Food advice- skin, coat, and uti

[Logan and Colbie]

I'm looking for some advice on what to feed my labradoodle. She is currently 10 months old and weighs a bit over 50 pounds. When I first got her she was about ten and a half weeks old and a family said they were unable to care for her. She had a recurring uti issue for awhile on blue buffalo food (which is what the prior family fed her). The vet recommended purina pro plan lamb and she has not had issues anymore. I am looking to change brands when I switch to adult food and would like something that will promote healthy skin and coat as she seems very dry and gets sores easily but still keeping her PH balance in mind for her urinary tract to stay healthy. Any recommendations?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Please read through some of our discussions here in TFG. We do have a list of recommended food brands, and Purina is not on it. 

You should know that there is no nutrition curriculum in vet school and that what most vets know about pet food comes directly from the Purina and Hills salesmen. This has been documented.

There is nothing in Purina Pro Plan, or in lamb, that would cure a UTI, which is an infection that requires medication. I'm really hoping the UTI was treated with meds and not just with a food switch, lol. There's also nothing in any Blue Buffalo formula that would cause a normal healthy dog to have recurrent UTIs. You didn't mention which Blue formula the family was feeding (there are several dozen), but I'm pretty sure that the food wasn't the problem. Diet is not a factor in recurrent UTIs, unless the food doesn't meet AAFCO standards and doesn't supply the proper nutrients in the appropriate amounts.  While change from Purina is a good idea, no food is going to make a difference if a dog has an underlying medical condition.

Here's a good article on the causes and prevention of UTIs. Notice food is not mentioned. Water consumption, on the other hand, is important. http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-need-to-know-abou...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Regarding healthy skin and coat, food does play a big role. What you need is a formula with an Omega 6:3 ratio of less than 5 to 1, the lower the better, and an Omega 3 content that comes from fish. Fish based foods generally have the best Omega 3 fatty acids content, and grain-free foods generally have the best Omega 6:3 ratios. Your best bet for skin and coat is a formula like Orijen's Six Fish or Wellness Core Ocean. Acana Pacifica or Zignature trout & Salmon would also be good choices. Check our recommended list for more options. Many of us here also add fish oil supplements to our dogs' diets to improve skin and coat. 

[Logan and Colbie]

Great thanks so much for your advice! Yes she was put on many meds a few different rounds (she just couldn't kick it unfortunately) and her culture came back very off balance which is why the vet recommended a food change but I see what you're saying! I appreciate all your help.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, any time that a dog is or has been on antibiotics, they need a good probiotic to replace the good gut bacteria that the antibiotic has destroyed. Most vets sell Purina's Fortiflora, which is NOT a good probiotic. We recommend Proviable DC or iFlora; both can be purchased on-line if your vet doesn't sell them, and are usually cheaper on-line anyway. You'll notice that probiotics were mentioned in the article on preventing UTIs. 

You will also want to encourage her to drink a lot of water if she's prone to UTIs. 

[Logan and Colbie]

Hey Karen, I noticed that the ocean formula doesn't have a puppy version- I think my pup still has a bit of growing to do, should she stay with puppy formula?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, you did ask about a new food for when you switch to an adult formula, lol. None of the ones I recommended have "puppy " versions. 

But at 10 months, you are perfectly fine switching to an adult formula. Your pup's skeletal growth is complete, he will continue to gain weight in the form of muscle and bone density, but he's basically done growing.

[Logan and Colbie]

Great thanks, I guess I confused myself there. I appreciate all of your advice!

[Carolyn and Sadie]

Hi Karen, I currently feed Acana Pacifica to my almost 2 year old cockapoo but her stools are softer than I would like. Well formed but so soft it is hard to pick up. She is having an issue with impacted anal glands on a regular basis so would to firm them up. I have been adding canned green beans to her Pacifica and it helps a bit. Sweet potato or canned potato makes her stools softer. I was thinking of switching to Wellness Core Ocean because it has a little more fiber and a bit less fat. I know you are an expect in nutrition. Do you think Wellness Ocean is as good a food as Acana Pacifica?

Could you look over and compare their ingredients? Also is one better than the other for dogs with UTIs? Does it matter the calcium or phosporous? (I know I spelt that wrong) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The two foods are very similar. As far as one being "as good as" the other, while Champion is IMO the best pet food company out there, I feed my own dog one of the Wellness formulas because Champion doesn't make one that works for him. The extra fiber and lower fat in the Core Ocean may very well work better for your cockapoo; I'd try it. 

As I mentioned above, diet is not normally a factor in recurrent UTIs. Here's the link again:

Here's a good article on the causes and prevention of UTIs. Notice food is not mentioned. Water consumption, on the other hand, is important. http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-need-to-know-abou...

[Carolyn and Sadie]

Thank you Karen.

[Vinny and Ranger]

Hi Logan and Colbie

Thought you might learn something from our experience with UTI.

Ranger was diagnosed with UTI and was prescribed antibiotic.  I am against antibiotics or for that matter any pharma drugs.

But had no choice. He recovered within a weeks time.  I started giving him NaturVet cranberry relief for a while and also Vetri Science Probiotic.  No more UTIs so far. But he has been having tummy issues.  i noticed that he does not drink that much water.  I encourage him to drink by putting some kibble in his water.

[Logan and Colbie]

thank you! I appreciate the advice. We have added water to kibble as well and noticed it helped. Hope Ranger is doing alright :)