Male UTI & Crystals in Urine

[Ayoka]

I noticed blood in Bear's unrine last night and so this morning I took him to the vet for a unrine analysis and while no blood showed, the presence of white blood cells, crystals and higher than normal PH indicated a UTI which the vet says is relatively rare in males. Luckily, the vet said I caught it early enought that it hasn't developped into a major UTI.

So our first course of action is antibiotics and when they are through another urine analysis. If the crystals are still there, the vet says we'll have to change his diet.

Bear is currently on Healthwise and I DO NOT want to use the Hills Perscription diet there are only a few other foods I would consider that are available locally (Innova, Innova EVO, Welllness, Canidae). If necessary we'll try them but I'm not sure what the exact mechanism is for crystals forming so I'm not sure what I am looking to change in his food. Does anyone know about this?

Also, does anyone know of any natural remedies for this condition?

[brunie's mom]

I had a male foster with the same problem. I did end up buying the prescription food from the vet...and it is pure crap. I think it was mostly corn and eggs??
If it was my dog I would be cooking a home prepared diet before I would feed that.

You could try adding cranberry extract pills ( buy at any health food store) to lower the PH of the urine. I would give the amount recommended for an adult.
It's worth a try.

Gina

[chivas]

I am not sure what causes crystals in dogs but I have 2 male cats that have both blocked in the past from crystals and in researching the causes, it seems at least in cats, fish and carbs can cause it, both of my cats are now eating Hills Feline C/D dry and Purina UR canned, hmm and I just read the ingredients in the C/D - first one is Brewers Rice, 2nd is Chicken by products, 3rd is Corn Gluten Meal, 4th pork fat. Hmmmmmmmmmmm, they ARE doing well on it though, but now Im wondering too.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

If it was my dog I would be cooking a home prepared diet before I would feed that.

These are my sentiments exactly...

I'm may be worrying for nothing but I like to be prepared...I look into the cranberry extract pills although I know for humans they can reduce UTI's I wonder if they could help with the crystals.

[zorro13]

I never had a dog with crystals, but I have had two male cats go thru both kinds of crystals.

My first cat, Tobias, he had the struvite, which his urine was too alkaline. In cats, this usually happens between ages 1-5 if I am recalling correctly. I have noticed over the years that many foods have added cranberry to help keep the food more acidic, also lowering the magnesium and ash.

Then, last year my other cat Chubbs, he's around 10-12 years old, he developed calcium oxalate stones, meaning his urine ph was too acidic. These stones are more common in the older cat, usually over age 10. I had x rays done and his bladder was loaded with them, just loaded. I had two options, as diet will not dissolve these kinds of stones in cats, they must be surgically removed. They basically flush the bladder out, but stones can be missed and still cause a blockage. I opted for choice number 2 because my vet thought with all those stones, he was more susceptible to them and would get them again and I would end up doing this surgery anyhow. This surgery I had done was basically turning my male into a female,--I can't remember the technical name right now. They basically made his uretha wider like a females so he can pass them as they form. Unfortunately, this cat will not eat the prescribed diet for these kinds of stones, so I am forever trying to find something that isn't acidic and doesn't have the lowered magnesium/ash etc---which is like nearly impossible, as most cat foods are for dissolving struvite crystals. My poor Chubbs had so many complications after surgery--inability to urinate(he had to be manually palpated by my vet), developed kidney failure twice, developed some kind of neurological spine issue which is still a mystery to me and my vet(lost the use of his back legs which then made urinating impossible), developed that fatty liver disease which I can't remember the technical name for right now neither (this list is too long). Anyhow, it was a lonnnnggggg 3 months of intense nursing. My cat spent most of that time in the vet's office and at a really bad time, my vet actually took him home with him. I had Chubbs on the weekends at times though, nursing him, catheter etc. I spent 6 weeks syringe feeding and giving him water thru a syringe as well, near the end, kidney failure came back and he was given about 2 weeks to live. My vet was clearly devestated over all these complications he got. as was I. I didn't know what was left to do except to continue to keep doing what I was doing and praying, lots of praying, not to mention breaking down with each complication and crying my eyes out. I'm happy to report, even though me, my husband, and Chubbs went to hell and back, he recovered from every complication and he is still here today. He doesn't eat what he's supposed to, he likes to eat a variety of nearly every darn thing under the sun, so my vet said let him do what he has to do. My vet was clueless as to how he recovered from all of this, but he did. I'm just thankful he did.

[GraceAAA]

I'd be very interested in hearing people's thoughts as well. We are struggling with a similar situation in our 3 year old male Dachshund. He has been on a 100% raw diet for his entire life and came up with a bladder full of struvite stones. Surgery was requried because his bladder was full (yet he showed no signs until he urinated blood) and 6 weeks later, three new stones were seen on x-ray. Absolutely no bacteria was found during any of his U/A's and analysis of the crystals present now came up as struvite, oxylate and cystine. He was also prescribed the S/D diet (which I absolutely hate especially as we are very holistically minded) which thus far has not effected a change in the stones, just a negative one in his overall condition, of course.

We have used homeopathics, cranberry extract, distilled water, etc. to no avail. I read today that tincture of hydrangea has been helpful and will be researching that more. Also, uva ursi (which needs to be used cautiously given the effects it has on the kidneys) is said to be helpful.

In our case, these stones are naturally occuring which stumps everyone. In Bear's case where you have an infection present (which is normally the case), once you treat the infection (which is causing the crystals by changing the bladder environment) he should be fine...likely without a diet change.

[Ayoka]

Well I found this interesting article online that explains the range to bladder crystal/stone problems in dogs & cats

B-Naturals

It says that uti's can lead to a chang in the acidity of the urine and cause crystals....SO...hopelfully your are correct Andria, once the infection is cleared up, we'll be ok. If not then I need to select a food containing ingerdients that are more acidic than what he currently gets....should be "relatively" easy.

Luckily, Bear seems to be doing fine otherwise...no loss of energy, same old appetite and now he thinks he's died and gone to heaven cause I added a litle oxo to his water to keep him drinking!