Trixie

[Shamas mom]

Trixie is holding her own at 70lbs. On the verge of another uti....we're trying her on t/d as she really doesn't like c/d.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a dog prone to high ph, and struvite?

Foods I can use for bowl toppers to get her to eat her vet prescription? Foods I should feed? I should avoid? Treats for training? Alternative diets?

Trupanion is useless regarding treatment coverage. They're refusing every claim. If not for Trixie eating every chicken bone she can find on walks, I'd cancel the policy and put the money to paying back the credit card that's paying all the vet bills

Meanwhile, Shamas is putting on weight, stealing the food Trixie won't eat and the only way to avoid that is to put her bowl on my bed....which is gross. I don't love dog food crumbs in my bed.

 

[Jelinga]

Lots of ideas on the internet. I have a friend with a German Shepherd whose dog has the same problem, when I see her in a couple of days I will ask what she feeds, I do know she feeds him on tinned food which you can buy in a supermarket.

 

[Lisa]

I’ve never had a dog with this issue so don’t have any suggestions, sorry! She’s looking shiny and healthy, though! Hope you can get some suggestions on how to manage the uti issues, I’m sure it’s frustrating!

 

[Shamas mom]

I’ve never had a dog with this issue so don’t have any suggestions, sorry! She’s looking shiny and healthy, though! Hope you can get some suggestions on how to manage the uti issues, I’m sure it’s frustrating!

Very much so. Especially as the vets swearing by the hills food, and Trixie doesn't like it. I got the numbers of two vets near me that partner with trupanion, so I can ask a second opinion on a treatment plan. Tonight, I tossed the kibble in the blender with a chicken breast and warm water. She ate that. But I'm not always home to customize the meal. I work mon-fri

Lots of ideas on the internet. I have a friend with a German Shepherd whose dog has the same problem, when I see her in a couple of days I will ask what she feeds, I do know she feeds him on tinned food which you can buy in a supermarket.

I appreciate that. I am researching online too, and looking at cranberry as an option

 

[Shamas mom]

Goodness, that was the saddest looking dinner I ever saw a dog eat. I topped with cottage cheese, to try and entice her to eat....and she flat out refused after indicating she liked the actual cottage cheese. So I left it there a few minutes whilst shamas gobbled his.

Anyway, I needed to pass through the gate to toss something in the blue bin and shamas started towards her bowl. He was locked back out of the room and she went and started eating....but it was clear she only ate because she didn't want him to take it.


I rewarded her for eating, by tossing a treat in her bowl and I'm definitely going to call about a different brand of food. Looks like royal canine does a urinary, and so does Purina.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

It’s definitely easier when you have a Labrador who will eat anything! I’ve recently had to put Carbón on a renal diet and the pre-made kibble available is very sad quality plus unjustifiably expensive given the cheap ingredients like corn. I’ve just started cooking again and it’s working out well, even while traveling. It helps that I cooked for my dog Brogan for years while on the road.

I know you’re already looking at do it yourself options , so I hope it works out well for you too.

 

[Jelinga]

My friend feeds her GSD with struvite problems with tinned Butchers Joint and Coat, recommended by the specialist vet. She is going to look up to see what type of crystals he had.

 

[Jelinga]

Yoshi's diagnosis was 'silica uroliths' which apparently are uncommon. The food works perfectly for him.

 

[Shamas mom]

Well, we're in for another 800 dollars. This dog....ugh

Double ear infection

Apoquel, ear medicine inserts, oral antibiotics.

I'm seriously considering allergies testing....it would cost about the same as the next infection.

Don't know how I'm supposed to come up with 1200 for her spay when she costs me 700-800 every time I put away 300??? Never met a dog who had to be vetted as often as this one...

Poor thing.....she's so put out right now. I opted for the vet to put in the long lasting ear drops, because I don't realistically see putting in 10 drops 2x daily for 10 days in each ear. That was unreasonable last time, and damaged our relationship. Better one and done even if its much more expensive.

We discussed her food issue, and bought a bag of royal canine so. She took a couple of pieces and thought about it, then ate them. That's a good sign. If she accepts it, I'll keep shamas on TD, and her on so...that way, all the dog food is vet approved for her condition. If not, I'll try the Purina one

 

[Lisa]

Ugh that’s rough. Allergy testing sounds like a good idea! Could UTIs also be related to allergies?

 

[Shamas mom]

Ugh that’s rough. Allergy testing sounds like a good idea! Could UTIs also be related to allergies?

Vet says no to that, but her dry skin, ear and foot infections could be.

Then again, a quick Google produced this screenshot

What I know regarding the Urinalysis is that her ph tends high, and she intermittently develops struvite crystals

 

[Jelinga]

I saw my friend today who had a very ill GSD and had to be operated some time back, he is now well and had no problems since being on the tinned food I mentioned. The specialist said it was important to feed the dogs on wet food and not go give vegetables.

 

[Shamas mom]

I saw my friend today who had a very ill GSD and had to be operated some time back, he is now well and had no problems since being on the tinned food I mentioned. The specialist said it was important to feed the dogs on wet food and not go give vegetables.

Perhaps that's where her recurring problems come from. Trixie loves vegetables, and is on kibble.

The issue with kibble is the moisture content. A dog fed on kibble, with a Bowl nearby is often chronically dehydrated, causing urinary issues, skin issues, digestive issues. Dr Firth has me adding water to her food to make sure that bowl aside, she gets as much water as solids. Most tin foods are about 70%moisture content, which is why animals do so well on them..but they're not calorie dense, and it requires feeding a whole lot to meet needs.
As Trixie is already having issues with eating enough volume, a calorie dense food was chosen for her. I am using tin food as a topper though, and if your dogs have a favorite I'm open to it. She seems to have a preference to beef.

Might be why she turns up her nose at these chicken and grain based vet foods....

 

[Shamas mom]

I'll ask the vet next trip what he thinks of tin feeding her

I asked about raw feeding, as I know she likes actual food. And he gave me a whole lot of information about salmonella, and how dangerous it can be to the pet if you get it wrong nutritionally. He's anti raw feeding and very much in favor of Hills