Finding Honest Answers About Cat Food For Urinary Crystals

Recently I was in one of the pet superstores browsing the pet food isles and couldn’t help but notice that dog food had 4 isles and cat food had only 2. Not only that but the varieties and foods formulated for specific ages and ailments seem to be much more defined in the canine section. This lead me wonder whether there is a cat food for urinary crystals or perhaps only something written about on the internet or pet care manuals. But in order to find the right cat food for urinary crystals it might be helpful to know exactly what we are dealing with.Cat urinary crystals are actually tiny bladder stone formations generally either made up of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate (struvite) or calcium and phosphate (calcium oxalate). Female cats have a high risk of developing struvite crystals, especially those one to two years of age. Calcium oxalate crystals tend to occur in male cats, particularly those who are bordering on senior citizen status.The proper cat food for urinary crystals will vary depending on the type of crystals present. There are couple of cat food manufacturers including Hill’s who have already done much of the formulation for us. Normally prepackaged cat food for urinary crystals is low in magnesium, aids in balancing pH levels, may contain a crystal dissolving agent such as L-methionine, and are high in salt. The high salt content could prove problematic in some cases especially if your feline has a irregular heartbeat or has  other coronary problems. The high salt content is one of the primary reasons why these prepackaged diet are not recommended for long term use.You may be asking why so much salt is included in the first place? The answer is fairly straightforward. Salt encourages increased fluid intake which makes the whole urinary crystal elimination process more effective by keeping the bladder flushed and pH urine levels moderating.Another important step in our program is not to feed your pet table scraps. Now, I know this is a difficult request, cats can beg better than most animals and can generally convince their owners to do almost anything but I encourage you to stay strong. Do not feed them foods that are high in magnesium and also produce high alkaline levels such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna, shellfish, cheese, or vitamin and mineral supplements. Pulling the tablecloth out from under their desires could create a deficiency in essential omega 3 fatty acids. The omegas are found in very few food and not produced by your cat’s body so some form of supplementation could prove beneficial. Omega supplements are widely available, affordable, and can be added to your felines food or given orally.Additionally, many cat owner are implementing supplements containing uva ursi with their diet modification program. Supplemental formulas containing this herb are considered to be a general urinary tonic and may be helpful in preventing crystal formation. This one two punch has proven to be very effective in eliminating urinary crystals and certainly is an option worth considering.

Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health products and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field of natural health and wellness.Learn more about natural pet remedies and natural health at Purchase Remedies.com

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!

My dog has struvite crystals

A significant number of pet parents at one time or another have to deal with their cat or dog experiencing a Urinary Tract Infection. Frequently the infection is also accompanied by the incidence of struvite stones. So common is this disease that up to 1 in 5 dogs or cats can be affected by this in their lifetime.1

The most common signs of a UTI in cats and dogs is straining during urination, blood in the urine, fever, lethargy, unpleasant smell to urine, incontinence and urinating in inappropriate places, particularly for cats. Among the bacteria responsible for UTIs, E. coli was found to be present in most of the cases followed by Stapylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella spp. , Proteus spp. and then Pseudomonas spp.

Usually UTIs clear up after antibiotic therapy, but sometimes they recur, either due to reinfection with the same or another bacterial species. The appropriate antibiotic to be used is identified via a urine culture. Modern medicine is, however, plagued by a rising incidence of antibacterial resistance and comes with additional costs, such as adverse effects on gut microflora increasing the risk of infection with Clostridium difficile and this in turn may lead to serious colon infections in dogs. The use of a natural plant based preventative for UTIs and struvite stones would clearly help to reduce the risk of antibacterial resistance and disturbances in gut microflora.

Most struvite stones in dogs are actually infection-induced and female dogs are at the greatest risk for this. The reason for this is likely due to the anatomy of the female urethra, which is short and wide compared with that of the male. When a UTI is caused by Staphylococcus spp. (less commonly Proteus spp. And Ureaplasma) bacteria, a biochemical reaction is put into play which favors the formation of struvite stones in the pets urine/bladder even if the pet is on an acidifying diet.

