Thread: Crystals in urine

My vet has told me that my 1 1/2 yr old has crystals in her urine and wants me to buy dog food from them. Is that really going to help or do they just want more money? Also does anyone have a dog that leaks urine ? My vet put her on Proin, and he said IF this works she'll have to be on it for the rest of her life. I just hate the thought of having to give her this medication, so many side effects...

Originally Posted by Petlovr

My vet has told me that my 1 1/2 yr old has crystals in her urine and wants me to buy dog food from them. Is that really going to help or do they just want more money? Also does anyone have a dog that leaks urine ? My vet put her on Proin, and he said IF this works she'll have to be on it for the rest of her life. I just hate the thought of having to give her this medication, so many side effects...

Urolithiasis is a disease caused by the presence and effects of uroliths (stones) or claculi or excessive amounts of crystals in the urinary tract. The disease is referred to by many names, including cystitis, urethritis, urinary calculi, bladder stones, or kidney stones. As in humans, these stones and crystals can form anywhere in the urinary tract of the dog, including the kidney, urethra, or most commonly, the bladder. These crystals or stones irritate the lining of the urinary tract, causing changes in the lining, blood in the urine, and often pain. In some cases the crystals or stones will block or partially block the flow or urine, making urination painful or impossible. Crystaluria denotes the presence of crystals in the urine. Crystals form when minerals bind together. The bound crystals are not as soluble as the unbound form and may result in mineral deposits, much like the deposits commonly found in a teapot or coffee maker. Special diets work by reducing the mineral building blocks or urinary stones in the urine. These diets affect the urine pH and increase urination to help flush the urinary tract. To completely dissolve the stones takes 4-16 weeks, depending on the size and number of stones present. I suggest you follow your vet's advice. The alternative would be surgery which is much more expensive and more invasive on the dogs part.

My dog was just diagnosed today with having crystals and she has to go on expensive food from the vets place in which they are not trying to get you with money, they really are helping your dog. I know because I work at a animal hospital. I have to bring my dog back to get ex-ray to see if stones has developed and if so, then she has to have surgery to have them removed. But she has to go on the diet food for the rest of her life. Wish you the best and your pet.

Not every dog who has crystals needs to go on a prescription diet. My dog had struvite crystals with no symptoms. I got a second opinion when my vet said to put my dog on a prescription diet for the rest of his life. Here is a link you can read:
http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter...ones-crystals/

If the vet I got a second opinion from said I had to a special food, this is one I was going to look into. A lot of the prescription foods have ingredients (like corn) that I don't want to feed my dog.

http://www.wysong.net/PDFs/struvatrol.pdf

Originally Posted by MegaMuttMom

Not every dog who has crystals needs to go on a prescription diet. My dog had struvite crystals with no symptoms. I got a second opinion when my vet said to put my dog on a prescription diet for the rest of his life. Here is a link you can read:
http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter...ones-crystals/

If the vet I got a second opinion from said I had to a special food, this is one I was going to look into. A lot of the prescription foods have ingredients (like corn) that I don't want to feed my dog.

http://www.wysong.net/PDFs/struvatrol.pdf

I understand that not every dog needs to go on diet food but if a Vet tells us our dogs should or have to, then obviously our dogs are the ones. I know and trust my vet and I do what she tells me I should. I was saying the vet is not gonna lie to get money off a food bag.

I'm not familiar with Proin, but my Lhasa-poo is on a prescription diet after having surgery to remove a huge stone from his bladder. (This was two weeks after I adopted him, no less.) The diet has helped him immensely--no more straining to urinate, and he seems to enjoy the food.

