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All About CD Dog Food

All About CD Dog Food

Every pet parent’s nightmare is learning that their adorable animal friend is suffering from a medical condition of sorts.

If wishes were horses, all dogs and cats would live rich long lives—free from any kind of infirmity.

Well, in the real world, things are different. No matter the care you afford your pet, sometimes he just gets sick.

Knowing what to do to keep the condition at bay or treat it when it strikes can make the world of a difference in the health of your dog.

Bladder stones are pretty common in dogs and affect pups of all ages and breeds.

Also called cystic calculi or uroliths, bladder stones are rock-like mineral formations that form in a dog’s urinary bladder.

Not only are they painful but they trigger deadlier medical conditions that affect the health of your dog in more ways than one.

There are several ways of preventing and treating canine urinary tract stones.

One of the effective and safe strategies is using specialized diets to dissolve the stones and stop them from recurring.

C/d dog food is one such diet. If you have considered using it for your doggie to take care of the bladder stone issue in your pup, here’s everything you need to know about it.

What Is CD Dog Food?

c/d dog food (or CD dog food) is a canine product line consisting of two distinct types of dry foods specifically formulated to prevent and treat urinary tract stones in dogs.

Each recipe contains low magnesium, vitamin D, and calcium levels and more properties that reduce struvite in urine.

Bladder stones are simply a collection of toxic crystals that mix up in a dog’s urinary tract.

Consequently, they cause a great deal of pain and discomfort and trigger bigger issues that require medical help.

c/d dry foods are specially formulated by Hill’s nutritionists and vets to reduce the effect of the crystals on the dog’s health.

The ingredients included in the food treat stones caused by struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.

They help control the levels of these toxic minerals thus keeping bladder stones at bay.

The recipes are also enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids to support the general health of your dog’s urinary tract.

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CD vs SD Dog Foods/Diets

c/d and s/d special diets are both used to prevent and treat bladder stones in pets.

Each has a different formulation.

c/d foods are formulated to reduce the recurrence of both calcium oxalate and struvite crystals while s/d foods mainly target struvite crystals only.

According to Hills Pet Nutrition, the manufacturer of both diets, s/d food dissolves struvite stones within six days or less of use.

It does this by increasing the solubility of struvite crystals, thereby minimizing the concentration of struvite building blocks.

So, if your dog is suffering from bladder stones brought about by both calcium oxalate and struvite crystals, your best bet is to feed it c/d dog food.

Else, if she only has struvite stones, s/d food is the best option.

How Does CD Dog Food Work?

To understand the workings of c/d foods, a little illustration of bladder stones is necessary.

 Dogs and cats suffer from different kinds of bladder stones – specifically caused by different minerals.

The most common are struvite forms triggered by an elevated level of magnesium, phosphate, and ammonium.

Calcium oxalates are the second most common followed by urate and cysteine stones.

c/d dog diets specifically target bladder stones that come about as a result of the formation of calcium oxalate and struvite minerals in adult dogs.

The ingredients added in the recipes control the levels of sodium, calcium, and added potassium citrate.

If a dog already has bladder stones, the diets will work to dissolve struvite stones and minimize the risk of occurrence.

They will also lower the chance of formation and recurrence of stones from calcium oxalate origin.

For a dog that doesn’t have bladder stones, c/d food promotes a urinary space that minimizes the risk of forming calcium oxalate crystals.

Finally, it also helps lower the building blocks of urinary tract stones.

Does CD dog food dissolve stones?

c/d dog diets control the mineral content in a dog’s urine and create moderately acidic urine.

The goal is to maintain the standard pH of urine, dissolve struvite, and lower the risk of reoccurrence.

So, technically, these special diets dissolve bladder stones if a dog already suffers from them.

 c/d diets are predominantly made to dissolve struvite stones and at the same time prevent the recurrence or formation of calcium oxalate stones.

There’s no data that points to them dissolving calcium oxalate minerals.

Rather, they create a harsh environment in your dog’s system that discourages the formation and recurrence of the said crystals.

How long does CD dog food take to work?

The official Hillspet website doesn’t give any information regarding how long it takes for the c/d food to work.

The only thing the manufacturer says is to transition to giving your dog this new recipe for 7 or more days. This helps to avoid a tummy upset.

Your vet should let you know when the diet has worked its magic.

For most dog parents, c/d dog food is the long-term management of bladder stones.

 It is used for healthy and sick dogs and those that are recuperating from the condition.

That means it could very well be used for the lifetime of the dog – perhaps along with other foods.

Potential Side Effects

CD dog food is prepared using the AAFCO nutrient profile to make it wholesome and safe.

However, it is not meant for pregnant, nursing, and young dogs and may affect the health and well-being of these groups in one way or another.

It can also trigger pancreatitis in patients with a history or at risk of the disease.

Have There Been Recalls of Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s c/d Dog Diet?

Sadly yes. In January 2019, the pet brand voluntarily offered a list of select canned dog diets that had been recalled due to considerably high levels of vitamin D.

 In total, the brand listed 33 canned food recalls, one of which was Hill’s Prescription Diet C/D Multi-care Canine Chicken and Vegetable Stew 12.5oz.

Vitamin D is essential for the health of a dog. However, when it is in excess, it can trigger kidney failure and may even result in death.

Symptoms of excessive vitamin D include loss of appetite, vomiting, urge to drink more and urinate more, drooling, and weight loss.

CD Dog Food Alternatives

CD dog food is not the only method of treating and preventing bladder stones in dogs. Others include the following:

I. Holistic Formulas

If your dog has already gone through the removal of balder stones (either surgically or through dietary strategies), you can choose another natural wellness formula that prevents reoccurrence.

Any foods with ingredients such as cranberry extract can help moderate the pH in your doggie’s bladder thus fighting infections.

Cranberry extracts come in supplements as well. Other great ingredients include essential fatty acids, probiotics, and glucosaminoglycans.

II. Homemade Diets

Homemade dog food diets are free from fluff found in commercial dog diets.

When you make your own recipes, you can control what goes in each one.

As a result, you will avoid toxic stuff such as fillers, colors, preservatives, and phosphorous.

As long as you prepare moisture-rich diets with the necessary nutrients that combat bladder stone minerals, your dog will be great.

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III. Specialized Diets From Other Brands

Hill’s Pet Nutrition isn’t the only player when it comes to selling dog food used to treat and prevent canine bladder stones.

Other brands are in the market, too, claiming to have the same kinds of products.

Check these out too and give some a try.

Parting Thoughts

CD dog food includes ingredients that dissolve certain forms of bladder stones in dogs.

Not only can you utilize it to treat the condition but it can also prevent it from happening or lower the risk of recurrence.

As usual, talk to your vet before administering anything to your pup.

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