Change your dog’s water every day and clean his bowl a few times a week to minimize bacteria.
Keep in mind that if your dog is physically active, pregnant, or nursing, then he will need more water. Provide extra water in hot weather. Provide your dog with a reliable source of clean, fresh water at all times, especially during hot weather. Provide unfrozen water in cold weather. Dogs cannot obtain the amount of water they need from eating snow or ice. In fact, eating snow and ice requires more body energy to melt the snow/ice which makes the dog’s body require even more water.
Just make sure that you provide fresh, clean water for your dog, even if you are feeding your dog a wetter food.
If you are cannot take your dog out as often as he needs to be, you may want to consider installing a doggy door so that your dog can access an enclosed back yard, training your dog to use potty training pads in the house, or hiring a dog walker to walk your dog a few times a day. About once per week, observe your dog as it urinates. If the urine is a dilute yellow color, then his urine is normal. If your dog’s urine is brown or red and/or if your dog has trouble urinating, then you should contact your dog’s veterinarian right away.
Talk to your veterinarian if you are not sure how to choose a food for your dog.
Foods that are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein can cause kidney stones due to high mineral and protein content in the urine. In dogs susceptible to kidney stone formation, foods that are lower in these nutrients (while still providing adequate amounts) can help to prevent the formation of kidney stones and may even help to dissolve very small stones. There are many types of kidney stones. The most common ones are struvites (made up of magnesium-ammonium-phosphorus); calcium oxalate (made up of calcium) and uric acid stones (the type Dalmatians are prone to get. ) There can also be mixed types. By analyzing your dog’s urine, your veterinarian can determine which type of kidney stone your dog has and which food would be most appropriate for your dog to eat. A diet formulated to alleviate the formation of stones will usually have a different pH. It will be more acidic, with a lower concentration of certain types of minerals and proteins.
Your veterinarian may also be able to advise you on how to meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs with a home-made diet.
These supplements are available in pill, capsule, or a chewable form to supplement your dog’s regular diet. If your dog has a medical condition, ask your veterinarian before giving any supplement to your dog.
Blood in the urine Frequent urination and increased drinking Recurring urinary tract infections Loss of appetite Vomiting Weight loss Difficulty urinating Lack of energy Painful belly
These stones can be microscopic or large enough to fill cavities in the kidney. Regardless of size these are not normal and can potentially damage the kidneys. [9] X Research source
Kidney stones may also lodge in the bladder or start to form in the bladder itself. This process is more common and some dogs’ bladders may fill completely with stones. No matter where a stone forms, it will cause infection and on-going damage to the kidney or bladder.
Lhasa Apsos, Yorkshire Terriers, and Miniature Poodles are more susceptible to kidney stones made of calcium and oxalic acid. Dalmatians, Yorkshire Terriers, and English Bulldogs. are more susceptible to kidney stones made of uric acid.
Keep in mind that if your dog requires surgery, then he may need to be hospitalized until he recovers from the surgery. If your dog has stones and you don’t want it to go through a surgery, there’s a procedure called lithotripsy, in which the vet uses lasers to break down the stones.
