Lower urinary tract issues can be a recurring concern for some dogs, making specialized nutrition a key component of their care. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary S/O is a veterinary-exclusive dry dog food formulated to support adult dogs' urinary tract and bladder health. This article delves into the ingredients, guaranteed analysis, features, and benefits of this diet, providing a comprehensive overview for pet owners and veterinary professionals.
Formulation and Purpose
Royal Canin Urinary S/O dog food is designed with a specific purpose: to nutritionally manage urinary health in adult dogs. This diet promotes a urinary environment unfavorable to the formation of both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals, two common types of urinary stones. Through its unique formulation, it aids in dissolving pure struvite stones and preventing their recurrence, while also addressing the risk of calcium oxalate stones. Talk to your veterinarian about keeping your dog on Royal Canin Urinary SO Dog Food for long-term urinary support.
Key Features and Benefits
The effectiveness of Royal Canin Urinary S/O stems from several key features:
- Struvite Dissolution: The formula helps dissolve pure struvite stones, addressing an existing problem and providing relief for affected dogs.
- Crystal Prevention: By creating an environment unfavorable to crystal formation, the diet helps prevent both struvite and calcium oxalate stones from developing.
- Increased Urine Production: It helps increase the amount of urine your dog produces to help dilute excess minerals that can cause crystals and stones.
- Relative Super Saturation (RSS) Methodology: Royal Canin urinary SO dog food uses RSS methodology to help lower the risk of crystal formation. This approach lowers ion concentration in the urine, reducing the building blocks for stone formation.
- S/O Index: The exclusive S/O Index creates an environment unfavorable to crystal formation in the bladder, further supporting urinary health.
Comprehensive Ingredient Analysis
A detailed look at the ingredients reveals the nutritional strategy behind Royal Canin Urinary S/O.
First Formula Ingredients:
- Brewers rice: A digestible carbohydrate source.
- Corn: Another source of carbohydrates.
- Chicken fat: Provides essential fatty acids and enhances palatability.
- Chicken by-product meal: A concentrated source of protein and minerals.
- Brewers rice flour: A fine flour derived from brewers rice.
- Corn gluten meal: A protein-rich ingredient derived from corn.
- Natural flavors: Enhances the taste of the food.
- Salt: Provides sodium, an essential electrolyte.
- Powdered cellulose: A source of insoluble fiber.
- Potassium chloride: An electrolyte source.
- Vegetable oil: Provides essential fatty acids.
- Calcium sulfate: A source of calcium and sulfur.
- Fish oil: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA.
- Monocalcium phosphate: A source of calcium and phosphorus.
- DL-methionine: An essential amino acid that helps acidify urine.
- Fructooligosaccharides: A prebiotic fiber that supports gut health.
- L-lysine: An essential amino acid.
- Choline chloride: An essential nutrient for nerve function.
- Taurine: An amino acid important for heart health.
- Vitamins: A blend of essential vitamins, including DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, and folic acid.
- Trace minerals: A blend of essential minerals, including zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, and copper proteinate.
- Marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.): A source of lutein, an antioxidant.
- L-tryptophan: An amino acid.
- Rosemary extract: A natural preservative.
- Preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid: Natural preservatives.
Second Formula Ingredients:
- Chicken by-product meal: A concentrated source of protein and minerals.
- Pea fiber: A source of insoluble fiber
- Corn gluten meal: A protein-rich ingredient derived from corn.
- Wheat gluten: Another source of protein.
- Powdered cellulose: A source of insoluble fiber.
- Tapioca: A carbohydrate source.
- Wheat: A source of carbohydrates.
- Corn: Another source of carbohydrates.
- Dried chicory root: A source of prebiotic fiber.
- Natural flavors: Enhances the taste of the food.
- Chicken fat: Provides essential fatty acids and enhances palatability.
- Salt: Provides sodium, an essential electrolyte.
- Fish oil: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Psyllium seed husk: A source of soluble fiber.
- Potassium chloride: An electrolyte source.
- Monocalcium phosphate: A source of calcium and phosphorus.
- Vegetable oil: Provides essential fatty acids.
- DL-methionine: An essential amino acid that helps acidify urine.
- L-lysine: An essential amino acid.
- Fructooligosaccharides: A prebiotic fiber that supports gut health.
- Choline chloride: An essential nutrient for nerve function.
- Calcium sulfate: A source of calcium and sulfur.
- Vitamins: A blend of essential vitamins, including DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), niacin supplement, biotin, riboflavin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A acetate, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement.
