What are struvite bladder stones?
Bladder stones are hard mineral deposits that form inside a dog's bladder, and struvite is one of the most common types in dogs. Struvite stones are made of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. They usually form when the urine is too alkaline and contains too much of these minerals — often after a urinary tract infection. A small stone may cause no trouble, but larger stones can irritate the bladder wall, block urine flow, and cause a great deal of discomfort.
Some breeds are more prone to struvite stones, including Miniature Schnauzers, Shih Tzus, and Bichon Frises, and females are affected more often than males. But any dog can develop them, and once a dog has had struvite stones, they are more likely to form again — which is why diet and follow-up care matter long after the first episode.
Signs your dog may have bladder stones
Bladder stones are easy to confuse with a urinary infection, because the signs overlap. Watch for:
- Straining or crying while urinating, or taking a long time to pass urine
- Needing to urinate much more often, but passing only small amounts
- Blood in the urine, or cloudy, strong-smelling urine
- Accidents in the house in a dog that is normally housetrained
- Licking the genital area more than usual
- Loss of appetite, vomiting, or tiredness if the blockage is severe
A blocked bladder is an emergency, especially in male dogs — if your dog cannot pass urine at all, see a vet immediately. Otherwise, a urine test, an X-ray, or an ultrasound will confirm whether stones are present.
How diet is used to help support dogs with struvite stones
For struvite stones, diet plays two roles. First, a struvite diet is formulated to help support a urinary environment that is less favourable to struvite crystal formation, mainly by helping to keep the urine slightly acidic and by controlling the levels of magnesium and phosphorus in the food. Second, it encourages a healthy urine volume, so minerals are more diluted and less likely to settle into crystals.
Your vet will decide whether diet alone is suitable, or whether the stones need to be removed first and the diet used afterwards to help support long-term urinary health. Either way, it is a prescription diet: feed it only on veterinary advice, and consistently for months. A short trial, or mixing it with ordinary food, will not give the same result.
How Vet Life Struvite is formulated to help support your dog
Farmina Vet Life Struvite Canine Formula Adult Dog Dry Food is a veterinary diet formulated to help support urinary health in adult dogs prone to struvite stones. It is made with controlled levels of magnesium and phosphorus, and it is formulated to help support a healthy urine pH, so the urinary environment is less favourable to struvite crystal formation. It is a complete and balanced diet when fed as directed, so it can be your dog's everyday food for as long as your vet recommends it.
It is available in 2kg and 12kg packs, as well as 2x2kg and 3x2kg multi-packs, so you can choose the size that fits your dog and your home. Because this is a prescription diet, start it only after your vet recommends it, and ask your vet how long to continue it — for many dogs, the diet is a long-term part of urinary care.
Feeding and daily care tips
- Feed only on veterinary advice: Start Vet Life Struvite only after your vet recommends it, and follow the feeding guide for your dog's weight.
- Keep water available at all times: Good hydration helps dilute the urine. Change the water daily, and consider an extra bowl in another room.
- Feed it consistently: Do not mix it with ordinary food or treats unless your vet approves — extras can change the urine chemistry the diet supports.
- Give regular toilet breaks: Let your dog urinate often, and do not make them hold it for long periods.
- Keep follow-up appointments: Your vet will re-check the urine and, if needed, repeat imaging to confirm the stones are not returning.
- Note any changes: Track how often your dog urinates, and tell your vet about blood, straining, or accidents.
When to talk to your vet
See your vet promptly if your dog strains to urinate, passes blood, or cannot urinate at all — a blocked bladder needs urgent care. Keep up with re-checks afterwards, because stones can return if the diet is stopped too soon.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not veterinary advice. Prescription diets should only be used under veterinary supervision. Always consult your vet before changing your dog's diet.
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