good diet to prevent crystals?

• 12-30-2007 4:09 PM

  stardog85 Joined on 09-10-2007 South Carolina, USA Posts 1,355 Points 105

  good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact A friend of mine has a sheltie that has been having some urinary issues.  A vet check revealed numerous crystals, but no stones.  The vet put the dog on Science Diet (s/d canned for 2 weeks, then c/d dry) to prevent more crystal/stone formation but my friend would like to have her dog on a diet with more nutrition so that he can stay on it long term if necessary; she knows the dangers of SD and the Purina and Royal Canin urinary diets aren't much better in this case, so she's at a loss. Any experiences or thoughts on what she might want to look into?  Erin, the Amazing Maggie Mae, and Super Puppy Ziva

  Filed under: crystals, stones Post Points: 0

• 12-30-2007 4:12 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  papillon806 Joined on 03-28-2006 North Carolina Posts 1,850 Points 20

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact I would suggest switching to an all-canned diet for awhile that is low in ash and magnesium.  I *think* Royal Canin actually has a good canned RX diet for crystals, but I'm not 100% sure.    *Ban stupid people...not dogs. Proudly owned by: Wolfie- Papillon Falon- APBT Tigger- Grey Tabby Oscar- Brown Tabby Rink, Dink & Bart- Ferrets Duke- Horse Jack- Blue & Gold Macaw

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• 12-30-2007 7:07 PM

  In reply to papillon806

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,512 Points 75

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact  If she's wanting to go the home prepared route, Monica Segal has a couple of diets for struvite crystals in her book, Optimal Nutrition. I fed Teenie that way for a while. C/D did *not* work for her, at all. I didn't feel like trying other RX diets after the C/D canned made her so sick, so I made her food special.   And I agree with all-canned or fresh. I wouldn't do dry food for a dog with any sort of bladder or kidney problem.  Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 12-31-2007 2:19 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 6,058 Points 300	Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact I think she should do exactly what the vet is telling her in this case.  And, if she wants to make changes she should definately discuss with him/her first.  The crystals could become stones if not managed properly.
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• 12-31-2007 8:34 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  sheltiecrazy Joined on 01-01-2008 Indiana Posts 16 Points 55

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact Thanks all, I'm the friend that Erin originally posted about. We've talked about our concerns with the vet and have been told that SD is the only option, so we've decided to consult another vet in the area (a holistic one) because I don't feel that my dog is doing well on the SD. He is losing weight and is constantly searching for food (I had been told not to feed him anything, not even chews/treats, other than this food). It will probably be Wednesday or Thursday before we're able to get in to see the second vet due to the holiday. Thanks for all the suggestions - hopefully we'll find something that'll work for us. Jenn, Dewy, Rio, Merlin & Callie

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• 12-31-2007 10:07 PM

  In reply to sheltiecrazy

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 6,058 Points 300	Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact Welcome!  I think that's an excellent plan to check with a holistic vet.  I've had many recurrences and problems with Willow and crystals and stones.  It's not something you just want to wing--every dog is different and what works for one might not work for another.  They are gorgeous by the way, OMG, so beautiful!! Lori
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• 01-01-2008 2:03 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,920 Points 1,935

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact It also makes such a difference whether it's struvite or oxalate crystals/stones ... and the general look of the culture.  Checking out a holistic vet is a super good added opinion.  Monica Segal's website http://www.monicasegal.com is good support no matter whether you go the cooked or raw avenue.  Vets honestly typically have very little training in diet unless they have made it a special study and it's typically a much more concetrated area of study for many holistic vets.  Please check back and let us know what you find out??

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• 01-09-2008 1:13 AM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  sheltiecrazy Joined on 01-01-2008 Indiana Posts 16 Points 55

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact Thanks all, We finally were able to get into the vet today (she was booked pretty far in advance). We returned the Science Diet on the way there (figured they might be more likely to take it back before the second vet calls to get Dewy's records). The kicker - the second vet said that Dewy does NOT have struvite crystals at all! I can't remember the name she used for his crystals (starts with a P) but she explained that the reason Dewy didn't have stones is because his crystals can't form them. She said that they are a food-related type and to rotate foods more frequently (maybe trying some premade raw periodically), add cranberries/blueberries (either fresh or Solid Gold's Berry Berry supplement) to help his urine pH, and to try to get him to drink more water to help his urine concentration (which should also help his pH). She also spent a lot of time talking with me about other things to try to get my non-chewers to find something they like to chew on for teeth, as well as ideas for making my older cats more comfortable. I don't think I've ever been so pleased with a vet! She was even nice enough to bring in the microscope and let me see Dewy's crystals myself. Hopefully this works out and all will be well   Jenn, Dewy, Rio, Merlin & Callie

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• 01-09-2008 8:33 AM

  In reply to sheltiecrazy

  TheDogHouseBCMPD Joined on 11-06-2007 Maryland Posts 1,239 Points 190	Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact Wow! That sounds like an awesome vet. ~Steph "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein
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• 01-09-2008 1:30 PM

  In reply to TheDogHouseBCMPD

  shamrockmommy Joined on 09-10-2007 Innerspace Posts 653 Points 0

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact New vet sounds awesome! I called around all the companies I liked and found that several had the target urine pH that the science diet c/d has (6.2-6.4) or were very near. Also increased water input by making "soup" out of canned... 1 teaspoon canned and 1/4 cup water at lunch time just to get more water in to flush their bladders.  IIRC, the foods that had the ok pH were PetGuard (dry/canned), Bil-Jac select.  All the others I called on were 6.6-7.4 depending on brand. Definitely would try a canned food for a while.   Oh, I see that is wasn't crystals after all. Well great news :)  Shamrockmommy Furmom to Gobie the minpin terror, Lexi and Darby the bichon girls

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• 01-23-2008 2:41 AM

  In reply to TheDogHouseBCMPD

  sheltiecrazy Joined on 01-01-2008 Indiana Posts 16 Points 55

  Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact Thanks all - thought I would share the update on Dewy :) We started out at a pH of 9 2 weeks ago, and are now down to a pH of 8 (our goal is between 6-7) in just two weeks!! And even better - most of his crystals are gone, so much so that they had a hard time finding them under the microscope. He also got a major chiropractic adjustment while we there there (had a funky limp and was really out of whack all over) so he's now a happy boy :)   Jenn, Dewy, Rio, Merlin & Callie

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• 01-23-2008 9:28 AM

  In reply to sheltiecrazy

  TheDogHouseBCMPD Joined on 11-06-2007 Maryland Posts 1,239 Points 190	Re: good diet to prevent crystals? Reply Contact Thanks for the update.  Good to hear things are getting better ~Steph "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein
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