Dietary management in urolithiasis in the dog

Struvite uroliths are found more frequently than other types of uroliths in the urinary tracts of dogs. Medical dissolution of struvite uroliths with a Swedish calculolythic diet has been evaluated. The palatability of the diet was good and only two out of a total of 69 dogs in the study could not be maintained on the diet because of diarrhea. In 19 of 33 dogs medically treated, the uroliths were dissolved over a period of one to 6 months (mean time 2.5 months). In the remaining dogs uroliths were surgically removed, and calculolytic diet was postoperatively given. Consumption of the calculolytic diet was in most cases associated with a lowered specific gravity and pH of the urine. A representative case report of medical dissolution of struvite uroliths located in the urinary bladder of a 9 year-old female cocker spaniel with a history of recurrent urolithiasis is described. It is concluded that the Swedish calculolytic diet can be used successfully to dissolve struvite in adults dogs.