Here are some herbal remedies that are in my naturopathic vet book (note the herbal pain reliever suggested down at the bottom):
"Herbal Relief: Specific herbs are helpful in dissolving bladder stones and acidifying the urine. These are Hydrangea, Stone Root, Gravel Root and Corn Silk; the dose of the combined herbal formula is .2ml per 5 lbs of the tincture given once daily.
"Vitamin C: This acidifies the urine and may prevent the recurrence of bladder stones and bladder infections. Start with a low dose of 100 mg per 10 lbs daily.
"Clean Water: You want your pet to drink as much as possible, but chlorine will often deter adequate water consumption. Give your dog or cat filtered water to encourage drinking and avoid the chlorine.
"Struvite Stones: In most cases of bladder stones and bladder infections, the goal is to acidify the urine; this prevents the recurrence of the most common bladder stone, struvite. Diets higher in protein are more acidifying; specific veterinary diets are designed for acidification. A higher protein homemade diet is also suitable. Use all the prior remedies to accomplish acification.
"Oxalate Stones: In a small percentage of animals the type of bladder stone is called calcium oxalate, which forms in acidic urine. If this is your pet’s problem then the goal is to make the urine more alkaline. This is performed by lowering protein levels, and by adding a supplement, potassium citrate.
"Fluid: In all cases of infections or stones, additional fluid intake is mandatory in treatment and preventing recurrence. For dogs, add water to their dried food.
"Homeopathic: A homeopathic medication called Cantharis can provide some symptomatic pain relief from urinary tract infections. The dose is two 30C pellets given twice daily for 3-5 days.
"Chinese Help: We have used a Chinese herb in our practice for dogs with recurrent urinary tract infections. Ba Zheng San is the most effective. This is a mix of herbs which are both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. The dose of the concentrate is 1/8 of a teaspoon per 10 lbs of body weight twice daily."
Going by the above, you must first know which kind of stone it is before trying any of the preventative measures because one is to make the urine more acidic and the other is to make it the opposite, more alkaline. |