Dogs typically develop struvite stones (uroliths) in their lower urinary tracts within 2 weeks of contracting a staphylococcal urinary tract infection. There are, however, other conditions that promote crystallization of magnesium ammonium phosphate (i.e. struvite) including an alkaline urine, diet and genetic predisposition. Breeds especially affected by struvite stones include the Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and Yorkshire Terrier.  Even factors associated with inbreeding have been reported to increase the frequency of struvite uroliths in Beagles. An increased risk of struvite stones in both sexes of Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers has also been observed. Specific diets high in fat and salt that are given to dogs to help dissolve struvite stones have their own risks. Pathogenic bacteria trapped within the stones are then constantly released and pose a threat for reinfection and a diet high in fat and salt has its own set of health risks.  Surgical removal is another option for stone removal. Sometimes stones can become bigger than half a kilo (1 lb).

One of the most effective natural remedies for Urinary tract infections and by association, infection induced struvite stones is cranberries. Cranberries contain tannins called (pro)anthocyanidins or PACs, which are stable plant compounds exhibiting potent in vitro anti-adhesion activity against pathogenic urinary tract bacteria such as both antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant strains of Escherichia coli. While preventing bacteria from sticking to the cell lining of the urinary tract is believed to be the primary mechanism, a direct mild antimicrobial activity against other UTI causing bacteria has also been reported. Pure cranberry extract powders are the most effective way to get the multiple health benefits of cranberries into your pet. Not only is the extract effective for preventing urinary tract infections and by implication infection induced struvite stones, but the phytochemicals in the berries are heart healthy and also good for dental health. Administering cranberry extract in powder form eliminates the excessive sugar found in juices and dried cranberries, as well the powder mixed in food coats the teeth and helps to keep the your pets mouth clean in exactly the same way it keeps their urinary tract “clean”. The powder is also much more palatable to your pet than fresh cranberries and delivers a much more concentrated dose of the needed phytochemicals. Look for a cranberry extract that is not adulterated with fillers, preservatives or colorants and one that is food grade and certified organic.

References consulted:
1. Urinary tract infection – a European perspective. B. Gerber,  EJCAP – Vol. 17 – Issue 1 April 2007, 51-54.
2. Canine urolithiasis: A look at over 16 000 urolith submissions to the Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre from February 1998 to April 2003 Doreen M. Houston, Andrew E.P. Moore, Michael G. Favrin, Brent Hoff. Can Vet J Volume 45, March 2004,  225-230.

3. Recurrent urinary tract infections in older people: the role of cranberry products
DEEPA SUMUKADAS1,∗, PETER DAVEY2, MARION E. T. MCMURDO1
Age and Ageing 2009; 38: 255–257 C _ The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.
All rights doi: 10.1093/ageing/afp034 reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
4. Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Basu, Rhone, Lyons. Nutr Rev. 2010 March ; 68(3): 168–177. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00273.x.
5. Potential oral health benefits of cranberry.
Bodet C, Grenier D, Chandad F, Ofek I, Steinberg D, Weiss EI. . Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2008 Aug;48(7):672-80.

Tags: Cranimals Original, My dog has struvite crystals, My dog has UTI, Natural treatment for UTI in dogs and cats, Organic pet supplement, Preventing re-ocurring UTI in pets, Preventing UTI re-occuring in Dogs, Treating my dogs urinary tract infection, Treatment for cats with UTI, treatment preventative for pets with UTIs and struvite stones, Why Cranberries work for UTI

Struvite Crystals, FLUTD, Canine Struvite Urolithiasis, Bladder Stones – understanding the causes…

Struvite crystals, bladder stones and urinary disease syndromes are examples of nutritionally influenced disease conditions. As is the case with many domestic animal diseases, it is important to note that canines and felines in the wild that consume a natural raw diet do not experience struvite crystals and urolithiasis to any degree. Domestic animals on the other hand, which are fed a diet of highly processed denatured, starch-based, synthetic products, succumb to struvite crystals, bladder stones, and urolithiasis in large numbers.

There are two primary causes for this disparity in disease incidence: Domestic animals are fed an exclusive diet of nutrient depleted, highly processed pet foods. This is in stark contrast to the natural, meat based, raw diet replete with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and probiotics consumed by wild canines and felines. This plus overfeeding creates an unhealthy physiological environment in which disease can take root.

Conventional pet foods are unnatural in that they are denatured by heat, imbalanced in minerals, and laden with starches and carbohydrates (in far greater quantities than would ever be consumed in the wild). This yields a more alkaline urine, which causes the precipitation and the development of struvite crystals, bladder stones and urolithiasis disease.

