What’s the Best Dog Food for Urinary Crystals? Top 10 Options

Simply buying the first dog food you see for urinary stones and crystals may be a bad decision. Various types of bladder stones are sometimes treated differently. That’s why choosing quality food that meets your dog’s specific needs is crucial for their prolonged good health. 

Let’s look for good dog food for urinary crystals together. We’ll check each brand’s prices, ingredients, advantages, and disadvantages. Also, we have a buying guide with essential information about urinary crystals and infections you should know.

Evaluation Criteria for Assessing the Best Dog Food for Urinary Health

We considered the following criteria to evaluate the chosen dog food brands:

• Top Five Ingredients — The first few ingredients make up most of the food content.
• Guaranteed Analysis — If you worry about your dog’s urinary health, looking up the moisture content in the GA is crucial.
• No fillers or Preservatives — Some grains and other fillers may affect bladder stone formation.
• Lower Mineral Content — Minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, phosphorus play a big role in the formation of some stones, so you should avoid them.
• Price — The balance between price and quality is decisive, especially for dog food for bladder stones and urinary infections.
• Customer Reviews — Feedback from real dog parents helps us understand the full picture.

RAW WILD Premium Raw Dog Food

RAW WILD delivers frozen raw food suitable for all breeds. It’s unprocessed and contains no fillers or vegetables, only named meats. The GA points to 70% moisture, 18% protein, 10% fat, and 0.45% crude fiber. Also, the main ingredients of this non-prescription dog food for urinary crystals are elk, deer, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, and choline chloride.

Based on the positive reviews, dogs like the taste and the food may improve their overall health, coat, and breath. Plus, the company has no reported recalls.

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Why we choose this product: RAW WILD’s natural dog food for bladder stones is high-quality, unprocessed, grain-free, and filler-free. It may be a good choice for some bladder stones and infections.

Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Weight Management + Urinary Care

Blue Buffalo’s W+U recipe requires a vet prescription. The main ingredients of this prescription dog food for urinary crystals are deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea starch, peas, and pea protein. Its GA is 10% moisture, 30% protein, 10% fat, and 17% crude fiber.

Since 2010, the company has recalled food at least six times. Also, there are a few negative reviews about dogs’ urinary issues getting worse. But overall, dog parents report improved symptoms, no recurrence of crystals, and healthy weight loss.

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Why we choose this product: Blue Buffalo’s dog food for urinary crystals reviews testify to its efficiency against bladder crystals. It contains cranberries that are great for this condition. But keep in mind that the diet depends on the type of crystals, so it’s best to consult your vet.

Natural Balance’s Original Ultra Whole Body Health Wet Dog Food

Natural Balance’s Reduced Calorie Chicken, Salmon & Duck is for less active or overweight dogs. The main ingredients are chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, salmon, and brown rice. Also, the Guaranteed Analysis of this wet dog food for urinary tract health is 78% moisture, 8% protein, 5% fat, and 2% crude fiber. 

The company recalled dog food in 2010 and 2012 due to possible salmonella. Also, there were two recalls in 2007 due to potential botulinum and melamine. But reviewers are mostly positive. Many of their dogs like the food and successfully lose weight. Yet some had digestive upset or didn’t want to eat it.

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Why we choose this product: This dog food for urine crystals is a good choice because of its limited protein content and high moisture percentage.

JustFoodForDogs PantryFresh Renal Support

The Renal Support prescription recipe from the brand’s wet PantryFresh series promotes kidney health. Its GA is 68% moisture, 4% protein, 5% fat, and 2% crude fiber. Also, the food contains water, lamb, white rice, carrots, and brown rice. 

JustFoodForDogs has recalled its dog food only once in January 2018. Mostly positive reviewers have found the dog food for kidney stones helpful, but some dogs don’t like the taste. 

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Why we choose this product: This recipe isn’t formulated as a bladder stone dog food. It may apply in some cases, considering the significantly low protein content, high moisture levels, and freshness.

Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d Urinary Care Dog Food

The u/d Urinary Care is a prescription dry food for all breeds with urinary issues. Its GA is 10% moisture, 8% protein, 17.5% fat, and 3% crude fiber. This low magnesium dog food contains brewers rice, corn starch, pork fat, egg product, and powdered cellulose.

Since 2007, the company has recalled food at least five times due to melamine, salmonella, and elevated vitamin D levels. Also, some customers report worse dog health or no interest in the food. Still, many dogs with bladder stones improved on Hill’s Prescription.

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Why we choose this product: Hill’s u/d Urinary bladder stone dog food is restricted in protein to prevent the formation of non-struvite stones.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Canine Formula Wet Dog Food

Purina’s UR Urinary Ox/St prescription food has chicken, water, rice, meat by-products, and liver as the main ingredients. The GA of this canned recipe is 78% moisture, 7.5% protein, 4.5% fat, and 3% crude fiber.

Reviews on Purina’s prescription dog food for urinary crystals are mostly positive, but we can’t ignore the negative ones. Some dogs don’t find the food appetizing or don’t improve their condition. Overall, dog parents are happy with the product. But Purina has had some food recalls you may want to consider. 

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Why we choose this product: Evidence suggests that Purina’s UR Urinary Ox/St can be helpful as dog food for struvite crystals and calcium oxalate crystals.

Royal Canin Canine Urinary SO Small Dog Dry Dog Food

Urinary SO Small is a prescription food specifically for small breeds with urinary issues. The GA points to 10% moisture, 18% protein, 15% fat, and 3.6% crude fiber. This dog food for urinary tract health contains brewers rice, corn, chicken fat, chicken by-product meal, and corn gluten meal.

In 2006 and 2007, the company had a few food recalls due to melamine contamination and excessive Vitamin D3. Reviews of this recipe are mostly positive, but the disappointed customers note that the food might be dangerous for some dogs.

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Why we choose this product: Canin’s dog food for bladder stones prevention in small dogs is appetizing and easy to digest. It’s an alternative dry formula for urinary issues that provides more protein and fat for energetic dogs. Also, it may be the best dog food brand for Shih Tzu. 

Forza10 Wet Dog Food Kidney RENAL ACTIWET with Lamb

Kidney RENAL ACTIWET with Lamb is a non-prescription food supporting your dog’s renal and cardiac health. The main ingredients are water, lamb lung, chicken, rice, and minerals. The Guaranteed Analysis of this dog food low in magnesium is 82% moisture, 5.7% protein, 5% fat, and 0.5% crude fiber. 

Many user reviews attest to the food stabilizing their dogs’ kidney function. We didn’t find many negative reviews, but some customers discovered bone fragments in the food. Also, there’s no record of food recalls.

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Why we choose this product: The RENAL ACTIWET is an excellent alternative to prescription food for all breeds. Plus, it may improve your dog’s health and appetite. 

Open Farm Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

The first five ingredients are wild-caught salmon, chickpeas, whitefish meal, field peas, and herring meal. The Guaranteed Analysis of this formula is 9% moisture, 33% protein, 16% fat, and 4.5% crude fiber. 

Open Farm has no history of dog food recalls. Also, pet owners like the humanly-sourced ingredients and notice skin health improvements in their dogs. That said, some pups may experience bad digestion with this low-magnesium dog food. 

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Why we choose this product: Open Farm’s dry food recipe uses quality protein sources. It also contains cranberries and other superfoods. The company has no food recalls.

CANIDAE Limited Ingredient Puppy Dry Dog Food

Canidae’s nutritious recipe is specifically designed for puppies. The major ingredients of this non-prescription dog food for bladder crystals are salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, barley, and oatmeal. Also, the Guaranteed Analysis is 10% moisture, 25% protein, 14.5% fat, and 5% crude fiber.

