As a dog owner, ensuring your furry friend has optimal urinary health is one of the most important things you can do. Unfortunately, many dogs will suffer from painful and problematic urinary health issues in their lifetime. These can include infections, incontinence, bladder stones, kidney disease, and more.
The good news is that choosing the right dog food for urinary health and following veterinary guidance can go a long way in supporting your dog’s urinary health and preventing recurrent issues. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know including:
- Recognizing the signs of urinary problems in dogs
- Understanding why diet and dog food for urinary health is so important
- Veterinarian-recommended tips for selecting the best dog urinary health food
- In-depth reviews of the top 7 best dog foods for urinary health
- Proper transitioning when switching to a therapeutic urinary health dog food
- Answers to frequently asked questions about dog urinary health
Arm yourself with the right information so you can provide your dog with the best nutrition possible for long-term urinary health.
Warning Signs of Urinary Problems in Dogs
Before diving into the diet, it’s helpful to understand the most common urinary health issues dogs face so you can watch for any potential symptoms in your dog. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice any of the following signs of trouble with the urinary system:
- Straining, painful urination
- Increased frequency of urination
- Loss of bladder control, dribbling urine
- Blood in the urine
- Cloudy, foul-smelling, or excessive urine
- Increased thirst and drinking more water
- Licking around the urinary opening
- Appearing agitated and uncomfortable
- Urinating in unusual places in the house
These are all indicators that your dog may have a urinary health problem that requires medical intervention. Some specific conditions that could be present include:
- Bladder infections – Also called UTIs, these are bacterial infections within the bladder and urinary tract. They cause inflammation, discomfort, and frequent urination urges.
- Bladder stones – Mineral deposits that form stones and crystals in the bladder, even blocking the urethra. This causes pain and can lead to dangerous blockages.
- Kidney disease – Kidney damage or dysfunction that allows waste to build up in the bloodstream. This causes toxins to be excreted through urine.
- Incontinence – Loss of bladder control. This is often age-related as muscles weaken. It leads to accidental urine leakage.
- Bladder cancer – Abnormal cancerous cell growth in the bladder that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
- Bladder inflammation – General irritation and swelling of the bladder walls, which amplifies urinary symptoms.
Don’t delay having your veterinarian diagnose the specific problem so the appropriate treatment can begin right away. The sooner you address urinary health issues, the better the outcome will be.
Why Urinary Health Dog Food Matters
Nutrition plays a crucial role in your dog’s urinary health. Therapeutic foods designed specifically for urinary problems have benefits, including:
- Increased hydration – The moisture content leads to more frequent urination, which helps flush out the kidneys and bladder.
- Controlled minerals – Restricted levels of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and more help prevent crystal and stone formation.
- Reduced inflammation – Omega fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants soothe bladder walls and support tissue health.
- Improved kidney function – Certain proteins and ingredients support better waste filtration from the bloodstream.
- Managed bladder problems – Prescription formulas aid dogs with existing infections, incontinence, stones, cancer, and other issues.
- Balanced pH – Acidification of the urine discourages bacterial growth and infections in the urinary tract.
- Weight control – Some foods are lower in fat and calories to take the strain off the urinary system in overweight dogs.
For both prevention and management of urinary health problems, switching to therapeutic dog food for urinary health optimized for urinary care can make a significant positive impact.
7 Best Dog Urinary Health Foods
Best Dog Urinary Health Foods
To come up with this list of the top dog foods for urinary health, we analyzed the best dog food for urinary health recommendations from veterinarians, inspected product ingredients, and read many customer reviews. All of these foods help promote good urinary health in dogs with their carefully designed formulas.
1. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare is a therapeutic food prescribed by many vets for dogs with bladder stones or recurring UTIs. It is precisely formulated to create an environment unfavorable to crystal formation and promote a healthy urinary tract.
