Bladder stones in dogs - treatment, symptoms, prevention. Bladder stones in dogs: causes, symptoms, prevention methods

According to veterinary statistics, the first place among diseases excretory system In dogs, it is associated with urolithiasis (urolithiasis). The disease has a polyetiological nature, 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.

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Causes of urolithiasis development

To the main factors playing key role in the pathogenesis of stone formation (struvite) in four-legged pets, veterinary specialists include:

This phenomenon promotes the formation of tripel phosphate crystals.

• • Unbalanced diet. Feeding the animal mixed type(combination of dry food and natural products nutrition), a high-protein diet leads to disturbances in the composition of urine. High probability of development urolithiasis at increased content calcium 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 of age, as well as in representatives of breeds such as Shih Tzu and Yorkshire terriers.

• Violation drinking regime. If a dog eats dry commercial 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. Giving your pet untreated tap water also provokes the formation of inorganic compounds in bladder.
• Congenital anomalies– a common cause of urolithiasis 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 most often susceptible to the formation of struvite in the bladder. Dachshunds, Dalmatians, and cocker spaniels are also at risk due to a genetic predisposition to urolithiasis. Basset Hounds and English Bulldogs are prone to forming cystine stones.

The reasons that provoke the development of struvite in the bladder in dogs, veterinary experts include: sedentary lifestyle life, irregular walking of the 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 obvious, unfortunately, when pathological process took on a serious character. The sick dog has the following clinical picture:

In advanced cases, when stones block the urinary ducts, the animal experiences abdominal tension. The dog is worried and whines. The temperature may rise and anorexia develops. A threatening symptom is a lack of urination, signs of dehydration and cramps. This condition threatens the pet’s life due to the development of severe intoxication of the body and requires urgent qualified assistance.

Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the urinary tract Clinical signs Males develop faster than females.

Diagnosis of pathology

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

A veterinarian can confirm the diagnosis, as well as identify the location of struvites, by performing an x-ray. In some cases, in a specialized institution, the pet will undergo excretory urography using a radiocontrast agent. The study is effective in individuals over 4 years of age. Testing 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 urine test.

Treatment of urolithiasis

In acute cases, when a pet has urethral obstruction with stones, veterinarian performs catheterization and retrograde lavage of the bladder.

In some cases, urethrotomy or urethrostomy is performed. The instrument is inserted into urethra under local anesthesia. After the procedure, the bladder is emptied through the surgical opening and is often used for pathology in uncastrated purebred males. Subsequently, urinary function is restored naturally.

In a urethrostomy, the surgeon creates a new urethral opening. This operation is usually combined with castration of the animal.

Medicines for dogs

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

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

If obstruction is accompanied bloody discharge, the dog is prescribed hemostatic agents, for example, Dicynon, Vicasol, etc.

A course of antibiotic therapy helps a dog eliminate the inflammatory process when urolithiasis is complicated by pathogenic microflora. Best effect provide antibiotics 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, they resort to elective surgery. Most often, this situation is observed during 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 and then removes large stones. Small formations (sand) are washed out of the organ. Normal urination is restored, as a rule, after 2 - 3 days. After surgical intervention held conservative treatment In order to prevent relapse, a therapeutic diet is prescribed.

Diet and food selection

IN complex therapy diseases in mandatory includes a therapeutic diet. Diet adjustments mainly depend on the type of stones found in the dog's body and should be carried out by the attending physician.

If your pet is found to have urates or cystines, then the diet should be low in protein. Specially developed medicinal foods that alkalize urine, for example Royal Canin Urinary U/C Low Purine, help limit the intake of protein components into 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 adjustment of the diet aimed at reducing protein, calcium and phosphorus in it. Veterinarians recommend switching such pets to Hill's C/D or Royal Canin Urinary S/O food. Medicinal feeds effectively dissolve struvite crystals and are characterized by low level magnesium, which prevents the formation of new pathological formations.

