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02-21-2014, 05:17 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton, Co
Posts: 75
| Urinary tract infection Jonah has had possibly 2 UTI's in last 9 months. Antibiotics cured infection, but vet said still has crystals so must feed prescription food for rest of life (not a very nutritious food) and necessary to feed nothing else to make crystals go away. Any thoughts!
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02-21-2014, 05:36 PM | #3 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,448
| Don't believe the hype about dog foods not being nutritious especially the prescription ones. Those foods work and dogs do very well on them. I have a foster who came to me a few years ago. He was going blind and had bladder stones. He is 13 now and has been on RC Urinary SO since he was 8 years old. He is fine .. and he has not had stones again!
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02-21-2014, 06:47 PM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton, Co
Posts: 75
| Yes crystals are struvite.
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02-21-2014, 06:54 PM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCA
Posts: 1,895
| My first yorkie, Gina, had crystals. She was put on a low protein kibble - California Natural. It worked great. Zoey, my current girl has to be on Royal Canin Gastro low fat canned food. The ingredients are not something I would give her but she loves it and is doing well.
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02-21-2014, 07:04 PM | #6 |
Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal
Posts: 9,874
| Struvite crystals & stones can be dissolved. Canned food is good bc of the moisture or moisten his kibble w/hot water. Make sure Jonah gets lots of liquids. If he doesn't drink a lot of water, you can make some homemade broth (no seasonings or salt) w/chicken or beef bones (w/all the fat removed). If he's trained to go outdoors only, walk him more often so he can flush out his bladder. My 2 had struvite crystals b4 & liquefying their diet helped get rid of it. Canine Kidney Stone and Bladder Stone Prevention - Whole Dog Journal Article 2. Struvite crystals do not require a change in diet. Because struvite crystals do not pose a problem unless the dog has a urinary tract infection, there is no required treatment for crystals, including dietary changes. If the dog does have a urinary tract infection, a prescription dog food will not cure it.
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02-21-2014, 07:42 PM | #7 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Struvites crystals are almost always related to infection in dogs (98+% of the time). If crystals are still present, esp. after feeding a urinary diet for a couple weeks, there is probably still bacteria present. How many times has the urine been cultured and has any imaging been done?
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02-21-2014, 08:26 PM | #8 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton, Co
Posts: 75
| From what I have read having these crystals is not unusual and they are not a problem unless they cause on going UTI's. As there were just 2 episodes, I felt this was a drastic measure to change food for rest of life. I have been feeding RC urinary SO along with with another food sprinkled with powdered cranberry extract. I check PH in urine making sure is staying acidic. He will go for another check up next week. I think UTI result of stress (had been boarded prior to developing infection).
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02-21-2014, 08:46 PM | #9 | |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Quote:
And, even if there is no infection, struvites CAN and DO cause stones. I'm dealing w/ it now. It's not fun.
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02-21-2014, 08:47 PM | #10 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton, Co
Posts: 75
| Vet recommendation was only RC (absolutely no other food ) for 3 months, recheck; if checks OK then continue forever with food. The food does promote drinking and peeing, but broth like suggested also does. And agree walks help because empties bladder. Had xray when had first bladder symptoms and I brought him into vet. Xray fine in fact he was treated for bladder infection though specimen did not confirm. He was doing fine for next 3 months then had to board him and when came home symptoms recurred and that is when diagnosed UTI and presence of crystals after antibiotics.
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02-21-2014, 08:50 PM | #11 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| The urine specifically needs to be cultured. Xrays are good to rule out stones, but not as accurate as ultrasound.
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02-21-2014, 08:53 PM | #12 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Yes, and the urine should be taken by a sterile method (cystocentesis) before it is sent off for a culture. Sadly, not all vets do this so please do ask!
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02-21-2014, 08:55 PM | #13 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton, Co
Posts: 75
| So do struvites cause infection or infection cause struvites? I am confused! Are crystals stones, or a precursor to stones?
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02-21-2014, 08:56 PM | #14 | |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Quote:
Struvites are a problem.
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02-21-2014, 08:57 PM | #15 | |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Quote:
Infection causes struvite crystals. Kill the bug and you should eliminate the crystals (and the need for a special diet).
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 | |
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