The frequency with which companion animals fall victim to urinary disease syndromes is astounding. Prevention and treatment can be achieved while simultaneously creating optimal health for your pet by mimicking the natural/archetypal diet. This fosters an acidic body environment, which will aid in both the treatment and prevention of struvite crystals, bladder stones, FLUTD, and canine urolithiasis.

In spite of common opinion, the magnesium content of natural foods is not an etiological factor in FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) and canine urolithiasis unless it is added in the form of excess magnesium oxide rather than magnesium chloride. Animals in the wild maintain an acid urine and freedom from struvite crystals, bladder stones, FLUTD, and canine and feline urolithiasis, yet the foods consumed by wild canines/felines contain higher levels of magnesium (0.1%) than suggested by some pet food manufacturers.

Struvite Crystals, FLUTD, Canine Struvite Urolithiasis – Treatment and Prevention with a two step approach The objective in both prevention and treatment of struvite crystals, bladder stones and urolithiasis should be restoration of the essential natural archetypal canine/feline diet, and replenishment of essential nutrients to restore proper urinary tract balance.

Revert the diet to its natural form. The diet pet carnivores are designed for is meat based. It is not by coincidence that high protein foods naturally generate a more acidic urine which prevents the development of struvite crystals and bladder stones. Feed entirely meat based and foods, either raw or minimally processed to preserve full nutrient value. Feeding in variety, not feeding just one food meal after meal, is also critical to health. Supplement with pH balancing supplements depending on the circumstances increasing or decreasing pH balance to restore natural balances and acidify the urine. Decreasing the pH balance helps to overcome the deficiencies in commercial processed pet foods by helping the animal extract the nutrients that are locked into the mainstay commercial diet(s). Biotic pH- decreasing supplement nutrients, which are commonly lacking as a result of processing pet foods. They also supply nutrients which help regulate metabolism to generate an acid urine. An acid urine has been demonstrated to not only be calculolytic (dissolves existing struvite crystals), but also preventative for the formation of struvite crystals and bladder stones in Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) and canine urolithiasis.
Note: Food and supplement recommendations in the last paragraph refer to Wysong products.
Contribution by R.L.Wysong, DVM

Preventing Struvite Crystals in Your Dog and Cat

Cats and Dogs are carnivores and they usually eat meat. With this fact pets, especially cats and dog are more susceptible to struvite crystals than the other pets. Normally, around eight five percent of pets with struvite bladder stones are usually female. Mostly breed’s pets of the same genre are in high risk of struvite crystals, especially those breed pets like the beagle, miniature schnauzer, and English cocker spaniel. In addition, the average age of pets infected with struvite bladder stones falls under 3 years and common to pets of 2.9 years.

In order to tackle Preventing Struvite Crystals in Your Dog and Cat you first need to understand how it form and what the composition are. Struvite is a crystal composed of Magnesium, Ammonium, and Phosphate, it was also called Triple Phosphate due to the believe that the Phosphate ion was combined to three positive ions instead of just ammonium and magnesium. Usually struvite crystals are always blended with urine and when they present in a very large amounts they can easily form stones. When urine is infected with bacteria resulted ammonia, and this in turn result ammonium. Thus, this is the toxic to the cells of bladder wall which produce inflammatory. Now, preventing struvite crystals in your dog and cat is as simple as proteins released the inflammatory which usually form the actual stone.

You might be worry as to how do I tackle preventing struvite crystals in your dog and cat. Nevertheless, it needs not to worry you for this can be removed through surgically, by a special technique called dissolved via diet. Surgical advancement is that the stone is removed within and healing took place in a day. Dietary dissolution is also a possible mean to this infection, it done through a special food called S or D diet which is made with a special purpose to dissolve struvite stones. However, this is not the end task since some pets inclined to recurring bladder infection that reform struvite stone even after removing the crystals through surgical. Therefore, enhancing prevention is highly important and necessary for the health of your dogs and cats.

In order to poise Preventing Struvite Crystals in Your Dog and Cat dietary serve as a secondary mean. It is natural and home solutions, as it focus on the therapy of prevention before infection. According to senior research, protein creates more acid in urine which is good for preventing struvite crystals formation. Treating pets with commercial food is another way of putting in bladder stones risk for it is full of carbohydrates and starch. It is not recommendable that you should treat your pets of dogs and cats with dry food, especially to those pets having a history of bladder stones. Moreover, the higher carbohydrate level in foods with grains makes urine to be become alkaline the stem of struvite crystals. So, a diet which is low in carbs and higher in protein makes acidic urine which in turn helps for the prevention of struvite crystals. Feeding with meat-based food is the best defender for nullifying both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.

