Top 10 Best Dog Food for pH Balance
Choosing the best food for our beloved dogs can sometimes feel like mission impossible. Whether you go for grain-free, limited-ingredient, freeze-dried, or canned, the options are endless. If your dog had had urinary tract infections, or UTIs, in the past, then the choice of food is even more important.
Certain dog foods can exacerbate the conditions needed for a UTI to form, by containing high levels of minerals that can form crystals and stones in your dog’s urine. To prevent this, choosing a dog food that’s designed to promote the optimum pH balance of your dog’s urine is key. But where do you start?
Finding the best dog food to promote a healthy pH balance can be a challenge, but our detailed reviews are designed to help you figure out which one will be the best choice for your dog.
The 10 Best Dog Foods for pH Balance
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Dog Food — Best Value
If you’re looking for the best dog food for pH balance for the money, then we recommend the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Dog Food. The high moisture content is designed to help increase the amount of water that your pup gets in their diet, helping to reduce the likelihood of urinary stones forming.
This formula is also formulated to help dissolve any existing struvite stones, as well as stop new stones or crystals from forming. You will need a veterinary authorization to purchase this canned dog food, but that’s as simple as adding your vet’s contact details to your order if you shop with Chewy, and they’ll take care of everything else!
- Contains meat by-products
- Requires vet authorization
- Chicken as the first ingredient
- Contains 7.5% protein
- Contains 78% moisture
- Great value for money
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Dog Food — Best Overall
Our choice for the best dog food overall to help your pup maintain a healthy pH balance is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Canned Dog Food. This has been specifically developed to provide balanced nutrition for dogs that have had urinary tract and bladder problems. It does this by containing a high percentage of moisture to help dilute your dog’s urine, which in turn, helps dilute the minerals that cause crystals and stones to form.
It also uses Relative Super Saturation technology to reduce the concentration of ions in your dog’s urine, making it less likely that crystals will form. This food does require vet authorization, but this is simple to arrange, and if you choose to buy online from Chewy, they can fulfill your order if you send them your vet’s contact details.
- Requires vet authorization
- Contains meat by-products
- Help dilute excess minerals
- Specifically formulated for dogs with urine issues
- Contains 5.6% protein
- Contains 73.5% moisture
- Contains real chicken liver
Canine Caviar Limited Ingredient Dog Food — Premium Choice
As our Premium Choice, we selected the Canine Caviar Limited Ingredient Dog Food. This dry dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition for dogs of all ages. It also uses a limited-ingredient list, which is a big plus if your pup suffers from allergies and you need to keep a close eye on the foods they eat.
This contains alfalfa, which is designed to raise the pH level of your dog’s system into an alkaline range. It also includes a carefully curated blend of other ingredients, including flaxseeds and coconut oil. It is quite high in calories, at 599 kcal/cup, so it may not be the best choice for a dog that needs to lose weight!
- Expensive
- At 599 kcal/cup, it’s not suitable for dogs on a diet
- Contains 27% protein
- Contains 8% moisture
- Includes probiotics
Solid Gold Berry Balance Urinary Tract Health Chews
If your dog suffers from frequent urinary tract infections, it could have something to do with the pH of his urine. Dogs that have chronically high pH are more prone to urinary tract infections, but UTIs can also cause your dog’s pH to change.
Fortunately, it is simple to start lowering your dog’s pH to prevent urinary tract infections with these Solid Gold Supplements Berry Balance Urinary Tract Health Soft Chews.
These chews support healthy bladder function and urinary tract health because they feature key ingredients like cranberry and blueberry extracts.
They work to promote healthy urine pH while also bolstering the urinary tract’s natural defenses. These supplements have a soft texture and delicious flavor, so your dog will think he is eating treats instead of something that’s good for him.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Urinary Care Original Dry Dog Food
The Hill’s Prescription Diet Urinary Care Original Dry Dog Food contains high levels of protein for active dogs but has lower levels of calcium and sodium than many other dog foods. It’s these excess minerals that can crystallize in your dog’s urine, causing urinary tract and bladder problems.
