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Sally is a four-month-old Labrador puppy. Urinalysis revealed struvite crystals.

In puppies, it is important not to look at the diet alone. Struvite formation in dogs is quite often the consequence of a bacterial urinary tract infection. Targeted investigation of a possible infection should therefore always be part of the approach. If an infection is present, it must of course be treated adequately.

But after that, a nutritional dilemma often arises.

Various struvite diets are available for adult dogs, but there are no specific struvite diets for puppies. Many adult diets also contain less protein, calcium and phosphorus than a growing puppy needs. The targeted acidification may also be stronger than is desirable during skeletal development.

Sally could therefore not simply be switched entirely to a standard struvite diet.

With FeedWise, a combination was calculated of:

🔹 Pro Plan Large Robust Puppy
🔹 Pro Plan UR Urinary

This looked not only at the ratio between the two diets, but at the total daily intake of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium.

The combination provided enough calcium and phosphorus to support growth, without unnecessarily high levels. At the same time, the estimated urine pH came out at around 6.4, appropriate for reducing the risk of new struvite formation.

The energy supply was also tuned to Sally’s age, current weight, expected adult weight and growth curve. That is essential: a nutritionally suitable diet has little value if the puppy grows insufficiently or takes in too few nutrients because of a too-low energy intake.

💧 In addition, water management received explicit attention:

• soaking the food with extra lukewarm water;
• using wet or meat-based food where appropriate;
• dividing the daily amount over several meals;
• always offering unlimited fresh drinking water.

Struvite in a puppy therefore requires more than simply prescribing an adult struvite diet. It requires investigating the cause plus an individual nutrition plan in which urinary health, nutrient supply, energy requirement and growth are assessed together.

Want to calculate diet combinations for special patients too? Request a no-obligation one-month trial subscription via www.feedwise.nl.