Lifestyle if you have a disease

If an illness is detected, the owner must first of all take care of strict compliance with the instructions of the veterinarian. Typically medicinal salt-free diet assigned to the dog for life. Based on the results of the analysis, we select special feed, dissolving and slowing down the formation of certain uroliths in the excretory system.

A sick pet needs to be seen regularly. fresh air. Moderate physical activity is recommended. The owner must ensure that the dog does not tolerate it and empties its bladder as needed.

Regular (every 3-4 months) blood and urine examinations will help monitor the development of pathology and the condition of your pet.

Prevention of urolithiasis in dogs

Help prevent the development of urolithiasis in dogs following tips and recommendations from veterinary therapists:

• Treat in a timely manner inflammatory processes in the genitourinary area.
• Balance your diet with low phosphorus content.
• The moisture content of the feed should not be lower than 60 - 70%.
• When feeding dry industrial formulas, the owner must control the consumption of fresh water.
• To water your dog, you must use filtered water.
• Do not allow the animal to become obese.
• Maintain a walking routine, avoiding bladder overfilling.
• Regularly take urine tests to early diagnosis diseases.
• Pets at risk should be fed medicated food to prevent the formation of struvite.

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

Useful video

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

Urolithiasis in dogs – Develops primarily in the bladder rather than the kidneys, the mechanism by which stones form in dogs is significantly different from how they form in cats. At the same time, different breeds Uroliths of various types may be present, that is, there is a natural predisposition to the development of a certain type of urolithiasis.Urolithiasis is usually associated only with cats, in which it occurs quite often, but dogs are also susceptible to it unpleasant disease, although cases of “urolithiasis” are much less common among them.

Urolithiasis is the formation of urinary stones in the urinary tract or kidneys (nephroliths). In dogs, stones form primarily in the lower urinary tract – the bladder and urethra.

In dogs with urolithiasis, struvite (tripelphosphates) are often found and the cause of their appearance is inflammatory processes in the bladder, as a result of which the acidity of the environment changes to the alkaline side. The environment promotes the formation and growth of crystals. The formation of stones is observed mainly in middle-aged and elderly dogs.

Crystallization and formation of urolith stones are promoted by external and internal factors. Improper feeding, saturation of water with mineral salts - exogenous factors. Internal diseases animal, for example, hyperparathyroidism, liver shunts, inflammatory processes in genitourinary system and abnormalities in the metabolic process can cause urolithiasis.

Why are stones formed?

Reliable factors that contribute to the formation of urolithiasis are:

Oversaturation of urine with minerals and a certain acidity (pH);

Deficiency of factors that are responsible for stabilizing the composition of urine;

Stagnation of urine in the bladder and a long interval between emptying it;

An increase in the amount of crystalloids due to the influence of bacteria that are able to break down urea, which contributes to the alkalinization of urine.

Clinical signs

Symptoms of urolithiasis in dogs.Struvite urolithiasis occurs in dogs at any age. Mainly due to a violation of the protection mechanisms in urinary tract(especially in miniature schnauzers). Others at risk for struvite deposits include: dachshund, beagle, poodle, Pekingese and Scotch terrier. Females are most predisposed to the formation of struvite stones, which is also accompanied by infection in the genitourinary system.

Oxalate urolithiasis is characteristic of dogs aged 7-8 years, but sometimes occurs at any age. Oxalates are found mainly in male Yorkshires, miniature schnauzers, and Shih Tzus. Oxalates are formed only in acidic environment, and they are radiopaque. Bacterial microflora influences their formation insignificantly.

Urate urolithiasis is common in Dalmatians and is caused by genetic disorders metabolism of purines in the animal body. Individuals aged 3-5 years are affected, but sometimes urate stones are found in dogs at a younger age. Also, urate urolithiasis develops as a consequence of congenital portosystemic shunts in breeds that are most predisposed to this disease. Males are most susceptible to the formation of urate stones with neutral and acidic urine. X-ray contrast is not stable.

