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What's in Royal Canin for dog struvite crystals and how does it work?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 11 months and 3 days old | 60 lbs

My dog has been diagnosed with a uti and struvite crystals. She did the antibiotics and is now on a royal canin multifunction & urinary hydrolyzed protein diet due to a chicken sensitivity. My question is what is the active ingredient in this diet? The ingredients seem to be mainly grain and fillers. I have read that the main thing to preventing crystals is lots of water and that grains can cause crystals. Why is the main ingredient rice? What does the food do to eliminate struvite crystals?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Veterinarian

Published on June 19th, 2017

There is no "active ingredient" per se in the Royal Canin Multifunction and Urinary Hydrolyzed Protein diet. Rather, the diet is developed in such a manner as to create an environment in which urinary stones are less likely to form. Specifically, struvite crystals will form in alkaline urine. The diet is designed to lower the pH of the urine so as to prevent the development of these crystals. They do this primarily by eliminating purines (one of the amino acid building blocks of protein) through hydrolyzing the proteins (breaking them down into amino acids). An additional benefit of hydrolyzing the proteins is that they are much easier to digest and are hypoallergenic.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Sarah Derksen, DVM
Veterinarian
Hi. The main ingredient is not rice, the grain isn't ever the main ingredient. In addition, sounds like she has 2 problems that diets can help, but not together. I would recommend calling the number on the bag, I am assuming it's science diet or royal canin, and ask to speak to a veterinarian or technician to ask about the best diet that would be able to help both conditions in 1 food. Good luck.
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 10th, 2018
The best way to prevent further crystals and potential stones in your dog is to keep her in the Royal Canin diet your veterinarain has prescribed. This is a specific medically formulated diet for dogs that are prone to crystal and stone formation. Think of it as a medication to help prevent further problems. There has been extensive research in to this diet to assure that is it complete and balanced.

I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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