For the nutritional management of dogs with urinary tract disease. Urinary tract disease in dogs is often caused by the formation of mineral-based crystals and stones in the urinary tract that can cause discomfort, bloody urine and even life-threatening obstruction. For dogs, struvite crystals generally cause urinary tract disease. Hills Prescription Diet s/d has been formulated by veterinarians to help resolve struvite crystals and stones in your dog. Struvite forms as a result of urine that’s saturated with protein, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium combined with an improper urine pH. Indications: - Struvite uroliths (dissolution). Not recommended for: - Cats. - Puppies. - Pregnant or lactating bitches. - First 1-2 weeks after surgery. - Dogs concurrently receiving urinary acidifiers. - Feeding for longer than 6 months, without monitoring plasma protein and acid-base status (because of low protein content and urine acidifying properties). - Dogs with non-struvite uroliths. - Dogs with heart failure, hypertension, kidney disease or liver disease. - Dogs with hyperlipidaemia or pancreatitis, or at risk of pancreatitis. Dogs with the following risk factors for pancreatitis may not be candidates for dietary management with Canine s/d. They should be thoroughly evaluated before feeding Canine s/d, and if fed Canine s/d they should have regular monthly health checks during the feeding period. – Hyperlipidaemia (a principal risk factor). – History of pancreatitis. – Age above 7 years old. – Obesity. – History of consuming high fat food – Concurrent disease, e.g. hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus. – Administration of certain drugs, e.g. corticosteroids. Also: - The risk is higher in females than in males, and in neutered animals compared to entire animals. - Certain breeds appear predisposed to pancreatitis, e.g. Miniature Schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Spaniel, Maltese breeds, Miniature Poodle and Lhasa Apso. Additional information: - The transition to feeding Canine s/d should ideally take a period of four days. - Monitor the urine and control urinary tract infection throughout dissolution. Urinary pH will increase if infection with urease-producing bacteria is not eliminated. Urinary pH must be continuously acidic for successful dissolution. - Dogs fed foods with a restricted protein content commonly exhibit unusual laboratory values, e.g. it is not uncommon to find a urinary specific gravity below 1.020 and a plasma /serum urea value less than 1.7 mmol/l (10mg/dl) Other products to consider - After successful dissolution (or surgical removal) of struvite uroliths: feed Hills Prescription Diet Canine c/d (or Hills Prescription Diet Canine w/d if prone to being overweight) long term to prevent recurrence of struvite urolithiasis. - To control non-struvite uroliths: Hills Prescription Diet Canine u/d.