Cystine urolithiasis is almost always associated with cystinuria, which is caused by impaired reabsorption of cystine in the renal tubules. But stones may not form with this disease. The formation of cystine stones is observed mainly in males 3-5 years of age, although with genetic abnormalities the process can begin much earlier. Females get sick very rarely. Uroliths form in an acidic environment and are radiopaque.

The clinic depends on the location, size and number of stones. General symptoms for all types of urolithiasis – frequent urination(pollakiuria), difficult and painful urination(dysuria), hematuria (blood in the urine). Stones that have moved into the urethra may for a long time be there and not cause any symptoms, and in further illness will go to chronic form(provided there is no ureteral obstruction).

KSD is diagnosed in dogs using radiography and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. Sometimes they resort to double contrast cystography or excretory urography. Be sure to conduct a general and biochemical analysis blood, urine analysis and urine culture tank, but these studies alone do not give accurate diagnosis. Crystalluria may be absent in the presence of stones, and its presence does not indicate the presence of stones in the dog's urinary tract. Final diagnosis placed after removing the stones and examining them.

Therapy

Treatment of urolithiasis in dogs.All therapeutic measures depend on the presence or absence of ureteral or urethral obstruction, as well as the general condition of the dog.

Obstruction is eliminated using retrograde urohydropropulsion (stones are pushed from the urethra into the bladder), bladder catheterization, urethrotomy (urethrostomy). Subsequently, the stones are removed using cystotomy.

Conservative therapy can be prescribed for dogs with struvite, cystine and urate stones, but the main disadvantage of such treatment is the duration. For urolithiasis in dogs, a diet is prescribed to dissolve struvite, and the diet includes foods that limit calcium, protein, magnesium, phosphorus and substances that maintain urine pH at the desired level. Antibiotic therapy is needed to eliminate infection in the dog's genitourinary tract.

For portacaval shunts, they are ligated. Oxalate stones do not dissolve and must only be removed surgically.

A therapeutic diet is prescribed to dogs for life, both after surgery and after conservative methods treatment.

Frequently asked questions to the doctor.

How can the disease be detected in the early stages?

ICD in dogs manifests itself in different ways, it all depends on the animal’s gender, age and stage of the disease. The onset of the disease is virtually asymptomatic and can only be detected by urine examination.

When are surgical treatment methods used?

When the urethra is blocked by urinary stones, urination is impossible, which threatens the dog with serious complications - rupture of the bladder and death.

What is the difference between urethrotomy and urethrostomy?

Despite their similar names, both surgical procedures are completely different. With urethrotomy, the urethra is cut in the area where it is blocked by stones, and with urethrostomy, a new urethra is created.

Veterinary center "DobroVet"

We will tell you what to feed a dog with urolithiasis and how to avoid urolithiasis in this type of animal. Urolithiasis in dogs - symptoms and treatment.

In this material we will talk about one of the most common diseases affecting animals of middle and late age. Urolithiasis in dogs: symptoms and treatment is the topic of today’s article, in which veterinarians will share their practical experience.

Bladder stones, or uroliths, are abnormal, monolithically formed accumulations of predominantly mineral substances. Dog urine contains a number of inorganic chemical substances that are normally dissolved in the form of salts and must be excreted in water. external environment during the process of urination. Under the influence of certain conditions, urine becomes too concentrated, salts can crystallize and collect into single monoliths - stones.

During the process of fusion, crystals can combine with bacteria and other organic substances, which contributes to more active formation of uroliths. Poor diet, dehydration, urine pH shift to alkaline, bladder infections, medications, conformation of urinary structures and genetic factors can influence the development of urolithiasis in dogs.

It is worth noting that bladder stones are common, especially in older dogs, mainly males. The development of uroliths takes long time and develops, as a rule, asymptomatically, until the stones begin to injure the mucous membrane of the bladder or block the exit of urine into the urethra.

It is extremely important for dog owners to learn to recognize the early symptoms of urolithiasis so that they can carry out the most painless and effective treatment possible.