Key features:
- Dissolves struvite bladder stones and prevents recurrence
- Supports urinary tract health
- Lower magnesium and phosphorus reduce crystal formation
- Antioxidants control cell oxidation and bladder inflammation
- Omega fatty acids promote a healthy bladder lining
Made with controlled minerals levels and ingredients like chicken, brewers rice, and corn, this prescription dry dog food gets excellent reviews for effectively managing UTIs, crystals, and stones. It’s ideal for both prevention and treatment.
2. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox Formula Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox food is designed to help dissolve struvite stones and prevent urate and oxalate stones in dogs prone to forming them. It creates an environment unfavorable to crystal formation.
Key features:
- Clinically proven nutrition to dissolve struvite stones
- Helps prevent urate and oxalate stones
- Low magnesium, protein, and phosphorus
- Antioxidants, including vitamin E and C
- Omega-6 fatty acids to reduce inflammation
- Highly digestible ingredients
Chicken is the first ingredient in this stone prevention prescription dry food. It gets rave reviews from dog owners who have seen it effectively eliminate recurrent UTIs and stones.
3. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO helps manage urinary stones and stone dissolution while also controlling calorie intake for weight management. It promotes urinary tract health and can be used long-term.
Key features:
- Helps dissolve and prevent struvite stones
- Aids in the management of calcium oxalate stones
- Restricted protein, magnesium, and phosphorus levels
- Antioxidants, including vitamin E and C
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil
- L-cysteine to support metabolism and weight loss
- Brewer’s rice and chicken meal for digestibility
This dry therapeutic food is formulated specifically for urinary care in overweight dogs. The company has invested significant research into creating the ideal nutrition profile. Most dogs love the taste too!
4. Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Canine Urinary Tract Health with Chicken Canned Dog Food
This canned dog food from Hill’s Prescription Diet is specially formulated to support urinary tract health and dissolve stones. The high moisture content promotes increased urination.
Key features:
- Clinically proven nutrition to dissolve struvite stones
- High moisture to increase urination and flush the urinary tract
- Antioxidants to reduce cell oxidation and control inflammation
- Lower magnesium, protein, phosphorus, and sodium
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for bladder health
- Chicken broth for taste and increased fluid intake
- Easily digestible ingredients, including brewer’s rice
This canned food complements the dry Hill’s c/d food as the added moisture helps dissolve crystals. It’s a great choice to promote urinary tract flushing.
5. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Advanced Care Chicken Entrée in Gravy Canned Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Advanced Care canned food provides nutrition for dogs with kidney disease and impaired urinary function. The gravy entrée has a high water content.
Key features:
- Formulated for dogs with kidney disease -Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain kidney function
- Antioxidants support the immune system
- Highly digestible protein sources
- Phosphorus is controlled to support kidney health
- Low sodium to reduce fluid retention
- Contains chicken, chicken liver, and rice in gravy
This canned food supports urinary tract health through improved kidney function. It’s a smart choice for senior dogs or those with chronic kidney problems affecting elimination.
6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Denali Dinner High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Denali Dinner is a high protein, low carbohydrate, grain-free dry food that supports urinary tract health. It contains guaranteed levels of antioxidants and omega fatty acids.
Key features:
- Grain-free formula with reduced carbohydrates
- Real salmon is the first ingredient
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids promote bladder health
- Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E
- Glucosamine boosts joint health
- DHA for brain development
- No poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat or soy
- Contains LifeSource Bits with proprietary vitamins and minerals
This natural dry food is a great choice for urinary care and overall health. It gets rave reviews from owners of dogs with UTIs, incontinence, and frequent urination issues.
7. Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Reduced Fat Dry Dog Food
Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Reduced Fat dry food is formulated for weight management to take the AQ strain off the urinary tract. It contains guaranteed levels of probiotics and omega fatty acids.
