Oxalate Bladder Stone

[jelibeybi]

Hi, I used to hang around here some years back and thought I'd ask for thoughts on the following very long post (sorry)

My dog, a Schipperke had an oxalate bladder stone removed surgically a couple of months ago and he's now on Hills U/D. The diet is extremely low in protein (as protien promotes calcium production) and the protein that is in it seems to be plant based. He recently had his teeth cleaned and because he's 9 they did a blood test on him. It showed low protein levels (and one other problem, but he'll be retested next month as she said that could just be an anomaly) which the vet said was to be expected from the diet. I asked the vet about long term issues to do with such low protein levels and she said she didn't know of any, but that sounds odd to me. Anyway he's also gotten dry and cracking on either side of his nose only since being on the diet. I forgot to bring it up with her, but I did ask one of the other vets when I took in in for a urine analysis a couple of weeks ago. The other vet said it was "unlikely" (from her look, she was thinking "is not" but was being careful) to be from the food, but it's been about TWO MONTHS an only since he's been on this food. He's had Hills twice before and his coat went dull on it so I've never had a great impression of them and reading the ingredient list on this food did not improve that.

There is another diet - Royal Canin S/O, and my dog was originally on Royal Canin with no problems. The vet's a bit dubious about it since it is supposed to help with both calcium and struvite stones. It's a really low protein diet too (not as low as the u/d) and produces an acidic PH. From what I've read recently the MOST important things are 1. Very dilute urine (which is ok now as the food he's on seems to make him drink more) and 2. Alkaline or neutral PH in the urine (he's currently 7.0)but the alkaline PH is much less important although highly desirable. I can get the S/O tinned just like the U/D which will help with the water thing. There are other things, but those seem the big ones that come up over and over.

From reading around there's conflicting studies regarding restricting of calcium and protein. I am thinking of talking to my vet and trying him on the S/O diet but adding some extra chicken for protein (beef is bad, turkey and chicken are apparently the better choices) and apparently you can add something to the food to make it more alkaline. I'd also be happy to have his urine tested however regularly for crystals she thinks and maybe blood tested every six months. I can test PH at home and I can buy a thing to test the density or whatever it was (slips my mind atm).

Am I nuts? Or does that sound reasonable? Apparently around 50% develop another stone within 3yrs diet or no. As I said I'd be talking to the vet first.

[Staffyluv]

My old Stafford had oxalate stones removed.

His diet was adjusted and he changed from mostly red meats to more chicken and frames and turkey and veg... But it seems to right itself and he never got anymore after the surgery...

He wouldn't eat the hills stuff at all...

[jelibeybi]

That makes me feel better :)

I don't like the look of that tinned food either; it just looks ick! And I'm worried a diet that overly restrictive will cause other problems.

Edited September 28, 2012 by jelibeybi