u d prescription diet for dogs
Comparison chart: Urolithiasis diets for dogs
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Rock climbing: good. Rock 'n' roll: good. Pop Rocks: very good.
Bladder rocks: not so good.
And the cats!
You can check out our comparison chart for feline urolithiasis diets at dvm360.com/caturolithdiets.
When mineral crystals in a dog's urine aggregate to form uroliths, they can become large enough to cause hematuria, dysuria and even partial or full obstruction of the urinary tract.
Though the exact mechanisms behind urolithiasis are not yet completely understood in dogs (or cats, for that matter), these two factors are a must: sufficiently high urine concentrations of the substances that form uroliths, and slower movement of crystals within the urinary tract.1 The development of some stones is also affected by factors like diet, genetics, infection and medications.1
Though diet can be a contributing factor in stone formation, it can also be part of treatment and prevention. Knowing a urolith's chemical composition is key. The most common canine uroliths include:
Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate): Struvite stones top the list of common canine uroliths and are typically caused by urinary tract infections. They are the only stones that can be completely dissolved via therapeutic diet.
Calcium oxalate: Calcium oxalate stones can develop in any breed, though miniature schnauzers, Lhasa apsos, Yorkshire terriers, bichons friss, shih tzus and miniature poodles may be predisposed.1
Urate: Ammonium urate stones are most frequently found in Dalmatians and in dogs with congenital portosystemic vascular shunts.1
The therapeutic diets in the chart below are formulated to address at least one of these types of stones, and three of them also list the prevention of a less common type of stone-cystine-as a benefit.
Despite their differences, all of the diets have at least two things in common: the need for thorough client communication and regular follow-up appointments. Explain to clients that extra food (rawhides, table scraps, treats, supplements) could thwart the diet's effectiveness. Be explicit regarding what their dog can (and can't) have between meals and why. Don't be bashful about revisiting this topic during follow-up appointments as you monitor your patient's response to the diet-especially if the food doesn't have the effect you expected.
(Editor's note: The chart on the next page isn't exhaustive. These manufacturers produce other diets that include sterile struvite and calcium oxalate stone prevention benefits. The diets included on the chart are those that have the urinary tract as their main focus.)
Therapeutic urolithiasis diets for dogs
Information chart
Food
Struvite dissolution?
Struvite prevention?
Calcium oxalate prevention?
Cystine prevention?
Urate prevention?
Calories
Guaranteed analysis
Link to website and other info
Dry foods
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care
YES
YES
309 per cup
Crude protein: 30% min
Crude fat: 10% min
Crude fiber: 17% max
Moisture: 10% max
Calcium: 1% min
Phosphorus: 0.7% min
Magnesium: 0.14% max
Sodium: 0.15% min, 0.35% max
Vitamin E: 300 IU/kg min
Soluble fiber: 1% min
Taurine: 0.2% min
Omega 3 fatty acids: 0.5% min
Omega 6 fatty acids: 2% min
L-carnitine: 250 mg/kg min
bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/blue-natural-veterinary-diet/wu-dry-food-for-dogs
Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Urinary Care Multicare Canine
YES
YES
YES
375 per cup
Crude protein: 18% min
Crude fat: 13% min, 18% max
Crude fiber: 5% max
Calcium: 0.45% min, 0.9% max
Phosphorus: 0.41% min, 0.7% max
Sodium: 0.3% max
Magnesium: 0.06% min, 0.12% max
Omega 3 fatty acids: 0.45% min
hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-cd-multicare-canine-dry
Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic + Urinary Canine
YES
YES
279 per cup
Crude protein: 21% min
Crude fat: 8.5% min
Crude fiber: 16% max
Crude moisture: 10% max
Calcium: 0.3% min, 0.9% max
Magnesium: 0.06% min, 0.09% max
Omega 3 fatty acids: 0.45% min
hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-metabolic-plus-urinary-canine-dry
Hill's Prescription Diet Urinary Care u/d Canine
YES
YES
398 per cup
Crude protein: 8% min, 12% max
Crude fat: 17.5% min
Crude fiber: 3% max
Calcium: 0.45% max
Sodium: 0.3% max
Taurine: 0.09% min
Vitamin E: 400 IU/kg min
Carnitine: 150 ppm min
hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-ud-canine-dry#
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Canine Formula
YES
YES
YES
408 per cup
Crude protein: 21% min
Crude fat: 9% min
Crude fiber: 6.5% max
Moisture: 12% max
Ash: 8.5% max
Calcium: 0.9% min
Phosphorus: 0.7% min
proplanveterinarydiets.com/products/ur-urinary-oxst-dog
Royal Canin Canine Urinary UC Dry Dog Food
YES
YES
339 per cup
Crude protein: 18% min
Crude fat: 13% min
Crude fiber: 3% max
Moisture: 10% max
Methionine-cystine: 0.74% min
royalcanin.com/us/dogs/products/vet-products/canine-urinary-uc-low-purine-dry-dog-food
Royal Canin Canine Urinary SO Dry Dog Food
YES
YES
YES
333 per cup
Crude protein: 14% min
Crude fat: 14% min
Crude fiber: 4.7% max
Moisture: 10% max
Magnesium: 0.08% max
royalcanin.com/us/dogs/products/vet-products/canine-urinary-so-dry-dog-food
Small dog, moderate calorie, satiety and hydrolyzed protein formulas also available.
Wet foods
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care
YES
YES
312 per 12.5-oz can
Crude protein: 7.5% min
Crude fat: 2.5% min
Crude fiber: 5% max
Moisture: 78% max
Vitamin E: 50 IU/kg min
Ascorbic acid: 20 mg/kg min
L-carnitine: 60 mg/kg min
bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/blue-natural-veterinary-diet/wu-wet-food-for-dogs/
Hill's Prescription Diet Urinary Care c/d Multicare Canine Chicken Flavor
YES
YES
YES
463 per 13-oz can
Crude protein: 5.5% min
Crude fat: 4% min
Crude fiber: 2% max
hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-cd-multicare-canine-canned
Chicken-and-vegetable-stew flavor also available
Hill's Prescription Diet Urinary Care s/d Canine
YES
(dissolves in as little as 6 days; average 13 days)
YES
468 per 13-oz can
Crude protein: 2% min
Crude fat: 6% min
Crude fiber: 1% max
Moisture: 72% max
hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-sd-canine-canned#
Hill's Prescription Diet u/d Canine
YES
YES
499 per 13-oz can
Crude protein: 2% min
Crude fat: 5% min
Crude fiber: 1% max
Moisture: 74% max
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-ud-canine-canned
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St
Canine Formula
YES
YES
YES
392 per 13.3-oz can
Crude protein: 7.5% min
Crude fat: 4.5% min
Crude fiber: 3% max
Moisture: 78% max
Ash: 2.25% max
Calcium: 0.16% min
Phosphorus: 0.15% min
Magnesium: 0.04% max
proplanvetdirect.com/ur-urinary-ox-st
Royal Canin Canine Urinary SO Loaf Canned Dog Food
YES
YES
YES
478 per 13.5-oz can
Crude protein: 5.6% min
Crude fat: 5.9% min
Crude fiber: 2.1% max
Moisture: 73.5% max
royalcanin.com/us/dogs/products/vet-products/canine-urinary-so-in-gel-canned-dog-food
Moderate calorie formula also available
Source: Manufacturers' packaging and marketing materials
Reference
1. Brown SA. Merck Veterinary Manual. Urolithiasis in small animals. Available at: merckvetmanual.com/urinary-system/noninfectious-diseases-of-the-urinary-system-in-small-animals/urolithiasis-in-small-animals. Accessed Sep 11, 2019.
Sarah Mouton Dowdy, a former associate content specialist for dvm360.com, is a freelance writer and editor in Kansas City, Missouri.
