urine problem

Question
My dog's urine was tested and it has a pH9 plus some crystals. The vet suggested a change in diet. She eats Solid Gold with a bit of meat or chicken and water added. I wasn't clear about what a change in diet means. I would love to know. Thanks.

Answer
Good morning, Mary Ann.

With a high PH, it indicates that your dog's urine is too alkaline.  You would want to feed foods to make the urine more acidic to bring it to a more neutral point and make the urine less conducive to crystal formation.

Some foods you can add to help increase the acidity in the urine are eggs, yogurt with live active cultures (plain yogurt), liver, meat in general.  You can also add probiotics, B vitamins and digestive enzymes.

Solid Gold does make a variety of foods - I'm not sure which one you are feeding.  Either way, adding the above should help to neutralize the urine.  

Also, you can buy test strips at most drug stores to keep track of your dog's urinary PH so you know how effective the changes you make are.

I do hope this has been helpful.  Please do let me know if you need further assistance.

Gail E. Vigneault