ASK-THE-VET: KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT HEALTH IN DOGS
February 1st, 2010 by Dr. Donna Spector
Question: My dog, who has no history of urinary problems, was recently diagnosed with mineralization of the renal pelvis bilaterally. This diagnosis was made from a CT scan for an unrelated issue and was later followed up by a negative urine culture, so we do not have any more detailed information about what exactly caused the mineralization. Our vet suggests switching to a prescription diet with these ingredients:
RICE, GROUND CORN, CHICKEN FAT, CHICKEN MEAL, CORN GLUTEN MEAL, NATURAL FLAVORS, DRIED EGG POWDER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, CELLULOSE POWDER, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM SULFATE, TAURINE*, VITAMINS [DL-ALPHA TOCOPH should also mention that oEROL ACETATE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN E), BIOTIN, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, NIACIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), VITAMIN A ACETATE, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINEE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], TRACE MINERALS [ZINC OXIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, SODIUM SELENITE, CALCIUM IODATE], PRESERVED WITH NATURAL MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, ROSEMARY EXTRACT, AND CITRIC ACID.
I know that this prescription diet is designed to increase water intake in the dog, increasing the volume and frequency of urination, but it appears low quality to me. Instead, I am considering switching from Spot’s Stew dry to canned food, to increase the water content of the food, along with getting him to drink water more frequently, which we can usually do by encouraging him and offering fresh water. What do you suggest? Thank you!
Answer: Increasing water intake is undoubtedly one of the most important treatments to promote kidney health and to prevent canine urinary stones! Drinking more water produces dilute urine. Dilute urine contains less concentrated minerals so they are less likely to form calcification and then stones.
You can increase your dog’s water intake by feeding canned food. Some dogs will drink more voluntarily if a pet-designed continuous water fountain is used. Also try large bowls placed around the house in all of your dog’s favorite places. The addition of light salt (potassium chloride) to your pet’s food can also effectively increase the amount of water they take in.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Donna Spector
Answers provided to pet owners by Dr. Donna Spector should be considered information and not specific advice. Answers are to be used for general information purposes only and not as a substitute for in-person evaluation or specific professional advice from your veterinarian. Communications on this site are very limited and should never be used in possible cases of emergency. Halo, Purely for Pets will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information or content contained in a blog or article post.
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February 1st, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Hi. We are going through the same thing–can she drink all natural brotas a secondary way to increase her h20 intake?
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Hi Susan,
Yes you can give your dog all natural broth as another way to increase fluid intake–the best choice is a low-fat, low-sodium variety. The other ways to increase your dog’s water intake include feeding canned food, using pet-designed continuous water fountains, multiple bowls in varied locations around the house and the addition of light salt (potassium chloride) to her food.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna Spector
February 7th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I have a 10 month old Siamese male kitten that all of a sudden does
not want to use the toilet to urinate. He also seems like he has a
hard time pooping, he strains. I feed him Eagle Pack Holistic Select
Chicken formula for Cats and Kittens. One of my students recommened
Halo chicken dry food for indoor cats. I tried wet food but he does not
like it much. He seems like he is drinking enough water though the day.
Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Georganne Green
February 11th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Hi Georgann,
Thanks for writing in. The reason your cat may not want to use the litterbox to urinate may be one of a few reasons. Many cats that experience painful defecation or constipation will shy away from the box for urination as well because they recall it as a “bad” or painful place. The Halo dry food can be an excellent choice for pets with constipation as it contains fiber-rich vegetables, prebiotics and probiotics to support intestinal health. See my article about natural remedies for constipation in cats at http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/natural-remedies-for-constipation.html.
The other very common urinary ailment of cats is a condition called interstitial cystitis. This is a sterile inflammation of the bladder that causes pain and avoidance of the litter box. Increasing water intake (try fountain waterers, etc) and enriching their home environment (see http://www.indoorcat.org) can help with the condition dramatically. You should see your veterinarian to make sure he doesn’t have issues like stones or other bladder problems.
Good luck.
Dr. Donna Spector
March 29th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I noticed that you reference giving your dog light salt and you call it potassium chloride..though “potassium chloride” is used for lethal injection. Table salt is sodium chloride..I also notice that potassium chloride is in the dry dog food made by halo..this seems like an additive . From what I see it is a salt substitute. Why not used real salt or sea salt? I see that potassium chloride is also used in deicing agents for road work also as suicide aid??? I don’t want to paint this compound as hateful..and do want to mention that it is also used is some brands of bottled water for human consumption..but I choose my liquids wisely..I guess my question is why use a potentially dangerous compound in what is supposed to be a healthy alternative to dog food when safer compound ex. sodium chloride, sea salt, is available. I see that salt is already added to the ingredients of the dry dog food so why the potassium chloride..even the people Morton who originally discovered this salt and have tried to market it to every industry known to man have a medical warning on their label..*Should not be used by persons on a sodium or potassium restricted diet unless approved by a physician.*.. I am not trying to bad mouth the food..but I was considering feeding my animals this food and started to investigate my current food “evangers” ingredient list and then started looking at your and had a few questions. thanks for your help
March 31st, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your inquiry. As you are probably aware, potassium is an element vital to the proper functioning of all cells in dogs and cats. Potassium chloride is one way Halo supplies this much needed element in their foods. Potassium chloride occurs naturally in the environment (as sylvite) and is commonly used in medicine (as a necessary potassium supplement to intravenous fluids or oral medications), food processing and as a sodium-free substitute for table salt (sodium chloride). Many elements/salts when used at excessive dosages or combined with other ingredients may produce compounds used in industrial applications or other “non-food” applications. The potassium chloride used in food applications must not be taken out of context and compared to this sort of industrial use.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Donna Spector