Dog With Bladder Crystals: Supplements That Will Help Prevent Crystals

Response to Joyce

Question: I have a 6 yr old jack-a-poo who has had a few UTI”s over the years. I just took her to the vet bc she was barking and then licking her vagina. They did xrays and no bladder stones but her urine showed struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. They put her on a low protein diet. I was wondering what else could I use to help dissolve these so that it doesn’t turn into bladder stones?

Answer: When pets have chronic UTIs, along with licking of the vagina, and bladder crystals, the first place to try to help is with the diet. Often this pet will have skin allergies as well and suffer from scratching and itching. A low carbohydrate, hypoallergenic diet is highly recommended. Chronic UTIs and allergies are often due to the pet eating high allergen foods such as grains, corn and poultry. When a pet has bladder crystals, a “prescription” diet is often given. The diet can synthetically manipulate the mineral content which in turn reduces the likelihood of stone formation, but overall is not nearly as nutritious and/or beneficial for the long-term health concerns of the pet. Moreover, many pets still continue to get the stones and crystals while on the diet and can be allergic to the corn, byproducts and other ingredients in the prescription diet.

What we recommend is a telephone consultation through http://www.askariel.com/ to help you formulate a nutritious custom diet for your pet that will not only temporarily supress the struvite and oxalate crystals but get to the root cause of the development of them. Some breeds are more inclined than others to have struvite and oxalate crystals and stones, but in general, if the pet is put on a hypoallergenic, well balanced diet, the crystals will go away. There are different diets recommended depending upon the type of crystals found. In your situation, since both struvite and oxalate crystals were found (very common), it would not be advisable to “do it yourself” but rather seek out the advice of a pet nutritionist or veterinary professional to help you find a more suitable long-term diet.

In terms of supplements, there are products that would really help your dog. Renelix is very helpful for detoxifying the kidneys and urinary tract and releasing mineral build-up. We have seen a number of dogs use this formula along with the Pet UTI and Probitoic, and subsequent laboratory tests do not show any further struvite or oxalate crystals. Since your dog has a history of some UTIs, it would work best to use the Renelix along with Pet UTI Prevention Formula and Probiotic. Ask Ariel sells a package called the Pet UTI Prevention Package which could really help. Sure hope your dog feels better!

Canine Bladder Stones - How to Help Your Dog

Canine bladder stones form when bacteria enters the urinary tract or if your dog is suffering from a problem that restricts the flow of urine.

Bacterial infection causes inflammation of the bladder, a condition called cystitis. When the body’s defense against infection, urine, loses to the colonization of the invader, bacteria, your dog’s body tries to fight infection. Inflammation occurs, causing the openings in the urinary system to constrict. As stones form due to a problem with the urine, they get caught in the smaller openings.

Physical issues include the pressure of the urine stream and if the urethra itself, the tube that leads urine out of the body, is in good condition. Your dog’s body will also develop antibodies, which is the way the body fights infection. The urine itself is made to kill bacteria assuming it has the right PH, a high concentration of urea and the right amount of acid.

If the urinary system is not operating properly then two types of canine bladder stones can form. The two types are canine oxalate bladder stones and canine struvite urolith bladder stones.

Diagnosis of Canine Bladder Stones

Canine Urinary tract infection or UTI can be undiscovered for a long period of time. If your dog frequently gets urinary tract infection it can lead to bigger problems such as more canine bladder stones and possible kidney (renal) failure.

Your veterinarian will diagnose your dog by taking a clinical history and by conducting a physical exam. Urinalysis (testing of the urine) will indicate if canine bladder stones are a problem. It will also help to determine if there are canine oxalate bladder stones or canine struvite bladder stones. If infection is found, it is difficult to determine where in the body the infection is located.

Treatment of Canine Bladder Stones

The treatment for canine urinary tract infection (UTI) is usually 14 days, but possibly up to 30 days. Antibiotics will be prescribed to kill the bacteria. The problem with long term use of antibiotics is possible side effects. Antibiotics are prescribed at a lower dosage just before bedtime for a period of 6 months if the bacteria is resistant to treatment.

Any stones in your dogs system such as canine oxalate bladder stones will either need to be surgically removed or dissolved via a change in diet. You should also consider longer term treatment approaches. For example, homeopathic remedies for canine bladder stones can help your dog’s urinary system regulate itself and maintain the PH needed to fight stones and bacteria. You should also try and increase your dog’s water intake through a switch to canned food (canned dog food has 80% more water) and by making fresh drinking water always available.

Diet can also be a way of fighting the formation of struvite stones and possibly reduce the formation of canine oxalate bladder stone. Special diets have reduced levels of magnesium, an element associated with canine oxalate bladder stones and struvite stones. This will require a prescription diet that needs to be recommended by your veterinarian.

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog-Health-Guide.org and has written on many feline health problems. See this site for more information on Canine Oxalate Bladder Stones treatment options.

Dog

Canine Bladder Stones - How to Help Your Dog

By Jeffrey Grill
Canine bladder stones form when bacteria enters the urinary tract or if your dog is suffering from a problem that restricts the flow of urine.

Bacterial infection causes inflammation of the bladder, a condition called cystitis. When the body’s defense against infection, urine, loses to the colonization of the invader, bacteria, your dog’s body tries to fight infection. Inflammation occurs, causing the openings in the urinary system to constrict. As stones form due to a problem with the urine, they get caught in the smaller openings.

Physical issues include the pressure of the urine stream and if the urethra itself, the tube that leads urine out of the body, is in good condition. Your dog’s body will also develop antibodies, which is the way the body fights infection. The urine itself is made to kill bacteria assuming it has the right PH, a high concentration of urea and the right amount of acid.

If the urinary system is not operating properly then two types of canine bladder stones can form. The two types are canine oxalate bladder stones and canine struvite urolith bladder stones.

Diagnosis of Canine Bladder Stones

Canine Urinary tract infection or UTI can be undiscovered for a long period of time. If your dog frequently gets urinary tract infection it can lead to bigger problems such as more canine bladder stones and possible kidney (renal) failure.

Your veterinarian will diagnose your dog by taking a clinical history and by conducting a physical exam. Urinalysis (testing of the urine) will indicate if canine bladder stones are a problem. It will also help to determine if there are canine oxalate bladder stones or canine struvite bladder stones. If infection is found, it is difficult to determine where in the body the infection is located.

Treatment of Canine Bladder Stones

The treatment for canine urinary tract infection (UTI) is usually 14 days, but possibly up to 30 days. Antibiotics will be prescribed to kill the bacteria. The problem with long term use of antibiotics is possible side effects. Antibiotics are prescribed at a lower dosage just before bedtime for a period of 6 months if the bacteria is resistant to treatment.

Any stones in your dogs system such as canine oxalate bladder stones will either need to be surgically removed or dissolved via a change in diet. You should also consider longer term treatment approaches. For example, homeopathic remedies for canine bladder stones can help your dog’s urinary system regulate itself and maintain the PH needed to fight stones and bacteria. You should also try and increase your dog’s water intake through a switch to canned food (canned dog food has 80% more water) and by making fresh drinking water always available.

Diet can also be a way of fighting the formation of struvite stones and possibly reduce the formation of canine oxalate bladder stone. Special diets have reduced levels of magnesium, an element associated with canine oxalate bladder stones and struvite stones. This will require a prescription diet that needs to be recommended by your veterinarian.

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog-Health-Guide.org and has written on many feline health problems. See this site for more information on Canine Oxalate Bladder Stones treatment options.

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