Nutrition of dogs with urolithiasis of the kidneys. What to feed a dog with urolithiasis: tips for making the right diet

Urolithiasis disease in dogs (ICD) occurs when sand or stones appear in the kidneys and bladder, blocking the urinary tract. The process of crystallization leads to a violation of diuresis, the animal suffers from pain with every attempt to defecate. Excessive accumulation of urine leads to intoxication of the animal's body.

What is it?

If the owner of the dog notices that his pupil is making puddles on the sofa or carpet, it is urgent to contact veterinary clinic. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment with drugs can eliminate the disease and prolong the life of the animal.

According to statistics, 15% dogs different ages suffer from urolithiasis, of which:

• 10% of young individuals under the age of 3 years;
• 20% of animals up to 6 years old inclusive;
• the remaining 70% are pets of respectable age (over 6 years old).

Causes

Deposits in the organs of the urinary system of animals are formed against the background of changes chemical composition urine. The liquid can become alkalized or oxidized, which affects the composition of the stones. About the factors contributing to the formation of stones, further.

• Infections caused by bacteria or viruses.

In females, stones most often develop precisely because of infection. urinary tract. Wrong treatment or its absence leads to the accumulation of bacteria, deterioration of urination due to inflammation.

Bacterial infection is accompanied by the formation of struvite, consisting of ammonium phosphate, calcium carbonate and magnesium.

• Rare pet walking.

Short and infrequent walks on the street lead to the fact that the dog empties the bladder less often. Low physical activity of the animal contributes to the development of hypodynamia, which causes a deterioration in blood circulation in the organs. Stagnant processes provoke the formation of stones in the bladder.

• Violation feeding.

An improperly formulated diet with a high percentage of protein and mineral salts contributes to the development of KSD. Bran, soy products, and fiber also increase the risk of stone formation in dogs.

Dry food and natural nutrition it is unacceptable to combine. A mixed diet contributes to the appearance of calculi. Additionally, we recommend reading about

• Restriction of water consumption.

Some dog and cat owners do not leave water available to their pets. Animals get used to rarely drink, but at the same time their urine becomes more concentrated. This is quite dangerous for the health of dogs, as stones begin to form in the bladder or ducts.

• genetic predisposition.

Some breeds of dogs are much more likely than others to visit the veterinarian for difficulty urinating. For example, cystines are diagnosed in bulldogs, dachshunds. It is believed that the disease is inherited from them.

Small dog breeds are also more likely to develop urolithiasis. Their small bladder demands frequent emptying, but the owners, suffering from a lack of time, do not provide them with proper walking.

• Features of the structure of the urinary tract.

In females and males, there are significant differences in the structure of the urethra. The long urinary canal in males leads to the fact that stones that have fallen into it from Bladder, cannot fall out on their own. Their progress is accompanied by trauma to the mucous membranes and inflammation. Males are more likely than females to suffer from complete ureteral obstruction.

IMPORTANT!The risk of KSD in a pet increases if several items from the above list are present at once.

Symptoms

What signs should alert the dog owner? Symptoms of ICD are different and depend on the stage of the process.

ATTENTION! Anuria (lack of discharge) can lead to rupture of the bladder in an animal, which is also fatal.

The owner, noticing the symptoms , should provide timely treatment your dog. To do this, contact a veterinarian and undergo the necessary examinations.

Diagnostics

When the first symptoms appear, you should show your pet to a doctor. In addition to visual inspection and palpation, additional procedures will be required.

• X-ray or ultrasound procedure dogs are needed to identify the location of the calculus, its shape and dimensions.
• Analysis of urine helps to determine the type of stones and the presence of infectious processes in the animal. You should not collect urine for research in advance. Adequate results are obtained from analyzes of fresh urine.
• Blood test will show general state canine body.
• Cystoscopy prescribed in emergencies. The intervention is carried out general anesthesia. First, with the help of a catheter, the bladder is released, washed, and then a cystoscope is inserted into the urethra. The device transmits an image of the internal surface to the monitor. The operation is often performed on bitches. Anatomical features males make it difficult to intervene. The cystoscope has to be inserted through a puncture in the wall of the bladder.