Thracian, Im glad your pup is doing well, however if you ever find the eye staining, eye goop, or have any issues like dull coat, or large poops, and want to switch feel free to let me know and Id be happy to help. I just dislike those foods b/c if you look at the ingredients they usually have little or no meat, and are full of corn, and filler, and that is a high price for a bag of corn. Also, if you ran out of food for your dog, would you give him some chicken or open a can of corn? I found that some dogs do have amazing results on better foods, and some just are lucky and have great genes and do only slighty better on the outside. I did find smaller poops, no or less eye crusties and no staining, and for example, my Chi when I adopted him had a dull rough coarse coat, had huge dandruff, no belly hair/fur at all, and after 2-3 weeks on better food he was like a new dog. He has shiny soft fur/coat now, his dandruff is 100% gone, and all his belly hair/fur grew in! It was incredible. What I worry about most though, is the stuff on the inside that you can't see. I mean, with Sal, I could see outside results, but knowing that his health insidehis body is better, is what makes me most happy, and should result in less vet bills later on.

Anyway, Im glad you are doing well, and my point is just that you can still feed an excellent healthy tasty food, and treat crystals pretty easily with other methods! I hope it helps someone!

Originally Posted by elenajas

Thracian, Im glad your pup is doing well, however if you ever find the eye staining, eye goop, or have any issues like dull coat, or large poops, and want to switch feel free to let me know and Id be happy to help. I just dislike those foods b/c if you look at the ingredients they usually have little or no meat, and are full of corn, and filler, and that is a high price for a bag of corn. Also, if you ran out of food for your dog, would you give him some chicken or open a can of corn? I found that some dogs do have amazing results on better foods, and some just are lucky and have great genes and do only slighty better on the outside. I did find smaller poops, no or less eye crusties and no staining, and for example, my Chi when I adopted him had a dull rough coarse coat, had huge dandruff, no belly hair/fur at all, and after 2-3 weeks on better food he was like a new dog. He has shiny soft fur/coat now, his dandruff is 100% gone, and all his belly hair/fur grew in! It was incredible. What I worry about most though, is the stuff on the inside that you can't see. I mean, with Sal, I could see outside results, but knowing that his health insidehis body is better, is what makes me most happy, and should result in less vet bills later on.

Anyway, Im glad you are doing well, and my point is just that you can still feed an excellent healthy tasty food, and treat crystals pretty easily with other methods! I hope it helps someone!

Hello, I hope you don't mind me asking this, but I was wondering what kind of food you started feeding your Chi that got such great results? Hearing you describe your dog sounds just like you are describing my little Chihuahua mix. He has large flaky dandruff, a dull, rough coat, very little belly hair, and was just diagnosed with crystals in his urine (and was of course recommended Science Diet by my vet.) I have tried about a dozen types of food for him with no positive results. Thanks so much; I really hope to hear from you about this.

-Melissa

HI Melissa,

Well, I fed Salvatore Wellness Core dog food. Wellness is a great company, and I found the Core line really has worked well for all our dogs, even fosters. However, there are LOTS of great foods out there. The SD won't help for the skin issues you are having, and really you dont need the SD for the crystals. Im assuming you have struvite crystals (if you dont know you should ask), and you can help your pup by choosing a food that keeps his urine acidic and adding things like berry balance, cranberry pills, and distilled water. I would consider the SD as an ultimate, very sad, last resort. I would suggest tryinig the Wellness Core, or other good foods (I can give you a list if you like). I would also suggest purchasing the berry balance, and considering some of the other tips I listed in my previous post about managing struvite crystals in urine. Not every food will work for every dog, but really, you just need to try a few and see. I would try the Wellness Core first, and if that doesnt help within a month or two (after transitioning slowly), then get back to me and I can help you find/pick another suitable food. I do have to check on the acidity of the Wellness Core, but I will do so and let you know. Good luck!!!

Originally Posted by kimber039

I understand that not every dog needs to go on diet food but if a Vet tells us our dogs should or have to, then obviously our dogs are the ones. I know and trust my vet and I do what she tells me I should. I was saying the vet is not gonna lie to get money off a food bag.

Not necessarily, a lot of vets sell Science Diet because Hill's (the maker of Science Diet) pays them to sell it, payed for their training and/or facilities. My old vet gave my puppy a nice complementary Science Diet package thingy and said she highly recommended I feed my puppy Science Diet, same as they do with any new puppy or dog that comes to their office. Now given, if your dog has allergies to other foods or is having other food related issues Science Diet may help. BUT another hollistic food might just as well if not better. Science Diet is actually pretty bad food and I would not recommend it unless your dog throws up every other food you try. If your vet offers or tells you to switch to Science Diet for no apparent reason I would advise you respectfully decline. I feed my puppy Innova but it's expensive as hell so that might not be your first choice.