- Taurine: An amino acid important for heart health.
- N-butyric acid: A short-chain fatty acid.
- Calcium carbonate: A source of calcium.
- Glucosamine hydrochloride: Supports joint health.
- Marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.): A source of lutein, an antioxidant.
- Trace minerals: A blend of essential minerals, including zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, and copper proteinate.
- L-carnitine: Supports fat metabolism.
- Chondroitin sulfate: Supports joint health.
- Rosemary extract: A natural preservative.
- Preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid: Natural preservatives.
Third Formula Ingredients:
- Brewers rice: A digestible carbohydrate source.
- Corn: Another source of carbohydrates.
- Chicken fat: Provides essential fatty acids and enhances palatability.
- Corn gluten meal: A protein-rich ingredient derived from corn.
- Chicken by-product meal: A concentrated source of protein and minerals.
- Brewers rice flour: A fine flour derived from brewers rice.
- Natural flavors: Enhances the taste of the food.
- Potassium chloride: An electrolyte source.
- Egg product: A source of protein and other nutrients.
- Wheat gluten: Another source of protein.
- Fish oil: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA.
- Powdered cellulose: A source of insoluble fiber.
- Calcium sulfate: A source of calcium and sulfur.
- Vegetable oil: Provides essential fatty acids.
- Dried tomato pomace: A source of fiber and antioxidants.
- L-arginine: An amino acid.
- Sodium bisulfate: Helps acidify urine.
- DL-methionine: An essential amino acid that helps acidify urine.
- L-tyrosine: An amino acid.
- Monocalcium phosphate: A source of calcium and phosphorus.
- Fructooligosaccharides: A prebiotic fiber that supports gut health.
- Sodium tripolyphosphate: Helps prevent tartar buildup on teeth.
- Taurine: An amino acid important for heart health.
- Choline chloride: An essential nutrient for nerve function.
- L-tryptophan: An amino acid.
- Salt: Provides sodium, an essential electrolyte.
- Lecithin: A phospholipid that supports cell membrane health.
- Trace minerals: A blend of essential minerals, including zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, and copper proteinate.
- Vitamins: A blend of essential vitamins, including DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, and folic acid.
- L-carnitine: Supports fat metabolism.
- Glucosamine hydrochloride: Supports joint health.
- Marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.): A source of lutein, an antioxidant.
- Chondroitin sulfate: Supports joint health.
- Carotene: A precursor to vitamin A.
- Rosemary extract: A natural preservative.
- Preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid: Natural preservatives.
Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis provides a breakdown of the nutrient content:
Read also: Intestinal Health with Royal Canin
First Formula Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein (min.): 17.0%
- Crude Fat (min.): 15.0%
- Crude Fiber (max.): 3.7%
- Moisture (max.): 10.0%
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) (min.): 0.08%
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min.): 0.05%
- Calcium (max.): 0.75%
- Phosphorus (max.): 0.7%
- Magnesium (max.): 0.08%
- Vitamin E (min.): 350 IU/kg
- Lutein* (min.): 5 mg/kg
Second Formula Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein (min.): 28.0%
- Crude Fat (min.): 7.5%
- Crude Fiber (max.): 16.7%
- Moisture (max.): 10.0%
- Calcium (max.): 1.1%
- Phosphorus (max.): 0.98%
- Magnesium (max.): 0.13%
- Glucosamine* (min.): 746 mg/kg
- Chondroitin sulfate* (min.): 4 mg/kg
Third Formula Guaranteed analysis:
- Crude Protein (min.): 18.0%
- Crude Fat (min.): 15.0%
- Crude Fiber (max.): 3.7%
- Moisture (max.): 10.0%
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) (min.): 0.15%
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min.): 0.09%
- Calcium (max.): 0.84%
- Phosphorus (max.): 0.78%
- Sodium (max.): 0.53%
- Magnesium (max.): 0.08%
- Vitamin E (min.): 350 IU/kg
- Lutein* (min.): 5 mg/kg
- Glucosamine* (min.): 743 mg/kg
- Chondroitin sulfate* (min.): 8 mg/kg
This analysis confirms the diet's controlled levels of key minerals like magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, which are crucial for managing urinary stone formation. The inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) supports overall health, while antioxidants like lutein contribute to immune function.
Additional Considerations
- Royal Canin(R) Urinary SO is a veterinary-exclusive dog food dry formula developed to nutritionally support your adult dog's urinary tract and bladder health.
- Lower urinary tract issues may be a recurring concern for some dogs.
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