Dog Food For Kidney Stones

Your Dog Needs To Lose Weight

Extra body fat makes life shorter and less enjoyable for overweight dogs. It can cause or make many health problems worse, too, including:

Your veterinarian can design a weight loss plan tailored to your dogs individual needs, help you monitor how its working, and make necessary changes as your dogs body condition changes.

Your Dog Has Food Sensitivities Or Gi Problems

Dogs with food allergies typically have chronically itchy skin and, sometimes, gastrointestinal problems. Food intolerances and sensitivities, on the other hand, are usually associated with diarrhea, vomiting, a poor appetite, or excessive gassiness.

Two types of veterinary diets are available for dogs with food allergies.

• Novel protein diets like Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet NP Novel Protein Alligator and Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Potato & Duck are made with protein sources that most dogs have never been exposed to before and carbohydrates that usually dont provoke an immune response.

• Other prescription dog foods are made with hydrolyzed proteins that have been broken into tiny fragments so they can evade detection by the immune system. Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d is a good example of a hydrolyzed dog food. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL is a new food that is made with individual amino acids.

Other types of GI health problems can also be treated with prescription dog foods. For example, some types of dog diarrhea respond to highly digestible prescription dog foods like Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric and Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal. In other cases, high-fiber dog foods like Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal High Fiber or Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d work better. Talk to your veterinarian to determine what type of food would be best for your dog.

Complete Guide To Kidney Disease In Dogs: Causes Symptoms And Renal

If you recently learned that your dog has kidney problems or youre worried that they might you probably have a ton of questions running through your mind:

What caused it? What are the symptoms? Are there any other conditions that you should worry about now? What can you do to help your dog?

But instead of worrying yourself sick which helps no one take a moment to read up on kidney disease in dogs.

I put together this guide, hoping to help you do just that.

Keep on reading, and learn about the causes and symptoms of kidney problems in dogs and how to make necessary renal-supportive dietary changes by picking the best dog food for kidney disease!

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Feed Foods That Help Prevent Bladder Stones

Whatever your dogs condition, feeding a fresh, whole food diet is the healthiest strategy. Avoid highly processed, starchy kibble diets, especially if your dog has struvite stones.

And this includes prescription diets your vet might try to persuade you to feed. These diets might help short term but they offer very poor nutrition for your dog.

Instead, here are some dietary recommendations for the different types of stones. Homeopath and Certified Canine Nutritionlist Brenda Tobin DiHom, DVetHom, Cert CN offers the advice below on diets for struvite and calcium oxalate stones.

Food To Manage Struvite Stones

Dogs develop struvite stones when their urine is alkaline and saturated with magnesium and phosphate. Struvite stones usually stem from bacterial infections. Dogs who produce a high concentration of urea may be more susceptible to struvite stones. Thats because bacterial urease converts urea to ammonia, a component of struvite.

Animal proteins are acidifying. So, to manage struvite stones, feed your dog a raw meat based diet with other acidic foods.

INCLUDE Acidic Foods For Struvite Stones

• Veggies collard, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, okra

Food For Urate Stones

Dogs like Dalmatians who are prone to urate stones need to eat low purine diets. Feed a fresh, whole food diet focusing on low and medium purine foods from the list below. Avoid high purine foods.

FEED Low and Medium Purine Foods

AVOID High Purine Foods

Other Foods That Can Help Prevent Bladder Stones

Instinct By Natures Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Grain

Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Lamb Meal, 2. Peas, 3. Tapioca, 4. Pea Protein, 5. Canola Oil

For dogs in the early stages of renal failure, this non-prescription recipe is a good option even though its not specialized for kidney care. The limited ingredient formula has restricted nutrients and ingredients that are easy on your dogs metabolism and kidney function. The recipe also features a single-based protein and vegetable as sources of nutrients. This particular recipe boasts lamb and peas as primary ingredients. With limited ingredients in hand, the experts have formulated a recipe thats ideal for dogs with health issues, especially associated with certain nutrients.

The limited protein content is derived from grass-fed lamb while the peas provide minerals, vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants for a well-rounded and balanced diet. Also rich in essential omega fatty acids, the formula is free of wheat, grain, soy, corn, as well as chicken, eggs, fish, beef, dairy, potatoes, and a variety of other ingredients that could trigger sensitivities in dogs. So if your dog is in the early stages of kidney disease, this holistic food is a good choice.

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Tips On Switching Your Dog To A Renal

If kidney disease is discovered at an early stage, it may not be necessary to place your dog on a restricted diet. However, certain considerations need to be taken into account. For starters, switch to formulas made with limited ingredients.

Consult your vet to find out if it is the right time to change to a specified renal diet. Make sure the transition is very slow, as most options with restricted protein levels may not be as tasty for your pup. Rotating the formula and gradually adding the new food to his meals will encourage him to eat.

