Struvite Bladder Stones

Question
Hi there,

My (not quite) 2 year old German Shepherd dog has just been diagnosed with struvites following an abdominal castration. He weighs 33kg ish (depending on how much he's been sick lately!) He had a UTI which was treated but still had a very high level of blood in the urine and a large presence of cellular tissue in there also. His prostate was very swollen, hence the abdominal castration. The vet was unsure if it was due to high levels of testosterone, or secondary to infection and as he was going to need the procedure anyway, she thought that surgery would be best at this time to give a clearer picture as to what was happening internally with his bladder and prostate. When they catheterised him, they found a large amount of very small stones in the bladder. This came as a bit of a surprise as there were no crystals at all present in the urine and the cultures and urinanalysis had been fine in previous samples following the UTI other than blood and cellular tissue, i.e no bacteria found.

The vet sent a sterile urine sample direct from the bladder and one from normal "passing" from Blaze (the dog!) as well as the stones for further analysis to the lab. They've confirmed that it is struvite stones but the urine samples are clear, other than the presence of blood and cellular tissue.

They've recommended a urinary diet, which we've tried, but the dog won't entertain at all. We had HUGE problems getting him to eat when he was a pup too, and it took AGES to get him established on a stable diet. Since his surgery, he's been on rice, chicken and eggs mostly, with a supplement of cystaid as he's been suffering with sickness from the anti-biotics and anesthetic (we think!)He's having a dose of zantac before his food to settle his stomach also.

We're assured that it's not a metabolic issue, but as a result of his UTI, which I suppose is good news, but does mean he will need prolonged antibiotics till things are resolved.

I really need some help finding somwhere that can give me some information about a homecooked diet for him that he'll eat, that will give him the nutritional goodness he needs as well as combatting the problems with the bladder stones.

I've heard many people say that acidifying the urine will help, (the vet has said this will help too) but I'm not sure the best way to do this, and am reluctant to start giving him random ingredients till I know I'm doing the best for him. He has a very delicate constitution as it is and is painfully thin, I don't want to make him stop eating everything altogether!!

I've honestly never known a dog like him, let alone a German Shepherd!!

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks, Becki.

Answer
Hi Becki and family !  Sorry for the delay as I had been ill.
YES- I know you are on the right path for this boy!  He is lucky to have you wanting to cook for him.  HERE is what you can follow --- it will stay good for a least 4 days at a time:
Please give him 2 cranberry pills per day...
( you can find them at any vitamin store for humans)
  
    
For a recipe :  not too many options - a lower fat meat - plenty of water in the mix:

Here are a few recipes for dogs with struvite stones--


***If the UTI is under control the struvite crystals may be under control, too.


Beef and Rice Diet


1/2 pound very lean beef (raw weight), cooked
**   OR ....( DO Lamb or chicken)**
then,
2 eggs, large, hard-boiled  *
3 cups brown rice, long-grain, cooked
You can add 1 can of low sodium green beans if you want....
1 ounce brewer's yeast
4 bonemeal tablets (10-grain or equivalent)
1/2 teaspoon salt substitute (potassium chloride)
1 multiple vitamin-mineral
**** ( OR 1/2-  --NuVET Waffer ) see below:
YOU can look for something similar to NuVET in your Country

40.7 grams protein, 19.7 grams fat
( the above is enough for 1 day of food for your larger sized dog)
*******************************************************************************
( FOR snack - Please feed some Grain-free dog food /  Just 1/4 cup as an afternoon snack or a few morsles for treats... Make sure you look for GRAIN free only.
Try to feed less than 1/2 cup per day of a good quality grain free food as a Treat



Tuna and Rice Diet


12 ounces Tuna, canned in water, without added salt
1 egg, large, hard-boiled
3- 3 1/2 cups brown rice, long-grain, cooked
3 teaspoons vegetable (canola) oil
1 ounce brewer's yeast
4 bonemeal tables (10-grain or equivalent)
1/2 teaspoon salt substitute (potassium chloride)
1 multiple vitamin-mineral table OR ( NuVET 1/2 ) Wafer  ....
YOU can buy NuVET in a POWDER rather than the wafer...

47.3 grams protein, 21.1 grams fat.


I hope they help!

Good luck

Marie Peppers