Treatment

If stones are present, A complex approach to therapy. Only a specialist knows how to treat an animal. He will determine the severity of the pathology and choose the necessary tactics.

Preparations

1. If the dog is in critical condition, funds are needed to maintain the working capacity of the heart (Cordiamin, Sulfocamphocaine).
2. To relieve spasms, antispasmodics are prescribed ("Atropine", "No-shpa", "Papaverine hydrochloride").
3. Analgesics will help reduce pain ("Baralgin", "Pentalgin", "Analgin"). At the clinic at renal colic can conduct a novocaine blockade.
4. To stop bleeding in animals, "Etamzilat" is used.
5. Accession of infection requires the appointment of antibiotics ("Furagin", "Furadonin"). In the presence of pus - "Neopen".
6. Special preparations for the treatment of inflammation: "Stop-cystitis", "Urotropin", "Urodan", "Kantaren", "Urolex".
7. To support the dog's body is prescribed infusion therapy("Nelite", "Ringer-Locka" and glucose).
8. Probiotics ("Vetavit") will help support the animal's immunity.

Operation

Complete blockage of the canal requires surgical intervention. Dogs undergo several types of operations:

• Urethrostomy, when stones are removed through the opening in the urethra.
• Cystotomy - removal of stones is performed after opening the bladder.
• Urohydropropulsion - pushing stones from the urethra into the bladder.

Power correction

When compiling the menu, the type of stones found should be taken into account.

• For struvite stones It is necessary to reduce the amount of magnesium in the diet. The phosphorus content must comply with the NRC standard. When acidic urine dissolves struvite, the diet should lead to an increase in pH. Meat products and cereals can increase acidity, which will help eliminate stones. It is impossible to overfeed, so as not to increase the phosphorus content.

The use of an acidifying diet should not be long-term. With the complete dissolution of the stones, the nutrition is adjusted. Excessive acidification is dangerous by the formation of another type of stones - oxalate. But alkalization is also dangerous: a relapse is possible when returning to the original diet.

IMPORTANT! Prolonged acidification is dangerous by demineralization of the dog's bones.

• With urate stones it is necessary to reduce the amount of purines and protein in the diet. Dairy products, eggs, vegetables and cereals can be included in the diet. Offal, lean meats, fish, legumes, asparagus are excluded from nutrition. Be sure to improve water supply.
• When identifying cystine stones dairy products are removed from the diet. Eggs should also be excluded from the menu.
• There are cases when a dog is diagnosed mixed stones. In this situation, an individual development of a diet by a nutritionist is necessary. Medicinal feeds are produced only for diet correction with common types of uroliths. With a mixed type of stones, it is difficult to pick up ready-made food. Therefore, without consulting a nutritionist is indispensable.

Possible Complications

Lack of urination for more than a day in an animal threatens death from rupture of the bladder and peritonitis that has developed against it. If the animal does not defecate, acute kidney failure. In this case, the body suffers from poisoning by decay products. Prolonged accumulation of urine leads to irreversible processes in the body and increases the likelihood of death.

Prevention

To prevent the risk of recurrence and for prevention in dogs at risk, it is necessary to observe the following recommendations.

1. Give your dog plenty of clean, distilled or filtered water to drink.
2. Provide a pet living in an apartment with a good physical activity, often taking out for walks.

What to feed?

Depending on the identified type of stones, the doctor will recommend dietary nutrition for the animal. If store-bought food is prescribed, the dog should not be fed with goodies from your table. Do not mix natural food and industrial canned or dry food.

Some animals are reluctant to accept a change in diet. It takes persistence and patience. The first days you can feed your pet from your hand. If the dog does not want canned food, they need to be slightly warmed up; if he refuses dry food, the balls are slightly soaked in warm water.

REFERENCE! If the dog does not drink enough, a few drops of milk, kefir or meat broth are added to the water.

How to choose a therapeutic food for prevention

When choosing a ready-made feed for an animal, the following principles should be followed.

