Inside Scoop: TCVM Veterinarians Share Holistic Dog Kidney Stone Protocol

Dealing with your dog's bladder and kidney stones can be tough! You know your dog is hurting, but you don't know what to do.

However, the good news is there are many things you can do at home to help your dog feel better, alleviate the stones, and prevent them from coming back in the future.

We're sharing the dog kidney stone protocol TCVM veterinarians Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron recommend in their Tennessee clinics.

What are Bladder and Kidney Stones?

Dog bladder and kidney stones are pretty much the same. The main difference is where they are located. Bladder stones are in the bladder and kidney stones are in the kidneys.

Treatment and prevention is the same for both bladder and kidney stones, and it varies depending on what the stone is made of.

The most common types of stones in dogs are struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, and silica. 

Stones form when your dog's urine contains more crystal-forming substances than his/her urine can dilute.

At the same time, your dog's urine might lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together.

The combination of the two is an ideal environment for forming kidney and bladder stones.

Your dog may have stones yet show no symptoms at all.

Sometimes stones remain unnoticed until your vet runs tests for other medical conditions.

Symptoms may vary depending on the type of stone and where it is located.

The most common signs of stones are:

• abdominal pain
• appetite loss
• blood in urine
• decreased volume of urine
• difficulty urinating
• fever
• lethargy
• recurring UTIs
• vomiting
• weight loss

Bladder and kidney stones can cause frequent urinary tract infections, pain, and blockages.

Unfortunately, stones can be potentially fatal if untreated. Please contact your vet immediately if you think your dog may have stones.

Your vet will tell you if your dog needs surgery or if the stone will pass on its own.

Dog Kidney Stone Protocol Step #1: Learn More About Kidney Stones

If you are new to dealing with stones and are still learning how they affect your dog, you should get a free copy of our ebook Dog Bladder & Kidney Stones: Painfully Easy to Prevent. 

Holistic veterinarians Dr. Casey Damron and Dr. Marc Smith wrote the manual with you in mind. It explains what's going on and how your dog feels. It offers information on things you can do at home to help.

Dog Kidney Stone Protocol Step #2: Make Your Dog Drink More Water

Getting your dog to drink enough water is super important in preventing stones.

If your dog drinks enough water to keep his/her urine dilute and flowing well, it helps prevent crystals from forming into stones that cause problems.

But, you may have trouble getting your dog to drink enough. If so, try mixing sodium-free chicken broth into your dog's water.

Or, you can also run a little meat or tuna (something your dog loves) through the blender with water to make soup you can give as a "treat" to encourage your dog to drink more fluids. 

You can also dilute your dog's food with water, making every meal a "soup".

Anything you can do to get more water into your dog will help.

Dog Kidney Stone Protocol Step #3: Switch to Wet Food - Preferably a Cooling Diet

Another change you can easily make at home is switching to wet food.

Both Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron feel kibble is the worst food you can feed a dog suffering from stones. 

The reason is that a lot of your dog's body moisture is used in rehydrating kibble to allow your dog to digest it.

The process actually causes many dogs to be chronically dehydrated, which is the opposite of what you want for a dog suffering from stones. 

Our vets recommend a cooling diet for dogs with kidney and bladder stones.

A cooling diet soothes or "cools" the inflammation caused by irritation.

And, feeding wet food will help keep your dog hydrated, helping to dilute the urine and improve flow.

You can easily learn how to cook a cooling diet at home or purchase cooling dog food online.

Special Diets for Dogs with Calcium Oxalate or Silica Stones Crystals

If your vet sent your dog's stones or crystals to a lab for analysis, you will know what type of stone your dog has.

Some types of stones can be prevented with a special home-cooked diet.

For example, if your dog has calcium oxalate stones, you can feed a special low-oxalate diet to help prevent the stones and crystals from forming in the first place.

Another example is silica stones and crystals. Certain supplements, homeopathic medicines, and foods contribute to the formation of silica stones and crystals.

Learn More About The Low-Oxalate Diet

Learn More About The Low Silica Diet

Always discuss any dietary changes you plan to make with your holistic veterinarian.

Dog Kidney Stone Protocol Step #4: Use Herbs & Vitamins to Boost Urinary Tract Health

Using the right herbs and vitamins, you can soothe and strengthen your dog's entire urinary system.

Our veterinarians recommend PET | TAO Soothe Bladder Supplement.

Soothe Bladder supplies:

• cranberry - reduces the risk of UTIs
• juniper berry - helps the body flush out uric acid and excess crystals
• marshmallow root - soothes inflamed tissues and protects tissues while passing stones
• uva ursi - eases swelling of the bladder and urinary tract
• kochia - soothes inflammation and promotes urination
• poria - promotes urination
• polyporus - promotes urination and detoxifies

Dog Kidney Stone Protocol Step #5: Feed Your Dog Kidney

According to TCVM philosophy, the kidney controls the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract functions.

And, using the theory of "Like Treats Like", feeding kidney helps strengthen and tonify the kidney meridian.

You can easily make sure your dog gets top-quality kidney every day by feeding PET | TAO Freeze Dried Raw Kidney Treats.

As few as 5-6 treats per day will make a huge difference in your dog's entire urinary system. 

Dog Kidney Stone Protocol Step #6: Try a TCVM Herbal Blend

Chinese medicine offers many amazing natural solutions for canine bladder and urinary health challenges.

Some good examples are:

• Ba Zheng San
• Crystal Stone Formula
• Dianthus Harmonize Bladder
• Suo Quan Wan

You need a veterinary authorization to purchase TCVM herbs. The reason is there are several different blends to choose from, depending on your pet's individual patterns and deficiencies. 

You'll get the best results if you get in in-person examination or telemedicine consultation with a TCVM-trained veterinarian.

Need Extra Help for Your Special Needs Dog?

If you ever feel like you need extra help in managing your dog's bladder or kidney stones naturally or with TCVM herbal blends we can help.

TCVM Pet Supply cofounders Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron offer TCVM telemedicine consultations.

If you get a TCVM telemedicine consultation ($125), you'll get personalized TCVM recommendations specific to your pet, including:

• TCVM Evaluation
• Food Therapy Recommendations 
• TCVM Herb Recommendations & Veterinary Authorization
• Supplement Recommendations
• Alternative Medicine Recommendations

If you reside in the Middle Tennessee area or would like to commute, you may choose an in-clinic appointment instead.

You can learn more about each vet and contact the clinic you prefer directly:

• Casey Damron, DVM - White Oak Animal Hospital
• Marc Smith, DVM - Natchez Trace Veterinary Services

We hope this information helps you, and wish you the best in helping your dog feel better. 

If you have any other questions or if we can help you in any way, just let us know!

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