Diet for dog with oxalate stones

Question
Hi,

I have a 5 year old female miniature schnauzer, she underwent surgery on July/09 to remove bladder stones, her results were Oxalate 50%, Calcium 20%, Magnesium 15%, Ammonium 10% and Phosphates 5%, our vet prescribed Hills Prescription Diet c/d and now 8 months later, weighs 19 pounds and has many stone formations of 2 cm average, I went to their website and was disgusted with their ingredients so I want to switch her to a healthier diet. I have one of her daughters with me as well that has no stone formations yet, she is 3 and I'd like to feed her the same in order to prevent these formations on her.
So I would appreciate if you could give me a couple of recipies to prevent them, is there some medication I can buy to dissolve the formations she has already? Thank you very much.

Answer
Dear LIssell,
I am going to do my utmost to provide some suggestions for you, I promise you that. BUT, you MUST keep in mind that I am not a vet, am not qualified to dispense medical advice and will not pretend to do so. OK? Having said this, HILL'S DIET IS THE PITS. It is pure garbage and provides just about zero nutrition. But your vet suggested it for a reason, probably several reasons, two of which are a lower protein content (too much protein in a dog with stones or a predisposition to stones means that the body, as it breaks down the protein, PRODUCES UREA which does conribute to the formation of stones)and a HIGHER salt content. The salt will make your pooch thirsty and will therefore encourage frequent urination WHICH YOU WANT--this is GOOD THING. And why the C/D Hills? Why didn't your vet prescribe the S/D if he was going to prescribe at all? I am just asking and NOT TRYING TO OVERRIDE YOUR VET. But if this food is causing MORE PROBLEMS, THEN BY ALL MEANS STOP IT.

Schnauzers, as you know, are one of those breeds predisposed to stones, unfortunately. Were they struvite stones cause I believe there are a oouple of types that require different approaches.

Usually EXCESS minerals are the cause of formation of stones and these minerals MUST BE FLUSHED OUT OF THE SYSTEM OR the dog or human is in trouble. Using WET FOOD (and I will be suggesting home cooking with another suggestion at the end of this letter)is always better since the moisture content is much higher than dry. What I do with my 'compromised' Yorkie (not stones bnuy a dog who dehydrates due to serious and several bouts of IBD and a nasal condition) is add water to all of his already wet food. I am lucky that he eats it this way but he does. Sometimes I give him half of his mean in the normally moist way and as he finishes this portion (knowing he is still hungry)I put Part 2 on the floor that has lots of water in it. By this time he is in the eating mood and well, I just feel better making CERTAIN that he gets lots of water. He does NOT DRINK MUCH WATER during the day and never has. So this is how I get him to drink. He pees a lot--GOOD-and this is what you want with your little one too.

It's the ph factor in the urine that is so important with dogs with stones or a penchant to get them. Dogs all seem to be very acidic. Many dogs get along ok yhis way, but not a pooch like yours. So you much do your utmost to keep protein levels down (acidic) and to get the alkaline levels up (fruits, veggies etc.). I feed my three dogs (if I"m going to do it for one, then all yhree are going to eat the same--I am not opening a dog cafeteria on top of all the other care they require and I LOVE TO GIVE lol) three times a day..not HUGE portions but smaller ones. In the am, they get pulverized fruits without skin (alkaline)with a digestive enzyme added (will discuss later) and for their main meal they get steamed organic chicken or veal or turkey etc. with some yam and pulverized squash or cuke or beans added (not all three at one time). I use the bouillion from the steamed ORGANIC MEAT to moisten their food and they love it.

Now, home cooking or preparing does not provide all the nutrients and vitamins that they need so you MUST SUPPLEMENT. And here is where I will make my second suggestion (or is the third or fourth???lol) to you. I would like you to contact my friend and mentor, Donia and will give you her email address. I credit her with saving my Yorkies life and her menus and diets are OUTSTANDING. She IS the CEO of a wonderful supplement company out west but don't let this 'throw' you. YOu need to supplement anyway and Donia will provide you with an accurate and healthful way to feed your dog with stones. She is the expert and I am her student so now you get the picture. She is totally marvelous, does NOT CHARGE because she adores dogs and will give you, in a more exact way than I can, EXACTLY WHAT YOUR DOG NEEDS. Be sure to use my name as a reference and I promise you that she will get back to you if she is in the country and not overseas lecturing and teaching. You will never look back.

Here is the information:
My name:
Sue Behlmar (Dixie, Buddy, Henry's Mom in NY). Donia knows me well. And by the way, her name IS Donia with a "D" and not Sonia. It's not a typo.

Donia's email: DoniaSea@aol.com.  PLEASE WRITE TO HER IMMEDIATELY AND THEN LET ME KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING...you are going to get maximum dietary help between the two of us. Supplements are expensive but they are expensive in the health food store also--with Donia's help, you will not have to agonize over WHAT TO GIVE...she will map that out for you. I promise.

Make sure you feed your dogs at a set time, provide TONS OF FRESH WATER, AND GIVE them an opportunity to pee often. DO NOT OVERFEED...this is really harmful. I will assume that you do not free feed or use dry food?? Neither one is beneficial at all.

I hope this helped, I really do. My direct email is:  DazzlinDaawg@aol.com

Feel free to contact me there if you like. And please let me know how things are going. I am NO STRANGER to a sick dog who needs a special diet with supplementation.
Sue Behlmar