Key features:
- Grain-free with reduced calories for fat loss
- Higher protein and lower carbohydrates
- Salmon, salmon meal, and turkey meal provide lean protein
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for bladder support
- Antioxidants such as vitamins E and C
- Guaranteed levels of probiotics
- No meat by-products, corn, soy, wheat or fillers
This natural dry food strikes the right balance of weight control and urinary support. It’s an excellent choice for dogs struggling with incontinence or leakage issues.
Veterinarian Tips for Picking Urinary Dog Food
If your dog has recurrent urinary issues or was recently diagnosed with a specific problem like bladder stones, your vet will likely recommend switching to a prescription urinary health dog food. Here are some important tips as you choose:
- Consult with your veterinarian on the ideal food based on your dog’s condition, medical history, and needs.
- Select a formula designed for your dog’s age, size, and activity level for balanced overall nutrition.
- Understand the specific ingredients and nutritional profiles made for urinary problems, like restricted minerals.
- Opt for wet or canned food, or add water to dry kibble to increase moisture intake.
- Look for foods containing supplements like Omega fatty acids, probiotics, and antioxidants.
- Check that the food is made by a reputable pet food company known for quality and expertise.
- Pick a formula your dog likes the taste of to ensure they eat it consistently.
- Be prepared that therapeutic foods may cost more than regular commercial foods.
- Get written feeding guidelines from your vet on how much to feed based on your dog’s weight.
With the right urinary care dog food chosen under your vet’s supervision, you can significantly improve your dog’s urinary health and quality of life.
Adjusting Your Dog to Urinary Food
Switching your dog to a new therapeutic urinary health dog food requires a gradual transition. Here are some tips:
- Slowly transition over 5-7 days, gradually increasing the new food.
- Mix a bit of new food with the previous food, adjusting ratios daily.
- Start with a 25% new food and a 75% old food ratio if needed.
- Mix in warm water, gravy, or broth to increase palatability.
- Stick to scheduled feeding times instead of free feeding.
- Monitor stool consistency which may briefly soften with a food switch.
- Avoid overfeeding and follow your vet’s exact portion guidelines.
With patience and consistency, you can get your dog used to their new therapeutic urinary health diet. Consult your vet if they have difficulties with appetite or digestion. Sticking with the new food long-term is crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions About Urinary Dog Food
How quickly will urinary health dog food help my dog?
While some mild improvements may occur within a few weeks, fully dissolving stones and controlling UTIs can take 4-6 weeks or longer on the new food. Have patience and keep feeding it consistently.
Is wet or dry dog food better for urinary issues?
Either can be effective, but wet foods contain more moisture which promotes increased urination to flush the bladder. Combining wet and dry formulas is ideal for dogs with severe urinary problems.
Should urinary health dog food be fed long-term?
In most cases, continuing the therapeutic food for life is recommended by vets to prevent the recurrence of stones, infections, and crystals. Some dogs may eventually transition off under veterinary guidance.
Are urinary tract dog foods worth the higher cost?
Prescription dog foods deliver proven results. While pricier, they can save money on vet bills in the long run by optimizing urinary health. It’s worth investing more for your dog’s comfort and well-being.
What is the most affordable dog food for urinary problems?
Some quality budget-friendly options to look at include Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Health Formula or Wellness Core Reduced Fat Formula. Always check with your vet first.
Provide Your Dog with the Best Urinary Care
Caring dog parents understandably want to provide the best care for their pet’s health and happiness. If your dog is having urinary problems, switching to a therapeutic food formulated specifically for urinary health is one of the most important things you can do.
While the prescription urinary formulas may cost more upfront, they are cautiously designed by veterinary nutrition experts. These foods can improve your dog’s symptoms, resolve underlying problems, and prevent recurrent issues that lead to vet bills down the road.
We hope this guide gave you a thorough overview of the signs of trouble, the importance of urinary health dog food, veterinarian tips for choosing the best food, detailed reviews of the top formulas, proper transitioning, and answers to FAQs. Don’t wait to talk to your vet and get your dog started on the right dog food for urinary health today!
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