The Best Urinary Care Dog Food: Reviewed and Ranked

While your dog’s urinary health isn’t the most glamorous topic, it’s still one that deserves your attention. Unresolved urinary tract issues like kidney stones or UTI’s can be painful and even dangerous for your precious pooch. Unfortunately, certain breeds are prone to developing bladder stones while older dogs also face a higher risk, as do females according to the American Kennel Club. 

The best dog food for urinary care will provide precisely balanced minerals, protein levels, and moisture. With these guidelines in place, we’ve rounded up a list of products that will keep your pet’s urinary tract working efficiently. To find our results, we evaluated all foods for moisture level, palatability, quality of ingredients, and affordability. There are top picks in terms of overall, weight management, small breed options, senior-aged dogs, wet food options and one with a limited ingredient list.

So, what is the best urinary care dog food? Read on to find out!

The Top Picks for the Best Urinary Care Dog Food

#1 Best Overall: Hill’s Prescription Diet Urinary Care Dog Food

Our selection as the best overall dog food for urinary care is ill’s Prescription Diet Urinary Care Dog Food.

Hill’s Prescription Diet supports your dog’s bladder and urinary health with a well-balanced formula that won’t overload their system with stone-causing minerals. Developed by nutritionists and veterinarians, it helps dissolve struvite and calcium oxalate stones while preventing new ones from forming. This food also contains precise levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to provide the maximum health benefits.

This unique food is also enriched with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, potassium citrate, and omega-3 fatty acids to promote a healthy immune system. It also has a low sodium content and balanced fat levels to help maintain an optimum weight and body condition.

Although this food has a lot going for it, it does have a couple of drawbacks, the most notable one being that it is an expensive option. Also, some customers have reported that their pets do not like this food.

Pros and Cons of Hill’s Prescription Diet Urinary Care Dog Food

Best Overall

Hill's Urinary Care Dry Dog Food

• Top-rated urinary care dog food that support bladder and urinary health
• Free of stone-causing materials
• Developed by nutritionists and vets
• Dissolves stones and helps prevent new ones from forming
• Available in both wet and dry food formulas
• Enriched with antioxidants and low in fat, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium
• Made in the USA

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2. Best for Weight Management: Blue Buffalo Weight Management & Urinary Care Dog Food

For dogs looking to drop a few pounds we recommend the Blue Buffalo Weight Management and Urinary Care Dog Food.

Designed by veterinarians, food scientists, and nutrition experts, this food offers healthy levels of fat and calories to keep your pup trim. The increased fiber content makes pets feel full for longer, which also prevents excessive weight gain. This food also includes controlled levels of phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium to help prevent any urinary issues.

Another great feature of this food is that it is grain free which makes it suitable for pets with sensitive stomachs. It also has added moisture in the form of a tasty chicken broth to encourage pets to eat it.

This food is prescription only so it does require the approval of your vet before you can feed it. Also, a small number of customers have reported that their pets don’t like this food.

Pros and Cons of the Blue Buffalo Weight Management & Urinary Care Dog Food

Best for Weight Management

Blue Buffalo Weight Management + Urinary Care Dog Food

• Available in both wet and dry formulas
• Formulated by vets, food scientists and nutrition experts
• Increased amounts of fiber keep your dog fuller for longer
• Low levels of phosphorous and sodium help with urinary health
• Nothing artificial

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3. Best for Small Breeds: Royal Canin Small Breed Urinary Dog Food

Urinary problems can be especially pronounced in smaller dog breeds so for these pets we recommend the Royal Canin Small Breed Urinary Dog Food.

This veterinary-exclusive food is designed for dogs up to 22 pounds and features a small-sized kibble to make it easier for smaller pets to eat. This also helps to prevent tartar by encouraging chewing. Royal Canin’s small breed food helps to dissolve and prevent struvite and calcium oxalate stones by increasing urination. It also lowers the risk of crystals forming by using unique RSS methodology. It also contains a precise blend of vitamins and minerals to promote overall good health.

However, this food is quite high in calories which may not be suitable for all dogs. Also, some owners have reported that their pets do not like this food (even ones that are not usually fussy eaters).

Pros and Cons of the Royal Canin Small Breed Urinary Dog Food

Best for Small Breeds

Royal Canin Urinary Small Breed Dog Food

• Designed for dogs 22 lbs or less
• Increases urination to dilute crystal-causing minerals
• Small kibble size encourages optimal dental health

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4. Best for Senior Dogs: Royal Canin Urinary Aging Senior Wet Dog Food

We have selected the Royal Canin Urinary Aging Senior Wet Dog Food as a good solution for senior dogs who suffer from incontinence and other urinary problems.