Well, Innova is more expensive than say grocery brands, and a puppy does eat a lot, however we should point out that as an adult dog, feeding quality foods such as Innova appears to be more expensive, but is actually not much more. I did the math, and to feed the Wellness Core instead of say, Beneful, it cost me $5-$7 more a month and I am feeding 1 larger Jack Russell, a doxie/rat terrier mix, a Chi mix, and a Chihuahua. The bag is more expensive, but it lasts a LOT longer b/c the calories are higher and it is more nutrient dense, and therefore you feed less quantity. Therefore when my neighbor is going back to buy a 2nd or 3rd bag of beneful, I am still feeding the first bag. Therefore, the initial price is more expensive but overall it is not much more expensive. And many companies do make smaller bags if you cannot swing the higher price up front for a larger bag. Also, if you email the companies many will send you a sample and coupons.

I just came back from my vet, and am quite upset. Lexi is 2 year old now and had begun peeing in the house - even right after I have walked her. I thought it was due to her breed mixture (cockapoo) and she was having behaviorial issues. She also pee's all night on her mat in her crate, and has been doing this for a while. Today, at her annual checkup, our vet did a urine check her urine and x-rayed her(there were lots of crystals). What actually causes this? She has been eating Innova for about a year, and only gets bottled water. Could it be from over feeding? I have bought a small bag of prescription Royal Canin SO, and Lexi will be on antibiotics for 2 weeks. If she needs to be on a special food for life, is there a good quality food that I can feed her and our Golden? He loves Innova, but has gained over 13 lbs since we switched them to it over a year ago.

Both my dogs have had crystals in urine. Sassy really did, she had an UTI that needed to be treated. Max's urine sample got stale and formed crystals, a second sample spun inhouse showed no crystals.

There are a lot of different sorts of crystals. Unless you know which one is present you cannot treat the cause. Struvite crystals are phosphate based and usually caused by infection. When the infection is gone the unrine's pH will be normal and the crystals won't form. Oxalate crystals are formed due to a defect in the dog's metabolism and can be helped by eating foods low in oxalate [spinach is high for example] and drinking water low in mineral content. Then there are purine crystals and combination crystals.

It sounds like your dog has struvite crystals as you were sent home with antibiotics. Script food isn't important in treating this type of crystal. Treating the infection is. Take all the pills and go back for the follow up urine culture. Make sure she drinks plenty of water to keep the crystals flushed out. Sassy had to have two courses of antibiotics to get rid of the infection. We were lucky, it can take a long time to resolve this infection.

Have you read the article linked near the top of this thread to B-Naturals? Read that, good information.

If your dog is getting plump, why can you simply not feed him less?

Thank you so much for your responses. It has given me alot of "food for thought".

First thing I will do is switch to distilled water. I had never heard of crystals in urine - so I was kind of shocked to hear our dog has this. I have been researching since my post, and had found about the berry balance, and will begin to use that after we finish the round of antibiotics. I will switch to distilled water too. (that may even help the cockapoo's tear stains). And yes, I have been feeding them the same quantity of Innova as I had with the Eukanuba that we had switched from. He (the Golden) was pretty lean at 75 lbs, and now at 89, he is looking a bit wider. I will lower their portions, although I have put their food in a bin and don't have quanities to refer to. The Golden gets about 2 cups 2x daily, and the cockapoo gets about 2/3 cup 2x daily- and also tries to steal from her brother's bowl. I will lower the quantities, and exercise them more.

I called the pet shop that I get the Innova from, and he told me to switch them both over to the Innova Senior formula. The Golden is 6 and the cockapoo is only 2. Does putting them both on a Senior formula sound ok to you guys?

Thanks again for your advice - I look forward to your replies.