In 2012, Canidae had one dry food recall due to salmonella suspicions. But you can find numerous positive reviews praising it for being suitable for pups sensitive to poultry. That said, some dogs don’t like it.

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Why we choose this product: Canidae’s best urinary dog food is excellent for puppies with sensitives. It’s enriched with probiotics and taurine.

The Best Dog Food for Urinary Crystals and Inflammation — Buyer’s Guide

Many factors play a role in choosing the best diet for urinary issues.

What to Look for When Buying Dog Food

Consider the following elements when looking for dog food:

• Type of Urinary Crystals — Depending on the kind of crystals your dog has, it may require a different diet. If you want to learn which ingredients to avoid for each type, please check out the section on stone types below.
• Prescription or Non-prescription — Consult your vet to create the optimal meal for your dog.
• Texture & Flavor — The flavor is often the most tricky aspect since owners don’t know if the dog will like the food before tasting it.
• Budget — Dog food prices vary greatly, especially when it comes to vet-prescribed food. But more affordable non-prescription dog food for urinary crystals may be a good alternative in some cases.

What Are Urinary Crystals and How Do They Form?

Urinary crystals or Crystalluria form from minerals naturally found in dogs’ urine. Once the minerals become concentrated, crystals may occur.

Note that urinary crystals aren’t the same as bladder or kidney stones. Still, they have the potential to develop stones and pose a certain risk. Nevertheless, crystal presence doesn’t necessarily mean stone formation. 

Crystal identification is essential since some types may indicate other health issues or predispositions to developing stones. You can often treat crystals partially or entirely with a prescribed urinary diet for dogs and increased water intake.

Types of Bladder Stones in Dogs

Each stone type develops under certain conditions from a mix of minerals. Some of the most common are struvite and calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, and silica.

Struvite

Struvite is the most common type of urinary crystal. It accounts for about 50% of all cases. Typically, the formation of these crystals starts with a urinary tract infection that increases the urine’s pH. 

Often struvite stones can dissolve entirely with a special diet. That includes increased water consumption and reduced amounts of protein and minerals like phosphorus and magnesium. Bigger stones that cannot be dissolved require lithotripsy, which breaks them up with sound waves. Surgery is a last resort.

It’s important to remember that a urinary diet for dogs for dissolving stones isn’t the same as a preventative diet. For the latter, we recommend hydration. But diet isn’t the only factor, and you should focus on preventing infections and testing.

Urate

Urate or uric acid stones constitute about 5% of all bladder stones. Due to genetic abnormalities, the breed most likely to suffer from them is the Dalmatian. For predisposed breeds, you should do genetic dog testing. In most other cases, uric acid stones develop in dogs with liver shunts. They may form with the help of the biochemical purine if the urine becomes highly concentrated or acidic. Some purines include:

• Xanthine
• Hypoxanthine
• Allantoin
• Adenine
• Guanine
• Caffeine
• Theophylline

The two most widely used treatments are non-surgical stone removal by urohydropropulsion and surgery. Dissolving the stones is possible but not guaranteed.

Encouraging your dog to drink more water and feeding it the best wet dog food for urinary crystals is essential for prevention. Depending on the case, your dog may also need medication. Vets recommend diets that promote slightly alkaline urine and foods lower in purines.

Typically, foods low in protein contain fewer purines, so focus on the protein quality, not its quantity. Avoid added protein (especially from seafood) and organ meat. Also, opt for eggs and whey. It’s also best not to buy food that contains brewer’s yeast. A company that offers a diet appropriate for dogs with urate crystals is Hill’s Pet Nutrition with its U/d recipe. It’s similar to the Urinary U/C by Royal Canin.

Cystine 

Cystine bladder stones are caused by a genetic abnormality. They’re rare compared to the other types and affect mostly males. Treatments include urohydropropulsion, surgery, and ultrasound. Naturally dissolving the stones with the best urinary dog food is also possible.

