Best Dog Food for Bladder Stones

This is our detailed review on Best Dog Food for Bladder Stones.

Bladder stones in dogs can be a troublesome bladder condition. Bladder stones are caused by the bladder becoming inflamed due to bacteria or crystals building up, and it is very painful for your pet.

Bladder stones in dogs can also lead to urinary tract infections since urine flow becomes restricted. Bladder stones in dogs require veterinary attention because they can become dangerous if left untreated. However, there are things you can do at home to help manage bladder stone symptoms and reduce the chances of them coming back!

Bladder stones in dogs are more prevalent in pets over the age of 7 years and often affect males more than females [1].

Bladder stone symptoms include difficulty urinating, blood in urine, frequent urination, and pain while urinating. These symptoms may indicate the presence of bladder stones but it’s important to have your dog examined by a vet before making any diagnosis. 

There are many different types of supplements on the market for bladder stone prevention which work by either preventing calcium from being absorbed into the bloodstream or preventing minerals from forming into crystals within the urinary tract – both options prevent calcium oxalate crystals from forming which cause bladder stones.

Dogs with bladder disease often have trouble controlling their urination, which can be very upsetting for the pet and the owner. There are a number of foods that can help to control bladder issues, but some are better than others.

As a Vet I have researched and I have found one of the best Royal Canin Urinary SO diets to manage Bladder disease in this condition.

 We’re going to explore the best dog food with bladder disease below is the list of foods reviewed.

What Are The Best Foods For Dogs With Bladder Stones?

1- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Dry Dog Food
2- Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
3- Earthborn Holistic Weight Control Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
4- Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog Food
5-Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care

 Best Dog Foods for Bladder Stones Reviewed

1. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Dry Dog Food

• Main Ingredients: 1-Brewers Rice, 2-Corn, 3-Chicken Fat, 4-Chicken By-Product Meal, 5-Brewers Rice Flour
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Managing struvite and oxalate stones for life

Struvite stones result from excess mineral deposits in the dog’s urine, which is the most common type of bladder stone.

The formula is also a lower calorie, lower sodium formula that is very effective in treating bladder stones. It’s a good option for dogs who have bladder stones but suffer from other bladder issues as well because it can help relieve bladder irritability.

A problem many bladder stone dogs face is bladder infections so feeding them this low-sodium food can help prevent bladder infections and bladder inflammation, which often accompanies bladder stones in pups.

This wet food is offered in ‘slice form‘, which some dogs enjoy and is relatively easy to digest for most dogs. Pork meal supplements the organic chicken meal as the main source of protein.

2. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food

• Main ingredients: 1-Water, 2-Corn Starch, 3-Chicken Fat, 4-Pork Liver, 5-Sugar
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Dissolving stones made of struvite

You can give Hill’s Prescription Diet Urinary Care canned food to your pup if they are on a prescription diet for bladder stones. This food is specially formulated with high magnesium and phosphate content to help balance the pH of your dog’s urine.

It also delivers enough calcium to maintain growth and prevent stone formation from calcium oxalate.

3. Earthborn Holistic Weight Control Grain-Free Dry Dog Food(Overall Best Dog Food for Bladder Stones)

Main Ingredients: 1-Chicken Meal, 2-Peas, 3-Tapioca, 4-Pea Fiber, 5-Tomato Pomace
Life stage: Adult
Best for: Balanced nutrition for Bladder stones

Earthborn Holistic Weight Control Formula for dogs is an excellent formula for bladder stones. The bladder stones are formed by stray minerals which are found in drugs, bladder stones, and processed food.

Earthborn offers many different formulas, but this one contains just the right amount of protein which reduces the formation of bladder stones.

This diet also is free of artificial ingredients so there are not any extra minerals added to it. This will reduce bladder stone formation even more.

4. Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog Food

Main ingredients: 1–Pork Meal, 2-Dehulled Barley, 3-Peas, 4-Ground Brown Rice, 5-Oatmeal, Rice
Life Stage: Adult
Best for: Good health in general in both young and older pups.

This dry food is for bladder stones, but it’s not the same as other foods because it has fewer grains and more vitamins.

Unlike many with-grains formulas, this one is made with minimal ingredients and contains vitamins to support a stronger immune system, which reduces infections like UTIs that cause bladder stones. Dogs who eat 

Eagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog Food for bladder stones are less likely to have bladder stones. 

The Vitamin E that’s added into this food is good for bladder stones and bladder stone prevention. This formula  has a high level of protein, higher than some other foods out there.

This formula food is a great choice for bladder stones because it has a low carbohydrate formula with the right amount of protein to support bladder health and promote bladder healing so your dog can get bladder infections under control.

5. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care

• Main ingredients: 1-Deboned Chicken, 2-Chicken Meal, 3-Pea Starch, 4-Peas, 5-Pea Protein
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Obesity and bladder stones

Dogs can get bladder stones, and they can be very painful. 

Unfortunately, diet is not usually enough to prevent them from forming. But if you feed your dog high-quality food like Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U, it may help reduce the risk of crystals forming in their urine.

This food has an optimal protein content for urinary care diets and relies on acidifying urine and keeping the relative supersaturation of struvite and oxalate crystal forming ions low in the dog’s urine.

Clinical trials have shown that it is able to prevent formation of both struvite and oxalate crystals as well as dissolve pre-existing struves. If you want your best friend to live pain-free, give them Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U.

This diet also comes as a wet food.

What Are The Symptoms Of Bladder Stones in Dogs?

