Attack Of The Killer Grains Part II

In our last article we talked about how grains contribute to Struvite crystals in cats and dogs. Struvite crystals are common in normal urine and can cause infections in dogs. When the crystals are present in large amounts, they can form stones. Struvite crystals are almost always accompanied by bacteria that create a high alkaline pH. 
 
A pet fed a diet consisting of a high percent of grains or starch creates the high alkaline in the urine.  Magnesium reacts with alkaline urine to cause crystals. Pets with Struvite crystals (or to avoid struvite crystals) should be fed a high protein diet which is acidic.  A raw diet is preferred over a cooked diet.
 
There is a strong chance that pets that have Calcium Oxalate stones may have to have them surgically removed as they will not dissolve.  If your dog is prone to Oxalate crystals, eating alkalizing foods like apples, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, beans, potatoes, pumpkin, millet, honey, alfalfa, non-distilled vinegar (organic apple cider vinegar), squash and most fruit and most vegetables can alkalize the urine pH. 
 
When cats are treated for struvite crystals, a prescription diet may be given by your Veterinarian which reduces are eliminates magnesium.  As per Dr. Messonnier, DVM, reducing magnesium levels in cat food can cause increased excretion of calcium from the kidneys, leading to the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the bladder.
 
If your dog is prone to urinary track infections (which may be caused by the bacteria E. coli), there is a substance in cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and blueberries (Vaccinium myrtilus) that has been shown to prevent the adhesion of E. collie to the bladder wall and Urethra.  If the bacteria are unable to attach, they are washed out of the urinary tract during urination and an infection cannot develop.
 
Increasing water is beneficial for your pets.  The best way to get this is a fresh meat/vegetable diet or canned food added to their diet.  A fresh food or canned food diet contain up to 78% moisture.   
 
We must all rethink the way we feed our pets.  Like I said in the last article, dry, processed food was made during the depression to give people a low cost alternative to feeding their pets.  Over time, we have adapted (not our pets) to feeding a diet that doesn't provide a balance of meat to carbs and does not provide enough moisture in their diet.

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