If you own a spotty dog and you are reading this blog, you know how the story goes. Owner gets a Dalmatian, owner doesn’t understand health issues, owner is faced with the worst. Sooner or later you find out that a Dalmatian’s diet is very important and crucial.
Dalmatian’s Diet, A History
I was blessed to bring a Dalmatian into my pack in 2017. I knew all the potential health problems too. The deafness and bladder stones. I just did not think it would ever affect my dog. In 2018, my Dalmatian had his first episode of bladder stones. Luckily it was cleared up with a simple flushing out of his bladder. Then in 2019, they came back and he needed two surgeries to clear up all the stones in his bladder and urethra.
History lesson time, Dalmatians have an abnormality where they cannot metabolise the uric acid in their bladders. Because of this, urate crystals or stones can form. More on urate stones here! This happens from a diet high in purines. Dalmatians are very sensitive to high purine levels so it is important to regulate what they eat. Below is a chart I found useful in determining what purine level most foods have.
Food and Water
Before we get into food, there is something more important. Water. Dalmatians need access to water 24/7. The more water they have flushing through their system, they are less likely to form crystals in their bladder. Make sure you have water out all the time, always full. Some Dal owners even suggest filtered water so there is no extra stuff in there. Just water!
Back to food. When it comes to a main meal source, I have found these dry dog foods that contain low purines, perfect for Dalmatian’s diet.
Royal Canin Dalmatian was specifically made for the breed. It’s main protein sources are brewer’s wheat, chicken, and eggs. The kibbles were also scientifically designed for the Dalmatian muzzle and teeth structure. The feeding instructions even cater to energy level for how much to feed your Dal.
Blue Buffalo is a great holistic but cost effective Dalmatian food. The main ingredients are deboned chicken, which means you aren’t getting the non-nutritious parts. It also lacks corn and by-products which is a win for any dog!
TLC Pet Food is another great Dalmatian friendly kibble. The main proteins are Lamb and Chicken, which are low in purines. The website also has a calculator on it to help determine how much to feed your dog! This company also delivers and has an auto-ship feature! They also have great treats!
Doggie Snacks
Speaking of treats! I always say that the best treats are the easy treats. Fruits and vegetables! Dalmatians love carrots, green beans, strawberries, bananas. All low in purines and so good for your Dalmatian’s diet. If you want to buy commercial treats, I have created a list of my favorite Dalmatian safe treats.
As a small business owner myself, I will always give a shout out to the small business men and women! This Etsy Shop is owned and operated by a woman with a beautiful Dalmatian who makes all her treats homemade and low in purines. When Gryffin went through his surgeries, Devon’s mom and I spoke for hours on her and my journeys as Dalmatian owners and about all her products. Gryffin has tasted several and gives the shop a 10/10.
More Than A Dalmatian’s Diet: The Medical Side of Things
When it comes to the medical side of a stone forming Dalmatian, always ask your Veterinarian. You can use them as a resource for what steps you can take to fix a current problem or be proactive to prevent stones.
Medications and Food
When Dalmatians first form stones, usually the first step is to switch to a medicated diet. That would be the Royal Canin Dalmatian or Hill’s UD. For any medicated diet, if you use Chewy.com you can have the food on auto-ship so you never have to worry about forgetting to order food again. It even comes with a discount when you set it up.
If that does not fix the problem or the problem is severe, the Veterinarian may recommend Allopurinol. This medication reduces the levels of uric acid in the dog’s system which helps prevent the formation of crystals and stones. This can also be set up on Chewy.com just like the medicated food.
Veterinary Visits
A great preventative that can be helpful is getting a urinalysis done of your Dalmatian’s urine every 6 or 12 months. This way the Veterinarian can see if crystals are forming. This shouldn’t be too expensive either because most Veterinarians will allow you to collect it yourself and drop it off to be tested.
Lastly, as a preventative you can set your Dalmatian up with yearly ultrasounds. Because of the composition of urate stones, they do not show up on an x-ray. So the only way to determine if there are stones forming is by ultrasound. A yearly ultrasound can show the Veterinarian if there is anything forming in the kidneys, bladder, or urethra.
Prevention is the best thing you can do as a Dalmatian owner. Stick to Dal safe food, treats, and provide lots of water. If any of you Dalmatian owners have any other suggestions or tips please feel free to comment or reach out with them! Gryffin would love to hear from you!
