My dog Cupcake has struggled with bladder stones since she was 4 years old. She’s a shitzu/Bichon and unfortunately both of those breeds are predisposed to Calcium Oxalate crystals and stones, as are several more breeds. There are many types of bladder stones, so please do your research and consult your veterinarian before making any type of diet change.
For years Cupcake was on Science Diet C/D formula to prevent stone occurence. However, as she was getting older, despite being on a strict diet, she was having bouts of stones that had to be treated with Science Diet S/D canned food.
After she would be on the diet for a month or two, she would pass the stones and the vet would recommend her going back on the C/D formula. We did this many, many times, and still she would struggle with stones.
What I didn’t understand was why, even though she was on a strict diet was she still having recurring stones? Well thats when I decided to dive in and do my research to understand these pesky little stones that can reek havoc!
What you need to know about Calcium Oxalate Stones
Any breed can be affected, but there are certain types that are predisposed. Dogs that are fed kibble, or dehydrated processed food (which is the majority of dog foods out there), will develop stones. Kibble causes the dogs pH levels to become acidic over time, and it makes there urine more concentrated, which increases there chance for stones.
For the longest time I knew my dogs kibble was causing her stones. I honestly was just too scared to change it, because I was worried she wouldn’t be able to handle the change. What if she ended up needing surgery, or worse case scenario, went into kidney failure! Yet I couldn’t keep feeding her crappy dehydrated food, and be in and out of the vet to treat her stones.
How to prevent stones
No matter what breed of dog, switching from kibble to a natural raw or a cooked diet is the BEST way to prevent stones! However, its important you do this gradually! Do not just switch it all at once, for Cupcake I introduced the food a little at a time, 1/4 of the new food with 3/4 kibble. Then I slowly increased the new food and decreased the kibble, till all she was eating was healthy nutritious food.
Instead of buying the expensive raw food, I decided to make my own food, that way I knew exactly what was going in it. Check out: What I Feed My Dog to Prevent Bladder Stones! I know, it may sound like a pain in the butt to cook a grand meal for your dog. However, trust me its not that bad! Make a big batch and freeze it, and it will last a few weeks, and the more you do it, the easier it gets!
Make sure to add a couple tablespoons of water to the food before serving, this way the food is moister, and your dog is getting as much water as possible.
Just as a preventative I purchased some urine testing strips so that I could check Cupcake’s urine periodically for a urinary tract infection, or protein in her urine, which is a telling sign of kidney failure. Every time I tested, it came back with normal levels which eased my mind.
My Cupcake has been stone free now for almost a year, and it’s all because of a change to a natural diet and not eating junk processed kibble. Just like humans, most diseases can be cured with a balanced plant based diet. If you want to learn more about whats in dog food and how bad it is, check out the movie on Netflix called “Pet Fooled”, its an eye opener!
If you have any questions about this article or are experiencing the same problems with your beloved fur babies, I would love to hear your comments below.
