~Anne~ Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 (edited) My vet believes it's a chicken and egg scenario. The infections causing the alkinlinty which helps the formation of crystals or the alkinlinty causing the alkinlinty which helps the infection to develop. After recurring bouts of infection and the two surgeries on Olivia for stones we took a sample direct from the bladder and then put her on long term antibiotics and the prescriptives diet. She was on antibiotics for 6 weeks. We've never had a problem since thankfully. We are very strict with her diet and she is encouraged to drink. She has a broth each morning for breakfast and her water is changed daily as she doesn't like stale water. The prescriptives also ensure she is thirsty too. Edited September 10, 2013 by ~Anne~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Share Posted September 10, 2013 Ok that's interesting, we try to keep Asha away from chicken anyway as it makes her itchy. The antibiotics also seems to really get stuck into her, she loses quite a bit of hair and can have problems with her bowel/vomiting when on them. Last time she had the crystals she was tried on a different antibiotic and she didn't suffer from the vomiting, but had the hair loss again. I think the broth idea is a good idea, she is probably more likely to drink more of that then just plain water, however I have noticed her water intake seems to have increased with the addition of the cranberry to her breakfast and ACV pls a pinch of salt to her dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 (edited) :laugh: sorry, I think you misunderstood the chicken comment. I was using the age old query statement of "what came first, the chicken or the egg" and comparing that to the crystals versus infection argument. We also give pet milk mixed with water in the mornings or sometimes yoghurt mixed with water. Anything to encourage fluid intake. Edited September 10, 2013 by ~Anne~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Share Posted September 10, 2013 apologies, that's what happens when you reply to a thread whilst on the phone at work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 just a quick update, Asha has been doing well over the last week and a half, the Nizoral has completely taken care of the yeast infection with a 5 day course. She rarely licks or chews her paws and her face roll is looking much better. For breakfast we have been feeding her a cup of the Holistic Select anchovy with a spoon of natural yoghurt and the powder from a cranberry capsule. For dinner she has 150gm of the low allergy kangaroo mince from Pet Cafe with a spoon of ACV. Her ph is still hovering around the 6-6.5 (I haven't checked in a few days) but hopefully once we get her completely over to a raw diet the ph will come right down. After this week once I have some more time on my hands I am going to follow up some of the alternative treatment options and speak to some of the vets listed in the thread, I am also looking at switching her dry kibble to a Canidae grain free for emergencies, which Pet Care also stock. I also want to book her back into the vet in a week or so for urine spin from a sterile sample to see how the crystals are going with what she is being fed at the moment. I really appreciate all of the help and suggestions in the 5 pages of this thread, you guys are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 That's great news wil. Really pleased your girl is more comfortable and responding so well to your thoughtful changes. Yeast is a bugger - once it gets a systemic foothold it can be so difficult to get rid of. I have started thinking about and treating my Westie girl as I would a girl hooman with systemic thrush - and it seems to have worked. Basically she gets nothing that will possibly feed it - minimal ABs, minimal carbs, no grains and short-term Hydrazole followed by Canesten. Will be really interested in your updates. Pics??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 here are a few quick snaps, I don't want to photo bomb the thread too much :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 (edited) Ha, ha! Love the flyscreen one !! :) ..and the old school desk? Glad the update is positive Edited September 19, 2013 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara8430 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Same here flyscreen one is great! :laugh: How are you going with asha now will? Have you made any decisions on what to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Its one of my favourites to.. Ace is the biggest clown. Asha is going well, check my post #65 before the photos for the latest update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara8430 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Missed that update, seems like your making good progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Ok so I am digging this thread up from the dead.. I have completely read over it again and wanted to not only update, but touch base. It's been about 9 months since I was on the forum and it is mainly because of life.. I (my wife and I) have been super busy with not only a wedding and a honey-moon but a new addition to the family of the human breed this time. Asha was spayed about a month ago, however we are still having the crystal problems. Having said that they have only occurred once since last september, however this week I have noticed her leaking urine and urinating while walking like she doesn't quite know she is doing it. From previous experience these were the first signs of her urine pH increasing and sure enough when my wife tested it today it gave a reading of approx 7.5, higher then I would like but not over 8 yet which is good. I am going to revisit some of the suggestions, and specialists mentioned in this thread this week to try and knock this one the head once and for all - in the mean time I am thinking of getting her on a course or Acidurin or Methio-form, I have also read great things about Wysong Biotic pH- but I am struggling to find an Aussie