1. Buy food High Quality . The animal should eat in small portions. For this, easily digestible high-calorie premium or super-premium class feeds are suitable. If the food is low in calories, the pet will need a large portion to get enough, and this threatens with an overabundance of minerals and contributes to the development of KSD.
2. When buying dog food pay attention to the phosphorus content. Its reduced content reduces the risk of stone formation.
3. Calcium necessary for young puppies, and for adult animals, its high content in the feed is fraught with severe acidification of urine.
4. Protein should be of high quality, but contained in the feed in small quantities. This will reduce the load on the liver of the animal.

Useful video

According to veterinary statistics, the first place among diseases of the excretory system in dogs is urolithiasis (urolithiasis). The disease has a polyetiological character, but most often develops as a result of unbalanced nutrition and infectious processes. The arsenal of veterinary medicine includes both conservative and surgical methods treatment of the disease.

The main factors that play a key role in the pathogenesis of the formation of stones (struvites) in four-legged pets, veterinarians include:

This phenomenon promotes the formation of tripelphosphate crystals.

• • Not balanced diet . Feeding the animal mixed type(combination of dry food and natural products nutrition), a high-protein diet leads to the fact that the composition of urine is disturbed. There is a high probability of developing urolithiasis with an increased calcium content in the diet. As a rule, in this case, oxalates are formed in the animal.

Expert opinion

Lyubov Ilyina

Veterinarian

According to the observations of veterinary specialists, this type of stone is most often found in pets over 7 years old, as well as in representatives of breeds such as Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terriers.

• Violation drinking regime. If a dog eats dry industrial food and does not receive enough water, the composition of the urine changes, which leads to the formation of crystals in the form of citrates and oxalates. Drinking a pet with untreated tap water also provokes the formation of inorganic compounds in the bladder.
• congenital anomalies is a common cause of kidney stones in dogs. Pathology develops, as a rule, against the background of narrowing of the urethra.
• hereditary predisposition. Breeds such as Scottish Terriers, Poodles, and Pekingese are the most commonly affected by struvite formation in the bladder. Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Cocker Spaniels are also at risk due to the genetic predisposition to urolithiasis. Bassets and English Bulldogs are characterized by the formation of cystine stones.

The reasons that provoke the development of struvite in the bladder in dogs, veterinarians include a sedentary lifestyle, irregular walking of a pet.

Symptoms in dogs

The insidiousness of urolithiasis lies in the fact that the disease develops almost imperceptibly for the owner, the first symptoms become apparent already, unfortunately, when pathological process took on a serious character. A sick dog has the following clinical picture:

In an advanced case, when the stones block the urinary ducts, the animal has abdominal tension. The dog is worried, whining. Perhaps an increase in temperature, anorexia develops. A threatening symptom is the lack of urination, signs of dehydration and convulsions. This condition threatens the life of the pet due to the development of severe intoxication of the body and requires urgent qualified assistance.

Due to the features anatomical structure urinary tract Clinical signs males develop faster than females.

Diagnosis of pathology

In some cases, the diagnosis is established by analyzing urine before the appearance of pronounced symptoms in the pet. Laboratory analysis urine allows you to identify the nature of the stones and prescribe the appropriate diet and treatment. During clinical examination, in some cases, a veterinarian can palpate large stones through the wall of the abdominal cavity.

To confirm the diagnosis, as well as to identify the localization of struvites, a veterinarian can perform x-rays. In a number of cases in specialized agency the pet will undergo excretory urography using a radiopaque substance. The study is effective in individuals older than 4 years. Conducting will help determine the size and number of stones in the bladder.

In order to identify bacterial infection, which often accompanies urolithiasis, the animal is prescribed a bacteriological analysis of urine.

Treatment of urolithiasis

AT acute cases When a pet has an obstruction of the urethra with stones, the veterinarian performs catheterization, retrograde washing of the bladder.

In some cases, a urethrotomy or urethrostomy is performed. The tool is inserted into urethra under local anesthesia. After the procedure, the emptying of the bladder occurs through the operating opening and is often used for pathology in uncastrated pedigreed males. Subsequently, the function of urination is restored naturally.

In a urethrostomy, the surgeon creates a new urethra. This operation combined, as a rule, with the castration of the animal.

Preparations for dogs

In order to eliminate the consequences of blockage of the ureters, antispasmodic drugs are prescribed to the animal - No-shpu, Baralgin, Spazgan, Papeverin. With struvite, manual massage is indicated.

