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Center-Sinai Animal Hospital
Serving the Los Angeles Community since 1969
10737 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 559-3770
Full
range of pet care and emergency veterinary services available
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My Dog Has Bladder Stones-- Is it the Foods He's Eating?
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Dear Dr. Baum --
Hello,
I was wondering if you could answer a question for me?
We have a dog who has been eating a very good dog food (all natural,
no added chemicals, preservatives or additives, etc.) for the past 8
years, that he also really liked.
This past week he was acting very strange...when we took him to the
vet, they said he had bladder stones and that he needed surgery
(almost $3,000). They had said that is was most likely caused by
the food he has been eating, and that things like fat should be
avoided. They put him on a "Special Diet," and the first
three
ingredients are rice, corn, and chicken fat. They just said the fat
was bad, but it's in their "Special Food." I was always under
the impression that corn was not the best thing for dogs and their
digestion.
My question is (3 parts): What is the most likely cause of
bladder
stones? And will their "Special Food" (Royal Cann -- Urinary SO 14)
stop this from occurring again?
(2) Also, what is the most important part of a dog's food that would
stop or eliminate bladder stones? (Basically, is it certain
ingredients, moisture content, protein, fat, fiber, or something
else?
(3) And is there less of a chance of bladder stones, in general, or
in the future, if his food contained something like lamb or fish
instead of beef or chicken?
Thank you in advance for any
help you can give!
Mar
Dear Mar:
There is nothing wrong with the food that you had been feeding. The
problem is either your dog's metabolic system or its inability to
handle normal food stuffs.
There are several types of bladder stones that occur in dogs. The
most common type is called struvite and its formation is due to an
inability to effectively eliminate normal dietary amounts of
manganese and phosphorous in the presence of an infection in the
bladder. This type of stone forms in an alkaline urine. There is a
breed predilection of beagles and schnauzers. Surgical removal is
the preferred method of removal although in some cases, dietary
dissolution of the stones is possible. Diet modification and
maintenance of an acidic urine usually prevents recurrence.
Oxalate stones form in acidic urines. This is a genetic disorder
that fails to program the individual to produce a certain hormone,
nephrocalcin, which allows the oxalates to remain dissolved in the
urine. Surgery is the only alternative for removal and recurrence
occurs in upwards of 50% of the cases in spite of dietary control
and medication to keep the urine alkaline (potassium citrate).
Urate stones are also hereditary and due to failure to produce and
enzyme to convert the uric acid into a more dissolvable substance.
They form in acid urines. Seen most often in Dalmations and English
Bulldogs these stones only be surgically removed and then
successfully treated to prevent recurrence by feeding a diet low in
certain proteins that maintains an alkaline urine in addition to a
medication (allopurinol).
Cystine stones are also genetically mediated and involve a defect in
the kidney. They form in acid urine. Surgical removal is the only
treatment and 90% of the cases can avoid recurrence through diet and
medication (d-penacillamine).
Dr. B
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CSAH Doctors' Hours
Monday - Friday:
8:00 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sat.: 8:00 am-4 pm
Sun.: 10 am-4 pm
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Monday-Friday:
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Sat.:
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Sun: 10 am - 4 pm
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