[cj125]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

These were struvite stones?

I would look at K/D, Purina NF, and maybe even Sci Diet C/D. If Orijen was very good at struvite prevention, then I wouldn't expect to see 7 stones in a bladder. It does not have the correct levels for this issue. Cranberries tend to get good reviews for this sort of thing, but only adidify the urine for a few hours at most and not as well as what people would think. Your pup needs low phosphorus or your vet wouldn't be going with K/D. I'm sure Orijen is much higher.

The quality of meat in Orijen is pretty much the same as most other dog foods (there was a recent thread in Health and Diet about this). It is higher in protein which I know some people prefer, but a high protein diet isn't one of the needed things here.

I think a veterinary diet would be much more appropriate for your pup.

Originally Posted by 107barney

I would not use Orijen, Honest Kitchen, or any of those foods for this dog. Adding supplements and/or foods to acidify the bladder environment can help with struvites but the problem is that the bladder then becomes conducive to forming oxalate stones. If your vet is saying the dog needs K/D and you don't want to do that, I would consult with a nutritionist -- a board certified veterinary nutritionist and not an armchair, layperson, or other self-proclaimed nutritional pundit -- and I'd get advice there.

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Totally agree!

I might also add that I have a foster who had bladder stones when his owner had him and then again right after he came to me. He had surgery twice for bladder stones. He was put on a prescription diet and so far, so good....no further stones or urinary problems. He has been with me for quite a long time .. blind and no one has really expressed interest....long enough for me to know that this RX food is helping him! He is on Urinary SO.

I also kept two pups alive for years by following the vet's advice to use a prescription diet for renal failure. Both of them were on Purina NF which they liked better than the Hill's KD.

Additionally, I had one with renal issues and pancreatitis and I had a consult done with the vet nutritionist at Texas A&M. I then home cooked for him since none of the diets met his needs.

Sick dogs need to be treated by licensed veterinarians imho...not someone on the internet who is a self professed expert in animal nutrition. I don't trust the nutrition sites, but that's just me. I personally will always go with the board certified vet nutritionists.

I agree with you ladies. I have 3 babies and I've been through the gamet of dog foods (raw, wet and dry). Wish I could feed them something different but after seeing Mia have blood splattered all over my walls and floor - I follow my vets instructions. We have ours on J/D, I/D and just currently put Moe on R/D (he's getting a little chubby). IF I didn't agree with her - then I'd ask her for a specialist - which I'm sure she'd be happy to help me with. (I love my vet ♥)

Bottom line is... You have to do what's best for your dog. What works for one doesn't always work for another -- just like people. Good Luck!