Author: Jennifer Coates, DVM

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Calcium phosphate Bladder stones made of calcium phosphate are not very common in dogs. Surgical removal of the stones is usually necessary. Silica Silica bladder stones are rare in dogs and cannot be dissolved. They must be removed by surgery, lithotripsy, or urohydropropulsion. How Special Diets Can Prevent Bladder Stones in Dogs Dogs that develop bladder stones once are at risk for getting them again, but preventive measures are available. Changing dog food is one of the most effective ways of preventing bladder stones. This is because to a large degree, a dog’s diet determines what ends up in their urine. By feeding a special food, pet parents can reduce the building blocks needed to create bladder stones. Struvite Struvite stones are a partial exception to the rule because they are almost always caused by bacterial infections. Therefore, the best way to prevent the return of struvite stones is to focus on preventing bladder infections. A long-term diet change is not always necessary, but ensuring that the urine remains dilute and slightly acidic can help. A veterinarian may recommend these foods to help prevent the return of struvite stones:,Bladder stones in dogs develop when substances that are normally dissolved in urine form crystals that link, and over time combine to form one or more stones. They can become so big that they can’t pass through the dog’s urethra, which traps them in the bladder. Different types of bladder stones require different treatments, and unfortunately, once a dog has had bladder stones, there’s a good chance they could come back, especially if no preventive measures are in place. Diet can play a big role in the treatment and prevention of bladder stones. Here’s what you need to know about feeding a dog with bladder stones. Can You Use Food to Treat Dogs With Bladder Stones? Some bladder stones can be dissolved using a special prescription food or medicine. When you create the right conditions in the urine, the stones gradually dissolve. Other bladder stones have to be physically removed, either through surgery or techniques like lithotripsy (using sound waves or a laser to break stones into small pieces) or urohydropropulsion (placing a special catheter into the bladder to flush out small stones). Your veterinarian can recommend the best treatment for your dog’s bladder stones based on: The type (or types) of stones Their quantity and size Your dog’s overall condition Treatment Plans Based on Type of Bladder Stone Let’s take a look at the options for getting rid of different bladder stones. Struvite Struvite stones (also called magnesium ammonium phosphate) are quite common in dogs and can usually be dissolved with food or medicine. Antibiotics are also necessary, because struvite stones in dogs are almost always associated with bacterial infections in the bladder. Dissolving stones takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on their size and other factors. Surgery and other methods of physical removal can be considered if necessary. Diets used to dissolve struvite stones have the following characteristics: Reduced levels of protein, magnesium, and phosphorus Increased levels of salt Creates acidic urine (urine with a lower pH than normal) Good options include: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Hill’s Prescription Diet s/d or c/d Multicare Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St

If you spend much time hanging out with veterinarians around the holidays, you’re likely to hear someone mention how they are being bombarded by euthanasia appointments. This got me to thinking—are more pets actually euthanized during the holidays, and if so, why? I’m not aware of any scientific studies on euthanasia trends during the holidays, but many vets will agree that they do notice a spike. A quick search through an online message board for veterinarians revealed at least eight discussions on the topic with the consensus being clear—the holiday onslaught of euthanasia appointments is real and has several probable underlying reasons. Why Do Vets See More Pet Euthanasia During the Holidays? Here are five of the most likely reasons for the increase in pet euthanasia during the holiday season. 1. Temperature Changes Cold weather can be very tough on some pets, especially large dogs with advanced osteoarthritis. Pet parents might start to notice the full extent of their pet’s arthritis symptoms as the weather gets colder. Before making any decisions, visit your veterinarian to discuss which stage of arthritis your pet is at and to assess their level of pain and mobility. An arthritic pet’s quality of life will depend on things like whether the pain can be managed, whether you are able to accommodate their mobility needs and whether any form of treatment can help. 2. Pet Stress Stress of any kind can worsen a failing pet’s condition, and the holidays can certainly be stressful, especially for pets. Altered schedules, houseguests, and even changes in the layout of the home due to decorations could be enough to push a pet’s health over the tipping point. For example, a recent study revealed that “short-term stressors led to a significant increase in SB [sickness behaviors] in both healthy cats and cats with FIC [feline idiopathic cystitis].  3. Human Stress Yes, the holidays can be stressful for pets, but it’s stressful for many owners too. Money can get tight this time of year, and, unfortunately, that often does play at least some role in deciding if and when to euthanize. While temporarily tight finances shouldn’t lead to euthanasia when it isn’t otherwise warranted, it may limit a family’s ability to pursue aggressive or last resort treatments. Human depression can also deepen during the holidays, which may lead to a feeling of futility that extends to ailing pets. 4. Family and Friends Many owners want to keep their pets around for one more holiday, and so they may avoid euthanizing them in the preceding weeks or months. This is understandable, particularly when out-of-town kids, other family members or friends will use the opportunity for some last snuggles and to say goodbye. But it’s not in the best interest of the pet to keep them hanging on when they might be in pain or have a poor quality of life. Use the Quality of Life scale with your veterinarian to assess your pet’s quality of life to determine when the best time is for your pet. A pet’s slow decline has a way of sneaking up on people who experience it every day. I’ve had several owners tell me that it took the kids coming home from college to notice how bad things had gotten to make them finally accept that humane euthanasia was the right choice. 5. Travel Conversely, owners who are leaving town themselves may be unwilling to put their ailing pets through the stress of travel or being looked after by someone else. While on the surface, this may sound like a matter of convenience, it can actually be the nudge that pet parents need to make a tough but necessary decision. In fact, I wish I had euthanized my beloved, ailing 17-year-old dog before I had to leave town for a few days years ago. I chose not to and forever lost the opportunity to be with him during his last minutes. There is no one “right” time to say goodbye to a pet, which means a combination of all of these factors (and probably more) lead to an increase in euthanasia during the holidays. The best thing you can do is to discuss your pet’s health and quality of life with your veterinarian to make an informed decision that’s best for your pet. By: Jennifer Coates, DVM Featured Image: iStock.com/filadendron Related Video: When Is the Right Time to Euthanize a Pet?

Pet parents who want to provide their dogs with a high-quality diet sometimes question whether traditional dog foods—dry kibble or canned foods—are good choices. Some people have turned to preparing their dog’s food at home, but this can be expensive, risky, and time-consuming.   Being able to buy fresh dog foods that provide all the nutrition a dog needs to thrive is a relatively new option. But is fresh dog food right for every dog? Here’s what you should know before you purchase a fresh food diet for dogs.  Speak with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet. 

At the risk of stating the obvious, grain-free dog food does not contain grain. If you look at the ingredient list printed on the pet food label, you should not see wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, or rye.  But grain-free is not the same as carbohydrate-free. Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for dogs and are a necessary part of dry dog foods. (They help hold the kibble together.) In grain-free dog foods, ingredients like potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, and lentils are included as sources of carbohydrates.  Another common misconception is that grain-free dog food is also high-protein dog food. This isn’t necessarily the case. Other ingredients (meat and meat meals, for example) play a bigger role in determining a dog food’s protein content. To compare dog food protein levels, look at the guaranteed analysis printed on the pet food label. ,Providing good nutrition is essential if a dog is going to be healthy and happy. But with so many dog food options to pick from, how do you know if you’re making good choices?   Let’s look at the pros and cons of an increasingly popular dog diet: grain-free dog food.    Speak with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet.