Looking for a food to help lower the ph

I do know that the Eagle Pack cat foods are wonderful for cats struggling with urinary/kidney issues because of the target urine pH and low ash content....not sure about the dog forumulas though...sorry! 

 I'm sorry your girl has a bladder infection; hope she fells better soon. Their customer service is very good; you can go to their website and e-mail John and ask him about the ash content and target ph of their dog foods.

I don't know which thread you were looking for... but these might help. Hope your girl gets to feeling better.

http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=122796

http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=77875

http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=22351

My pup has a high ph problem as well.  I recently switched him to Eagle Pack from Wellness puppy.  After talking to a nutritionist at EP on the phone they suggested their Holistic Chicken and Rice formula for a puppy.  Initially they said that they had the best luck with their fish holistic formula, but that for a puppy the chicken was better because of the higher protein %.  I haven't taken Minsk into the vet for a h test since switching, so I can't attest to the results, but the nutritionist said that all their foods target a 6.2 to 6.4 ph.  Also, Minsk's poops really firmed up since we switched the foods.

Cindi--Can I give you a bit of "mom" to "mom" advice.  Willow has had the same exact thing (numerous recurrences within a year or so and bleeding) and she went thru a few treatments before we found the one that worked, including the ultrasound. 

Speak with your vet tomorrow about going in with a sample to be cultured.  It's the only way they are going to be positive they have the right drug for the right bacteria.  Willow was on so many antibiotics and the infection always returned until they finally did a culture.  Once, they got the results of the culture they put her on an extended dose of the antibiotic that would work for the bacteria that she had.  She was on a higher dose for a longer period of time than the usual one or two weeks.  I think she did a full 30 days.  But, she hasn't had one since. 

Honestly, the ultrasound didn't tell us much.  It told us she had crystals.  But, we already knew that.   It will tell you how bad the crystals are, how many she has.  But, the crystals usually go away if you clear up the infection. 

So, I'd seriously  speak to your vet about the culture.  Stay on the antibiotic that he gave you until the results come back and then they will change it if she's not on the right one. 
 
ADDED--Stay away from Wellness kibble.  Also, you might want to consider adding a lot more canned/water to her diet.  That has helped maintain things too.  I always keep extra water around for her.  And, she shouldn't hold her urine for more than 8 hours.  That's all I can think of for now.

I've had a similar experience that might help.  I have a 7 year old lab/retriever who has troubles due to abuse by a previous owner [] and needs medication to keep her from leaking urine and constantly needing to urinate.  Over the years she has had many episodes where she spots blood from having infections.  We have done the antibiotics and everything.  We have also had her x-rayed for bladder stones as well.  Oddly the doctor felt them in the inital visit and let me feel them too, but when we did the x-ray they were mysteriously gone.

Initially we were feeding her Iams canned and dry food.   She is a very picky eater and got to where she wouldn't eat it anymore.  So, in a moment of horrible judgement we tried out the Beneful canned and dry food.  Whithin 5 days she was spotting blood again that had a VERY sweet smell.[:@]  I realized that it was the food that was doing it to her and switched her immediately over to the Innova EVO.  We also started feeding her the regular Innova canned food.  It fixed the problem immediatly.  We noticed that she was bleeding on a Friday and couldn't get her into the vet.  On Saturday we started the Innova and by Monday the bleeding was gone, and we could tell that she felt a lot better.  Since then we haven't had any episodes of bleeding and her overall health has gotten a lot better.  We are now feeding her the EVO RM formula along with the canned EVO beef, venison, and rabbit which are all 95% meat.  She's so much happier and gobbles her food right up.[][][]

You can call around to different companies and ask what their food produces urine pH.  For dogs who produce struvite/infection crystals, you want the pH to be around 6.2 to 6.4, which is what the science diet rx formula produces.
 
I have had the best luck with PetGuard Lifespan kibble/canned. I do put warm water on their kibble to help with getting more water in their bodies- water in = pee and crystals out. 
 
But you can call around to other pet food co's that have food available near you.  Push lots of fluids to get her bladder flushed and I strongly agree with Willow about a culture and antibiotics.  It took 6 weeks to undo what Wellness food had done to my girls in less than a month.  Wellness foods have a high pH I think it was around 7.2, which is too high for dogs and just sets them up for trouble. I've heard lots of people complain about it.  It's really too bad because I liked how fresh teh food was and how great the ingredients 'looked' but it just did not perform.
 
Good luck

Another thing that I would consider with recurrent UTI's is adding cranberry. I'm prone to UTI's myself and taking cranberry capsules when I feel the first symptoms can be enough to nip and infection in the bud. I ALWAYS have cranberry on hand and it's a lifesaver! For a dog, I would include cranberry in their everyday diet. It isn't something that they could become immune to either. From my understanding, cranberry has some sort of property that prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls in the bladder.
 
Solid Gold has a supplement called Berry Balance, but I'm sure there are lots of others also.
 
