TrulyScrumptous

New member
Apr 2, 2013
3
1
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Truly Scrumptious
Hi, I came to this forum many times for information while facing our bully's health crisis so I wanted to share our experience with everyone in case it can help as well.

Our bully got her first UTI and aside from allergies, this was also her first health issue at the age of 4. This UTI also happened to set in about 6 weeks after starting her on Apoquel for her allergies (which for us was a miracle drug we no longer give her as it can lower the immune systems defense against other things such as UTI's). We were on vacation at the time and the vet we saw, prescribed her antibiotics but he could not do other testing as this was a tiny little hub office with minimal equipment. I called our personal vet that was also new to us since we had moved to another state that told us if she started getting better, no need to bring her in, just finish the antibiotics.

About 2 weeks after that first round of antibiotics, we noticed her frequently urinating again so I took her in to see this new recommended bully vet we found. They did in office urine testing to find the infection still there (or new UTI) and also an xray which revealed a pretty significant amount of stones in her bladder that resembled a pile of jelly beans. This vet sent us home with more antibiotics and wanted to wait for urinalysis results to narrow down what type of stones they might be before deciding next course of treatment.

For the next few days, I researched so much information and felt like there were several options available for us depending on the type of stones but I also knew that we wouldn't be sure of the type unless the stones were removed and tested. This vet called me and said that our bully had Struvite crystals in her urine which could make them lean toward the stones being the same type but to her, still no guarantee they were so they recommended IMMEDIATE SURGERY. I was pretty shocked that this was the recommendation to be honest because for one knowing the danger of putting a bully under general anesthesia is risky but also I had read other things could help and our situation did not seem an emergency as nothing was blocking her urine flow. I asked about changing my bully's diet, this vet told me IT WOULD NOT HELP. To their credit, I had read opposing opinions to this topic so I wasn't sure myself. She told me if I was uneasy about surgery that I needed to just keep my bully on this new round of antibiotics and see if the infection clears and we would look to see if the stones were still there after that treatment. We returned after this second round of antibiotics and the urine was clear but ultrasound showed stones still there. She again, said surgery was only way to help my bully. I told her that I needed to think about this and speak with my husband before bringing her in.

I immediately called our prior vet from the other state we previously lived in. She is amazing and to be honest, leaving her was probably the hardest part of moving but I was given this new vet as a bully referral and told they are very knowledgeable with bullies so I assumed that this state of the art vet office was the place for us. My prior vet said what I was told is absolutely not true. That a change in diet can dissolve Struvite stones and she personally has had several cases where this has happened. I decided to take my bully to see her (another state away but still able to drive the 4 hours one way). My vet examined and found no emergency situation or blockage, did another urinalysis just to make sure the urine was completely clear so she didn't need more antibiotics, did an ultrasound to verify the stones were actually there (they were) and recommended we try Royal Canin urinary SO canned food as the next course of treatment. Now, my vet knows the general consensus about this food, she doesn't even try to sell to you from her office, she just knows that it does work and she felt it was worth trying before cutting my baby open.

We started our bully on the RC SO (quite possibly the nastiest smelling stuff ever but my bully loved it) and the urinalysis also came back with no infection. We continued to feed her this food for 6 weeks and no other treats or supplements. We gave her bottled water as well. Took her back for her follow-up and her BLADDER STONES WERE COMPLETELY GONE. Nothing at all! That entire pile of stones gone. We were so happy. The next course of treatment will be to determine if she has any genetic predisposition to getting these stones which is possible as well. We will check her PH once a week with testing strips (not entirely accurate but helpful anyway). We will take her in for a urinalysis in one month to make sure no crystals are forming and if clear, we will go back again in 3 months. If we start seeing any indications of that PH changing or crystals forming then we have to assume this is genetic and decide how to adjust her diet. We were feeding her Taste of the Wild prior, and are probably going to go with homecooked food to see if we can keep that PH in check but also address some allergy issues because we do not want to put her back on Apoquel again as it does weaken the immune system and we do not know if this is what started her UTI issue in the first place or not but we will try other means for her allergies first.

