Alternatives for Hills C/D - Preventing UTIs

sunkissedpr1ncs

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Apr 3, 2013
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Barkley and Pippen
So, a quick back story for those unfamiliar with Pippen's journey. She had non-stop UTI's and Incontinence issues ever since we got her as a puppy. She was on countless rounds of antibiotics and tried other meds like Proin, estrogen, etc. Finally last April we took her to a specialist and found out she had ectopic ureters. After a VERY expensive surgery for that, she seemed to be 100% better! No issues with incontinence and no accidents at all! A month or so ago while we were at the vet I had them check her urine bc I had noticed her squatting a little more outside. Go figure, she had another UTI [emoji22]She took Baytril for a couple weeks and then had her re-checked and showed it was gone. I had her re-checked again a couple weeks after that and the UTI was back! The vet said she thinks it was prob more than one organism bc this time it was resistant to Baytril. So today they took another culture to send out for more testing and she also said there was some sediment and crystals in her bladder/urine. Not sure what kind yet but most likely struvite or oxalate i think. She only had crystals one time previously that cleared up after she was on antibiotics so I'm hoping these will do the same.

Anyway, the vet (who is a Bulldog specialist - we take them to Brittmoore in Houston for those who are familiar) suggested switching her to Hills C/D, at least for a little while to see if that helps keep the UTIs away. I obviously told her I did not want to feed that and she said she knows the ingredients aren't great too but doesn't know of any other similar food that may be better.

So does anyone know if there are any better alternatives to Hills? Or what exactly it is in this "prescription food" that is supposed to help with urinary problems? We had been feeding Acana for awhile but just a week ago switched over to The Honest Kitchen Marvel. I had always put extra water in their kibble, she seems to drink a good amount of water, I give ACV once a day, give her cranberry supplements, probiotics and wipe her vulva area everyday with Malacetic wipes. She does practically sit on the ground when she pees but not much I can do about that. The vet said her vulva looks fine when she looked to see if a vulvoplasty may help.

I am just at my wits end with all of this!! I thought we were finally in the clear after that intense surgery she had but I guess not! [emoji30]

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Cbrugs

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Have you tried a raw diet?
 
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sunkissedpr1ncs

sunkissedpr1ncs

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Apr 3, 2013
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Houston, TX
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Barkley and Pippen
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Have you tried a raw diet?

No havenā€™t gone that route yet. With all her kidney problems she had because of the ectopic ureters I try not to give her anything with too high protein right now.


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Dollys Owner

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You need a low carb diet to keep urine pH about 5-6, assuming it's struvite stones which are the ones usually associated with urinary tract infections. Check it with a pH meter. Try a raw diet with more protein than Honest Kitchen,,eg. Primal Raw Frozen Grind. Also can't hurt to give the cranberry pills, or even better, d-mannose powder which is the active ingredient.
 
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sunkissedpr1ncs

sunkissedpr1ncs

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Barkley and Pippen
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You need a low carb diet to keep urine pH about 5-6, assuming it's struvite stones which are the ones usually associated with urinary tract infections. Check it with a pH meter. Try a raw diet with more protein than Honest Kitchen,,eg. Primal Raw Frozen Grind. Also can't hurt to give the cranberry pills, or even better, d-mannose powder which is the active ingredient.

We canā€™t do a high protein diet since she had some elevated kidney levels previously. We give a cranberry supplement already that has d-mannose as an ingredient as well.


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Dollys Owner

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We canā€™t do a high protein diet since she had some elevated kidney levels previously. We give a cranberry supplement already that has d-mannose as an ingredient as well.


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The combination d-mannose/cranberry supplement sounds great. You should test your dog's urine- if pH is not at optimal amount 5-6, then something should be done to lower pH. DL-Methionine also lowers pH, but since it's an amino acid can't be used in dogs with kidney problems. You don't necessarily have to give her a high protein diet to lower pH , just try to give low carb diet- it can be medium amounts of protein and fat and low carb. Make sure dog is drinking a LOT of fluids.
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
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I have no experience with this but Dollys Owner has given some great info..... sending lots of positive thoughts your way hoping you get things settle for your sweet Pippen
 
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sunkissedpr1ncs

sunkissedpr1ncs

New member
Apr 3, 2013
296
6
Houston, TX
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Barkley and Pippen
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
The combination d-mannose/cranberry supplement sounds great. You should test your dog's urine- if pH is not at optimal amount 5-6, then something should be done to lower pH. DL-Methionine also lowers pH, but since it's an amino acid can't be used in dogs with kidney problems. You don't necessarily have to give her a high protein diet to lower pH , just try to give low carb diet- it can be medium amounts of protein and fat and low carb. Make sure dog is drinking a LOT of fluids.

Thank you!! Yes the THK Food we just started on is moderate protein, lower carbs and has ingredients that Iā€™ve read help with UTIs so Iā€™m praying after this round of treatment we will be in the clear!

I also reached out to the vet who did her ureter surgery to see if she had any thoughts, she did say at the time of surgery that Pippen had a UTI as well as vaginal canal infection so Iā€™m wondering how that affects things. Unfortunately their building got flooded during Harvey so they lost all paper records and she could only see what was in the computer from surgical and discharge notes. But she said if things donā€™t get better to bring her back in for another evaluation to see if there may be another type of abnormality that could be causing these infections.


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