As well as encouraging a healthy pH level for your pup’s urine, this dry food contains antioxidants to help their immune system function at its best. If your dog is a smaller breed, they may struggle with the size of this kibble, as it’s quite large. The only meat source that we can see on the ingredients list is pork fat. We’d prefer to see a protein source, like real meat, used as one of the first ingredients instead.
- Pork fat is the only meat source
- Expensive
- Kibble size too large for smaller dogs
- Requires vet authorization
- Contains 12% protein
- Low sodium and calcium
- Promotes healthy urinary pH levels
Pioneer Woman Chicken CranApple Recipe Jerky Sticks
If you’ve decided to switch your dog to an alkaline diet, you’ll need to switch his treats as well. It makes no sense to feed your dog something that will raise his pH to the appropriate level for two meals a day but then feed him treats that will lower his pH back down into the acidic range.
Support your dog’s alkaline diet with these The Pioneer Woman Chicken CranApple Recipe Jerky Sticks. Inspired by Ree Drummond’s recipes, these jerky sticks are made with only simple, natural ingredients. These treats are made with a limited number of main ingredients to reduce the risk for triggering a negative reaction.
These treats also contain ingredients that promote healthy cognitive function and neurological health as well as strong immunity and a healthy heart. Plus, they are low in calories and free from fillers and artificial additives.
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet + Urinary Care Grain-Free Dog Food
The Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet + Urinary Care Grain Free Dog Food certainly ticks multiple boxes! If your dog needs a calorie-controlled diet, but you also need to take care of their urinary health, then this is a good choice. It’s also grain-free but includes healthy fiber from a blend of fruits and vegetables, which will help your dog feel fuller for longer.
The mineral levels within this wet food are carefully controlled, making sure that your dog’s urinary health is supported at all times. It also has a high moisture content of 78%, thanks to the addition of chicken broth. This moisture helps keep your dog hydrated and dilutes their urine to reduce the chances of crystals forming.
- Vet authorization required
- Not suitable for puppies
- Expensive
- Some dogs don’t like the flavor
- Contains 7.5% protein
- Contains 78% protein
- Real chicken as the first ingredient
Wysong Biotic PH Dog Food Supplement
If your dog struggles with struvite stones or high pH, this Wysong Biotic pH Dog Food Supplement might be just what you need.
This supplement is uniquely formulated for dogs to help generate and maintain an acidic urine pH to prevent struvite and triple phosphate crystal formation.
It works by restoring the nutrients that regulate metabolism to lower your dog’s urine pH which, in addition to dissolving existing stones, will help prevent the formation of new stones. This supplement comes in an easy-to-feed powder – simply sprinkle it over his dry food or stir it into wet food.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Canned Dog Food
If your dog is already suffering from urinary stones, you need a prescription diet that will help dissolve them. This Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Canned Dog Food is designed just for that purpose.
It is formulated to promote urinary tract health by making the environment unfavorable for developing struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. Plus, being rich in moisture, it helps dilute your dog’s urine to reduce the saturation of struvite crystals and calcium oxalate crystals.
This recipe features high protein and low carbohydrate levels with fresh chicken as the first ingredient. You’ll find rice as the main carbohydrate and one that is easy on your dog’s stomach. This recipe is also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet KS Kidney Support
Kidney stones can be just as unpleasant for dogs as bladder stones and they are linked to many of the same internal problems.
If you’re looking for a dog food that will help balance your dog’s pH to prevent kidney stones and other renal problems, consider this Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet KS Kidney Support Grain-Free Canned Food.
Formulated with controlled levels of protein as well as phosphorus and sodium, this recipe is designed to support kidney health and prevent kidney stones.
It is enhanced with antioxidants for whole body health, L-carnitine for cardiovascular support, and omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat as well.