In case you are having a hard time with your pooch, consider seasoning the food with natural additives or delicious wet food options to make it more enticing. Just make sure you do not counter the benefits of special renal diets by adding foods high in sodium or other harmful ingredients.

Use Herbs For Bladder Stones

There are several herbs that can help manage bladder stones. Canine Herbalist Rita Hogans protocol below helped her own dog avoid surgery.

When Rita adopted her dog Francis, she had bad bladder stones. Vets recommended surgery. Instead, Rita fed her a raw diet, and gave her the herbal blend below. Within three weeks the stones were gone.

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Emergency/Acute Herbal Blend For Bladder Stones

Rita Hogan advises giving this blend when your dog has acute bladder stone symptoms. This formula works both both struvite and oxalate stones.

Mix together tinctures in the following proportions:

Cleavers leaf and flower tincture 15%Nettle leaf tincture 20%Yarrow flowers and leaf tincture 5%

Dosage: Give 3 drops 3 times daily for every 10 lbs of body weight.

Caution: Do not use this blend for dogs with kidney or liver disease, or for pregnant dogs.

Healing Herbal Infusions For Bladder Stones

Once your dogs acute symptoms resolve, Rita recommends either a hot or cold infusion using her recipes below. These will support ongoing healing for your dog.

Hot Infusion

Mix equal amounts of the herbs below. Add 2 Tbsp of dried herb to 8 ounces of almost boiling water. Let it steep for 45 minutes. Strain and cool before using. This blend keeps for 2 days in refrigerator. After that make a new batch.

Nettle leaf

Dose: Give 1/8 cup per every 10 pounds of body weight over food 2x daily.

Cold Infusion

Other Herbal Options

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Hills Prescription C/d Urinary Care 85lb Canine Dog Food

The last product on our list is Hills Prescription C/d Urinary Care, this product is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, all of which are beneficial to your dogs system, especially with their urinary tract infection.

• It comes in 8.5 lbs bags and suitable for small, medium, and large breeds.
• This product is ideal for supporting the urinary system of your dog and has a chicken flavor to match the taste of your pet.
• This product is a dry food but still has a good amount of hydration, so this one is perfect for dogs who prefer dry food over canned food.
• It is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which is essential for the overall health of your dog.
• Grains in the formula will make the digestion process easier.
• It has low sodium and fat levels so that it will keep your dog in a healthy state.

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What Is Kidney Disease In Dogs

Your dogs kidneys operate as a filtration system and help keep his body in balance. This includes executing a whole range of tasks, but some of the most important include:

• Filtering Waste from the Bloodstream The kidneys work to remove waste from the bloodstream, and then dispose of these wastes via your dogs urine.
• Maintaining Water and Mineral Concentration Levels Kidneys help maintain a balance of salt and water in the body. For example, if your dogs body fluids are currently too diluted, the kidneys may signal the body to excrete more urine.
• Controlling Blood Pressure Kidneys partially maintain blood pressure by aiding in calcium metabolism, maintaining appropriate phosphorus levels, and adjusting the amount of water in the body.
• Manufacturing Some Hormones The kidneys produce hormones that encourage red-blood-cell production which helps carry oxygen throughout the body.

Kidney disease occurs in two different ways: acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease.

Acute kidney failure usually occurs as a result of ingesting toxins like antifreeze or medications. This can cause an abrupt decline in kidney function.

Chronic kidney disease, on the other hand, develops slowly and presents itself more over time. It can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors .

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What Food Can You Give A Dog With Renal Disease

Overall, you should make sure that your dog with renal disease eats a diet with lower sodium, protein, and phosphorus levels. Omega-3 fatty acids can also protect the kidneys somewhat. Some safe treats and snacks include carrots, green beans, broccoli, apples, and watermelon.

Try to increase your dogs consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B complex, calcium, antacids, and Q10 coenzyme. At the same time, reduce or avoid omega-6 fats and vitamin D.

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Discover Delicious Food Your Dog Deserves

Drinking plenty of water helps to flush the crystals through the system so a dog that doesnt drink enough is already at risk of a problem.

Urinary crystals can also cause irritation and lead to a urinary tract infection which means an infection anywhere from the kidneys through to the bladder.

Our quick guide will help you get to grips with how to recognise a urinary problem in your dog, how to get it sorted and what you can do to help maintain their urinary health.

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What Causes Kidney Disease In Dogs

Kidney problems can occur as acute or chronic. When kidney disease occurs, it can lead to kidney failure. Canine kidney disease is often caused by untreated high blood pressure. Ingesting toxins can cause acute kidney failure. It is important to find the cause right away so treatment can be administered.

