Question about Hills Science U/D

[TeresaW]

Pierce has non-struvite bladder stones. He has been on the Hills Science U/D food for a little over a year. I do not like this food. It has grain, which he had never had until he went on it. Luckily, he has not had a terrible time with yeast, but I just don’t like the quality. Another thing is between the food and being neutered, he has gained about 6 pounds within the last 8 months. He is getting 1 1/2 cups total a day. When I went to purchase a bag yesterday and mentioned the weight gain on this food to the vet, she just said to cut back the amount more. One cup of food a day for a 36 pound dog, even a 30 pound dog, just does not seem like enough. The pH of the urine has so much to do with bladder stones,so it makes it hard to figure out what veggies or fruits he can have for treats. He loves all of them!


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[2bullymama]

[MENTION=188]Cbrugs[/MENTION] --- is tis what Louie has?

 

[Cbrugs]

Does he have cystine stones? Have the stones been removed? I definitely would not continue with food. Zignature has a lower protein kibble (I think around 24-26%) that might be good for him. You can also consider trying a raw diet which is good for certain types of stones.


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[TeresaW]

I know his are the ones that will not dissolve. So far we have not had to have them removed, but we will if he gets another infection or has trouble urinating again. I really wish we had just done the surgery a year ago when we were at the specialist office, but the stinker suddenly decided he could completely empty his bladder and has been doing so ever since.
The protein level in the Hills diet is 10.9 % and the fat level is 20%. What kills me is the protein must come from egg product and pork fat.
Here is the ingredient list. The low level of protein he needs, due to the purines I think, is what has me baffled with doing a raw diet.

Brewers Rice, Corn Starch, Pork Fat, Egg Product, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Soybean Oil, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid , Vitamin D3 Supplement), Dried Beet Pulp, L-Threonine, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, L-Tryptophan, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene


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[2bullymama]

I know his are the ones that will not dissolve. So far we have not had to have them removed, but we will if he gets another infection or has trouble urinating again. I really wish we had just done the surgery a year ago when we were at the specialist office, but the stinker suddenly decided he could completely empty his bladder and has been doing so ever since.
The protein level in the Hills diet is 10.9 % and the fat level is 20%. What kills me is the protein must come from egg product and pork fat.
Here is the ingredient list. The low level of protein he needs, due to the purines I think, is what has me baffled with doing a raw diet.

Brewers Rice, Corn Starch, Pork Fat, Egg Product, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Soybean Oil, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid , Vitamin D3 Supplement), Dried Beet Pulp, L-Threonine, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, L-Tryptophan, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene


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Science diet is crap... good for short term but not long term. You are right in wanting him on something better


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[TeresaW]

The pork fat just got to me. When he first had bladder stones, they were the kind that could be dissolved and the food was different. It was chicken based. I really hated it because I keep both Frenchies away from chicken. Royal Canin prescription foods also have chicken and grains.
Pierce, unlike his son that we have, is not the most active Frenchie. I really want to keep his weight around 30 lbs if I can.


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[2bullymama]

The pork fat just got to me. When he first had bladder stones, they were the kind that could be dissolved and the food was different. It was chicken based. I really hated it because I keep both Frenchies away from chicken. Royal Canin prescription foods also have chicken and grains.
Pierce, unlike his son that we have, is not the most active Frenchie. I really want to keep his weight around 30 lbs if I can.


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Smart!!! Raw may be your best option


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[Cbrugs]

All this prescription diets are awful. Some vets push to sell them because they get a kick back and some suggest them because they just don’t know any better. A lot, not all, but many don’t like raw because they didn’t study nutrition and haven’t done any research on it.

With stones, it is very important for the dog to drink a lot of water. That is why raw is so good, it’s already full of moisture. You could also try adding water or bone broth to kibble.



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[Cbrugs]

You could also look into Zignature. Maybe even get a second opinion from a holistic vet or a vet that isn’t opposed to raw.


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[Honeys Owners]

Most important thing is to get dog to drink a lot of water. If you aren't using canned food then add water or broth to the kibble or raw food.

What kind of stones are they eg. cystine, urate, oxalate, calcium phosphate? The different kinds have slightly different treatments.

 

[Frenchie Grrrl]

I would search for a FB group for people that are raw feeding that have dogs with this specific issue, or join a regular raw group and someone can probably link you to one, or give advice from first hand experience.

 

[TeresaW]

I am going to call tomorrow and find out what kind he has. My husband usually takes him, so he does not always get the little details. He mainly told me these were not like the ones he had when he had a bladder infection-those were the kind that would dissolve, most likely struvite. He was on a different food for those since the pH of the urine had to be different than it does for these.
I am a member of one of the raw feeding groups on Facebook. I will see if anyone there has any additional suggestions.
Pierce does drink a lot of water, which is good. We always know when he gets water because he is the one who leaves a water trail when he walks away from the bowl!


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