What to Feed a Dog with Bladder Stones 2025: Vet Approved Guide 🐶

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

🔬 Understanding Bladder Stone Types

Bladder stones (uroliths) form when urinary crystals aggregate. Common types include:

• Struvite: Magnesium-ammonium-phosphate stones, often infection-related and dissolvable with diet.
• Calcium Oxalate: Not dissolvable; preventable through dilution and diet.
• Urate: Linked to Dalmatians and purine metabolism; low-purine diet essential.
• Cystine & Others: Require special low-protein or alkalinizing diets.

⚖️ Objectives of Dietary Management

• Provide complete nutrition while encouraging urine dilution
• Adjust pH specific to stone type
• Reduce formation risk by controlling mineral intake (magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, purines, oxalates)

🥣 Feeding Strategies by Stone Type

1. Diet for Struvite Stones

Diet-based dissolution is effective. Veterinary therapeutic diets like Royal Canin Urinary, Hill’s c/d, or Purina UR reduce magnesium, protein, and acidify urine.

Focus on:
- High moisture intake via wet or broth-moistened food
- Products designed to achieve pH ≤6.5
- Exclusivity—no treats unless stone-safe.

2. Diet for Calcium Oxalate Stones

These can’t dissolve—but diet aids prevention:

• Use therapeutic urinary diets (e.g. Royal Canin SO, Purina UR Ox/St™, Hill’s c/d) to promote dilution and moderate intake.
• Avoid high-oxalate foods like spinach, beets, nuts.
• Increase water intake—consider canned food or added water.

3. Diet for Urate Stones

Treat urate stones with low-purine, diluted, alkaline diets.

• Reduce purines (organ meats, game, anchovies).
• Use sodium-rich diets to increase thirst and dilute urine.
• Allopurinol may help if due to genetic purine metabolism.

🍲 Fresh or Homemade Feeding Approaches

For owners preferring fresh meals:

• Base meals on lean, low-mineral proteins (poultry, fish, egg whites).
• Avoid oxalate-rich ingredients.
• Ensure complete balance—use veterinary nutrition guidance.

Example struvite‑support recipe: turkey + white rice + steamed zucchini + broth.

💧 Hydration & Urine Dilution

• Ensure constant fresh water and use water bowls in multiple spots.
• Offer canned food or add ¼–½ cup water per serving.
• Encourage frequent urination—short walks or frequent toilet breaks.

🥗 Safe Treats & Add‑Ons

• Vegetables like peeled apples, cauliflower, cucumber (low oxalate).
• Lean chicken, turkey, cooked egg whites (moderate purine).
• Avoid organ meats, spinach, sweet potato, beets, nuts, shellfish.

⚠️ Monitoring & Consultation

• Recheck urinalysis, pH, ultrasound/X-ray after 4–6 weeks or per vet guidance.
• Institute lifelong therapeutic feeds for calcium oxalate clients.
• Analyze stones after removal to guide future diet.
• Check for recurrent urinary infections—consider periodic cultures.

📋 Dr Houston’s Bladder Stone Diet Checklist

• ✔️ Identify stone type → tailor diet accordingly
• ✔️ Choose therapeutic or fresh diet for stone therapy/prevention
• ✔️ Promote hydration via canned/fresh food + water
• ✔️ Eliminate stone‑promoting ingredients & unsafe treats
• ✔️ Offer safe low‑oxalate/purine treats
• ✔️ Repeat urine testing and stone monitoring regularly
• ✔️ Maintain lifelong diet for calcium oxalate cases
• 📱 Ask A Vet for personalized diet formulation or recipe review

🌟 Final Thoughts

Feeding a dog with bladder stones requires targeted nutrition: therapeutic diet or balanced fresh recipes, focused hydration, and long-term prevention strategies. With vet supervision, stone‑type‑specific diet, and routine monitoring, most dogs remain stone‑free and thriving. If you need help creating a tailored feeding plan or managing recurrence, visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for personalized veterinary guidance. 📱🐾