Like humans, dogs can develop many different types of bladder or kidney stones. A bladder stone is small, rock-like buildup of minerals that form in the bladder. Feeding a homemade dog food for struvite bladder stones recipe can help to prevent these stones from reforming in your dog's bladder.
Struvite bladder stones are made of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate. Your dog's urine is naturally acidic, and struvite is usually dissolved naturally. However, if the urine becomes alkaline or the concentration is extreme, struvite crystals will begin to form.
There are a number of things that may cause the urine to become alkaline, including:
- bladder infection
- kidney disease
- long-term use of antacids or diuretics
Bladder stones are fairly common in canines, and you'll likely notice your dog straining to urinate or see blood in his urine as the first sign. You'll need to seek veterinary attention to have your dog's struvite bladder stones diagnosed. There are a few different treatments options to get rid of the stones, and homemade dog food for struvite bladder stones is one of them.
RELATED: Guidelines and Diet for Dogs with Struvite Crystals
Homemade Dog Food for Struvite Bladder Stones Recipe
If your dog already has struvite bladder stones, your vet will analyze his condition to help you determine the proper way to treat them. If the condition is mild, they may recommend a special diet to get rid of the stones. Homemade dog food for struvite bladder stones will only be recommended if your vet is certain there is no risk of urinary obstruction.
Typically, a recipe to get rid of these stones will be low in protein, phosphorus and magnesium. They are formulated to promote acidic urine, which helps to dissolve any current struvite bladder stones and reduce the chances of new stones developing.
The recipe that I'm sharing today has been designed to prevent the recurrence of struvite urinary stones. It was created by Dr. Michael Salkin, DVM.
Ingredients
2/3 cup 25% fat ground beef- 3 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 tsp. canola oil
- 1/4 tsp. potassium chloride
- 1 1/4 tsp. bone meal powder
- 3/4 tsp. iodized salt
- 1 multivitamin and mineral tablet for children
- 50 mg. zinc
Directions
Cook the rice according to the directions on the box. While the rice is cooking, brown the ground beef in a skillet. Once both the rice and beef are cooked, mix all of the ingredients together in a medium size mixing bowl.
According to Dr. Salkin's recommendation, this recipe provides 1095 kilocalories. That is his recommendation for a neutered adult dog weighing 45 pounds. You can adjust the recipe to meet your dog's requirements, but it's best to consult with your veterinarian if you plan to feed this diet long-term.
You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 or freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If your veterinarian gives you the okay to feed this diet, you can make it in bulk and freeze it so you don't have to cook for your dog every day.
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