Puppy Problems - Crystals in her urine. Any advice?

[Swetha & Elsa]

We brought Elsa home from the breeder at 8 weeks.  A week later she started peeing a lot and straining at the very end to get some drops out.  Took her to the vet, they took a sample and we started her on Clavamox.  Urine was negative for bacteria but they found a lot of crystals in it.  The issue continued and we were terrified when the drops at the end were pink/reddish.  The vet asked us to give her Vitamin C 500mg twice a day for 2 weeks because the pH in her urine was really high.  So we started that and after one week she was peeing normally again. 

Week 2 of Vitamin C - imagine my terror when, yesterday, I see her straining and peeing a lot and the pink/reddish drops were back again.  Took her to the vet.  They say she might have some physical abnormality with her bladder/urachus and they will be able to fix it when spaying her.  She is 12 weeks old now.

I asked if they can do an ultrasound to see if the abnormality can be detected, so we scheduled an ultrasound for her tomorrow.  I guess we'll go from there.

 

Has anyone else had such an experience? Any advice/suggestions would be very much appreciated!  Please share.

 

Swetha

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As you look at these formulas, check the ingredients against the list of Ingredients to Avoid from the Dog Food Project. Especially avoid any food that contains menadione (it will be at the bottom of the ingredient list) and any artificial preservatives or colors. 

When you see what is in most of these foods, it will make you sick.

Ingredients To Avoid

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's some good info about struvite stones.

http://www.2ndchance.info/struvitestones.htm

I can see where your vet could make a case for an Rx food, but any Purina formula is ridiculous, not to mention dangerous. Purina Dog Chow contains artificial colors,preservatives, and a synthetic form of vitamin K that have all been linked to cancer and various other types of disease in dog. 

[Swetha & Elsa]

Thank you so much Karen - you're so good at this!

I've switched Elsa to Holistic Select Duck Meal.  It is Adult Dog food but low in Phosphorus (which I think was the mineral content the vet was talking about and referred to in several articles I found including the one you mentioned).  She's doing okay now and her sample came back almost clear this Saturday.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh Swetha, I'm so glad to hear this! I really think you are on the right track and hope Elsa continues to do well. Make sure she drinks plenty of water, too! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good news.