Crystals in Urine, food change recommendation

[Adrianne]

My parents rat terrier, Hannah, is now 11 (well, sept 9th). She's been staying with me this week and while here I decided to take her and her brother to the vet for senior check ups. They both looked great except Hannah has crystals in her urine. The vet said the good thing is the crystals are phosphates, not calcium so the recommendation was first try a diet change then potentially a round of antibiotics.

The vets first recommendation is Science Diet W/D but he said there are other options. W/D wouldn't hurt her because she is a bit overweight these days and with her joints, well, it would be good to lose some lbs.

Anywho, any recommendations or is W/D really the best choice for this situation?

For good measure, this is Hannah several years ago

and miss Hannah today

[AllisonPibbleLvr]

What is she eating currently?

[Adrianne]

Iams.

[AllisonPibbleLvr]

Whenever a food is being prescribed, if a client seeks an alternative, OTC brand, I always encourage them to call the company and see if they would feel comfortable recommending their diet to treat that specific ailment.

Is your vet recommending a permanent or temporary change?

The only complaint we get with clients whose dogs we have put on w/d is an increase in the number and size of bowel movements. I would imagine that Hannah wouldn't have that difficult of time switching from Iams to w/d and could certainly benefit from the lower calorie formula.

[Misskiwi67]

Canned food with water - goal is urine specific gravity 1.030.

Recheck urine in 30 days to see if it works, if it doesn't, then you are likely stuck with a prescription diet for life. W/D is one option, but not my first choice.

What kind of crystals were they? Struvite, oxolate?

[dogs4jen]

What about cranberry extract-could that help? What about trying just a better food first, like California Natural for example? She is sure cute!

[Misskiwi67]

What about cranberry extract-could that help? What about trying just a better food first, like California Natural for example? She is sure cute!

Cranberry doesn't help with crystals or stones, sadly. It might help if they are secondary to infection, the research is not yet clear.

And the better foods are often so nutrient dense they make crystals and stones worse instead of better. Over half the pets I see with crystals/stones are on high quality diets.

[Adrianne]

Canned food with water - goal is urine specific gravity 1.030.

Recheck urine in 30 days to see if it works, if it doesn't, then you are likely stuck with a prescription diet for life. W/D is one option, but not my first choice.

What kind of crystals were they? Struvite, oxolate?

I'm not sure which kind :-/ he said not calcium which is good I guess.

What would be your first choice? (keeping in mind a perfectly healthy 14 yr old dog will also share the food as they're free fed)

[Adrianne]

Sorry, yes, I believe he is recommending a perm food change.

[Misskiwi67]

What would be your first choice? (keeping in mind a perfectly healthy 14 yr old dog will also share the food as they're free fed)

I'm a huge fan of Royal Canin Urinary SO... I have used it in the past on my own cats.

I will often do a canned food trial with people with cost constraints to see if they can get away with diluting the urine alone, and its often effective if the owners are diligent. The solution to pollution is dilution!!

[dogs4jen]

Maybe one of those fountains might help encourage her to drink more water?
I guess potassium citrate granules wouldn't help since the crystals aren't calcium.

[akaspaddero]

What would be your first choice? (keeping in mind a perfectly healthy 14 yr old dog will also share the food as they're free fed)

I'm a huge fan of Royal Canin Urinary SO... I have used it in the past on my own cats.

!

Ditto - personal experience with that food. My cat loved it too. He wouldn't touch the SD similar food