Unfortunately, cystine crystals reoccur very often, even with a good diet. Nevertheless, your dog’s meals may have a significant effect. As with all stones, focus on wet food and higher water consumption.

Canned foods with low levels of animal protein (seafood, organ meat) are suitable for dogs with this issue. But you should avoid diets high in methionine and sodium. 

Some studies have shown that Hills U/d food may lead to 25% urine cystine reduction in just 24 hours. Still, your dog may need medication. And lastly, castration can prevent cystinuria and cystine stones.

Calcium Oxalate 

Calcium oxalate stones are formed when the dog’s urine becomes oversaturated with calcium and oxalate. Unfortunately, they can’t be dissolved with diet or special dog food for bladder stones. But you can remove them with surgery, lithotripsy, or urohydropropulsion.

Many dogs will form calcium oxalate stones again, so prevention and monitoring are crucial. Aside from regular vet check-ups, increased water consumption and a suitable diet might be helpful.

Start by excluding foods high in protein, sodium, and calcium (dairy, supplements). Also, avoid high oxalate ingredients (like spinach), vitamin C, vitamin D, and low phosphorus dog food. Some prescription foods that may be suitable are Hills G/D diet, Hills U/D diet (unless dilative cardiomyopathy or predisposition is present), Hills C/D multicare, and Royal Canin S/O.

You can also consider over-the-counter options, like the Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Barley, but consult your vet before any major dietary changes or switching to new dog food for urinary tract crystals. If you want to implement natural treats, try:

• Plain turkey and chicken
• Eggs
• Rice
• Peas
• White potatoes
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Bananas
• Melon

Calcium Phosphate 

A diet change may affect calcium phosphate bladder stones, but vets often recommend removal. There are no known medications effective against this stone type.

When it comes to prevention, limiting protein and avoiding sodium, calcium, and vitamin D may be beneficial. And as always, add more water.

Silica 

Silica stones aren’t very common and cannot be dissolved through diet. There’s some evidence that their formation is linked to food. So, you should eliminate recipes with significant amounts of corn gluten feed and grain hulls for prevention. Also, avoid whole grains and cereals. Make sure your dog doesn’t eat grass, dirt, or woody plants. 

Even if dog food for bladder crystals isn’t enough to dissolve all types, it can be crucial for prevention. Frequent monitoring and tests are essential for any dog with bladder stones.

Food Ingredients That Might Cause Urinary Crystals

Many foods and additives may play a part in the formation of the urinary crystals:

• Grains — Grains, especially whole grains and grain hulls, can be detrimental to dogs that are predisposed to developing silica bladder stones.
• Fillers — Some of the most widely used fillers are grains, including wheat, corn, barley, and their by-products. They don’t have great nutritional value but are present even in some dog food for bladder stones prevention.
• Preservatives — It’s always best to avoid artificial preservatives. Still, even Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) can be bad for dogs predisposed to crystals.
• Refined carbs — Food with a high carb percentage, like potatoes, but especially refined carbs, like pasta, bread, or white rice, can make the urine more alkaline. This facilitates the formation of many bladder stone types.
• Too much magnesium — Struvite stones form from high magnesium levels. Avoid magnesium-rich foods, like bone meal, beans, pumpkin, squash, and soy.
• Too much phosphorus — Many crystal types are formed by phosphorus. Be careful with phosphorus-rich foods like poultry, tuna (and other fish or seafood), pork, organ meat, dairy, soy, and lentils.
• Treats rich in collagen (rawhide) are definitely not the best dog food for urinary health. Pig ears, rawhide, and bully sticks are low in moisture, but they contain a lot of collagen. The body converts the collagen to oxalates, which can cause bladder crystals.

The list of potentially bad foods is long, but keep in mind that each type of stone relates to different food groups, and you shouldn’t exclude all of them entirely.

