Bladder stones form when the substances that normally dissolve in urine turn into crystals that connect eventually, creating a number of stones. They could grow so large that they’re unable to traverse a dog’s urethra and are subsequently encased inside the bladder.
Different bladder stones have different methods of treatment. Unfortunately, if a dog is diagnosed with bladder stones, there’s an excellent likelihood that they’ll come back in the future, particularly if preventative measures are not put in place.
Diet plays a significant part in treating and treatment from bladder stones. Learn what you should learn about feeding dogs that have bladder stones.
Can You Use Food to Treat Dogs With Bladder Stones?
A few bladder stones are dissolvable with a specially prescribed food or medication. If you can create the proper conditions for urine to dissolve that dissolve the stones, they gradually disappear.
Bladder stones must be removed physically, either via surgical procedure or methods like laser lithotripsy (using sound waves or lasers to cut stones into fragments) or Urohydropropulsion (placing an appropriate catheter inside the bladder to eliminate tiny stones).
The veterinarian will recommend an excellent solution for the dog’s bladder stone Based on the following:
- The form (or varieties) of stones
- The size and quantity of their collection
- The overall health of your dog
Treatment Plans Based on Type of Bladder Stone
We will look at ways to eliminate bladder stones in various forms.
Struvite
Struvite stones (magnesium ammonium phosphate) are prevalent among dogs. They usually dissolve with food or medication. It is essential to take antibiotics, as struvite stones in canines are usually connected to bacterial infections of the bladder.
Stones that dissolve can last between a couple of weeks and some months, based on the size of the stone and other aspects. The surgical procedure and alternative removal methods are possible should they be required.
Diets that dissolve stone struvite have these properties:
- Protein levels are reduced, as are magnesium and phosphorus.
- The salt material has increased
- Causes acidic urine (urine that has a lower pH than average)
Some good options include:
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO
- Hill’s Prescription Diet s/d or c/d Multicare
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St
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Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Loaf Canned Dog Food, 13.5-oz can, case of 24Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars998Reviews$117.36Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars709Reviews$54.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food, 13.3-oz, case of 12Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars336Reviews$52.99Chewy Price Shop on ChewyCalcium Oxalate
Calcium oxalate is a different type of bladder stone found in dogs. Because there isn’t a solution to dissolve calcium oxide stones, they need to be eliminated through surgery such as lithotripsy, urohydropropulsion, or rot.
Cystine
Cystine stones aren’t the same in dogs as calcium oxalate and struvite stones. They are usually dissolved when you use the correct diet. The most appropriate diets possess the following features:
- Protein levels are reduced.
- Low sodium
- Insufficient levels of amino acids methionine and cystine that the body converts into cystine.
- Make alkaline urine (urine that has an elevated pH than average)
The diets are usually prescribed by veterinarians for the dissolution of cystine stones
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Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 24Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars172Reviews$109.98Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary UC Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bagged 4.6 out of 5 stars112Reviews$99.99Chewy Price Shop on ChewyPurine
Purine stones can be formed from xanthine or urate. Urate stones are dissolved by food. The same is true for specific stones, though not all xanthine stones. If the food or medicine fails to dissolve the stone, it will require removal. The diets that dissolve purine stones possess these characteristics:
- Reduced levels of protein–specifically proteins that contain a lot of purine, like fish and organ meats
- Low sodium
- It creates alkaline urine (urine that has an elevated pH than that of ordinary)
The accurate dog food for dissolving purine stones is:
The Article mentions this in the
Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 24Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars172Reviews$109.98Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Vegetarian Dry Dog Food, 17.6-lb bag 4.5 out of 5 stars110Reviews$89.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary UC Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bag 4.6 out of 5 stars112Reviews$99.99Chewy Price Shop on ChewyCalcium phosphate
Bladder stones made from calcium phosphate are not prevalent in dogs. Removal of the rocks is often required.
Silica
Silica bladder stones can be scarce in canines and are not removed. They must be eliminated by surgical intervention, lithotripsy, or urohydropropulsion.
How Special Diets Can Prevent Bladder Stones in Dogs
Animals with bladder stones before could be susceptible to having them back, but preventive steps are available. Changing your dog’s diet is the best way to eliminate bladder stones. This is because, to the greatest extent, the dog’s diet is the primary factor determining what goes into the urine. When feeding their dog a specific food, pets can lessen the number of blocks needed for bladder stones.
Struvite
Struvite stones constitute a small deviation from the norm because they usually result from bacterial infections. So, the accurate solution to stop the formation of more stone struvite is to concentrate on the prevention of bladder infections.