How Bladder Stones Form in Dogs

As we noted above, urine, in its in good condition always contains a number of different minerals, or salts, which must be dissolved in the liquid. When urine becomes too concentrated, or “supersaturated,” these salts precipitate out of the fluid, forming solids in the form of crystals. If you examine urinary crystals under a microscope, you can see their edges are quite sharp, which can damage the mucous membrane of the urinary tract. As a result of this mechanical effect, blood appears in the urine (hematuria), and micro-wounds on the mucous membrane of the bladder become an excellent environment for the development of bacterial infection.

Bacterial and fungal flora can enter the bladder through descending and ascending routes. In the first case, microorganisms penetrate from the kidneys, where they in turn entered through the blood, for example, during the development purulent abscesses anywhere in the body, most often in the kidneys. With the ascending type, bacteria enter at infectious diseases external genitalia or external urinary tract.

The waste products of microorganisms, their dead bodies and blood, during decomposition, release a number of organic substances. These substances have the ability to glue individual urinary crystals together, thereby forming bladder stones in dogs, which can be quite difficult to treat.

Individual urinary crystals stuck together are called calculi, or simply sand. Concretions collected in formations visible to the naked eye are called stones, or uroliths.

The most common type of stones in dogs are struvites, which are composed of the compound magnesium ammonium phosphate, as well as calcium oxalates, urates, calcium phosphates, silicates and cystines. It is worth noting that struvite in dogs is formed more often due to the development of a bacterial infection in the bladder, which shifts the pH of the environment to the alkaline side, which is most effective for crystallization. As for cats, struvite in this type of animal “rolls up” more often due to errors in feeding.

But oxalate stones in dogs develop mainly due to high protein diet due to too little water consumption.

Prevention of urolithiasis in dogs

Annual veterinary examinations, including routine blood and urine tests, can help detect abnormal levels of stone formation long before signs of canine stone disease become apparent and crystals become dangerous. Perhaps this approach is the only correct and effective in preventing the formation of stones in the bladder, since such early stages You can still help the animal by regulating the diet.

How to make a diagnosis

Diagnosing bladder stones in a dog is not a complicated or expensive procedure. A history, physical examination, urinalysis, and bladder x-ray are usually sufficient. It is the X-ray examination that is the final diagnostic method, confirming the diagnosis of urolithiasis, since dense inorganic substances are very clearly visible in the image.

Bacterial cultures of urine are useful if a bacterial infection is suspected, which often accompanies the presence of struvite in dogs. However, this procedure is not performed so often, since, as a rule, antibiotics acting primarily in the urinary tract are sufficient for treatment.

If for some reason x-rays are not available or are ineffective, additional examinations using ultrasound, urethrography, contrast cystography and cystoscopy.

Signs of urolithiasis in dogs

Many animals do not show any signs for a long time external signs discomfort due to the presence of crystals or stones in the bladder. Symptoms of urolithiasis in dogs become obvious and require treatment when uroliths begin to damage the lining of the urinary tract, or when one or more stones block the urethra, causing sharp pain and inability to urinate.

Obvious symptoms of stones

Dog owners may notice the following signs that may suggest the development of urolithiasis:

• The appearance of blood in the urine is hematuria. This early symptom caused by physical destruction of the bladder mucosa. Depending on the severity of the damage, urine may become pink tint or be blood red. It is also possible that separate streams of blood may be released in addition to the act of urination.
• Increased frequency or attempts to urinate. When there is a physical blockage of the bladder sphincter, the animal will try to urinate more frequently in an attempt to empty the organ.
• Difficulty urinating.

• Incomplete emptying of the bladder, which can be easily checked by palpating the dog’s pelvic area.
• Severe pain when trying to empty the bladder - the animal whines, squats on hind limbs, often looks back at back of your body.
• Decreased or complete absence of appetite.
• In some cases, a condition resembling depression.
• Vomiting and shortness of breath.

Many of these signs are similar to those of other diseases, such as a urinary tract infection or volvulus. However, no matter what diagnosis caused these types of symptoms, they are all quite complex and dangerous. For this reason, contacting veterinary clinic necessarily and immediately.

