Struvite Crystals and Dog Food Alternatives

[Nikki Milonas]

Ruby had a UTI a few months ago and when her urine was tested the vet found struvite crystals.  I was told to put her on Royal Canine for life and the UTI was treated with antibiotics.  After looking at the ingredients of RC I was certain their was something better out there.  I did a lot of research on dog food and tried to find a food low in phosphorous and magnesium.  I ended up with the Honest Kitchen.

 

A month went by and I had her urine retested.  She still had crystals.  The vet and I discussed options and we decided to keep her on the HK but add an acidifier supplement and retest a month later.  A week went by and she ended up blood in her urine and was having a hard time going.  We took her to the E/R and the urine sample showed crystals and another UTI.  So now I have switched to RC and will keep her on that until the crystals are completely cleared up.

 

Karen, here is the link to the ingredient analysis of RC S/O.  When I asked my vet about what to look for, she said to keep the Magnesium at .05% and the Phosphorous at 50% there-abouts.  It was impossible to find dog food with this - except the HK when hydrated.  But the vet I went to yesterday said there is more to in regards to the minerals. 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Nikki

[Nikki Milonas]

Have your read the above links provided by Karen? I found them very helfpul.

I have no doubt that Hills or Science Diet or Royal Canin will take care of the problem. But, at what expense to the rest of the dog's health? I don't want to treat one problem only to have additional problems down the road. I would be all for these foods if the companies used nutritionally sound ingredients.

I will see if Ruby will eat cranberries. I know she likes strawberries :) We don't feed her many dog treats and none for right now.

Good luck and be sure to check out those links.

[Sandra Griffith]

There is an article on feeding dogs with this problem in the latest issue of The Whole Dog Journal. It talks about reccommended home diets as well as supplements for dogs that tend to form crystals (in addition to what to look for in prepared dog foods). I have been fortunate enough not to have had this problem in any of my dogs, but I thought that it might be of interest to you.

[Nikki Milonas]

Yes definitely! Thanks for sharing - I really appreciate it.