Cushing and CalOx bladder stones

[Lisa V]

Hi there, I have two ten year old shi-poo's (Smokey and Bandit).
One was just diagnosed with Cushings and put on Ventoyl and the other is currently being tested as the vet believes that he also has Cushings. One of my boys (the one currently being tested) is prone to Calcium Oxalate bladder stones and has had two surgeries to remove (has now been three years). Both dogs have been on the same diet which is Royal Canine Urinary SO (smart dogs and won't eat different foods), however I would like to start them on a homemade diet and want to know if there are dietary restrictions for dogs with Cushings?
Does anyone else have a pet with Cushings and CalOx stones? Are they on a homemade diet?
Any advice would be great. Thank you.

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and your sweet boys,

Dog's that have Cushing's disease should be on a high quality protein, moderate fiber, and low in fat diet.

My non-cush boy, Bear, is also prone to forming CalOx stones. His vet has him on potassium citrate for his stone formation. Has your vet recommended this?

I was wondering if you get copies of all tests that were done on your boys and post any abnormal results, we would especially be interested in the results of all tests used to diagnose and monitor the Cushing's.

Please know we will heslp in any way we can so do not hesitate to ask any and all questions.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome from me too.

My Molly is also on the SO diet and so far it has done wonders to keep her crystals at bay. Every time I've tried to change her a bit, she drinks less water and that sends me into a panic.

Lori is right, potassium citrate is wonderful for dogs that are prone to CalOx stones. Another one of our members also uses that and mixes it in with her dogs food. I don't think she uses the SO food. Hopefully she'll be along and can tell you herself what she uses, but I think it's about the same as Lori (above).

Oh dear, 2 cushings babies. I guess they just like to do things together. :)

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Lisa V]

Thank you so much for your responses. My vet has not made any recommendations for supplements as yet (feel like I've been going this alone). I will ask him for ay copy of the results on my next visit ( which is next week) and post them. My two boys are brothers from the same litter and they were always playing and I could not separate them and that is why I brought both home. It has been hard dealing with the CalOx stones and now with Cushings (poor guys).

[molly muffin]

You are not alone now :) Awww, how sweet. Of course you had to bring them both home with you. Who could resist! It's awful difficult dealing with one thing and now to have two issues on the agenda is tough. I am sure that you will do just fine though. Those cute little faces are very inspiring. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

My beloved cushdog, Lulu, had oxalate stones requiring two surgery within 11 months prior to her cushing's diagnosis. She was scheduled for the second surgery immediately after being diagnosed with cushing's. I have a non-cushdog who also had surgery to remove stones. Dogs with cushing's are prone to these stones as high levels of cortisol interfere with the absorption of calcium causing increased levels of calcium. They say most dogs with oxalate stones will have a recurrence within three years. Neither of my dogs had a recurrence once on a commercially prepared raw food, encouraged to drink more water (add tuna water or water from boiled chicken) and given potassium citrate to help correct the urine ph. I switched to a slow cooked commercially prepared diet a few years later because it was lower in fat than the raw food but after my two noncushdogs spent a day or two in the er with pancreatitis and none of them seemed to be as active, I went back to raw.

As Lori mentioned, dogs with cushing's require good quality protein as cortisol is a catabolic steroid which chews through protein like pacman and causes severe muscle wasting. To restrict protein unless absolutely necessary is not a good idea. My own experience mirrors much the same as the information I found on dogaware.com

http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjcalciumoxalates.html#oxalates

In February 2002, The American Journal of Veterinary Research published a study conducted at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine’s Minnesota Urolith Center that compared dietary factors in canned food with the formation of calcium oxalate uroliths in dogs, with surprising results. Canned diets with the highest amount of carbohydrate were associated with an increased risk of CaOx urolith formation. Contrary to commonly accepted beliefs, the study concluded that “canned diets formulated to contain high amounts of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and moisture and a low amount of carbohydrate may minimize the risk of CaOx urolith formation in dogs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11843112

In the past, diets restricted in both protein and phosphorus were thought to reduce the risk of calcium oxalate formation. Studies found, however, that dietary phosphorus restriction increased calcium absorption and the risk of calcium oxalate formation, while higher levels of dietary protein reduced the risk of urolithiasis. Current recommendations for dogs prone to forming CaOx stones say that diets should not be restricted in protein, calcium, or phosphorus.

Royal Canin SO is not as low in protein as Hills prescription diet but it's still only 14%. Corn and rice are the primary ingredients and in my opinion, that is simply not enough protein for an otherwise healthy dog....and also in my layman's opinion and based on my own research, it is woefully low for a dog with cushing's.

We are charged with making informed decisions for our dogs and trying to choose the right diet can be confusing and I hope my sharing my own experience and opinion hasn't confused you more. None of us are dietitians and we all have our own ideas of what is best for our dogs so do your own research and come to your own conclusions. If you want to home cook, I personally think that's a good idea, avoiding foods high in oxalates. Please use the link I provided above for more information on oxalate stones and diet.

Glynda