I just want to say that I did read information at many sites and various comments all over the web that said diet would not dissolve the stones and also that if my vet were to tell me that, I should find a new vet. Obviously, they were wrong in my case and I am very grateful I tried it first. I also want to say that we fully believe that our local vet office was trying to force us into surgery for financial gain. My prior vet did have the records sent to her from their office and that vet wrote in her notes that I both denied surgery and DIET for treatment which doesn't even make logical sense. After finding that out, I called their office and spoke with the director, told him that was not the case and in fact I had asked about diet and was told it wouldn't work. The director basically told me he didn't believe me and he stood behind what the vet wrote in her notes. This is a huge practice where I live and I really feel for all the families that are probably being misled in an effort to make money.

I hope this course of action helps others. I think one of the most important things to note is that if Struvite crystals show up in the urine with or without a UTI, you need to have either an xray or ultrasound to see if there are stones as well. If there are stones, it is possible for them to continue to slowly release toxins which start the UTI/crystal process all over again. This can explain recurring UTI's because it is possible to clear the infection with antibiotics and also have no crystals in the urine after a round of antibiotics but if there are stones present, they will act as little devils as soon as those antibiotics are over and attack your poor bully once again.

So happy our bully did not have to be cut open! :)
 

Hankster

Well-known member
Community Veteran
Aug 27, 2016
4,496
88
Country
US
Bulldog(s) Names
hank
thank you thank you!!! this I believe can help others through this and possibly save another bully from going under!! you have done a great service and hope ya stick around :)
 

Texas Carol

Texas Carol....put the heart in EBN
Community Veteran
Jul 4, 2012
7,581
832
Central Texas
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Brutus & Cami live in Heaven
What a wonderful service you've done for us all, thank you!

Thankful your beloved Truly did not undergo surgery, shame
on those Vets! I lost my 1st bully, a young male, just after
dental cleaning which I've since learned can be avoided, I
still feel guilty :(

Came had her 1st UTI in the 4 yrs I've had her (don't know
about her 1st five years as she was rehomed to me) just a
few mo's ago. That Vet took advantage of me also, still mad!
Prior to this, 3 years ago she injured her rear leg somehow,
that Vet xrayed & said she needed surgery on both legs,
nothing else would work & don't even try. Expensive, long
recovery & she was 6 yrs so, was risky. Researched options,
confined her for 6 weeks took it very easy another 3 months,
put on bonebuilding supplements & she recovered totally!
It's such a shame this happens so often, we must share our
experiences with others to educate, encourage & help them.

Again, thank you for doing these very things and WELCOME!
 

helsonwheels

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2016
13,064
2,367
Alberta
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Nyala, Jake (R.I.P. Duke)
So happy our bully did not have to be cut open! :)

WELCOME to EBN!!! Really happy all worked out for the best. Nyala when she was about 5ish months she had the same issue. After a couple*weeks of going back n forth having her urine tested and was getting worse, that was it for me and decided to cook for her. In about a week all has disappeared. The secretary of the vet's office absolutely wanted me to put Nyala on RC. Well that wasn't even going to happen. To this day she still on home cooking. Sometimes I mix Acana but like 1/3 cup only with her HC. She's very healthy to this day.

Any vet that forces clients to have surgery on their pets "without" trying other methods just to make money should be stripped of their license. You attend all those years and pay an arm ans leg to study in a field like veterinarian and all you're thinking is how to screw your clientele? Should be stripped of their title! Really gets me mad! I would keep your girl on real food for now. Go with home cooking or Spot Farms or Honest Kitchen and even raw if you can. If its kibbles, stick to Acana, Orijen or Fromm. Im truly happy you posted what happened to your little girl. (Sorry I dont see her name) Stories like yours can help others. Thank you!!! BTW, we like photos! Lol
 

Dollys Owner

Active member
Feb 20, 2017
2,005
24
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Honey
I would agree you feed your pet a low-carb, grain-free, potato-free, and preferably raw, dehydrated raw or at least canned food diet for the increased moisture content.
eg. Real Meat air dried beef ( only 27% carbs ), Stella and Chewys Simple venison ( only 13% carbs ), Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Market nuggets beef ( only 16% carbs ).
Honest Kitchen Embark has 41% carbs in comparison.

