|
|
#249270 - 08/06/09 05:37 PM
Struvite crystals
|
Angela Burrell
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 05/10/06
Posts: 2310
Loc: Ontario, Canada
|
Offline
|
|
So my female Aussie/Lab/whatever had a urinalysis done. I have one done every so often (year to 18 months or so) because this dog hardly ever goes pee( I've owned her 3.5 years and she's been like this since I adopted her) and due to the fact that her bloodwork showed high creatine(sp) one time.
I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't really understand the results/numbers but the office always said "looks good." Anyway, I actually spoke to the vet about her urinalysis results this time. Results were a lot of struvite crystals ("too numerous to count") and a pH of 8. (Bloodwork kidney values normal). No struvite stones, just crystals.
The vet highly recommends adding carbs to her diet as she feels the extremely high protein content (42%) of the Orijen kibble I feed her could be contributing to the situation. Either switch her food, or add something such as cooked oatmeal to it.
Also I should ensure she drinks enough water. Since her last tests a year ago, I have been adding water to her kibble and have recently installed a little drinking fountain that she likes. I will say that she does drink water approximately at the same rate as my other dogs.
I would consider switching her to another high quality kibble or canned food if necessary but I cannot afford to feed her a raw diet.
In my preliminary research with my friend Google, recommendation on what I should do for my dog is all over the map. "Struvite crystals are caused by grains in the diet, too much protein in the diet, too many minerals in the diet, not caused by diet, caused by infection." aah!
Any advice on what I can do to help my dog lower the pH of her urine and hopefully get rid of the struvite crystals?
_________________________
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#249277 - 08/06/09 05:51 PM
Re: Struvite crystals
[Re: Angela Burrell]
|
Connie Sutherland
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 16729
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...
|
|
Offline
|
|
Did you read Lew Olson and Mary Strauss?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#249282 - 08/06/09 06:00 PM
Re: Struvite crystals
[Re: Angela Burrell]
|
Connie Sutherland
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 16729
Loc: North-Central coast of Califor...
|
|
Offline
|
|
That's Mary Strauss, yes.
And Lew Olson is B-Naturals.com
Definitely struvites? Struvites are generally caused by UTI's.
The bacteria (not diet) cause the alkalinity.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: Will Rambeau, Cindy Easton Rhodes, Deanna Thompson, Kevin Sheldahl, Ed Frawley, Kelly At Leerburg, Connie Sutherland
|
15680 Members
165 Forums
25003 Topics
262560 Posts
Max Online: 945 @ 07/29/07 04:46 PM
|
|
|