Food Ingredients That Might Help Urinary Infections

Since bladder stones are often associated with urinary infections, let’s look at some natural foods that may help relieve the symptoms:

• Cranberries — The magic ingredient is the D-mannose in the fruit. It helps remove bacteria from the bladder. For higher concentration, you can give it as a supplement to dog food to prevent bladder stones.
• Vitamin B and E — B vitamins help maintain good kidney health and fight infections. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E is a good addition to other medications.
• Antioxidants — They boost the immune system, helping the body fight the infection. Most vegetables, fish oil, and nuts contain antioxidants.
• Juniper berries — These berries contain components that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities to help to filter out impurities. Also, juniper berries can improve urination since they’re diuretic.
• Marshmallow root — This plant reduces inflammation and soothes irritation while also having some diuretic function.

Adding some of these superfoods to your dog’s meals can help with urinary infections and overall health.

Prescription vs Non-Prescription Food

Vet-recommended food is only accessible with a prescription. But this doesn’t mean that prescription dog food for urinary tract crystals contains actual medications or ingredients that regular dog food lacks. Instead, these recipes are carefully balanced to match the animal’s specific needs and its health condition.

In many cases, prescription food is the best choice. Yet, some of it can be of no better quality than regular food. It can even be worse. If you have any doubts about the prescribed food or want to try another option for budgetary reasons, discuss that with your vet.

Causes of Urinary Health Issues in Dogs

Various factors can influence abnormal urine and urination issues. Sometimes, seemingly unrelated health problems could also promote urinary diseases. Here’s what you should look out for:

• Heavily processed dog food can lead to unhealthy pH levels — A high percentage of certain minerals, preservatives, or fillers can mean unbalanced urine pH. Dog food for bladder stones should limit these ingredients.
• High mineral concentration in the urine — The abnormal amount of some minerals could be linked to impaired urination frequency or high urine concentration. 
• Concentrated urine — Thick urine can simply indicate dehydration but also of infections, kidney disease, or bladder stones.
• Imbalanced urine pH — pH shows us how acidic or alkaline the urine is. Its imbalance may lead to urinary infections, kidney problems, or bladder stones. 
• Medications — Some medications can have unwanted side effects and affect the urine’s acidity or the concentration of minerals.
• Genetics — Many dog breeds are predisposed to developing bladder crystals or urinary issues.
• Bladder inflammation — A minor inflammation or infection can easily develop into a much more severe issue, especially if not treated on time. That’s why we’re looking for the best dog food to prevent urinary tract infections.
• Stones or crystals in the bladder or urethra — The bladder stones can cause additional issues and inflammation.
• Urinary incontinence — When dogs cannot hold their urine because of excessive water consumption or weak bladder.
• Trauma or stress — Like people, psychological stress or physical trauma can unlock other health issues in dogs.
• Prostate disease — Prostate issues can lead to blood in the urine, straining, and increased urination frequency.
• Spinal cord abnormalities — Disorders of the spinal column in dogs can cause an inability to control urination.
• Cancer — Unfortunately, dogs suffer from various types of cancer, and some may lead to urination issues.

Urinary diseases can be a singular problem that you can solve with dog food for crystals in the urine. But they can also be a symptom of other health issues. That’s why it’s always best to monitor your dog’s overall health and mood.

Signs of Urinary Issues in Dogs

Let’s look at some symptoms that you should know:

• Straining or inability to urinate — Don’t ignore it if you notice your dog struggling to pee or whimpering while doing it.
• Dark, concentrated, cloudy, discolored, or bloody urine — Passing urine with an unusual color, density, or blood is a clear sign that something is wrong.
• Poor appetite or weight loss — Dog owners should pay attention to the feeding habits of their pets and take note of any appetite changes.
• Painful tummy — It can be a symptom of many diseases, and urinary infections or stones are among them. Special dog food for bladder stones may alleviate that.
• Irregular urine stream — Check if your dog’s urine stream is strong and steady or weak and intermittent.
• Increased thirst — If your dog consistently drinks much more water without an apparent reason, you may consider looking out for other signs.
• More or less frequent urination — Changes in the urination frequency and the amount could be signs of urinary disease.
• Leaking urine or urinating in the house — If your dog seems to lose control over its bathroom habits or leaks drops of urine at random, something might be really wrong.
• Strong-smelling urine — If a dog’s urine suddenly changes its smell, especially if it’s unusually strong, you might have cause for concern. Natural dog food for bladder stones can help with this, too.
• Licking the urinary opening — If your dog experiences pain, the inflammation and irritation may cause it to lick itself.