[linkhttp://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=25&code=509]ttp://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=25&code=509[/link]

From my understanding, cranberry has some sort of property that prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls in the bladder.

That would be D-Mannose, the simple sugar. You can get straight D-Mannose, and treat an actual infection with it. My doctor gave it to me for a kidney infection, years ago. It's available for $30 a bottle at the health food store. Just don't get the capsules. They aren't worth the money. Drink the nasty powder.

Emma and I take cranberry, every day.

I was the one who started the thread on lower PH, but for my cat. I've done alot of research on this for both cats and dogs. I used to work at a pet supply store and people would come in with this question all the time, so I did some research and calling and found the answer.

First of all, canned food or wet food will help flush out the infection and will prevent crystals forming again.

Second, distilled water. Tap water both city and especially well water contain minerals that can cause UT problems. Even human doctors tell their human clients with UTI's to drink distilled water.

Food wise, dog foods do not usually tell you how much ash the food contains. They put it on the cat food, but not the dog food. From my research I would highly recommend a canned diet. Innova Senior has the lowest percentage of ash (too much ash can cause UT problems) and also contains Methiomine and Cranberries which will lower the Ph in his urine. Plus the glucosamine will help break down crystals. My only concern is that he is only 14 months. If he's a corgi, he should be on adult food by now, but Innova Senior is pretty low in protien.

As far as a hard food goes, Solid Gold Holistique is highly recommended for Urinary tract, kidney and liver issues. But once again it is very low in protien and fat. SG Holistique contains cranberry and blueberry and pumpkin all of which help with UTI problems.

I do know a customer who has a young Saint Brenard with Urinary tract crystal problems. She does everything listed above. She feeds Solid Gold Holistique and mixes it with Innova Senior. Her dog is doing better, but not well. Her vet is pretty sure its a genetic problem, but is surprised at how well her dog is doing. She also suppliments with Solid Gold Berry Berry Meal and a glucosamine suppliment. But Saint Brenards do well on low protien foods.

Now with cat's, I discovered that Wellness canned food is the lowest in both magnesium and ash. Eagle Pack comes in second and Nutro third.

I also suppliment my cat with Apawthecary's Tinkle Tonic. My vet recommended it, and so far no reaccuring UTI. http://shop.robbinspetcare.com/dogs/aatinkle.html

If Darci seems to be doing better on the EP Holistic Chicken, maybe mix it with Innova Senior canned. You may even want to mix the EP Holistic Chicken with the Solid Gold Holistique and also mix with Innova Senior Canned, just to get more protien into the little guy.

Good Luck. I understand how tough this can be.

Thanks guys you've given me some great advice.
 
Kelly those ARE the post I was looking for, I am at a loss I searched and couldnt find them...LOL Thank you.
 
Willow I think you are right on the money with the culture, I called the vet ( my regular one) and I am taking in a specimen this afternoon. I think that should be my next step.
 
I had given her 2 cranberry capsules last night before I took her to the vet, but I think I will start giving her 1 every day.
 
I am going to go with EP holistic Fish and anchovy in the am and canned Innova for pm feeding, just placed an order for food. For Egan because he's still a puppy hes going to be on EP Holistic chicken am and I thought I would give him canned as well for dinner.
 
I had wanted to keep them on the same food but I will just have to wait until  my little man grows up, no biggie.
 
I will also grab some distilled water, can you do that long term ?
 
Jojo- I think you confused my post with another on this thread or maybe I am confused.
Darci is 2 1/2 but has had 3 uti's in the last 14 months. My two have been on Natural balance venison and rice with a rotation of EP natural lamb ( not the holistic one ).
 
I also odered the digestive supplement from EP, my cat has IBD and it said it's for cats and dogs. woo hoo.
 
Thanks guys for all your input.
 
 
 

I like the Eagle Pack company.  When I had a question, they got back to me pretty quickly and was willing to help.  I've been alternating holistic fish, holistic chicken, and duck and my pointer, who had this problem, is doing well.  Her stool is nice and firm and healthy looking, too.
 
My setter is picky and wheat sensitive and likes it, too.

ORIGINAL: darci



I will also grab some distilled water, can you do that long term ?

Jojo- I think you confused my post with another on this thread or maybe I am confused.
Darci is 2 1/2 but has had 3 uti's in the last 14 months. My two have been on Natural balance venison and rice with a rotation of EP natural lamb ( not the holistic one ).

Yes you can use distilled water long term.

Sorry, read your post about Eagle Pack saying that your young dog should be on Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken instead of the fish. I think I got confussed and double checked your original post and saw 14 months. Sorry.

Your talking Innova Senior canned for the night feeding right? I read over my post and realized I didn't make it very distinct that I meant Innova Canned Senior.

nope oops I odered regular Innova canned. Oh well I only got 6 cans I think so I can change next time.

Thanks
 
Btw I have been adding water to her dry food, last noc and today, she doesnt mind it at all.