Low Protein Diet For Dogs With Bladder Stones

Look for a recipe made with moderate amounts of high quality animal protein.

Low protein diet for dogs with bladder stones.

In fact no diet known can prevent post infection crystals from developing in the bladder. This causes a buildup that can result in bladder stones. The type of diet your vet prescribes will depend on the stone. For example for dogs with urate and cysteine bladder stones your vet will recommend specific lower protein therapeutic diets that promote alkaline ph and reduce intake of stone precursors says larsen who is board certified in veterinary nutrition.

To decrease the chances of your dog developing bladder stones you should avoid feeding foods that contain high levels of oxalate such as spinach sweet potatoes organ meat and brown rice. Meat seafood and poultry is mainly the cause of purine. Protein from an animal source helps maintain an acidic ph preventing the alkaline ph that causes the most common type of bladder stones. Homemade foods can include low fat cottage cheese hard boiled eggs cooked long grained or brown rice and chicken fat or canola oil.

Instead include foods with lower oxalate levels like apples peeled wild rice and meats and fish in their diet. To prevent this from occurring especially in a dog that has previously had bladder stones a balanced diet is extremely important. If you must use processed foods use canned foods which contain large amounts of water rather than dry foods. There are several medical conditions that might require a dog to go on a low protein diet such as kidney disease liver disease and some kinds of bladder stones.

Diets should not be restricted in protein phosphorus or calcium. What canine conditions require low protein diets. Low protein diet for dogs is often recommended when pets have a medical condition which affects the functions of their liver or kidneys or if they have a particular type of bladder stones. Certain bladder stones are caused by high protein and amino acid content in the urine.

A 2002 avma study found that feeding dogs a low carb and high protein diet reduces the risk of bladder stones. Higher sodium chloride is always a plus since it dilutes the urine. Low protein diets may help break down struvite stones and crystals in the short term but simply being on a low protein diet will not prevent bladder crystals struvite or otherwise. Potassium citrate can help dissolve calcium oxalate so if your dog has these stones go for foods rich in this mineral.