Molly, 13 yr, shih tzu - lhasa aspo - Molly has passed

So my independent pet store carries Fromm's, so she gave me 5 different samples to try with molly. I had to stop by to pick up the teddy treats, which you'd think the world has ended because I ran out and hadn't gone to get more. Hubs and Molly always share one when he comes home from work. They've been substituting others, but this morning he said, are you going to go pick up more of the teddy bear treats. LOL They are peanut butter, very thin and easy to break and molly sits on his lap and high fives him to get each treat. If he is too slow in breaking on off she bumps his hand with her nose to tell him to get a move on buster. hahahah I love to watch this daily ritual.

I'd love to have her on something better than the SO, just have to figure out how to get her to drink enough water without it and keep the crystals at bay. I think Glynda mentioned adding potassium to her food, can I just sprinkle that on the food and if so how much? I remember when she told me a few years ago, I couldn't just buy it, but I think they have it now on amazon.ca so I can order some.

It's cool and rainy here today. Molly is in nap mode for the most part with periods where she wakes up, plays hard, and then looks outside and goes back to curl up in the blanket. It's really kind of funny.


hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin

Sharlene:
Tipper eats Fromm now too. I have to stock up when I go to Pittsburgh as the shipping on Amazon for this is unreal. I can tell you from experience with potassium, it is horrible tasting and I would have periodic blood work as too much in your system is not good. Molly is a real character. Blessings
Patti

Does Molly have struvite or oxalate stones? My Bear took potassium citrate for the prevention of formation of oxalate stones.

I thought at first it was struvite, but then I thought I saw something that said oxalate. I'll clarify for sure with her vet. I tried to look back on my thread as I remember this being recommended early in my journey here, then last year when I found out I could get the citrate. I must have been thinking they were oxalate stones. I was a bit concerned about calcium that seems to be in all dry dog foods. I am not going to change her off anything or even try the samples until after she has her next UPC in mid/end may. She will be on the SO dry and wet until that is over with as I don't want any food differences to change the results. I wouldn't know what was causing what.

Lori how do you give the potassium citrate? If I go down this path.

This is all thought process at the moment. She hasn't had any more crystals since I switched her to the SO but we know she has those small kidney stones now.
Her ph is 7.0 so that should be where we want her right?

So many things, man it sure can be confusing. From what I had red, high ph, contributes to struvite crystals, low ph contributes to oxalate crystals?

hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin

Sharlene:
My citrate was in long tablets. They are not bad, but once had potassium that you dissolved in water, it was so bad it made me through up! If you email Fromm and ask for samples they will tell you they have none and send you a 10.00 certificate to buy some. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patti,
I have 5 different types of Fromm food samples, from the pet store. She is an independent and said she gets some in every week or two. There is a new one out that people are raving over she said and she can't keep it on the shelf. It is a hypoallergenic food from Fromm's. She said if she gets a sample of that in, then she'll save one back for me. I do love the independent stores, so much better than the chains. The service is exceptional. I stopped in the big PetSmart chain this morning since it was next door to another store I was in, to see if they happen to have my treat and they didn't. Then stopped by my independent and she had 2 different flavors. She'll usually try to order something in if you want to try something new and then she regularly stocks the stuff that she knows moves well that people want over the years. She also does cat rescue, so I spend at least a good 30 minutes or more playing with the cats that roam the store. (dogs are welcome to come in but she said she'd be in big trouble if she starting doing the dog rescue as she keeps any that don't get adopted right away, they NEVER end up back on the streets for any reason) I like her. Hubs says she's 3 sheets close to crazy, but he likes her too. ROFL! Anyway, I support my local independent mom and pop or just mom and kids, whatever the case may be stores. I'm sad we have no more independent book stores near us any more, just can find them now basically down town.

hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin

pH of 7 is good, I don't think she would need potassium citrate at that level. You do not want to make her urine to alkaline as that could cause other problems. Best thing would be to keep her hydrated as you do. Avoid supplements with too much calcium, vit c also. I am pretty sure Molly does not eat too much oxalates, or salt that is more a human problem!

Calcium and oxalate are what oxalate stones are made of. The potassium citrate attaches to the calcium as to hinder oxalate formation.

It also acts by alkalinising urine, if the urine is already at a good pH which Molly's is then there is little benefit. If you make urine too alkaline as other types of stones can form. I am not so up with the play on stones in dogs, but I know in humans we very rarely use this, sometimes in recurrent stone formers. We have found GI issues with it. Often in humans we look at calcium, citrate levels in blood and urine and other metabolic problems that can cause stones.

Love the picture in my mind of Molly sitting with your husband doing the high five for her peanut butter teddy treats!! I'm sure it's even cuter in person than in my head!! :p

Barbara