Frenchie with Cystine Urolithiasis (Kidiney Stones)

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping for some guidance here.

I have a 4 year old French Bulldog (who is the sweestest thing); he has some allergies which we have learned to manage (after a great many vet visits). He wears boots when he goes out to protect his feet to control most of it without medication with: frequent baths and epsom salt soaks for his feet, food creams, regular fold and ear cleaning, etc (so much more lol). We both work from home, and he is with me all the time, so it's easier to be able to help and catch any problem areas quickly as they come up.

Recently things took a turn with blood in his urine and difficulty urinating, which was diagnosed as UTI and discovered a lot of crystals and incorrect PH in his urine test. Xray found a stone. Surgery to remove (also found a really small 2nd stone not showing on xray), then complications of Seroma and Hernia (2nd small op needed), then another Seroma, followed by a few other small complications that turns out all (but hernia) be related to him being allergic to the stitches (ugh!!). 2 months of recovery later., we really don't want him to go for another operation if we can avoid it, so we need to keep those stones out of there.

We sent the stone for analysis and its this rare type called Cystine which requires and even more restrictive style diet then other types of stones. He is on Royal Canin's Cystine Urolithiasis Diet. We are going to do regular urine tests, and xrays to monitor.

I am looking for advice for anyone who has been through this or has any more info for me. My vet has only seen this a few times in 20 years, and I want to have as many bases covered as possible to avoid him getting another stone.

I'm looking at BalanceIT website for a home made diet but they only have one listed (just rice, egg, canola oil, and vitamin pack) - ugh sounds tragic to eat that every day for the rest of your life (this guy LOVES food). Also I read a Clinicians Belief article that says Egg is no good for this condition, and Royal Canin used Chicken Fat as the protien that he is currently on. Does anyone else have any other diets that work? Really looking for help on the food front. I would prefer not to keep him on a processed dry food for the rest of his life if I can help it, he was eating whole fresh foods before all this happened.

Also I have read medication, specifically Thiola might be a good option. Does anyone have any experience\knowledge with this?

Thank you so much for your time,

Brad