Dogs at high risk

Symptoms of urolithiasis in dogs that require immediate treatment are more common in older male animals, although this is not necessary. In addition, certain breeds are more inclined to specific mineral composition bladder stones:

• Struvite (triple phosphates) are more common in dogs of the miniature schnauzer, bichon frize, cocker spaniel, and miniature poodle breeds. More often in young females under one year of age along with urinary tract infections.
• Calcium oxalate – miniature schnauzer, miniature poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frize, Lhasa Apso, Cairn Terrier, Shih Tzu. Obesity among these breeds places the animals at increased risk.
• Urats - Dalmatian, English bulldog, Yorkshire terrier, schnauzer.
• Silicates – miniature schnauzer, German Shepherd, Golden retriever, Labrador Retriever, English Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel.
• Cysts - dachshund, English bulldog, basset hound, Yorkshire terrier, Irish terrier, Rottweiler, Chihuahua, Tibetan spaniel, mastiff, Newfoundland.

Treatment and prognosis

Before starting any treatment, catheterization of the bladder is first necessary to remove urine. Antispasmodics and analgesics are also first-line drugs when providing emergency care to an animal in case of blockage of the urinary tract and severe pain reactions.

Treatment for urolithiasis in dogs often depends on the composition of the stones. Uroliths in the early stages, when large substances have not yet formed, can be tried to dissolve with the help of diet and medications. However, in most cases, owners seek help when the only treatment option is surgical removal of mineral formations. In addition, when the bladder sphincter is blocked, surgery is almost always indicated.

In some cases urinary stones can be removed using a non-surgical procedure called urohydropropulsion. The method is more acceptable for females, due to the characteristics of their simple anatomical structure of the urethra. During the procedure, the dog is asked sedatives, urinary catheter is inserted into the urethra and through it, the stones are pushed back into the bladder with saline. After which a mechanical attempt is made to remove the uroliths.

Alternatively, abdominal surgery is performed to remove stones directly from the bladder. X-rays are taken before and after any surgical treatment to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. In the final part so radical treatment antibiotics are administered to prevent the development of a bacterial infection.

Some stones, especially cystine-based stones, can be attempted to be dissolved through a protein-restricted diet and biological administration active additives, reducing the acidity of urine. Similar treatment should be carried out against the background of maintaining good hydration of the body.

If there are bulky stones in the bladder or large quantity sand, it is unlikely that non-surgical treatment options for dogs will be successful. The same applies to complete blockage of the bladder sphincter by a large stone, when even urohydropropulsion does not help. In such cases, traditional surgery is required, a procedure known as cystotomy, which is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make an incision in the skin abdominal wall and the bladder wall, providing access to the stone.

Once the stones have been removed, they may be sent to a laboratory to determine their actual composition. This information will help determine why uroliths are forming in this dog and how recurrences can be avoided in the future.

Forecast

Urolithiasis in dogs is characterized by a latent course and does not show any symptoms in the early stages of stone formation, and therefore does not make one think about treatment. In the presence of large stones, especially if there is a blockage of the bladder, the prognosis is cautious, since excess accumulation urine can lead to rupture of the organ wall. After effective surgical treatment, the prognosis is usually favorable, but it must be remembered that recurrence is common in the case of bladder stones in dogs.

What to feed a dog with urolithiasis

There is an opinion among dog owners that urolithiasis develops solely due to improper feeding. Manufacturers and distributors of commercial food add fuel to the fire, feeding them will never cause bladder stones in your dog. All this is nothing more than a publicity stunt designed to increase sales.

Of course, the occurrence of kidney stones depends on what you feed your dog, but diet is not the key factor in the development of this disease. If the animal has breed predisposition against the background of the development of a bacterial infection in the bladder, urolithiasis cannot be avoided, even if you try to feed the dog the best food.

