posted 01-14-2004 01:29 PM         

Struvite: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_struvite_bladder_stones.html

Oxalate: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_oxalate_bladder_stones.html

Your vet may recommend a prescription food such as Science Diet, the formula will depend on what type of stone or crystal your dog is developing. My dog was on this for a long time with horrible results, not only did it NOT keep his pH level in the normal range(hence the three surgeries!) but he was allergic to the crappy ingredients it contains. He is now on a raw diet that I purchase called Natures Variety, it comes in little frozen medallions that are easy to handle without contamination worries, easy to measure amount and I don't have to worry about whole raw bone material causing problems because it is very finely ground. I will provide a link to this companies site below but please do your own research on raw feeding and decide for yourself whats best for your dog. I chose to go this route after doing a lot of research on kibbled foods and not being able to find one that kept his urine pH in the normal range and did not cause allergy issues. Since changing to this food his urine pH has been in the normal range for the first time in many many years. My vet was elated and happy with the product after reviewing it and it's results.
You can buy pH test strips at your pharmacy to test his urine with. I buy the brand EZY-DOSE Diabetic Specialty Products, Universal pH Test Strips. They come 100 strips to a tube for $7.50. You will have to follow your dog around when he goes out to pee, place a container(clean) under him as he urinates to collect the urine, then dip the strip in it following the directions. Compare the color of the strip to the chart on the bottle to find his pH level. Darby's normal range is 6.2-6.4 . This is your way of making sure his body is not producing crystals and stones.
It's important for you to resolve this for your dog, if ignored it can be fatal. My dog is chronic, so he will always have this problem and I will always have to monitor him. Your dog may not be chronic, but once he has gotten them is more at risk for getting them again and should be monitored as well.
Please understand...I am not a vet, all of this is based on my own experience with the issue, you should take it for what it is..information, and do your own homework to make choices for your dog. I hope the links get you started down the right road.
Smiles, Maisey
http://www.naturesvariety.com/

after reading the explanations of each type of stone, you should have a clear understanding about why food plays such a vital role.

posted 01-14-2004 03:36 PM         

Darby is 9 1/4 pounds, he eats two of the Nature's Variety medallions in the AM and 1 at night. I pay $7-8 a bag for a 3 pound bag...it goes alot further though than kibble. At first it seems like it's not much food...but remember that it's ONLY food, no crap fillers. Your pup will adjust to the amountand you could adjust the amount by weighing him and seeing if he is gaining or losing. I also give Darby raw frozen blueberries and cranberries as treats here and there, both will help. I check his urine pH once a week to make sure it is staying in normal range.
Some people on my flyabll team kept recommending that I put him on a raw diet (BARF), they had also had problems with their dogs and it was resolved when they switched to feeding raw. I talked to my vet about it and he was against it. I had concerns about contamination, the dangers of feeding whole raw bone and was worried I wouldn't be able to keep the diet balanced for him. The product I finally put him on answered all those concerns for me and my vet..AND it kept his pH normal without allergy reactions. It is controllable...you don't have to live with a "dirty dog",that was a rotten thing to say. He can't help his medical condition and your vet should be ashamed for saying that. He should have given you resources to help, not talk doomsday. My vet actually suggested a holistic vet to work as a team with him because Darby is chronic..I about fell off my chair when he said it because he is so much an "old cowboy" type vet. He is starting to see the light on many issues, I like that about him.

posted 01-17-2004 05:48 PM         

Anyway Sadie now eats Hill Prescription C/D food and there has been no reoccurance - BUT I also now take her to a holistic vet (for chiropractic work ....long story).

The holistic vet put Sadie on a supplement of kale/carrots and COOKED chicken (Sadie is nearly 10 yrs. old and this vet said a dog that age doesn't have the resources to build up the enzymes required to protect her against any bacteria in raw meat). The vegetables help to maintain a certain PH level in Sadie's urine so she won't (hopefully) develop any more stones. No spinach as the spinach has a different chemical makeup and will make her urine the opposite of what we want it to be.

Sadie's surgery was last May (she also had a liver biopsy done along with a free floating mass taken out of her stomach) and she has been stone FREE since.