Toa Payoh Vets - Dietary management to dissolve struvite stones in dogs

Dietary management to dissolve struvite stones in the bladder & voiding urohydropropulsion
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Written: Perth, 29 September 2010
Update: 11 October 2010
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After the surgical removal of the struvite urinary stones or for medical and dietary treatment, how much of the prescription diet should the owner give the dog/day?

I took some time just to read about Canine Struvite Urolithiasis case studies in the thick book "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" by Hand et. al, 5th Edition and the following is some general guideline for Toa Payoh Vets in advising on Prescription Diet s/d to dogs in 3 case studies.

How much of the s/d diet to be given:
1. Puppy X-breed, 9 weeks,
5 kg.
700kcal (2.83MJ)
1/2 can 3x/day
2. Rottweiler, 5 years, 41 kg
1,800kcal (7.5MJ)
1.5 cans 2x/day
3. German Shepherd, 12 years, 27 kg
1,150kcal (4.8MJ)
1 can 2x/day
Other procedures to ensure compliance from the owner:
1. Antibiotics from 14-30 days and review using urine cultures
2. Monthly urine analysis (check for UTI) and blood tests (esp. serum urea nitrogen, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium and alkaline phosphatese)
3. Monthly x-rays of kidney (V/D view), bladder (lateral views)
Back to normal commercial food for the puppy as soon as X-rays show no stones. For adult dogs, give prescription food for one more month after negative X-ray results. No commercial dog treats or snacks during the period of treatment.
Specialised tests like double-contrast cystography (to check out anatomic abnormalities of the bladder, obstruction of urine flow from kidneys), retrograde positive-contrast urethrocystography (to check out anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract to the prostate gland area) if there is recurrent uroliths or UTI.
Very few Singapore clientele comply with the above instructions. It could be due to economic reasons. Urine is taken by cystocentesis. Voiding urohydropropulsion is used in cases where the uroliths are small. The owner must be informed that it takes 2-4 months or longer to get all struvite stones dissolved. The owner must be aware of the need for reviews and to note the costs involved in the dietary management to dissolve struvite urinary stones.
VETERINARY SURGERY --- VOIDING UROHYDROPROPULSION IN DOGS AND CATS

What is urohydropropulsion? During my undergraduate days some 30 years ago, there was no such term.

Basically it means pumping saline into the bladder (3ml/kg) and suck out the fluid together with the small uroliths (urinary stones) with a catheter. The stones in the bladder are too small and therefore no surgical removal is needed.

ANAESTHESIA. May or may not be need.
POSITION. 2 methods described in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th edition.

POSITION 1. Hold the dog or cat upright so that the vertebral column is upright. The urine and stones will be at the bottom (neck) of the bladder.

POSITION 2. Lateral recumbency.

In both position, catheterise, irrigate with saline (3ml/kg), massage or press bladder to shake up the stones, suck out the saline + stones with a syringe. X-rays to check if all are taken out but not all small ones can be seen.

Dietary and medical treatment.
More information is at: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" by Hand et. al, 5th Edition

This webpage:
http://www.sinpets.com/F5/20100697struvite-dietary-management-voiding-urohydropropulsion_ToaPayohVets.htm