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Help with special diet
Topic Started: 3 Feb 2013, 20:38 (621 Views)
Ebonynight
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Following several visits to the vet with cystitis type symptoms Sasha has been diagnosed with crystals in her wee :( The vet has recommended feeding Hills c/d which we will review in a months time....however the vet also said :mask: no treats :mask: :cry: Is there something we can give her (and Shamen) in place of her usual treats? I don't mind whether its doggie or human food and don't mind cooking for them or feeding them raw but I need something I can give them at bedtime or when i'm going out as its there cue to settle and on the rare occasion I forget something normally ends up chewed/eaten/broken.
Also looking ahead if and when we come off of the c/d diet is there another (natural) way of helping the breakdown of crystals before they become a problem.
I do know that its possible she may have to be on a special diet for life but I just thought I would ask if there were some natural alternatives.
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missuswilderness
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Do you know if they are Struvite Crystals or Calcium Oxalate ones? PH value of the wee should have told the vets. If they didn't say go back and ask , get some strips so you can wee test too and ask what you should be aiming for as all dogs are different.

They need different approaches the different types of crystals.

Once you know it should be quite easy to make some hard nibbles which are fine.

I can't find the ph value of Hills c/d after a quick google but looking at the ingredients list it isn't a food I'd want to use.

(ETA: I went through this with a foster and she has never had anything since as her new owners stuck to the right sort of diet. It really wasn't very difficult - she did fantastically with a few berries added into her food).
Edited by missuswilderness, 4 Feb 2013, 13:03.
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Ebonynight
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missuswilderness
4 Feb 2013, 13:01


I can't find the ph value of Hills c/d after a quick google but looking at the ingredients list it isn't a food I'd want to use.

Yep If I can find away of treating her naturally and putting back on a good quality food then I would rather do that than feed her Hills indefinitely. I will ask the vets what type of crystals they were. Thank You

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missuswilderness
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Ask the vet what you should be aiming for on ph of her wee and some testing strips (check out the cost of human ones v's the ones the vets sell you). I guess you have already treated any infection present :unsure:

The different types require completely opposing approaches and whilst you don't know what they are without testing them fully you can take a pretty good guess by ph of wee. I dealt with struvite which is most common in females and causes NO problems unless there is a bacterial infection. You have to get on top of that bacterial infection and only cultures will tell yuo if you have. Too help a lower protein diet - just until you get on top of it, not long term - and maybe a few berries (or cranberry or bicarbonate) and vit C helps - but it is the bacteria which is the problem. I added berries to the dog I had diet to help stop the crystals forming when we got on top of the infection.

You vets sounds mis informed if they think the Hill's food is a good idea. What makes the most difference is a moist diet and good quality food. Not muck like the hills. The cynic in me wonders what commission they make on it :err:

I found some really good articles, backed up by research, when I was reading up. Will see if I can find them again for you!


Found this one on bladder stones - the ones that are dangerous - linky which I've not had experience of
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Blackmagic
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there is useful information in this site

http://www.dogaware.com/articles/index.html#health

scroll down for urinary stones

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Ebonynight
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Thanks for the links and advice I'm passing them all on to her Daddy and will print some stuff off to discuss with the vet and may seek a second opinion if we are not satisfied with their approach :unsure:
Edited by Ebonynight, 6 Feb 2013, 23:55.
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