Allopurinol helps to reduce the formation of urate deposits. In some cases, the agent leads to their dissolution.

If obstruction is accompanied spotting, the dog is prescribed hemostatic agents, for example, Dicinon, Vikasol, etc.

Eliminate the inflammatory process in the complication of urolithiasis pathogenic microflora The dog is helped by a course of antibiotic therapy. Best effect provide antibiotics a wide range actions. good therapeutic effect I have cephalosporins, for example, Cephalen, Ceftriaxone.

Operation

In case if conservative therapy does not bring the desired effect, resort to planned operation. Most often, this situation is observed in the formation of oxalates. During surgical intervention stones are removed from the bladder.

Cystostomy is performed under general anesthesia. During the operation, the veterinary surgeon makes an incision in the bladder, followed by the removal of large stones. Small formations (sand) are washed out of the body. Normal urination is restored, as a rule, after 2 to 3 days. After surgery, conservative treatment is carried out to prevent relapse, and a therapeutic diet is prescribed.

Diet and food selection

AT complex therapy diseases in without fail includes a therapeutic diet. Adjustment of the diet mainly depends on the type of stones found in the dog's body and should be carried out by the attending physician.

If urates, cystines are found in a pet, then the diet should be low in protein. Specially designed medicated feeds that alkalize urine, such as Royal Canin Urinary U/C Low Purine, help to limit the intake of protein components in the dog's body without compromising the functioning of other organs and systems.

Expert opinion

Lyubov Ilyina

Veterinarian

The formation of struvite in the bladder requires dietary adjustments aimed at reducing protein, calcium and phosphorus in it. Veterinarians recommend switching these pets to Hill`s C/D or Royal Canin Urinary S/O. Medicated feeds effectively dissolve struvite crystals, are characterized low level magnesium, which prevents the formation of new pathological formations.

Lifestyle in the presence of a disease

If an illness is detected, the owner must first of all take care of the strict implementation of the instructions of the veterinary specialist. As a rule, a therapeutic salt-free diet is prescribed to the dog for life. Based on the results of the analysis, special feeds are selected that dissolve and slow down the formation of certain uroliths in the excretory system.

A sick pet needs regular visits fresh air. Moderate physical activity is recommended. The owner must ensure that the dog is impatient and empties the bladder as needed.

Regular (once every 3-4 months) examination of blood and urine will help control the development of the pathology and the condition of the pet.

Prevention of KSD in dogs

The following tips and recommendations from veterinary therapists will help prevent the development of urolithiasis in dogs:

• Timely treat inflammatory processes in the urogenital area.
• Balance a diet low in phosphorus.
• The moisture content of the feed should not be below 60-70%.
• When feeding dry industrial mixes, the owner must control the intake of fresh water.
• Filtered water should be used to feed the dog.
• Do not allow the animal to become obese.
• Observe the mode of walking, avoiding the overflow of the bladder.
• Have regular urinalysis for early diagnosis diseases.
• Pets at risk should be fed medicated diets to prevent struvite formation.

Urolithiasis in dogs develops, as a rule, due to inflammatory processes, as well as with unbalanced feeding and violation of the drinking regimen. Considering that the symptoms are already detected on late stage disease, you should not delay a visit to a veterinarian. Therapy for the disease includes medications, therapeutic diet and surgical removal stones.

Useful video

About the types of stones, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of urolithiasis, see this video:

Cause of KSD (urolithiasis)

The formation of stones in dogs does not occur in the kidneys, but in the bladder. Stones are of four types:

Struvites are the most common trivalent phosphates that are caused by bacterial cystitis (most common in dogs in adulthood);

oxalates - statistically less common salt deposits derived from oxalic acid; the main factors of their accumulation are the peculiarities of the diet, as well as individual predisposition;
urates are derivatives of uric acid, their occurrence is due to congenital liver defects at the cellular level or congenital vascular anomalies, the ingress of part of the blood from the hepatic portal vein into the systemic circulation (deviations characteristic of black terriers and Dalmatians); the disease may manifest itself in one year old dog;
cystine - extremely rare (casuistic) cases of sedimentation of this amino acid on the walls of the bladder of a dog are due to acidification of urine.

