Bladder stones in dogs are of different types.
They include struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, calcium phosphate, and silicate stones.
Among these, struvite crystals are the most common.
In this article, I am going to discuss the causes and symptoms of this problem and suggest you a good diet to prevent canine struvite bladder stones.
Struvite crystals are mainly composed of three minerals (magnesium, ammonium and phosphate).
They are formed due to three important reasons - poor diet, genetic predisposition, and bacterial infections.
Before I tell you about the diet to prevent canine struvite stones, let me first tell you a little bit about these factors.
Diet: This is one of the causes of urinary problems.
Commercial pet food, depending on how it is formulated, could alter the urine pH in some dogs.
Foods that contain too many minerals, could lead to stone formation in susceptible dogs.
In fact, dietary change is one of the techniques used to dissolve some types of stones.
Some breeds like cocker spaniels and miniature schnauzers are genetically predisposed to struvite crystals.
Bacterial infections: Urinary bladder infections, when left untreated for a long time, could lead to bladder stones.
They tend to make your dog's urine pH alkaline and create the perfect environment for bladder stone formation.
Infections also cause inflammation, which narrows the passageways in the urinary tract, making it easier for crystals to combine and grow into dog bladder stones.
Diet to Prevent Canine Struvite Bladder Stones To prevent the formation of bladder stones, you should feed your dog high quality organic kibble, which contains all the essential nutrients that your dog needs.
It is tasty, easy to digest, and, most importantly, it does not alter the urine pH of your dog.
So, it is considered the right diet to prevent canine struvite bladder stones by many.
Consult your vet to know more about the importance of diet in preventing bladder stones in dogs.
For example Hill's Prescription Diet s/d is specifically formulated to help prevent stone formation in dogs.
To get the best results, you can add a small dose of natural homeopathic supplements to your dog's diet.
These supplements contain herbs that are well known for their medicinal properties.
They can strengthen your dog's urogenital system, maintain the right urine pH balance, and reduce the risks of urinary problems to a great extent.
Since they are completely natural, there are no risks of side effects involved.
So, you should consider making these supplements a part of your dog's diet to prevent future urinary problems.