Nevertheless, diet still matters, although sometimes rather indirectly. Along with this, I would like to give a few practical advice, which may help avoid the development of urolithiasis in your dog:

• Avoid making the animal overweight.
• Exercise should be standardized and regular to avoid stagnation of urine in the bladder.
• The dog should always have plenty of water to drink and without restrictions.
• In animals at high risk, preventive urine tests should be carried out for the presence of sand and stones every 3-4 months. For other dogs – at six months.

• dry ready-made food is always better.
• The diet for urolithiasis in dogs should not include large quantities, or better yet, completely eliminate protein-rich foods. These include dairy products and fish. It is better to use more plant-based feed.

Struvite (along with oxalates) is the most common type of urolith in dogs. Chemical formula– magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, MgNH4PO4*6H2O. As can be seen from the formula, struvite crystals are formed from magnesium, ammonium and phosphate ions. All these components are normally found in urine, and their ability to crystallize and form sediment depends on the pH of the urine and their concentration. The likelihood of struvite formation increases with alkaline urine pH (>7).

Risk factors

Any urinary tract infections. In the vast majority of cases (except for some predisposed breeds) in dogs, struvite is secondary, formed against the background various infections urinary tract, therefore, when diagnosing and treating struvite-type urolithiasis, it is also necessary to carry out bacterial culture to identify pathogenic bacteria and select effective antibiotic. Also, statistically, struvite occurs more often in females (80% of all cases) than in males, which is due to more high risk urinary tract diseases. This factor does not apply to nutritional factors, however pathogenic bacteria produce the enzyme urease, which increases the content of ammonium in the urine, shifting the pH to a more alkaline side, therefore, dietary therapy must be combined with the treatment of a concomitant infectious disease.

Breed predisposition. Miniature Schnauzer, miniature poodle, Bichon Frize, Cocker Spaniel. Due to the nature of their exchange, these rocks are more likely to form struvite.

Unbalanced diet. The pH of urine in dogs directly depends on the diet, and, consequently, the risk of the formation of struvite uroliths.

Impaired water consumption. Insufficient water intake by a dog leads to increased concentration of urine, and, consequently, the formation of a saturated or supersaturated solution from which struvite crystals can precipitate.

Diet therapy for struvite type of urolithiasis

A number of large studies have confirmed that struvite can be dissolved using a special therapeutic diet.

Some manufacturers have a veterinary line with medicinal food for struvite-type urolithiasis. In some cases it may not be suitable for the dog industrial feed, then you need to contact a veterinary nutritionist to calculate the required diet.

Basic principles when preparing a therapeutic diet for dissolving struvite:

• Reducing the magnesium content in the diet (no more than 40 mg/MJ of metabolic energy).
• The phosphorus content should not exceed NRC standards (in the daily diet for healthy dogs Phosphorus content is allowed to exceed twice the norm).
• The protein content also decreases to normal.
• Measures are being taken to acidify urine. When the pH decreases to 6.2 – 6.5, struvite dissolves. Indicators from 6.6 to 6.8 are considered sufficient to prevent their formation. Meat products and grains have an acidifying effect, but they also increase the phosphorus content in the diet, so a balance must be maintained.
• Measures are taken to increase water intake and dilute urine. It is possible to add additional sodium to the diet (for home diets - table salt), which provokes increased thirst and increases diuresis. This measure is contraindicated for uroliths containing calcium!
• Recommended infrequent feeding(1-2 times a day), since in dogs there is a so-called postprandial increase in pH, when the urine pH rises sharply (shifts to the alkaline side) immediately after eating.
• Treatment of urinary tract infections.

Only a veterinarian can prescribe a therapeutic diet!

The diet must be adjusted after a certain period of time (usually 2 weeks after the start of therapy, and, subsequently, every month). Correction requires control urine tests and visual diagnostics. Once the stones have dissolved, the diet is adjusted again to prevent, on the one hand, excessive acidification of urine and possible education oxalate stones, on the other hand, prevent alkalinization of urine and relapse of the disease when returning to the previous diet.

Consuming an acidifying diet over a long period of time can lead to bone demineralization.