any vets here ??? PH levels how to lower? naturally?

[scarleta]

I wonder if anyone has any tips how to decrease PH levels in dog. Special vet diets did not work, apple cider vinegar can not control it, some homeopathic medications were also tried ,to no avail.It just runs high no matter what they do. They tried several diets including natural raw food diet , kibble, canned food too including a vet prescribed diet. They are very strict with her treats too.
Its my friend''s dog. She is young and runs high PH levels all the time no matter what they feed her.

The dog is mixed breed (age under 2 and weight under 50 lbs)
and always has had this issue and once had infection ,as well as they had to run an ultrasound as they suspected kidney stones.No stones were found.
Apparently they were told that some dogs run high PH levels no matter what as its their "genetic make up" and they just have to keep monitoring it? to make sure? They worry about stones, crystals and infections?
She is very healthy animal otherwise and no problems other than that have been found.
Any tips? or maybe they should just accept it as part of dog''s genetics? ?

 

[movie zombie]

not a vet but a big proponent of giving subq fluids in order to keep the urine dilute and inhibit crystal growth. works with our cats, one of which has suffered half her life now with urine disorders and had 2 operations in 9 months for stones.

mz

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Scarleta, I''m so sorry for your friend''s dog. Our older dog is prone to a high pH (which leads to struvite crystals), but we are able to control it through a raw diet (including apple cider vinegar and sea kelp, which both help to keep his pH low). When his crystals persist for more than a day, we have to resort to the prescription kibble. It''s awful that none of these things work for your friend''s dog!

If the dog has not developed crystals, stones or a UTI, then I would just stick with whatever diet they have. Ideally she could find a solution that would lower his pH, but so long as she can keep the crystals and stones at bay, then that might be as good as it gets.

 

[scarleta]

Thanks MZ
"not a vet but a big proponent of giving subq fluids in order to keep the urine dilute"
They know that fluids are best to keep the urine diluted, but the dog drinks quite a bit apparently and they have not given fluids any other way than orally.
Sorry about your cats.
N.E Lady: thanks just to understand better?
"When his crystals persist for more than a day, we have to resort to the prescription kibble. It''s awful that none of these things work for your friend''s dog! "
How does one know that the crystals persist for more than one day? do you check it daily? yourself? or by vet?
They go to the vet on regular basis( monthly) to have it checked.
Or do you have a home kit to do it?
That would be a good solution if she can get the kit and check it?
Thanks,

 

[waterlilly]

Wonder if this product might help them?

Solid Gold

and these pH strips

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Date: 4/21/2010 1:14:53 PM
Author: scarleta

N.E Lady: thanks just to understand better?
''When his crystals persist for more than a day, we have to resort to the prescription kibble. It''s awful that none of these things work for your friend''s dog! ''
How does one know that the crystals persist for more than one day? do you check it daily? yourself? or by vet?

I can tell because when he has crystals, he urinates frequently (and his urine has a specific smell, as gross as that sounds) and very little urine comes out. When his crystals dissolve, he urinates regularly. The symptoms of crystals are almost identical to the symptoms of a UTI...

 

[scarleta]

NE lady:"including apple cider vinegar and sea kelp, which both help to keep his pH low"
How much of apple cider and how much of sea kelp do you give???Thanks I know they give apple cider vinegar to no avail.

Thanks Watefllly: great ideas,,,,

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I only give a teaspoon of ACV and a tablespoon of sea kelp (though I mix the sea kelp with alfalfa--so more accurately a half of a tablespoon of sea kelp) per day.