Dog Community

Calcium Levels

Posted : 3/16/2009 8:55:58 AM

A friend of mine asked my opinion on what she was feeding her dog (Beneful! Yikes!). I directed her to the dogfoodanalysis, and dog food project sites, and I told her that I was currently feeding Merrick. My girls are doing well on it. I do plan to continue the transition to raw though.

She got some Merrick for her girl (2 yr old Chihuahua) Abbey.

After 2 weeks, she went to her Banfield vet for a check-up. He told her that this food was far too high in calcium (she's feeding the puppy palate, I don't know why she didn't get an adult aimed kind), and that it was giving Abbey crystals in her urine. He then told her that she would have to be on Hill's science diet for life. Abbey had no symptoms. No discomfort while urinating, no straining.

It's my understanding that if a diet is balanced in phosphorus and magesium, then concerns about excess calcium are unfounded as the excess will be flushed from the system. Additionally, she'd only been 2 weeks on this food.

I feel like she should get a 2nd opinion.

Am I correct about the calcium? Is this Vet biased toward Hills? Should I reconsider the Merrick?

I would appreciate anyone's take on this diagnosis.

brookcove

Posted : 3/16/2009 12:23:21 PM

Banfield=Petsmart, right?

My first move would be a second opinion, frankly. I've never really felt that any dog had a Science Diet deficiency.

Excess calcium can be very serious, or a blip on the radar for a puppy. Either way, the puppy should have gone in for more tests, not had a bag of corn handed to the owner and "have a nice life."

Merrick isn't one of my very favoritest foods but I don't think it's horrible - the things that have come up in relation with it have been random bits of trash in the bags and cans (plastic and metal).

jennie_c_d

Posted : 3/16/2009 7:13:47 PM

And IF the calcium levels in it were that high, you and lots of other folks would be having issues. Calcium stones probably have a lot of causes.

Moonlight

Posted : 3/17/2009 8:11:49 AM

Thank you both.

Banfield is in PetsMart, and honestly, I've heard far more complaints than compliments.

My girls are usually on Innova, but this month they've been on Merrick and I have no issues with it. I thought it was premature to say a food that her dog had been on for 2 weeks was the cause of the crystals. Though Abbey shouldn't be on a puppy food at 2 years old.

I googled around, and you're right, there are multiple causes. I'll tell my friend that she should look for a 2nd opinion since I know that she doesn't really want to have Abs on Hill's diet for life.

starsenchis

Posted : 3/26/2009 1:43:34 PM

Merrick Puppy Plate really is sky high in calcium. They use high ash chicken meal because it's cheaper and it brings the calcium level up. This can be disastrous for large breed puppies, but even in small breed puppies it can cause slight structural issues like splayed feet, knuckling over, east/ west feet, etc. Your vet may even be right about it causing crystals.

Hill's Science Diet is not a good food and I don't recommend it, BUT, it does actually have proper levels of calcium in it. No need to settle for it though, there are other better brands that also have proper calcuim levels. Here are some: Healthwise Puppy food, Eagle Pack Holistic Select Chicken & Rice (Not the new toy breed formula), Artemis FreshMix ADULT formula (it's ALS anyways), Avoderm chicken puppy, Canine Caviar chicken puppy, C&P Organix puppy, all Fromm foods, Halo's Spot's Stew dry foods, Natural Balance Duck or Venison formulas, Newman's Own, Verus Life Advantage, and Wysong Optimal Performance all have perfect moderate calcium levels and are all life stages foods.

freesiagirl

Posted : 3/30/2009 11:22:27 PM

Just wanted to add something positive about Hills food. I had a male Siamese cat that had crystals since a kitten, after 3 emergency crystal removals (next choice was to remove the bone to make the opening wider) was put on Hills CD. For life... he never had another issue with crystals and lived to be 18. Wishing your friends doggie all the best. Hugs, pets and prayers!