supplier. Another possible contributing factor is water intake or lack of, being winter she is definitely drinking less so I might try adding a pinch of salt to her breakfast, and also increase her exercise to force her to drink more water (this is the harder once the achieve with the new baby) At this point in time Asha's dient consists of the following: Breakfast: half a cup of Canidae Grain Free Pure Land (also chicken free) + 2 teaspoons of natural yoghurt + 1 cranberry capsule Dinner: 1/8 cup Canidae + 165gm PetCafe Kangaroo mince Allerblend (Allerblend Details) + 1 capful ACV + 1 teaspoon coconut oil At the end of the 5 pages of discussion and advice last year my aim was to go full RAW but with the baby finding the time is always hard. It may be that I stick with the pre-packaged PetCafe Roo mince and look at a BARF option for the morning. I am thinking a consult with a holistic vet will be the first step, and dealing with someone in person (after a gauge their response over the phone) would be my preference initially. I still have a keen interest in exploring the two names that dancinbcs suggested and look into alternative methods, but I want to try one thing at a time to make sure I can easily identify the solution. Ok so that ended up being longer then I first thought... I will keep everyone posted on progress this time and won't let 9 months lapse. If there are any other suggestions or ideas please feel free to pitch in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 can you make her some stock ? fish , or whatever meat she can tolerate ..little salt & not much else? she perhaps will enjoy drinking it...also - if she can have lactose free milk - mix a little in some water ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Have you tried the prescriptives kibble yet? I know most raw feeders are against kibbles. I feed one dog raw and the other, the girl with the history of struvites, prescriptives kibble cd. No hassle, no mess. She hasn't had a problem in years. Due to her previous history, she only has one functioning kidney. I'd hate for that to happen to your girl. Raw is great but the saying 'the best food fro your dog is the food your dog does best on" really comes to mind. If my dog had been put on it earlier, she wouldn't have had the surgeries she had or destroyed a kidney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 can you make her some stock ? fish , or whatever meat she can tolerate ..little salt & not much else? she perhaps will enjoy drinking it...also - if she can have lactose free milk - mix a little in some water ? I will try that, sounds like a good way to increase fluid intake... I haven't looked into milk for dogs. My wife uses lactose free milk so I'll do some reading about that one. Have you tried the prescriptives kibble yet? I know most raw feeders are against kibbles. I feed one dog raw and the other, the girl with the history of struvites, prescriptives kibble cd. No hassle, no mess. She hasn't had a problem in years. Due to her previous history, she only has one functioning kidney. I'd hate for that to happen to your girl. Raw is great but the saying 'the best food fro your dog is the food your dog does best on" really comes to mind. If my dog had been put on it earlier, she wouldn't have had the surgeries she had or destroyed a kidney. We have tried most if not all of the prescription kibbles - Science Diet (wet and dry), Eukanuba, Royal Canin (wet and dry) and Hills. She hasn't done well on any of them - what I mean by well is that they have reduced and or got rid of the crystals but she itches like crazy on them because they all contain grains and chicken and/or chicken by-products, they seem to flare up her paws and face and she gets a bit yeasty on them. Since september we have been doing a treatment of Royal Canin Urinary SO for 2 weeks along with a course of acidurin (2 tabs per day) every 3 months to keep things in check - which it seemed to be. The leaking urine stopped, and she would go to the toilet normally. Having said that I am not happy with how she responds to the prescription food in her diet and it takes a further 2-3 weeks to get it out of her system and the itchiness to stop. She gave herself an eye ulcer from scratching so much last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 The poor thing. It must be really hard trying to find a balance that keeps her itch free and crystal free. I wish I could find the raw diet that was sent to me many years ago for dogs with struvites. I didn't use it so I didn't keep the info. Perhaps google? It was an easy put together home made meal and all natural foods, no grains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Has she been recently x rayed for bladder/kidney stones? Dripping urine should be investigated asap. Recently we had a surrendered dog that had had crystals, was not x rayed by their vet and was dripping urine. We x rayed him - he had a bladder and urethra full of stones - he must have been in agony:(( My own rescue dog had both bladder/kidney struvite stones when rescued - she had major surgery. We monitor her urine every three months and she is on CD kibble plus beef/chicken/fish. No recurrence as yet - fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 I think going down the path of diet modification with an emphasis on foods that lower pH is the next step - there is a holistic vet on the other side of town that I am hoping to call tonight when I get home from work. I will have a discussion with them about the problem and talk about the X-ray, as this has not been done as far as I am aware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 An x ray is necessary to see if there are stones in kidneys/bladder/urethra - it is the first thing I would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_454 Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Great, thanks for the advice. I will have a discussion with the vet tonight and get onto it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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