The symptoms of a bladder stone in a dog are 

• Retention of urine
•  Blood in the urine
•  Straining to urinate, 
•  Inability to urinate.

 Prevention is done by providing appropriate veterinary advice.

What Causes Bladder Stones in Dogs?

Bladder stones can be either struvite or calcium oxalate and they are formed when urine is concentrated by excess water excretion. A high protein diet low in carbohydrates can help decrease the risk of bladder stones but dogs with a history of this condition should not be fed exclusively dry kibble. In addition, it is recommended to add moisture to a pet’s diet with canned food or cooking the kibble in water.

If your dog is drinking more water than usual, you will need to increase his daily food intake in order to meet the additional nutritional needs caused by the excess fluid consumption without incurring dehydration or weight loss. You will also need to provide access to clean, fresh water at all times. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to keep your dog well hydrated throughout his life.

A diet high in protein can also cause kidney stones because they contain a lot of phosphorus which acts as a catalyst for calcium oxalate formation in the kidneys and bladder.

If you feed your pup mostly dry kibble rather than canned food, this problem could occur because most dry foods are made with corn meal which has very little calcium content compared to canned diets containing lots of meat.

What To Look For In The Best Dog Food For Bladder Stones?

Buying Guides:

Bladder stones are one of the most common complications in dogs. They happen when minerals, salts, and crystals build up in the bladder due to a lack of water consumption. These stones can cause chronic pain, urinary tract infections (UTI), or kidney damage if left untreated. The good news is that there are some things you can do to help prevent your dog from developing bladder stones by feeding him an appropriate diet with low-calorie foods rich in protein. Here’s what you need to know about finding the best food for bladder stone prevention: 

1) Choose dry kibble over canned food because it contains less sodium than wet food does. Canned food also has more calories than dry kibble so be sure not feed your pup any of the fattening stuff. 

2) If your dog is overweight, this contributes to his risk for bladder stones and many other chronic diseases. Therefore, consider using a Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U Weight Management, which has been made with strong materials and a comfortable fit to help dogs lose weight safely without hurting their joints.

3) If your dog is a breed at high risk of bladder stone development, you should consider eliminating certain ingredients from his diet such as: fish oil, raw fish, and vitamin D from cod liver oil. 

4) Be sure your dog always has fresh, clean water to drink throughout the day. A lack of hydration is one of the most common causes of bladder stones. 

5) Finally, consult your veterinarian about the right food for your pup to make sure you are meeting his specific needs. If your dog already has bladder stones, talk with your vet about how much protein he should be eating in order to help dissolve the stones naturally.

FAQ about Best Dog Food For Bladder Stones

What type of food causes bladder stones in dogs?

Bladder stones in dogs are hard and painful to pass. They can cause urinary tract infections and bleeding, and they can eventually lead to kidney failure. 

The most common type of bladder stone is struvite, which typically forms when your dog’s urine becomes alkaline due to a diet high in animal proteins. The second-most common type of bladder stone is calcium oxalate, which usually forms because the pH of your dog’s urine has become acidic from eating large amounts of plants or grains. 

Regardless of what type it is, you should seek veterinary advice for any change in urination habits that lasts longer than two days or if your pet displays signs indicative that he/she may be experiencing pain while urinating (straining, licking the urinary opening, crying when urinating).

Can a dog pass a bladder stone?

Yes, there are kidney stones that can be passed through the dog’s urine. The most common type of bladder stone in dogs is struvite stones which are composed primarily of magnesium ammonium phosphate. 

Struvite stones develop in environments with soaps or detergents and an alkaline pH, particularly in cats with urinary tract infections because their urinary pH tends to be more alkaline than normal.

Stones may become lodged partially in the opening of the urethra during urination, requiring medical assistance for removal if they cannot pass on their own – this usually necessitates anesthesia or analgesia. Some bladder crystal deposits can also present as ulcers in the bladder lining caused by acid without any presence of pus cells (pus is a sign of infection).

How can I prevent bladder stones?

Most cases of bladder stones are caused by a mix of genetic, dietary and environmental factors. So can you prevent them?

1) Drink more water: the ruffwear mountain stream collar is designed to keep dogs hydrated in hot and cold weather

2) Feed your dog a diet that does not contain too many refined carbohydrates: “Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Feline Formula is specially created to reduce urinary tract bacteria growth.”

3) Keep the area around your dog neat – remove any invasive plants on which he has been toileting or that have leaves with sharp edges e.g rosemary, lavender, privet, pyracantha. These are very common culprits but there are many more.

4) Keep him at a healthy weight: excess weight puts extra strain on his joints and bladder

Are There Breeds That Are More Prone To Bladder Stones?

Yes, some breeds are more prone to bladder stones. 
They include 

• Cocker Spaniels
• Shelties
• Beagles
•  Dachshunds
• Pekingese
• Welsh Corgis

A breed of dog can be more susceptible to kidney or bladder stones because of the shape and size of its head as it is related to the length and angulation (warping) of its urethra (the tube that connects the urinary bladder with the outside world.) 

Breeds’ heads droop down on their chins, actually elongating their urethra which can make females more likely than males to develop calcium-oxalate-based stones (calcium oxalate is a common ingredient in multiple types of canine and human stone.) 

My Picks

There is no doubt that the list above includes the best dog food on the market for bladder stones. Check with your veterinarian before using any of these foods.

My favorite brands is Royal Canin S/O. This brand has put a lot of effort into creating a diet that addresses dog’s urinary health.

Check out if your dog have a liver problems