It is made without grains, so you don’t have to worry about triggering a negative reaction, and it is a holistic, natural formula appropriate for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It does require a veterinary authorization to purchase, but it is a high-quality product.
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing The Best pH Balanced Dog Food
If your dog has suffered from a UTI in the past, then you’ll want to make sure to select a food that will help them get back to full health and minimize the chances of them developing a UTI again.
Luckily, there are plenty of options on the market to help you do just that. But what should you look for when choosing the best brand for your dog?
How does an alkaline diet help?
Dog foods designed to reset your pup’s body and urine pH to a more alkaline level are beneficial in more ways than just resetting the pH of their urine. Here are their main benefits:
- An alkaline pH helps your dog’s body absorb more oxygen into their bloodstream. This can then be used in cells all across their body to keep them functioning at their best.
- These increased oxygen levels lead to slower aging and increased muscle efficiency.
- An alkaline diet can help prevent the onset of chronic illnesses
- It closely matches the pH of what a dog would eat in the wild.
What is a urinary tract infection?
- The usual cause of a UTI is acidic urine, which can be caused by an imbalance of certain minerals in your dog’s diet or low pH dog foods. Dog’s bodies naturally have a pH level of around 7.0 to 7.4. This is pH neutral toward mildly alkaline. As a reminder, the pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 0 being strong acid and 14 being strong alkaline. 7 is considered neutral.
- Some dog foods contain high percentages of mineral salts that create acidic urine. These minerals then gather together to form crystals or stones. Small stones can be uncomfortable for your dog to pass out with their urine, but larger ones can cause a complete obstruction.
How are foods for pH balance different than regular dog food?
- Dog foods that help promote a more alkaline pH will include a blend of ingredients designed to achieve this goal. These include alfalfa, potatoes, organ meat, beans, and more.
- Unfortunately, some prescription diets designed to raise your dog’s pH levels don’t contain the best quality ingredients, sometimes using things like pork fat instead of real meat. But the trade-off is that they have been specifically formulated to treat certain conditions, like a UTI.
- Wet or canned foods will usually contain a higher moisture percentage than average. This is to help dilute your dog’s urine. You can also add water or broth to your dog’s kibble to achieve the same thing.
Speak to your veterinarian
- Not every dog needs a diet designed to increase the pH of their urine into a more alkaline range. In fact, some dogs require exactly the opposite and you may want acidic dog food for them! If your dog has struvite stones or kidney problems, then an alkaline diet won’t be the right choice for them.
- Before you consider placing your dog on a food that’s designed to balance their pH, make sure you consult your veterinarian. They may recommend a totally different diet than the one you were expecting. Four out of the five foods in our reviews list require veterinary authorization to purchase.
How to Purchase Veterinary Authorized Foods Online
- If after speaking to your vet, they decide to prescribe your dog a specialized diet, you can still buy this online! If you’re buying through Chewy, for example, they’ll simply ask you for your vet’s contact details as you’re purchasing your order. They’ll then confirm all the details with your vet before shipping. Super easy!
- If you have a copy of the authorization, you can email this to Chewy. You can also buy prescription dog foods from other online pet stores, but it’s best to check their requirements before you make your purchase. You can read more in our review of the best online places to buy food and supplies for your dog.
Final Thoughts
As the best overall dog food for pH balance, the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Canned Dog Food has been specifically formulated to help control the formation of crystals in your dog’s bladder. It’s available on prescription and is the perfect solution if you need a maintenance diet for your dog with UTI issues.
As the best value option, the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Dog Food has real chicken as the first ingredient, which contains a high moisture content to help keep your dog’s urine as diluted as possible. It helps reduce the likelihood of new stones forming, as well as the size of any existing stones or crystals.
Helping support your dog that’s prone to urinary infections through the correct diet is vital to help guarantee their ongoing health. Once you have a prescription from your vet, ordering and feeding any of the foods we’ve recommended is just as straightforward as doing so with their regular food. But you can rest easy knowing that the new food will help keep your pup active and happy
