Crystals in Urine

RandE · 11-30-2012, 06:51 PM

Moxie had her vet appointment today for her frequent urination. She does not have an infection but has a fairly heavy crystal load. They said she was close to kidney stones. They also said it could be caused by her food being too rich. They wanted her on prescription food for a month but we cannot do that due to her not tolerating grains well. So we are putting her on cranberry pills for 2 weeks and then a recheck. They said it's possible she will have to be on the pills her whole life. Anyone else deal with this? How did you resolve it? Are you still fighting with it? Any feedback from people who have dealt with this would be great.

Mgibs · 11-30-2012, 07:25 PM

I've never had to deal w this so I'm sorry, but it makes perfect sense - if a food is really high in protein and or calcium I bet they can from crystals in their urine, if they are prone to it. I give my dogs bottled water because city water really freaks me out with all the minerals they put in it, and obviously giving them softened water- which is softened w salts is extremely bad and risky for helping them develop stones. I also never give my dogs cheese or anything high in calcium as I don't want them to develop stone. Sometimes foods and water can cause these probs, but what I'm more so worried about is genetics and this problem was in her line. I used to help show and take care of Samoyeds for a breeder/ handler that was a client of my Mom's- (my parents are Vets). He was at one point one of the top ten dogs in the county. They initially did tons of testing on him prior to breeding but as he got older he started developing stones and unfortunately many of the dogs in that line developed urinary problems and stone problems that followed them most of their lives. I hope this is not the case here

this is just an example but it did not come on in their early yrs of life, that I know of - that's why they didn't catch it sooner.

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**Gypsiemouse** · 11-30-2012, 07:42 PM

I can help you.

Are they struvite crystals or calcium oxalate?

RandE · 11-30-2012, 07:44 PM

I think they said Struvite.... but I'm not 100%. They didn't emphasis which.

af_wx_wife · 11-30-2012, 07:55 PM

Oh well!! I hope the cranberry pills work for Moxie & she's feeling better soon.

**Gypsiemouse** · 11-30-2012, 08:05 PM

Struvite would be the same kind Maggie used to have.

Moxie's urinary PH is off, here are some things you can do to change it.

1. Put her on bottled water or get a Brita Pitcher to filter her water through. Some tap water is too high in mineral content.

2. Put her on cranberry supplements. I use 3 different ones every day. They are: 1 Cranhealth chewable (available on Dr. Foster & Smith website) 1 465 mg. cranberry capsule from local health food store, 1 Cranberry with D-Mannose (that contains 400 mg cranberry and 1000 mg D-Mannose) - those you can get at vitamin shoppe or Amazon

3. What are you feeding her? What is the protein content in her current food?

RandE · 12-01-2012, 02:17 AM

Yeah it must be Struvite. My vet was talking about her PH being high. I am supposed to give her 200mg cranberry tablet once a day. Is that too little? My vet said she wasn't exactly sure what dosage to give her since there aren't and canine guidlines. I gave her one of my 500mg capsules tonight until I get the other dosage. Maybe I should just keep giving her the 500 mg instead?

She is on Taste of the Wild-High Prairie Puppy. The Crude Protein is 28%

Thanks for you help! I appreciate it! Is this common in boxers? My vet seemed to think so.

RandE · 12-01-2012, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by af_wx_wife

Oh well!! I hope the cranberry pills work for Moxie & she's feeling better soon.

Thank you!! I hope so too!

Banditnsophie · 12-01-2012, 02:38 AM

Did they check her for poison? It could be arsenic.

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**Gypsiemouse** · 12-01-2012, 07:09 AM

I really recommend the cranberry with D-Mannose for her, cranberry extract alone is not enough. I do not think 200 mg is enough. I currently give 1015 mg of cranberry extract and about 500 mg of D-Mannose every day. I worked my way up to that dose so as not to cause tummy upsets though.
You might need to change her food to one that is lower in protein. I know you said she doesn't do well on grains. Natural Balance makes a few limited ingredient formulas that are lower in protein than TOTW.

