Dogs can suffer from Bladder stones, which is a dangerous Urinary Problem that affects many dogs. This urinary problem is very common due to a lot of reasons but the main cause is urinary infections, which form stones or crystals in your dog’s bladder, which eventually make them troubled when peeing.
Urination process with bladder stones can be a very straining experience for your dog. These stones block the urinary tract of your dog and make urination very painful. For the diagnosis, your vet will ask for tests to confirm the presence of bladder stones to detect the type, size, and number of these stones. The treatment that your vet may recommend will be not just medicine if they diagnose your dog with bladder problems. Changing your dog food can impact the treatment, you should look for the best dog food for bladder stones.
You will find a list of Top Picks and Suggestions for The Best Dog Food for dogs with bladder stones, you can choose the best for your dog.
5 Best Dog Food for Bladder Stones in 2023
| Rank | Picture | Name | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Chicken Flavor | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Royal Canin Urinary SO Dry Food | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  | Hill’s Prescription Diet s/d Urinary Care Original | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |  | Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain Free Small Breed Wet | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |  | Hills Prescription C/d Urinary Care 8.5lb Canine | Buy on Amazon |
Dog Food For Bladder Stones in 2023 Reviews
1. Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Chicken Flavor Canned Dog Food
Our first dog food for urinary problems in the list is Hill’s dog food, it is considered as an ideal meal for your dog. Hill’s dog food comes in a can at 13 ounces each that contains the right minerals which can balance your dog’s pH levels to reduce the bladder stone formation.
- This product comes with a chicken flavor to match your dog’s taste, it is suitable for large, medium, and small breeds.
- It is a vet-recommended product for dogs that have urinary crystalline problems.
- Also has a pate food texture as wet dog food for added hydration.
- Hill’s dog food also rich in antioxidants that are essential for supporting your pet’s immune system and protects their cells from oxidation.
- The protein and calcium levels are at the right levels to keep bladder stones from forming.
2. Royal Canin Urinary SO Dry Food for Dogs and Puppies
Although this product is dry food, it is very useful for those with urinary tract infections. It comes in a 5.5-lb bag and can be used for small, medium, and large adult dogs in different breeding stages.
- Dogs suffering from urinary tract infections will find in this product all they need to overcome this urinary problem.
- Breeds like huskies and Dachshunds will find in this product ideal for bladder stones.
- To balance the urine’s pH levels of your dog, the manufacturer uses its Relative Supersaturation (RSS) methodology to help reduce the stone formation.
3. Hill’s Prescription Diet s/d Urinary Care Original Canned Dog Food
Dogs with urinary stones need to eat meals with specific levels of minerals to avoid the formation of new ones. Hill’s urinary care with original flavor contains balanced amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, and protein so that it can limit bladder stones and crystals from forming.
- Coming in its original flavor for dogs who are prescribed to eat such food by their vet, this 13-ounce can of dog food has balanced amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, and protein so that it can limit bladder stones and crystals from forming.
- This is another canned dog food on our list, it comes in a 13-ounce can.
- It contains enough water content to provide your dogs with sufficient amounts of water to expel these stones and restore their urinary health.
- Your vet may prescribe this product to balance the PH level of your pet urine to dissolve bladder stones.
- The change in the PH of the urine will make it inappropriate media for the formation of stones and protect your dog to get through bladder surgery.
4. Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain Free Small Breed Wet Dog Food
Merrick Lil’ Plates is considered the best for dogs with a grain diet, it is grain-free and gluten-free dog food suitable for small breed dogs and dogs with Sensitive Stomachs.
- This dog food contains 12 puppy plates at 3.5 ounces each.
- This packaging method makes this product perfect as a takeaway meal so they can be easily fed on the go.
- The main and first ingredient in this puppy plate is Deboned chicken, it has a delicious flavor and it is preferred by most dogs.
- If you are searching for good dog food for your puppy, we recommend this product for you.
5. Hills Prescription C/d Urinary Care 8.5lb Canine Dog Food
The last product on our list is Hills Prescription C/d Urinary Care, this product is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, all of which are beneficial to your dog’s system, especially with their urinary tract infection.