If your dog has urinary issues and lives in pain, you may notice many other symptoms that aren’t necessarily associated with urinary diseases. These may include mood changes, lethargy, fever, vomiting, and severe back pain.

At a Glance — Summary of the Top Dog Food for Urinary Crystals

RAW WILD Premium Raw — Best raw food for urinary issues

Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U — Best prescription food that’s also good for weight management

Natural Balance’s Ultra Whole Body Health Wet Food — Best non-prescription dog food for bladder stones in terms of pricing

JustFoodForDogs PantryFresh Renal Support — Best natural food that’s very low in protein

Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d — Best food that specializes in preventing urate and cystine stones

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St — Best prescription choice

Royal Canin Canine Urinary SO Small — Best dry food for small breeds with urinary issues

Forza10 Wet Dog Food Kidney RENAL ACTIWET — Best dog food for kidney stones

Open Farm Grain-Free Dry Dog Food — Best humanely sourced food

CANIDAE Pure Limited Ingredient — Best limited ingredient food

Tips on How to Help a Dog With Urinary Problems

Even with vet prescribed medicine or procedures, there are some things you can do to help your dog:

• Encourage your dog to drink more water — Give your pet wet food and leave extra water bowls and fountains around the house.
• Add a supplement to your dog’s diet — Healthy dog food for crystals in urine and supplements like cranberries and antioxidants can help your pet. For healthy snacks, you can try the Zesty Paws Cranberry Bites on Amazon. 
• If your dog is holding its pee, gently squeeze its lower tummy where the bladder is located. — That’s known as expressing the bladder. You can use one or two hands while gently increasing the pressure. You can ask your vet for more details on how to do it. If needed, get some reusable dog diapers.
• Feed your dog quality food and limit inflammatory ingredients — Your dog’s diet may cause a urinary issue. 
• Monitor your dog and take notes — Write down how much and how often your dog pees, what’s the urine’s odor and color. Also, note other symptoms or unusual behavior. If you switched to dog food for kidney stones, observe your pet’s reaction.

These tips can be a helpful addition to your dog’s treatment, but don’t use only home treatments for more than one or two days if no improvement is visible.

Breeds Prone to Urinary Crystals

Genetics plays a big role in urinary issues. Some breeds are highly predisposed to forming urinary crystals. Their owners need to consider regular check-ups and appropriate dog food to prevent bladder stones throughout their pets’ lives. It’s best to arrange genetic testing of their parents and the needed health clearances. 

Here are the breeds most commonly diagnosed with struvite and calcium oxalate bladder stones:

• Shih Tzu
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Bichon Frise
• Cocker Spaniel
• Lhasa Apso
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Miniature Poodle
• Dachshund
• Pug

These breeds are more typically affected by urate bladder stones:

• Dalmatian
• English Bulldog
• Black Russian Terrier
• Yorkshire Terrier 
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Shih Tzu

Many small breeds are predisposed to forming bladder stones, but bigger breeds aren’t immune. For example, about 25% of Dalmatians develop urinary problems. Generally, any dog may suffer from this condition.

Finding the Top Rated Dog Food for Urinary Crystals

Selecting the optimal food for your sick pup can put you under a lot of stress, especially when the choice is so vast. That’s why we researched both prescription and non-prescription options. 

Many vet-approved foods have a proven track record, but that doesn’t always mean their ingredients or formulations are of high quality. Regardless of your choice, share your budgetary or quality concerns with your vet before making a decision.