice
Barley
Burdock root
Apples
Oranges
Raisins
Grapes
Cucumber
Hemp leaves
Horsetail
Marjoram
Spinach
Radish
Romaine lettuce
Tomato
Nopal cactus
Peanuts
Almonds
Millet
Flaxseeds
And don’t let your dog eat grasses, woody plants, and dirt. Silica uroliths are common in range cattle and sheep that consume forage grasses, which have a high concentration of silica.
Avoid using antacids containing magnesium trisilicate.
Be cautious using dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, and medicines containing silica. Always read the ingredient label!

[Kim P]

If you read this wonderful report — it offers (at the end) a recommendation for a food that is safe for dogs with silica stones:

https://www.vetmed.umn.edu/sites/vetmed.umn.edu/files/canine_silica_uroliths.pdf

[Kim P]

Terry —

I would urge you to have your water tested to see if the source of silica is in your water. We were on well water for the past 7 years – and my border collie was diagnosed with silica stones (after $3000 worth of surgery to remove them). There is only 2 possibilities for the source – the Natural Balance Buffalo & Sweet Potato Limited Ingredient dog food he’s eaten for the past 5 years – OR – the well water. USUALLY – it’s the well water, but because we have since moved from that home – I will likely never know if it was the source. So now our dogs drink distilled water ONLY. It’s a SMALL inconvenience compared to the expense of surgery & the pain my dog has been in for so long (unbeknownst to me).

Both food and water – at this point – matter greatly. When I saw that you were feeding your dog from the hose – I would urge you to have the water tested just to make sure that wasn’t the source of the stones. Best of luck to you!

[Kim P]

Thank you for the information you shared about your own experience. Be sure to have your water tested if your dog is drinking from water from the hose. We are convinced our dog’s stones were likely caused from hose-water, which was well water. :\ We are also going to be giving him distilled water from here on out. Appreciate the tip about silicon dioxide! Very interesting! Thank you again!

[Kim P]

Searching, as well, for silica-stone-safe dog food for our border collie who just had surgery to remove silica stones. I’m at a loss – seems like everything I find has SOMETHING in it that’s not compatible with the diet he’s going to need to be on. 🙁 Has anyone had any luck?

[Author]

Posts