Simple But Essential Prevention

Preventing kidney stones is quite a bit less expensive than treating stones. And prevention is relatively easy to do. Ensure your dog has a high-quality diet and access to fresh water every day. Know your dog as well as your dog’s breed, and be aware of the health conditions they may be susceptible to. You may be able to supplement your dog’s diet with treats they enjoy such as fresh cranberries in their food bowl or probiotics in the form of yogurt or even powder mixed into a nice frozen treat. Kidney stone prevention can be enjoyable for your dog and easy for you to do.

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What Are Urinary Bladder Stones

Urinary bladder stones are collections of mineral crystals that combine together to form a stone in the urinary bladder. Less often, stones may form in the kidneys. The pH of your dogs urine affects the development of the crystals that lead to urinary bladder stones. The most common type of stone/crystal is struvite, and these tend to form in alkaline urine. Other types develop in more acidic urine.

Food That Contains An Abundant Amount Of Vitamin C:

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and very helpful for humans and pets. It is a harmful free ingredient, which helps to reduce inflammation and cognitive aging. Dogs synthesize vitamin c in their own, and when there is vitamin c deficiency in the body, then supplementation may offer. Besides these benefits, vitamin c is also the cause of kidney stones gradually.

According to Dr. Richard Pitcairn informs giving 100 500 mg of vitamin c is recommended for dogs. This dose may vary from puppy to dogs. Over Feeding of vitamin c can also cause looseness of the bowels and that singular resistance levels change.

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How Long Does It Take Bladder Stones To Develop

In most cases, it takes anywhere from 3-6 months for large bladder stones to form.

Though it will take some time for the larger stones to develop, small bladder stones in dogs have been known to form in as little as 2-3 weeks.

The presence of a UTI is known to speed up the process of crystal formation, along with any other factors that cause irritation of the bladder wall.

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Are Certain Breeds More Prone To Liver Disease

Certain breeds are more predisposed to liver diseases than others. For example, chronic hepatitis is common in Bedlington Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, Skye Terriers, Standard Poodles, Springer Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Maltese, and several others. While the cause can be found in some cases, not all cases of canine hepatitis are understood.

Other conditions that may lead to chronic hepatitis include viral infections, exposure to poisons, and drug toxicity. Another liver disease, glycogen storage disease, is more common in German Shepherds and Curly Coated Retrievers.

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Best Dog Foods For Liver Diseases

When your dog has liver disease, nutritional management is crucial for their recovery. Your dog requires a diet low in protein, high in fat, and low in copper. The ingredients should be highly digestible to ease the workload on your dogs body.

Overall, be sure to follow your vets instructions. Do not switch your dog to an alternative diet without consulting with them first as this can negatively affect your pups recovery!

204 Reviews

Prescription Diet Canine l/d is a veterinary-exclusive diet made especially for dogs with reduced liver function. It works by reducing the livers workload, offering moderate levels of high-quality protein and L-carnitine. It also offers antioxidant nutrients like vitamin E and C to control cell oxidation. This diet is also pea-free and comes in a wet pate form. Many dogs enjoy the flavor of this food as well.

The main issues with this diet are its lack of availability. Especially on Chewy, several customers report that it is not in stock often enough for their dogs needs. It also occasionally arrives dry rather than wet and can be difficult to moisten.

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• Contains more copper than is suitable for dogs with liver diseases

Summary Of Bladder Stones In Dogs

Bladder stones are a rock-like formation of minerals, ranging in size, that are developed in the urinary tract. Maintaining a well-balanced diet as well as ensuring your dog always has access to plenty of water, so they can flush out the bladder consistently, will help you prevent bladder stones from developing. Complete prevention of bladder stones in dogs is very hard, but annual check-ups with your veterinarian will help your dog stay healthy.

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Dont Use Diy Treatments Without Consulting A Vet

Some pet parents reach for apple cider vinegar in hopes of acidifying their companions urine. But this is not necessarily a good idea.

I wouldn’t add anything to increase the acidity of a diet without the supervision of a veterinarian, says Jeffrey, whose professional interests include preventative care. If the urine becomes too acidic, calcium oxalate crystals/stones can develop.

Cranberry-based products are touted for urinary tract health. It may help with recurrent urinary tract infections because of compounds that cranberries contain , says Bartges, who is board-certified in veterinary internal medicine and veterinary nutrition. However, cranberry juice doesnt acidify urine, he says, so its not considered helpful for dissolving stones.

Running supplements past your vet is a golden rule, even more so if your pet has a bladder condition. There are supplements that can be added to food to modify urinary pH like potassium citrate and methionine, but those should only be used as directed by a veterinarian, Su explains.

Some supplements can actually increase the risk of stones in susceptible animals, Heinze says. Examples include brewers yeast for dogs with urate stones, vitamin C or calcium for dogs with calcium oxalate stones, or products that alkalinize the urine for struvite stones.