Of the four options clinical reasons only oxalate diseases are related to dietary habits. Stone formation occurs if the dog long time feeds on high-protein foods rich in calcium, while receiving an insufficient amount of liquid.

ICD - diagnosis, course of the disease, treatment

Urolithiasis is symptomatic long delay urine (this is not always accompanied by a visual increase in the volume of the abdomen). If congestion continues for more than 2 days, a fatal outcome is possible. It happens that the deterioration in the health of the animal is obvious. Convulsions, lethargy, frequent vomiting force the owner to go to the vet. However, if urination is not 100% difficult, the patency of the canal is not impaired, a long latent (hidden) phase of the disease is possible, which can only be detected by performing standard urine tests.

It is important to emphasize that there is no general, single diagnosis of KSD, treatment depends on the type of stones formed in the dog's bladder. Radiography allows you to guarantee the detection of the first two types of stones (struvites and oxalates). A complete urinary blockage will require surgery. Conservative treatment includes "mild" diuretics, in cases

Struvite stones are prescribed long-term (from 3 weeks) treatment with antibiotics, selected according to the results bacteriological analysis urine;
oxalate formation, thiazide diuretics, a diet with a reduced content of sodium and protein are prescribed:
detection of urate stones, use a low-protein diet, supplementing treatment with allopurinol.

Cyston, phytolysin, similar drugs have little effect on the effectiveness of treatment.

Urolithiasis: what about dry food?

Fake branded dry food is a separate issue, it makes sense to talk about cases where the content is fully consistent with the information on the packaging about the quality of the product and the manufacturer.

Prevention of ICD (urolithiasis) is based on simple rules:

Do not overfeed your dog with either natural or dry food; it is best to give small but sufficiently satiating portions of high-calorie premium and super premium foods;
use low-phosphorus foods to prevent struvite formation;
exclude food from high content calcium to prevent urine acidification;
with great care to include protein foods in the diet; reducing the load on the liver contributes to the low protein content in high quality dry food;
make sure your dog is drinking enough water; it is highly desirable to give purified water to prevent the development of KSD.

Some pet owners prefer to advance in preventive purposes give your pet drugs that expel sand and stones from the urinary tract.

Dry food for the treatment of KSD

In veterinary pharmacies, you can purchase special dry food designed for the treatment of urolithiasis:

PURINA Veterinary Diets Canine Fofmula,
Hill's PD Canine.

About the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis, it is best to consult with your veterinarian.

Farmina (Farmina) Vet Life Struvite Management- Dietary nutrition for dogs with recurrent urolithiasis, treatment and prevention of struvite urolithiasis and idiopathic cystitis.

Calcium sulphate maintains the optimal pH of the urine, which inhibits the formation of uroliths. Low maintenance magnesium and phosphorus helps dissolve struvite and reduces the risk of their re-formation. Low calcium content reduces the risk of calcium oxalate formation. Natural antioxidants protect cells from negative impact free radicals. The high biological value of the protein provides an optimal ratio of essential amino acids. Glucosaminoglycans protect the bladder mucosa from the effects of microorganisms and toxins, have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce irritation of sensitive pain receptors.

INGREDIENTS

Rice, dehydrated chicken meat, animal fats, potatoes, oats, hydrolyzed animal proteins, dehydrated whole eggs, fish fat, flax-seed, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, vegetable oil, sodium chloride, glucosamine, calcium sulfate (5g/kg).

NUTRIENTS

Moisture 9.00%, crude protein 19.50%, crude fats and oils 19.00%, crude fiber 1.30%, crude ash 5.40%, calcium 0.80%, phosphorus 0.50%, sodium 0 .25%, potassium 0.60%, magnesium 0.06%, chlorides 0.60%, sulfur 0.55%; Omega-3 0.35%; Omega-6 2.70%, EPA 0.10%, DHA 0.15%. Energy value: 3,900 kcal/kg - 16.3 MJ/kg.

