Maintanence Rx food for cyrstals

I think it's called Urinary SO--it's for struvite crystals.

 thats the one she was on, but I thought that wasn't something they could be on long term.?  Thanks for the response!

If your dog needs to be on that food for a medical reason, she should be.  If the vet is telling  you she shouldn't be on it long term that's one thing, but if you are going by what you are reading here or anywhere else on the internet I think you are getting misinformation.  It is a complete and balanced diet for adult dogs just like any other commerical food you'd use.

willowchow

If your dog needs to be on that food for a medical reason, she should be.  If the vet is telling  you she shouldn't be on it long term that's one thing, but if you are going by what you are reading here or anywhere else on the internet I think you are getting misinformation.  It is a complete and balanced diet for adult dogs just like any other commerical food you'd use.

  like I said, their computers where down and they didn't have access to their records and I couldn't remember which brand it was. If it was the Hills, she said not long term, but when I got home and check on this site at my old posts, I saw it was the Royal Canin.  I am just asking if Royal Canin has a maintanence food to prevent the crystals from returning, or does the s/o do everything?

One of my cats is on Royal Canin Urinary SO.  My understanding is that it can be fed for the life of the animal, and that it's also okay to feed to animals who don't have urinary issues (i.e., if you have more than one pet and it's most convenient to have them on the same food).  My vet claims that it mainly works by making them thirstier, thereby increasing water intake.

Myra

One of my cats is on Royal Canin Urinary SO.  My understanding is that it can be fed for the life of the animal, and that it's also okay to feed to animals who don't have urinary issues (i.e., if you have more than one pet and it's most convenient to have them on the same food).  My vet claims that it mainly works by making them thirstier, thereby increasing water intake.

Ok, then it was probably the Hills she was talking about.  They will be open tomorrow and hopefully their computers will be back up and I can find out for sure from my vet.

Thanks!  

Hills has an S/D, which is short term, and meant for breaking up crystals, if I'm remembering right. And C/D is for long term use, to maintain high urine pH and keep stuff from forming. Teenie tried the C/D and ended up on homemade special food. 

 I just wanted to share Luna's PH story:

Luna's PH was off recently (it was 9!!!!), totally alkaline. She was eating Blue Buffalo, which was a lower protein level than she'd ever had before, and low and behold when we went back to the usual amount of protein, her PH went back to normal. Her vet that very easily could have been the reason for the wacky PH issue.

Anyway, thought I would share that you may be able to find a higher-end alternative to the RX foods that would achieve the same goal.

As an aside: Neither Rosco nor Lexi had any issues with Blue. They actually both look great right now.

 Well, we finally got the food issue settled. Vet still doesn't have its files, but after I talked more with her it definetly was the Royal Canin Urinary SO she had been on, and yes, they can be on it indefinitely.   Zoe is very happy to have her regular food back, compared to the Hills.  As soon as I gave it to her she started eating it right away.  With the Hills, she made piles of it on different rugs in different rooms, I am thinking she was looking for her old food and was hoping it was farther down in the bowl!

With the Royal Canin I was using it to get her to do tricks and she did them at ate it, but when I wanted her to sing, she wanted to play dead and when I wouldn' t give her the food she got up and went to her food bowl and started eating from there!  Sly doggie!

I must admit, begrudgingly, she has done very well on the RC Urinary SO, doesn't lick herself, hardly ever scratches and is in good body condition.  So, for now, we will stay on this.