You need pH to be below 7, optimally between 6-6.5 which you can check with a pH meter once a week or more frequent that you dip into the urine. eg. https://www.amazon.com/HiTech-Digital-Portable-Pocket-Tester/dp/B01N0GGTOV/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1498268364&sr=8-8&keywords=ph+meter+digital#customerReviews

WELCOME to EBN!!! Really happy all worked out for the best. Nyala when she was about 5ish months she had the same issue. After a couple*weeks of going back n forth having her urine tested and was getting worse, that was it for me and decided to cook for her. In about a week all has disappeared. The secretary of the vet's office absolutely wanted me to put Nyala on RC. Well that wasn't even going to happen. To this day she still on home cooking. Sometimes I mix Acana but like 1/3 cup only with her HC. She's very healthy to this day.

Any vet that forces clients to have surgery on their pets "without" trying other methods just to make money should be stripped of their license. You attend all those years and pay an arm ans leg to study in a field like veterinarian and all you're thinking is how to screw your clientele? Should be stripped of their title! Really gets me mad! I would keep your girl on real food for now. Go with home cooking or Spot Farms or Honest Kitchen and even raw if you can. If its kibbles, stick to Acana, Orijen or Fromm. Im truly happy you posted what happened to your little girl. (Sorry I dont see her name) Stories like yours can help others. Thank you!!! BTW, we like photos! Lol
 

helsonwheels

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2016
13,064
2,367
Alberta
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Nyala, Jake (R.I.P. Duke)
I would agree you feed your pet a low-carb, grain-free, potato-free, and preferably raw, dehydrated raw or at least canned food diet for the increased moisture content.
eg. Real Meat air dried beef ( only 27% carbs ), Stella and Chewys Simple venison ( only 13% carbs ), Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Market nuggets beef ( only 16% carbs ).
Honest Kitchen Embark has 41% carbs in comparison.

You need pH to be below 7, optimally between 6-6.5 which you can check with a pH meter once a week or more frequent that you dip into the urine. eg. https://www.amazon.com/HiTech-Digital-Portable-Pocket-Tester/dp/B01N0GGTOV/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1498268364&sr=8-8&keywords=ph+meter+digital#customerReviews

I fed Nyala with the exact issue..... turkey, sweet potatoes, green n yellow string beans, peas, carrots and topped it with the broth. That was her home cooking and I brought her urine to be tested 4x till all was cleared. So it wasnt much of low carb in her diet but it was home made n fresh. Cured her.
 
OP
T

TrulyScrumptous

New member
Apr 2, 2013
3
1
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Truly Scrumptious
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Our baby Truly. Love her so much. Thank you for letting me share :)

IMG_0238.JPGIMG_0144.JPGIMG_0157.JPG94D67E24-7D1A-4FF6-B2BC-4F323B73ABF2.JPGB4ACC045-832F-44C0-AFEE-56069A3C2A86.JPG
 

Hankster

Well-known member
Community Veteran
Aug 27, 2016
4,496
88
Country
US
Bulldog(s) Names
hank
oh thank you! for sharing ;) she's beautiful!! How glad shes here and healthy thanks to great parents !! She really is gorgeous!
 

1Chumly

Well-known member
Feb 19, 2015
2,911
693
Houston, TX
Country
From England
Bulldog(s) Names
Buster 2013-2023 Monty 6/2010 - 1/2020 Chumly 2002-2014
Thank you for the great post. Truly really is scrumptious and what a perfect name. Love it!
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
Staff member
Community Veteran
Jul 28, 2011
48,580
3,669
Gilbertsville, PA
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Chelios (Frenchie), Nitschke (2004-2011) Banks (2005-2014) and Lambeau (2014-2024)

Fantastic information!!! Truly has an incredible bully momma!!! Sticking to your guns and knowing your baby and knowledge is power!!

Many members here have had this issue and have always advised others to alternative diets and getting the info on type of crystal before any surgery.. thank you fir sharing and loving Truly so much ...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Most Reactions

📰 Latest posts

Members online

No members online now.
Top