Hills Prescription Diet or Home cook diet?

[AlfiesMum]

My wee Alfie seems to still have bladder stones issues after his surgery in September last year. He is currently at the vets now and they are scheduling him in for surgery again on Tuesday. He is on Hills c/d food at the moment and I'don't say they will change it back to u/d as he seems to be prone to calcium oxalate stones. He was put on c/d because he also had some struvite stones too.

I have read on the Web that this food is not great and also I have been reading about homemade food for dogs. I just want to know other people's opinion on both food options.

I am also worried that my wee man has to go under surgery for the second in less than a year.

[Wylie's Mom]

Aw, your poor kiddo. I hope he feels better very, very soon!

I think you can go either way and have great results, and feel good about it.

If you do really *want* to homecook though - then you just have to truly make sure it's balanced properly vie balanceit.com or something.

If you choose to go w/ Science Diet - be confident in it, and know you're choosing something that is tailored to a specific problem - which is best for your little darling.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

My Rosie has been on Hills I/D for a long time. I have also home cooked but right now my life just isn't allowing it. She has done great on it. Lots of controversy over Hills. Don't want to get that started lol. But my girl has done just fine with it. So unless you are wanting to spend the time to home cook, get a proper recipe, and supplements, I think you will be just fine using Hills. Sorry to hear about the 2nd surgery. Maybe diet will help him. Poor baby.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Aw, your poor kiddo. I hope he feels better very, very soon!

I think you can go either way and have great results, and feel good about it.

If you do really *want* to homecook though - then you just have to truly make sure it's balanced properly vie balanceit.com or something.

If you choose to go w/ Science Diet - be confident in it, and know you're choosing something that is tailored to a specific problem - which is best for your little darling.

It certainly has made a difference for my Rosie.

[AlfiesMum]

Thanks, but he has been on the hills diet and the stones still came back. So that's why I am thinking of homecooking and I know Alfie would just love homecooking too. I am hoping that they missed thesee stones rather than them growing back in a sort space of time.

[lisaly]

Poor little Alfie. As others have stated, home cooking might really help Alfie if the diet is made up by a veterinary nutritionist because it needs to be nutritionally balanced and be foods that will reduce the likelihood of the stones returning. I hope Alfie gets better very soon.

[Silver Lace]

Hi,
Would there be a chance of changing name brands of the same specialist prescription food? Maybe royal canin brand? Just a thought. Have you discussed your feelings about his food with your vet? Maybe they would know the right thing to do. Hope it goes well for you both.

[fauna]

Poor boy sorry that you facing this kind of situation! I pray for you hope you will be okay soon.

[AlfiesMum]

Thanks everyone, I am going to bring the food situation up with them when he is due in for surgery on Tuesday. I don't think they will be up for homecooking to be honest.

I have Dr Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. He gives recipes which include supplements etc. He also talks about homeopathic treatmentso and herbal treatment too. I'm very interested in trying this considering Hills did not keep the stones at bay if they were not missed in the first place.

[AlfiesMum]

Hi everyone just an update. After some confusion Alfie had surgery yesterday and is doing fine. They removed the stone and also a mass that they found last year. He doesn't look like a wee dog that has been through a major op.

I have started feeding them both home cooked food which the vet is ok with. He said he is happy that I am even trying to do something about it. Well Alfie is loving it but Penny had a dodgy tummy during the night but my hubby gave her some leftovers from dinner so not sure what caused it. She has a sensitive digestive system so would make more sense to gradually introduce it.

I am just currently on the lookout for the best supplements to add to the diet. I have to stay clear of Vit C and D as they are not good for calcium oxalates apparently. It's very had to get a multivitamin without them.

[vini]

Originally Posted by AlfiesMum

I am just currently on the lookout for the best supplements to add to the diet. I have to stay clear of Vit C and D as they are not good for calcium oxalates apparently. It's very had to get a multivitamin without them.

Good to know Alfie is doing fine :-)

I am thinking to continue home made food for Molly too but I was not aware about Vit C and D. Thank you for the info. But how about Vit A? One of my friend recommended it.

[AlfiesMum]

Does Molly suffer from calcium oxalate stones?

I have just read that Vit C & D is not good from researching on the net. But I am also finding conflicting information too. Likea give them distilled water and then I find that they say that don't give them distilled water.

I'll find one of the websites that I have read in relation to the vitamins.

[AlfiesMum]

I think Vitamin A is just the same for human as in too much can cause harm.

[AlfiesMum]

DogAware.com Articles: Calcium Oxalate Stones

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by AlfiesMum

Hi everyone just an update. After some confusion Alfie had surgery yesterday and is doing fine. They removed the stone and also a mass that they found last year. He doesn't look like a wee dog that has been through a major op.

I have started feeding them both home cooked food which the vet is ok with. He said he is happy that I am even trying to do something about it. Well Alfie is loving it but Penny had a dodgy tummy during the night but my hubby gave her some leftovers from dinner so not sure what caused it. She has a sensitive digestive system so would make more sense to gradually introduce it.

I am just currently on the lookout for the best supplements to add to the diet. I have to stay clear of Vit C and D as they are not good for calcium oxalates apparently. It's very had to get a multivitamin without them.

What about using balanceit.com...?