Nutritional supplements per 1kg: Vitamin A 15000 IU, Vitamin D3 600 IU, Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol 91%) 600mg, Vitamin C 150mg, Vitamin PP 38mg, D-pantothenic acid 15mg, Vitamin B2 7.5mg, Vitamin B6 6mg, Vitamin B1 4.5mg, Vitamin K3 (MSB 53%) 1.5mg, Vitamin H 0.4mg, folic acid 0.45mg, Vitamin B12 0.06mg, choline chloride 2000mg, beta-carotene 1.5mg, zinc oxide 145mg, zinc sulfate monohydrate 160mg, manganese sulfate monohydrate 188mg; ferrous sulfate monohydrate 44mg, ferrous carbonate 60mg, copper sulfate pentahydrate 32mg, calcium iodate anhydrous 2.0mg, sodium selenite 15mg, taurine 1000mg, DL-methionine 3300mg, L-carnitine 250mg. Technological additives: microcrystalline cellulose, antioxidants, calcium sulfate dihydrate 5g.

Use as directed veterinarian. The recommended course of treatment is 5 to 12 weeks for struvite dissolution and up to 6 months for relapse prevention. The recommended daily amount of food is indicated in the table approximately, if necessary, the feeding norms can be changed depending on the breed, conditions of detention, physical activity, on the stage and extent of the disease. The daily allowance can be divided into 2 or more feedings. When using food, the dog must have constant access to fresh drinking water.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Vet Life Urinary Struvite is contraindicated in puppies, pregnant and lactating dogs, with other types of urolithiasis, when used in therapy with urine acidifiers.

STORAGE CONDITIONS

Store in a closed container, in a dry, cool place. Expiry date - 12 months.

Urolithiasis is a curable disease if properly diagnosed and treated. It should be understood that if you do not properly feed the dog with urolithiasis, no medication will help. Properly chosen diet is an integral part of treatment.

A dog will become healthy much faster if his diet promotes the dissolution of stones (uroliths). Proper feeding- the most important part of therapy, even if the dog had to undergo surgery, since the weakening of the body can lead to a relapse of the disease.

Stones and sand never form just like that, and as you know, by magic they will not dissolve. The diet is designed in such a way as to create a deficiency of certain mineral compounds that the body will take from the stones. Simply put, the urine should not have enough of the substance that sand or stones consist of. With errors in choosing a diet and oversaturation of urine with components, the stones will grow and the disease will progress.

In addition to diet, the composition of urine is changed with drug therapy. The dissolution of the stone will not occur if the measures are applied temporarily, the diet is disturbed or the treatment is interrupted. According to the experience of doctors, stones in the bladder are eliminated faster, because they are constantly in a deficient environment. Stones and sand in the kidneys can also be dissolved if the kidneys are functioning at a normal pace, but it will take longer.

At proper treatment and strict adherence to the diet, bladder stones dissolve in 2-6 months.

Regarding stones that are in the ureters or urethra, there are several nuances. They won't dissolve, but proper diet and will not increase. The best option if the stones descend into the bladder under the stimulation of drugs or naturally. When in the urethra, the stone seems to be pushed up into the bladder, but it can fall again, having only partially dissolved.

In addition to the natural dissolution of urates, struvites, oxalates and sand, there are medical techniques that include a wide range of techniques. Before starting treatment, a urine test is mandatory, because if the doctor does not know which element is the basis of stones or sand, he will not be able to choose an adequate treatment.

Experience shows that treatment at random leads to the loss of precious time., and sometimes to an increase in stones. By the way, the stone does not necessarily consist of only one main trace element, that is, the diet is selected to create a deficiency of several minerals.

During treatment, the dog is regularly examined to track the dynamics. If within 2 months the stones do not decrease, make another attempt to correct the diet. The third attempt was not given and the quadruped is being operated on. AT acute conditions when the dog is unable to urinate or is in serious condition operation is carried out immediately.

Every 1-3 weeks or at the time set by the treating doctor, the dog should visit the clinic for the following procedures:

• Complete blood count with biochemistry.
• General analysis and culture of urine.
• According to the possibilities of the clinic, a picture or ultrasound examination abdominal cavity.

