Urinary dog food can be very helpful in reducing urinary tract infections in dogs.
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Best urinary dry dog food in 2024
Some dogs suffer from repeated urinary tract infections, which has a significant impact on their well-being. Urinary dog food can get them back on their feet.
Has your dog been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection? Does it have bladder stones? Your veterinarian will do everything to get your dog out of this predicament. But you can also do something about it by giving them urinary care dog food.
This food is specially designed to prevent the formation of stones and reduce the risk of urinary infection. The mineral content, especially magnesium, a component of certain very common urinary crystals called struvites, is lowered. Urinary dry dog food is often available in a light version, as excessive weight encourages urinary tract infections in dogs.
And if your dog is over ten years old, don't panic! You will also find kibbles for urinary problems in older dogs.
Read the buyer's guide we've compiled for you and find the best urinary dry dog food for your pet.
Summary
What causes urinary problems in dogs?
Urinary problems in dogs have three main origins:
- Bacterial urinary tract infections
- Urinary stones, which are small mineral concretions found in the bladder or urinary tract
- Tumours of the bladder
Urinary tract infections in dogs are usually ascending. That means, they come from outside bacteria that have contaminated the bladder as they travel up the urethra, the tube that allows urine to pass out during urination.
Stones can occur as a result of infection, poor hydration or poor quality food. Their formation can also be genetic. For example, Dalmatians are more likely to develop urinary stones than canines of other breeds. The nature of urinary stones depends on the minerals that make them up. The most common are struvites and calcium oxalates.
The tumours can be benign or malignant; they mostly appear in older dogs.
What are the symptoms of urinary problems in dogs?
A dog with a urinary disease will show signs of what is called "cystitis":
- They will urinate often and in small quantities
- Their urine will be tinged with blood and may smell bad
- They may start urinating indoors
- They may be depressed and lose their appetite
Urinary tract infections in dogs are painful. Bacteria can travel to the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis. It is advisable to consult a veterinarian without delay.
Beware that stones can sometimes migrate from the bladder to the outside. There is then a risk that they get stuck in the urethra, especially in males. When that happens, the animal cannot urinate at all. That calls for urgent help, as this urinary obstruction will quickly endanger your pet's renal function.
What should I do when my dog has urinary problems?
If your dog shows signs of cystitis, consult your veterinarian. Thanks to various examinations, like ECBU, radiography, and ultrasound, the doctor can make a precise diagnosis and set up the treatment adapted to your dog's urinary problem.
Once the diagnosis has been made, you need to ensure that your pet is taking its treatment correctly. Most of the time, antibiotics and painkillers are prescribed. You should also make sure that your pet always has access to fresh water, if possible, with low mineral content.
If your dog has recurrent urinary diseases, don't hesitate to talk to your veterinarian about a specific diet; this is often the key to recovery!
Should I give preference to a specific diet when my dog has urinary problems?
The diet will influence different aspects of the urine composition to prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria or the formation of stones.
For simplicity and ease of use, it is advisable to opt for special urinary dry dog food.
You should choose your dog's food according to the pet's weight and age and the nature of their urinary problems, and especially the composition of the stones. Not all dog food for urinary tract problems is the same; some kinds dissolve struvite stones, others only prevent them. Another type is designed to combat calcium oxalate stones. You will also find kibbles for older dogs with urinary problems.
How can dry food help with my dog's urinary problems?
Urinary dry food for dogs performs several functions. It is generally low in minerals, such as phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium and have an acidifying and diluting effect on urine to reduce the precipitation of stones in the bladder, especially struvites.
These products are often reduced in calories for optimal weight. Excess weight and lack of exercise are also factors that favour urinary tract infections or the appearance of stones.
Finally, they contain anti-inflammatory molecules such as omega 3 fatty acids.
These kibbles for dogs with urinary problems are essential for animals regularly suffering from cystitis or stones.