Potato & Duck Dry - Natural Balance Pet Foods

11-30-2012, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
RandE Power User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WI Posts: 350	Crystals in Urine Moxie had her vet appointment today for her frequent urination. She does not have an infection but has a fairly heavy crystal load. They said she was close to kidney stones. They also said it could be caused by her food being too rich. They wanted her on prescription food for a month but we cannot do that due to her not tolerating grains well. So we are putting her on cranberry pills for 2 weeks and then a recheck. They said it's possible she will have to be on the pills her whole life. Anyone else deal with this? How did you resolve it? Are you still fighting with it? Any feedback from people who have dealt with this would be great. __________________ -Allie mox·ie [mok-see] noun Slang 1.vigor; verve; pep. 2.courage and aggressiveness; nerve. 3.skill; know-how.

11-30-2012, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gypsiemouse Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 9,630	I can help you. Are they struvite crystals or calcium oxalate? __________________ Lynne- Owned by and Slave to Maggie and Mongo

11-30-2012, 07:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
RandE Power User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WI Posts: 350	I think they said Struvite.... but I'm not 100%. They didn't emphasis which. __________________ -Allie mox·ie [mok-see] noun Slang 1.vigor; verve; pep. 2.courage and aggressiveness; nerve. 3.skill; know-how.

11-30-2012, 07:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
af_wx_wife BoxerForums Addict Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,439	Oh well!! I hope the cranberry pills work for Moxie & she's feeling better soon. __________________

11-30-2012, 08:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gypsiemouse Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 9,630	Struvite would be the same kind Maggie used to have. Moxie's urinary PH is off, here are some things you can do to change it. 1. Put her on bottled water or get a Brita Pitcher to filter her water through. Some tap water is too high in mineral content. 2. Put her on cranberry supplements. I use 3 different ones every day. They are: 1 Cranhealth chewable (available on Dr. Foster & Smith website) 1 465 mg. cranberry capsule from local health food store, 1 Cranberry with D-Mannose (that contains 400 mg cranberry and 1000 mg D-Mannose) - those you can get at vitamin shoppe or Amazon 3. What are you feeding her? What is the protein content in her current food? __________________ Lynne- Owned by and Slave to Maggie and Mongo

11-30-2012, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mgibs Power User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 370	I've never had to deal w this so I'm sorry, but it makes perfect sense - if a food is really high in protein and or calcium I bet they can from crystals in their urine, if they are prone to it. I give my dogs bottled water because city water really freaks me out with all the minerals they put in it, and obviously giving them softened water- which is softened w salts is extremely bad and risky for helping them develop stones. I also never give my dogs cheese or anything high in calcium as I don't want them to develop stone. Sometimes foods and water can cause these probs, but what I'm more so worried about is genetics and this problem was in her line. I used to help show and take care of Samoyeds for a breeder/ handler that was a client of my Mom's- (my parents are Vets). He was at one point one of the top ten dogs in the county. They initially did tons of testing on him prior to breeding but as he got older he started developing stones and unfortunately many of the dogs in that line developed urinary problems and stone problems that followed them most of their lives. I hope this is not the case here this is just an example but it did not come on in their early yrs of life, that I know of - that's why they didn't catch it sooner. Sent from my iPhone using PG Free

12-01-2012, 02:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
RandE Power User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: WI Posts: 350	Yeah it must be Struvite. My vet was talking about her PH being high. I am supposed to give her 200mg cranberry tablet once a day. Is that too little? My vet said she wasn't exactly sure what dosage to give her since there aren't and canine guidlines. I gave her one of my 500mg capsules tonight until I get the other dosage. Maybe I should just keep giving her the 500 mg instead? She is on Taste of the Wild-High Prairie Puppy. The Crude Protein is 28% Thanks for you help! I appreciate it! Is this common in boxers? My vet seemed to think so. __________________ -Allie mox·ie [mok-see] noun Slang 1.vigor; verve; pep. 2.courage and aggressiveness; nerve. 3.skill; know-how.

12-01-2012, 02:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Banditnsophie Intermediate User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 53	Did they check her for poison? It could be arsenic. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App __________________ BOXER MOM FOREVER AND DASCHUND MOM FOREVER

12-01-2012, 07:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
Gypsiemouse Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 9,630	I really recommend the cranberry with D-Mannose for her, cranberry extract alone is not enough. I do not think 200 mg is enough. I currently give 1015 mg of cranberry extract and about 500 mg of D-Mannose every day. I worked my way up to that dose so as not to cause tummy upsets though. You might need to change her food to one that is lower in protein. I know you said she doesn't do well on grains. Natural Balance makes a few limited ingredient formulas that are lower in protein than TOTW. Potato & Duck Dry - Natural Balance Pet Foods __________________ Lynne- Owned by and Slave to Maggie and Mongo

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