It should be understood that the methods for the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis are strictly individual for each dog. If there is a need for surgery, the doctor must take into account the age, sex, physique of the animal, the size and location of the bladder, the type of urolithiasis and the severity of the condition. Since the pathology affects the kidneys, that is, a filtering organ, drugs for anesthesia are selected after preliminary tests for sensitivity.

Once a dog has been diagnosed with and treated for urolithiasis, there is always a risk of recurrence unless preventive measures are taken.

Diet for struvite

Struvite stones are almost always accompanied by infectious inflammation bladder, ureters, or urethra. The infection is eliminated with antimicrobial and broad-spectrum drugs. The best option for selecting medications is urine culture to identify the type of pathogen.

Treatment and prevention are similar: eliminate the infection and make sure that it really is not there. Analyzes are repeated until the picture becomes clear, because symptomatic treatment can lead to stopping and incomplete elimination of the infection. After the dissolution of the stones, active treatment continues for 7-10 days, during which the alkalinity of the urine is controlled several times a day.

Struvite stones can be sterile, which means that the disease is not accompanied by infection. In this case, treatment is carried out only on the basis of diet. By the way, sterile struvites dissolve faster.

Recurrence of struvite stones that are not complicated by infection is very difficult to predict because obvious symptoms will not. In this case, the emphasis is on diet. For prevention purposes, the dog is fed products with the effect of oxidizing urine or is used special veterinary supplements(with natural feeding).

A diet for illness is selected to inject a deficiency of phosphates, magnesium and ammonium. If you buy dry food, it must be good quality, marked S/D and reduced protein content. Some medicated feeds are deliberately over-salt and should be taken into account. Special attention. The option is acceptable, since the dog drinks more, and the urine becomes less concentrated, that is, stones dissolve faster in it. On the other side, with urolithiasis, most dogs are prescribed a strictly salt-free diet.

Important! If the dog has kidney ailments, except for urolithiasis, the therapeutic diet is introduced step by step, by substitution and within 1.5–2 weeks.

With a natural diet, the dog's food is hydrated as much as possible. It is advisable not to give tap water, but to use purified, bottled water. The diet is compiled with an emphasis on pumping calcium and phosphorus deficiency. It is important not to bring the animal's body to a deficiency of trace elements and, at the same time, to provoke the dissolution of stones. To facilitate the task, special mineral supplements and urine oxidizers are used. When treating urolithiasis on a natural diet, strictly stop overeating. Meals should be fractional, without additional snacks.

Diet for urates

Urate dissolves in urine increased rate alkali. This is one of the most difficult variants of the disease, both for diagnosis and for treatment. In case of successful therapy, the stones dissolve or decrease significantly within 4 months. Treatment is continued for another 30–35 days after complete dissolution, since urates are the worst visible during ultrasound examination.

Food for dogs with urolithiasis of this type contains an underdose of protein and is divided into two types:

• Food labeled S/D(we talked about it above) - minus: leads to the oxidation of urine; plus: contains salt (is an advantage if a salt-free diet is not indicated).
• Feed marked with U/D- plus: alkalizes urine faster; minus: does not contain salt.

A universal industrial diet for dealing specifically with urates has not yet been developed, since almost every case is individual.

A dog that has been diagnosed with urate is put on a lifelong therapeutic diet and regular check-ups. As an indicator, a urine test is used, which must be taken at least 1 time in 3 months.

Diet for cystine stones

One of the cases in which medical scutching is more important than medicated food. The diet is selected in order to alkalize urine and increase its volume. Simply put, the dog needs to drink more, this will lead to the active production of less concentrated urine in which the stones will dissolve. The diet of a dog with this type of urolithiasis is recommended to be reduced to U / D type feeds.

cystine- This is a substance that cannot be globally influenced by diet. Moreover, practically nothing can affect cystine, in terms of natural dissolution. For treatment, cystine is replaced by disulfide, a more soluble substance. Treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of a physician, since all targeted medical preparations have an extensive list side effects. As an enhancer of the effect, drugs are used in the treatment to alkalinize urine.

Prevention of cystine urolithiasis is similar to therapy when urates are detected.

