What dog food non-presciption can i get that builds the acidity level in urine for a great dane?

Question

they gave me a script and the food is 60$ i asked what other brans would do it and she didnt know?? i have to raise the acidity level in her urine she has crystals than can form into bladder stones she is a great dane

Answer 1

The purpose of the prescription diet is more complicated than that. The food prescribed not only makes the urine more acidic, it also has altered mineral content to help prevent the formation of the crystals and subsequent stones. Certain minerals that are precursors to the crystals have to be reduced, based on how your dog's body responds to them. That's why it's a *prescription* diet....it's not appropriate for all animals. There is no OTC diet that will accomplish the same thing, but there are other brands of similar prescription diets. They're all about the same cost, however. I tell all my Gt. Dane owners.....ALL of your medical costs would be a lot cheaper if she were a Chihuahua, lol. I'm j/k, but it is true that the bigger the dog, the more you're going to have to shell out for medication and food costs.

$60 per bag is a WHOLE lot cheaper than what the surgery to remove bladder stones will cost you.....and at 7 yrs old (which is getting pretty old for a Gt. Dane), she might not survive the surgery. Then, after the surgery, you'll have to feed her that food anyway. So, you'll come out ahead if you just put her on it now. You're already feeding her *something* anyway....so the cost of the new diet is only the difference between how much it costs and how much her old food was costing you. Unless you are feeding her a super-cheap garbage food (like Ol' Roy or Sunshine, etc.), that's really not all that much, considering how much it can save you in medical bills. Please don't ask advice from the pet store....they are trained to sell the closest thing they have on the shelf. And keep in mind that most of them barely have a high school education, let alone a degree in animal nutrition and physiology. Even if they have THAT, however....it still doesn't trump someone with a medical degree prescribing something to treat a specific medical condition.

Only thing to check on.....

Is she having chronic, recurring urinary tract infections??? Because if she is just having her first one, a dietary change might not be actually needed. She might have just gotten a UTI "just because"....related to female anatomy (just like for women.) Bacteria in the urine cause the pH to become alkaline, which can cause the types of crystals your DVM is seeing. Once the bacteria is gone, the pH might return to normal without any change in diet. With me so far? It's like a chicken/egg thing....which came first? Did she develop a high (alkaline) urinary pH due to her food, which caused crystals, which caused an infection? (in which case she needs the prescription food to prevent recurrence after the antibiotics are gone)......Or......Did she develop a urinary infection for some other reason, which caused the pH to become too alkaline, which caused the crystals to develop??? (in which case the antibiotics alone will solve the problem.)

I have found that many of my colleagues sometimes forget that that second scenario can actually happen in many dogs.....since it becomes second nature to want to treat any possible underlying causes.....and I would be especially suspicious of that for your dog if she's made it to this age without having a UTI in the past.

If this is her first UTI, ask your DVM about possibly waiting on the dietary change until after her second urinalysis (when she finishes her antibiotics.) If the pH comes back to normal on its own, and no crystals are seen at that time, then she doesn't need the special diet. (If your DVM seems puzzled by that....some are, for some reason....you might want to gently 'remind' him/her about "bacterial cleavage-induced alkalinity of urine.")

If crystals and abnormal pH have been found on numerous, repeated urinalyses, however....please ignore everything I said after the 2nd paragraph. :-)

Edit: OOPS....I just reread your question. Everything I said still stands, but I don't know WHERE I got it in my head that your dog is 7 years old, since you didn't say that! LOL

Answer 2

Great Danes are capable of amazing growth! They will grow like weeds through the first 8 months and continue to grow rapidly through the first 18 months. It is crucial to "grow them slow", slow steady growth is key to proper development! Proper protein levels are a must when feeding Great Danes. This will help avoid possible health problems such as Pano and Wobblers Syndrome. Lite and lean is the general rule of thumb until about 2 years old. Most knowledgeable Dane owners will agree, feeding Great Danes a premium dog food with protein levels no greater than 24%, and fat levels between 12% to 14%, is key to proper development. Unfortunately you picked a breed where you can not afford to skimp on food costs. I recommend the premium feeds. Your dog will eat less, therefore it will cost you less in the long run and you will know your dog is getting all the nutrients he needs!

Answer 3

I am really not sure, try talking to someone at a pet store. Royal Canin may have something for that - that brand has something for almost anything! If you have a Pet Valu around, they sometimes carry a food that is almost identical to the vet diets - but about half the price ... the name escapes me now, but anyone working should know!

PLEASE DO NOT FEED YOUR DOG OL' ROY ... most grocery store brands will cause many more problems for your pet!

Answer 4

old roy