Can a dog with crystals eat holistic pet food?

I was working out with my trainer this morning. He has two adorable little Springer spaniels, young rescue dogs. One had crystals in his urine and was put on a special pet food. Justin was feeding them Canidae, I had given him a bag of Life’s Abundance and I keep him in healthy dog treats, but the little dog had a bladder problem (not related to the food) so the vet put him on Science Diet C/D.  Then he ran out of C/D and bought something at the grocery store.

Knowing that I’m a holistic pet person and animal rescuer, Justin asked me what he should put his little guy on. He definitely wanted a better food because the little dog is not gaining weight as well as his brother.

I was cautious about putting him on Life’s Abundance because in my experience with cats, UTI’s can be deadly so you have to give them prescription diets. But I gave him a 3.3 lb sample bag that I had in my car just to get him off a very nasty grocery store brand and told him I’d do some homework.

What follows should be reviewed with your own veterinarian and it DOES NOT APPLY to cats!

I’m so happy to say that, as long as the dog doesn’t have a chronic UTI problem or kidney stones, he can be on holistic food (AFTER his course of antibiotics and prescription food and whatever else the vet recommends)! Crystals don’t lead to kidney stones in dogs the way they do in cats. And they’re apparently quite common. It’s all about making sure you DO treat any infection that is present.

I, personally, would say, choose foods from the USDA APHIS certified manufacturers (see my article here).  My observation is that those truly are the best foods on the market, they source from US animals and grains which follow US standards of fertilizer and pesticide and fungicide controls… just safer, in my opinion.  So for a pet that is already prone to UTI’s and crystals, go very safe.

Here is my homework:

From JustAnswer.pet — answered by a real vet
http://www.justanswer.com/questions/xqw-causes-dog-urine-crystals

The main thing I see on the UA is the pH is high.

So now that I have some history…I will give you “my opinion” on this
problem.

Struvite crystals in a dogs urine…in the absence
of a UTI, don’t mean anything…and don’t lead to anything. Acutally the crystals
can form in urine as it cools. In any case, you can take the urine from 100 dogs with out UTIs and maybe 40% have crystals…doesn’t mean anything. I do not agree that C/D is the correct food at this time.

Unfortunately, lots of vets treat these like they do cats, but the formula for cats, like acidifying urine and special foods…are not the treatment of choice.

Now, if this dog becomes chronic with UTIs, and struvite crystals progress calculi…then problems…but it will not be because she has crystals now…the issue
relies on the infections.

A premium food that is balanced is fine. Some of my clients will occasionally use cranberry pills…but the urine acidity is not as important in dogs as cats, but it can help alittle.

Here are some great natural tips to help your dog avoid crystals:

Once a diagnosis has been obtained from your veterinarian and treatment has been implemented, it is important to adhere to these tips:

Keep fresh water available for the dog at all times, and encourage consumption of water. Keeping the kidneys and bladders flushed is of paramount importance to help prevent crystals and stone formation. Water consumption is very, very important!

Try and feed moist diets, such as fresh food diets, broths, canned diets and extra water added to foods served.

Do not keep the dog confined, but allow access for urination at all times or as frequently as possible. Holding the urine causes concentrations that encourage crystal and stone formation.

Teresa’s note:  Crate training?  Is this causing more UTI’s and crystal formation in our dogs?  Just wondering…

Distilled water may be helpful in averting some cases of stone and crystal formation and check your own water supply for minerals if possible, especially if you have hard water in your area.

Teresa’s note:  Now, I HAVE seen this discussed, so if your dog is prone to crystals, might want to look into this.

Giving a B vitamin supplement may be helpful and has been indicated in use for humans with these problems. http://www.doctoryourself.com/kidney.html (good site for human stone problems)

There is also some question that high calcium, rather than causing stones, may help dissolve them. This is also true of vitamin C. (See above link)

Source: http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/bladder-stones-crystals/

Originally posted on one of my other blogs, reposted here because it was so darned useful!

Teresa Holladay
The Holistic Pet Food Blog
http://holisticpetfood.wordpress.com

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