Prescription Dog food for Urinary Tract Health

Question
I am searching for a commercial alternative to the Hill's Prescription Diet C/D dog food that was prescribed by our vet. Our female chocolate lab (5 yrs old) had surgery last week to remove a large # of stones. The analysis came back 100% struvite. I picked up the dog food yesterday and was shocked at the price. Having to feed 2 labs this food for the rest of their lives will get very pricey. I am leaning towards the Wellness Simple Solutions Rice & Salmon Dry Dog Food with possibly a mixture of canned food to increase moisture. What would your recommendation be?

Answer
It isn't a matter of moisture, but lowering the pH of the urine to keep the struvite in solution.  The dog could drink less water if it has more water in its food.  I think Royal Canin and Purina both make products similar to the C/D, but likely would cost as much.  I once had to feed C/D, but didn't find it that much more than the Pro Plan that I had been feeding.  Some vets may take more advantage of their clients.  

I am afraid the Wellness is formulated to solve other problems.  It isn't that your dog is having an allergic reaction to a protein in your current dogs food, it is struvite crystallizing out. I mostly recommend following the vet's advice.  The one thing you might try is an acidic food additive.  This isn't the sort of well proven thing I like to recommend.  I recently suggested  http://www.1800petmeds.com/Cranberry Relief-prod11018.html to somebody with a similar problem.  She hasn't given me any feedback.  I am not at all comfortable suggesting something I have only anecdotal evidence that it works.  

Nobody knows everything and it is possible the best solution is to continue to pay the price for the C/D.