Changes to your diet over time are not required; however, ensuring urine stays somewhat acidic and dilute can benefit you. Your doctor might suggest the following foods to help prevent the formation of stones called struvite:
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Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars709Reviews$54.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Loaf Canned Dog Food, 13.5-oz can, case of 24Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars998Reviews$117.36Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food, 13.3-oz, case of 12Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars336Reviews$52.99Chewy Price Shop on ChewyCalcium Oxalate
Even though changing a dog’s diet doesn’t eliminate the calcium oxalate stone, nutritional supplements could help stop their return. A proper nutrient profile is essential to prevent calcium oxalate stones:
- Reducing calcium levels
- Beware of products that have many oxalates
- Creates dilute urine
- Keeps urine slightly alkaline compared to normal to prevent calcium oxalate stone development.
Diets that satisfy these requirements are:
- Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St
- Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit
In this Article, the subject is mentioned.
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars709Reviews$54.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Loaf Canned Dog Food, 13.5-oz can, case of 24Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars998Reviews$117.36Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food, 13.3-oz, case of 12Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars336Reviews$52.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 24Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars909Reviews$123.98Chewy Price Shop on ChewyCystine
Dietary parameters that help dissolve cystine stones – low protein (especially ones with many cystine and methionine) and low sodium and encouraging alkaline urine- can be used to prevent them. Both are good choices:
The Article mentions this in the
Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 24Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars172Reviews$109.98Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary UC Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bagged 4.6 out of 5 stars112Reviews$99.99Chewy Price Shop on ChewyPurine
Treatments to break down purine stones may also help prevent their return. They must be devoid of protein, made with no substances high in purines (like organ meats, fish, and other seafood), and devoid of sodium, and create alkaline urine.
They are the most common food choices for treating purine stones.
The Article mentions this in the
Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 24Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars172Reviews$109.98Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Vegetarian Dry Dog Food, 17.6-lb bag 4.5 out of 5 stars110Reviews$89.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary UC Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bag 4.6 out of 5 stars112Reviews$99.99Chewy Price Shop on ChewyCalcium phosphate
There is no ideal diet to aid in treating bladder calcium phosphate stones. However, keeping urine diluted and slightly alkaline usually may benefit. To prevent this, a veterinarian might suggest diets commonly used to avoid calcium oxalate stones, such as:
In this Article, the subject is mentioned.
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars709Reviews$54.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Loaf Canned Dog Food, 13.5-oz can, case of 24Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars998Reviews$117.36Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food, 13.3-oz, case of 12Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars336Reviews$52.99Chewy Price Shop on Chewy Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 24Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars909Reviews$123.98Chewy Price Shop on ChewySilica
Diets rich in animal protein should be avoided, and plant products that could be rich in silica, such as corn gluten, should be avoided. It is advised to prevent silica stones. Also, it is essential to boost drinking water intake to reduce urine volume and maintain your dog’s pH alkaline.
The perfect diet depends on the dog’s specific situation. However, Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete or premium grain-free canine food (with some water) tend to be good choices. It is also essential to prevent the dogs from consuming soil or drinking water that could contain high levels of silica and be connected to volcanoes.
Homemade Dog Food for Bladder Stones
There needs to be a discussion on what dogs should be fed, which can be enough without discussing cooked meals at home.
It’s challenging to make nutrient-rich, balanced homemade dog food that is safe to provide for a long time to healthy dogs. Adding bladder stones into the food mix can make it more difficult, as you must obtain particular parameters for the urine.
If you’re thinking of making food at home to treat bladder stones, consult a veterinarian nutritionist who knows your dog’s situation. If you feed your dog the wrong diet, it could cause your dog to have a more severe problem.
How Much Water Should Dogs Prone to Bladder Stones Drink?
Ensuring that dogs are correctly hydrated (or perhaps excessively hydrated) is crucial if it’s bladder stones. A lack of water causes the urine of dogs to be highly concentrated, which increases the chance that crystals and stones can develop. However, bladder stones are much less likely to form when there is highly dilute urine (which has enough water in the urine) because they create them that dissolve.
The accurate method to ensure that your dog’s urine is in check is to feed your dog with wet food. You can add more water and ensure that your dog gets access to bowls filled with clean, fresh water. You can mix water into dry food items. However, it is necessary to add lots of water, usually several cups, to complete the level of canned food. This could make it difficult for certain dogs to consume to satisfy their requirements for nutrition.
Monitoring a dog’s intake of drinking water is not easy, as your dog’s needs can vary based on the intensity of its exercise and the temperature outside, among other variables. One way to know whether your dog takes suitable water is to check its urine’s particular gravity (USG).
The pet’s USG increases when they’re dehydrated. Keeping your pet’s USG lower than 1.020 is an excellent target for preventing bladder stones from developing. A veterinarian may recommend using a refractometer to determine the pet’s USG at home. Alternatively, they could conduct a fast and affordable USG examination if you send a urine sample.