Alternatives to Prescription Urinary Diets for a Dog With High Urine pH
The ingredients in this food, as well has the s/d, make this a "junk" food. Very little healthy ingredients, even if it meets minimum standards. And it is very expensive.
I see there is the UTI Free supplement. But is there a better food out there? What ingredients typically add magnesium and phosphorous to dry kibble? Is there a better alternative? Please help!
Prescription urinary diets are designed and tested to control urine pH and minerals, which is why they're recommended, even if the ingredient list looks less appealing than some premium foods. Several manufacturers make them, in dry and canned forms, so you can ask your vet about switching brands if cost or ingredients are a concern.
A high urine pH on its own doesn't always need treatment. It can be higher after a meal, and a sample that sits before testing can show crystals that weren't there in the bladder. In foods, minerals come mostly from bone-containing meat and fish meals and added mineral supplements. Ask your vet whether there are crystals or an infection, and whether repeating a fresh sample would help. Extra water helps whatever you feed.
See urinary tract dog food and bladder stones in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