- It comes in 8.5 lbs bags and suitable for small, medium, and large breeds.
- This product is ideal for supporting the urinary system of your dog and has a chicken flavor to match the taste of your pet.
- This product is a dry food but still has a good amount of hydration, so this one is perfect for dogs who prefer dry food over canned food.
- It is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which is essential for the overall health of your dog.
- Grains in the formula will make the digestion process easier.
- It has low sodium and fat levels so that it will keep your dog in a healthy state.
Frequently asked questions about bladder stones in dogs { FAQs }
1. What are the causes of bladder stones on dogs?
There are many causes of Bladder stones in dogs, they are usually caused by one or more of the following:
1. Bacterial infection
In some cases, if your dog suffers some bacterial infection then they can possibly be more susceptible to getting bladder stones. Consider asking your vet to get your dog examined to know if they have a bacterial infection that may possibly be the cause of the bladder stones.
2. The dog’s breed
Usually, if your dog is one of the breeds who are more likely to have bladder stones, then it could be a bit of bad news for you.
Dog breeds who are likely to have bladder stones are the following:
- Basset hound, welsh corgi, pug, miniature schnauzer, Dalmatian, Pekingese, cocker spaniel, dachshund, bulldog, Shi Tzu, and a beagle.
- The usual reason for this is that most of these dog breeds are prone to abnormal urine pH levels as well as their genetic history.
- They also tend to be more prone to urinary tract infections.
3. Getting dehydrated
If your dog doesn’t get the hydration that they need, their pH levels may be unbalanced. This can have an effect on their metabolism rate as well as on their overall diet plan.
If their pH levels become unbalanced, crystal stones can form in their bladder. The ideal pH level of urine for dogs should be at least lower than pH level 7 so that it will be able to dissolve the crystals that form in the bladder.
2. What are the symptoms of bladder stones on dogs?
The most common ways to tell if your dog has bladder stones are through the following signs and symptoms:
- Your dog has discolored the urine. Check your dog’s urine every time they go outside. If the color is not the usual one then that may be a sign, just like when humans get urinary tract infection.
- The dog licks on their urinary opening. They may start to itch in this area, and hence, they tend to lick it to help ease the itch or pain.
- Your dog finds it difficult to pee. If your dog finds a lot of trouble peeing, such as taking a long time to pee than usual, that might be a sign of bladder stones for dogs.
- Accidents happen more often. If your dog’s peeing is uncontrollable and they tend to make accidents in the house (when they shouldn’t be since you’ve trained them), that may also be a sign of an uncontrollable bladder.
- Trying to pee more often but not much urine comes out. This also happens in most humans who have bladder stones or urinary tract infections. Consider measuring your dog’s urine in a measuring cup or just observe it when they are urinating.
- Staying in the peeing position for a long period of time. If your dog takes a long time to pee, note if they are actually peeing or just standing there trying to pee but it takes a significantly longer amount of time to do so.
- Some blood may be present in the urine. Inspect the urine for any traces of blood, which usually comes from urinary tract infections as well.
- They may lose their appetite. Your dog may possibly lose their appetite because of the inability to pee well and due to their anxiety over trying to urinate.
- The dog may vomit occasionally. In very rare cases, dogs who have bladder stones may also possibly vomit, but this depends on the severity of the condition.
- Your dog may feel pain while peeing. Aside from taking a long time to pee, some dogs may find it painful to urinate on their own unlike they usually do.
3. How are the bladder stoned diagnosis?
To find out if your dog has bladder stones, your vet may recommend any of the following tests:
- Abdominal ultrasound – this tries to find out if there are stones or crystals in your dog’s bladder. This is one of the most common ways of finding out about bladder stones in dogs.
- Urinalysis – also a very common way of finding out about bladder stones for dogs, it helps to know if there are urinary tract infections on your dog that may cause bladder problems.
- Stone analysis – this tries to determine if the stone in your dog’s bladder that passed into the urine is definitely causing the bladder problems.