Diet for calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones

The problem with the treatment and prevention of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones is that scientists cannot give unambiguous explanations why these types of stones form. Veterinarians are left with no alternative but to treat this type of urolithiasis, by analogy with human medicine or at random (intuitively). As a preventive measure, the first in importance is a diet, that is, the most balanced diet, and preferably therapeutic food. As an additional therapy (if necessary), diuretics are used.

It is believed that one of the reasons for the formation of stones is an excess of calcium in the body. In this case, it is important to determine and eliminate the cause of excessive intake of trace elements in the body. The difficulty is that an excess of calcium can only be a trigger, that is, after the elimination of hypercalcemia, the problem with stones remains.

The therapeutic diet consists in reducing the mass fraction of protein without reference to microelements (except calcium). When choosing a food, the choice should be made on medicinal products that do not lead to urine acidification. Usually such foods do not contain salt and are marked with the abbreviations K/D and U/D.

In the treatment of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones, a salt-free diet is prescribed to the dog. In addition, it is strongly discouraged to use salt to increase water intake.

Natural diet for kidney stones

If you can't afford to buy expensive food, or if you decide to feed a dog with urolithiasis natural for another reason, there are a number of recommendations to keep in mind.

The first one is the quality of the food. An improperly selected diet contributes to the formation of stones and sand. The second is the frequency of feeding. Few people know, but after eating, the alkalinity in the urine increases slightly, and then returns to normal. If the bowl of food is constantly available to the pet, and he snacks at every opportunity, this leads to a strong alkalinization of urine. Urolithiasis is just one of the consequences of improper feeding.. An overeating dog dramatically increases the risk of developing pyelonephritis and other kidney pathologies.

Calcium deficiency, no matter how strange it may sound, leads to the formation of stones, since the metabolism of microelements is disturbed in the body. Excess calcium also provokes the formation of sand. The conclusion is simple - it is not the presence or absence of calcium that matters, but the balance.

Next important recommendation is to maintain a balance of the energy value of the diet. The longer the dog eats a large amount of cereals, the worse the mucous membranes (including the bladder) work. How is it, you say, therapeutic food contains a reduced rate of proteins, cereals (that is, carbohydrates) are also impossible, so what to feed the dog? Oddly enough, with urolithiasis, you need to think not about what to feed, but how not to violate common truths - that is maintain a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Do not forget about fiber (vegetable food), which should be at least 30% of the total diet of a healthy dog.

Water plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis. When choosing a therapeutic diet, you strictly calculate the amount of salts, but by giving your dog tap water to drink, you derail all calculations. Tap water is saturated and oversaturated with salts and, to put it mildly, unnecessary elements (especially hard water). If your pet has a tendency or is diagnosed with urolithiasis, recommended purchase purified water or install a filter at home.

Lifestyle is an important aspect of prevention, which does not depend on the type of diet. How smaller dog moves, the more her metabolism slows down. By the way, high-quality nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle are also the cause of obesity.

If you do not feed your dog special food, and she has a tendency to urolithiasis, you should be aware of one more nuance. There is an opinion that it is enough for a four-legged walk 2 times a day, but it does not take into account the fact that stagnation of urine (while the dog suffers) provokes the development of urolithiasis. Small dogs are accustomed to the tray, it is convenient for the owners and serves as a preventive measure. Larger dogs should be walked as often as possible or switched to medicated food.

Some dog breeds are genetically prone to kidney stones.

If you decide to purchase a pet of a risk group breed, visit the veterinarian at least once every six months and be ready at any time to transfer the four-legged from preventive to therapeutic food.

Myths about kidney stones

Owners often blame themselves for a pet getting sick, and this happens after a friend or veterinarian voices common myths about the disease. The first and most common misconception sounds different, but carries the same meaning - a sterilized pet needs to be fed only medicinal food otherwise he/she will develop urolithiasis.

The only factor that can support this statement is the natural decrease in the animal's mobility. If you give your pet time, feed it properly and play with it, castration or sterilization is not a risk factor or a cause for the development of urolithiasis.

Fish is healthy, but not completely unnatural food for a dog. AT recent times, a diet with fish began to be considered the cause of urolithiasis, which is not very correct. The risk increases if you feed the animal only with fish, and urolithiasis is not all the consequences. If the pet receives a balanced diet with fish, there is no threat.