Diet and Bladder Stone Formation
By Susan Beal DVM

Lori, Greetings,
You wrote about the not wanting to use chicken in your dog's diet because of the protein...
One of the things to consider in formulating diets is the quality and digestibility of the protein sources. It has been my experience that animals who have had bladder stones do very well on a home prepared diet that contains a good quality, highly digestible protein.

The current veterinary literature is also presenting many cases of animals who are in a negative protein balance because of the idea that old and sick animals need to be protein restricted.

One of the things to consider in choosing a diet is the source of the protein, as well as the amount. Many foods have good label values, but once you get in there, the protein is not available to the body, and it takes an inordinate amount of energy to digest it. These less optimal protein sources also place a heavy load on the system as far as waste removal and energy required for digestion.

If the protein levels are too high (value varies with age and individual,..), the body uses the protein as an energy source. (Some individuals do better with a bit higher protein or meat in their diets, some do better with more carbohydrates and vegetables. This is why there is the variations between diets - not every individual needs the same diet - we need to honor that variability, and fine tune the ration to the animal's needs and responses. We should feed the dog, not the recipe.)

Protein is an expensive energy source, both monetarily and as far as the strain and energy required by the body for digestion.

Depending upon the type of stones she's making, you might also want to consider some extra Vitamin C supplementation with this girl, to ensure her urine remains acid. Feeding raw meats will also help the body shift to acid,....

If you know which way (acidic or basic) you want to manipulate the system, you can also use apple cider vinegar or honey, alone or in combination, to achieve this. Honey shoves things in a more basic direction, apple cider vinegar to more acid, and a combination allows the body to find its own balance (my preference usually).
It's my opinion that we need to provide the body with the resources that enable it to function optimally, rather than to manipulate and fine tune it so artificially. Part of the true healing process is fostering that normal and optimal metabolism in the body,.... Animals who are dis-eased do have some special supplement needs, but my goal is optimal function with minimal interference.

Use the urinalysis results, as well as the dog, to determine the need for Vitamin C.
I need not remind you that this dog will benefit from constitutional treatment to address the underlying reason what she made stones in the first place.

Sure, the previous diet may have contributed, but stretch your mind a bit and wonder why she had a reaction to the diet and elected to form stones,..... Not every dog who eats her previous diet will create stones.

To really address you pup's deepest levels of health, you need to look beyond the diet and supplement, and correct the underlying imbalance and disharmony within her system. Get with a holistic veterinarian who can help you do that for her.
I hope this has been of some information to you.

Sincerely,
Susan Beal DVM