- CBC – a complete blood count can be performed if you see some blood on your dog’s urine. This is to rule out any possibility of your dog getting any blood-related disease or condition.
- X-ray – your dog can also get a simple x-ray to know if there are stones or crystals in their bladder, near their abdomen.
- Thyroid test – although a little pricier, this one can be important if your dog has a family history of thyroid problems. In cases that your thyroid is producing too little hormones, this may actually affect their bladder health at some point.
- Electrolyte test – this may determine if your dog is getting the right hydration that they need. After all, dogs only bark so the only way to tell if they are physically and scientifically dehydrated or not is through an electrolyte test.
4. What dissolves bladder stones in dogs?
a veterinarian will treat the underlying cause (e.g., dog antibiotics for urinary tract infections) and may recommend a therapeutic diet that will dissolve the stones and crystals
5. What are the benefits of dog food for bladder stones?
If you choose your dog food appropriately for a dog with bladder stones, you are bound for the following benefits:
- It helps your dog recover faster. Dogs who eat a healthy diet that is made for bladder stones can possibly recover much faster than dogs who only depend on medicine. This is why you should work closely with your vet to choose the appropriate dog food for them with their given condition.
- You are keeping your dog’s hydration at the right level. Because bladder stones are problems that require your dog to keep them hydrated, you should consider choosing the right food. Dog foods that are rich in hydrating ingredients are more advisable so that you can balance your dog’s pH levels in their urine to help dissolve the current bladder stones faster than with meds alone.
- It may also help prevent future formation of bladder stones. Dogs who are more susceptible to bladder stones may also have them again and again in the future, so prevention by eating the right dog food to prevent these bladder stones from forming is a good measure.
6. How do I choose the best dog for bladder stones?
To choose the right dog food for your pet who has bladder stones, you need to consider the following:
- Type of stone that they have – your vet may advise you on which kinds of foods are applicable for your dog depending on the type of bladder stone that they have. There are different kinds of bladder stones and different food is more applicable for some of them since they may take a longer time to dissolve.
- Moisture or water levels – keeping your dog well-hydrated is important if they have bladder stones, so consider food with a lot of moisture or water levels to help with their water intake.
- Fresh ingredients – especially if your dog has allergies to certain food types or if they have a sensitive stomach, they should be fed with dog food that is free from preservatives and other additives.
- Your vet’s advice – listen closely to your vet’s advice on dog food suggestions. They may recommend a brand that’s perfect for your dog.
- Your dog’s age and size – some dogs who are older may also tend to digest food differently, so they should be fed something that has a different ingredient list. Look for dog foods that are for all ages if you are unsure.
7. Can bladder stones be prevented from occurring?
It is not always possible to prevent bladder stones from developing or recurring, but there are certain things and combinations of factors that can raise the risk of stone development, and exacerbate the condition.
Feeding dry food only, or mainly dry food to your dog can serve to make the urine itself more concentrated, which raises the likelihood of stones developing. A healthy canine diet should be based on good quality meat protein, as this acidifies the urine and helps to prevent stones from developing, and dissolves small stones in their early stages.
Prescription diets may be provided by your vet to prevent the formation of further bladder stones, and these work to raise the acidity of the urine and keep stones from developing.
Feeding wet food as well as dry, or instead of dry food, can help with your dog’s hydration levels, diluting the urine and making stones less likely. A high-quality diet based on human-grade meat, without fillers, grains, and low-quality by-products can also have a whole range of positive health effects for your dog, as well as reducing the chances of them developing bladder stones.
Conclusion
The ideal dog food for dogs with bladder stones must have specific properties as dogs need a lot of hydration due to overcoming their bladder stone problems to balance out their pH levels in their urine. It also should have a balanced level of both calcium and protein so it doesn’t form crystals in your dog’s bladder.
In our list of dog foods some of them may not be ideal for very serious bladder stone cases, and your vet may advise more wet food than dry food, although our dry food suggestions can still be recommended by some vets depending on your dog’s condition.
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Thanks Almeda Ethelred Thill.