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Dalmatian dogs have a predisposition to urate urolithiasis due to a metabolic defect inherent in this breed. It has been suggested that feeding low-protein diets can reduce the risk of producing urate calculi in these dogs, but caution must be exercise d to ensure that adequate nutrient requirements are met. This paper discusses the results of a recent feeding trial in which Dalmatian dogs were fed one of four commercial diets, or an anti-uric acid (vegetarian) diet, or an all-meat diet. The crude protein content of these diets ranged from 9.5% to 62.5% in dry matter. Dalmatian dogs produced significantly lower amounts of precipitates in their urine when fed low-protein diets than when they were fed premium high-protein diets or meat. A commercial dry dog food with a crude protein content of 15% was found to be the most effective at reducing urinary precipitates, and equally effective as the special anti-uric acid diet. The effects of time and frequency of feeding were also found to be significant factors in the formation of urinary precipitates in Dalmatian dogs. Dogs produced the lowest levels of urinary precipitates when they were fed a single meal offered late in the day. |
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