This food is soft on aging gums and teeth, and it’s perfect for senior dogs who need extra encouragement to finish their dinner. This tasty food is appealing to most dogs and will get even the most stubborn canines to eat regularly with its highly palatable formula. 

This food helps aging pets with urinary problems by helping to dissolve and prevent calcium oxalate and struvite stones. It also uses RSS methodology to prevent crystals from forming. Another great feature of this food is that it contains a unique blend of vitamins and minerals which are specifically aimed at promotive vitality and cognitive health in older dogs.

However, this food is a more expensive option as it is a prescription-only diet. Also, some owners have reported that their pets do not like the loaf style of this meal, particularly as it sometimes is more like pate than loaf.

Pros and Cons of the Royal Canin Urinary Aging Senior Wet Dog Food

For Senior Dogs

Royal Canin Urinary SO Aging Wet Senior Dog Food

• Formulated specifically for senior dogs who struggle with incontinence and urinary issues
• Soft on aging gums and teeth
• Appealing flavor and texture to encourage reluctant eaters
• Formula promotes kidney health

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5. Best Wet Food: Purina Pro Plan Urinary Wet Dog Food

In many cases, wet food is a good choice for dogs with urinary woes which is why we recommend the Purina Pro Plan Urinary Wet Dog Food.

This food is specially formulated by vets and nutritionists to create the very best urinary care wet food. The additional moisture in this food helps to flush excess minerals out of your dog’s system and prevents painful stones from forming. It is uniquely developed to banish struvite stones and calcium oxalate crystals and to prevent new ones from occurring. 

This food is also formulated with high protein and low carbohydrates to create the perfect meal for your pet. It’s also packed full of vitamins and minerals to ensure that dog’s are only eating the most nutritious meal.

Unfortunately, some owners have reported that it does not smell very appetizing and that their pets refuse to eat it.

Pros and Cons of the Purina Pro Plan Urinary Wet Dog Food

Best Wet Food

Purina Pro Plan Urinary Ox/St Wet Dog Food

• Moist formula helps flush out excess materials from your dog's urinary system
• Prevent the creation of painful stones
• Formulated by vets and nutritionist
• Tasty chicken flavor is a hit with dogs

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6. Best Limited Ingredients: FirstMate Limited Ingredient Australian Lamb Meal Dog Food

If your pet needs a limited ingredient diet then we suggest trying the FirstMate Limited Ingredient Australian Lamb Meal Dog Food.

Dog food recipes with minimal ingredients are perfect for pets with sensitive stomachs or allergies. This dry food formula from FirstMate features Australian grass-fed lamb as its single protein source which is free from hormones and antibiotics. A blend of berries (including bladder-supporting cranberry) offers antioxidants that promote your dog’s overall wellbeing. Not only do these support good urinary health, but they also strengthen your dog’s eyesight, memory, and immune system.

This food is grain and gluten-free which helps to eliminate other sources of allergies for your pet. It also contains wholesome vegetables to provide a tasty and nutritious meal for your pet.

Although this food has a lot going for it, a small number of pup parents have reported that their dogs do not like it.

Pros and Cons of the FirstMate Limited Ingredient Australian Lamb Meal Dog Food

Best Limited Ingredient Formula

FirstMate Limited Ingredient Australian Lamb Meal Dog Food

• Minimal ingredients for dogs with sensitive stomach and allergies
• Dry formula made of grass-fed lamb
• Antioxidant berry blend promotes urinary health
• Grain- and gluten-free

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Choosing the Best Urinary Care Dog Food

When it comes to healthy dog food not any old product off the shelf will do. We chose our top picks based on a stringent set of guidelines, that we’ll look at below.

Whether your pet is at risk of developing stones or she already has them, here are some factors to help you find the best dog food for urinary care.

High Moisture Content

Dogs with urinary issues need to boost their water intake. Canned wet food helps increase your pet’s fluids while flushing out impurities. You can also soak your dog’s kibble in water to get a similar effect (as long as your dog doesn’t dislike the slightly soggy texture). If you feed mostly dry food, try supplementing with wet food a couple of times per week to reap the benefits.

Low Protein Levels

Studies have demonstrated a link between high protein intake and bladder stone formation. For best results, look for food that won’t blast your pup with loads of protein.

Minerals

Phosphorus and magnesium are two culprits to be avoided. Also, steer clear of sodium-laden foods and calcium. 

Wholesome Ingredients

Favor dog foods with power-packed components like cranberry (a natural diuretic), vitamin E, vitamin B, cod liver oil, and chitosan. When possible, opt for whole proteins and avoid artificial flavorings and preservatives. 

The Different Types of Dog Food for Urinary Care: Pros and Cons Compared

If you plan to switch your dog to a urinary care diet you’ll need to choose between wet and dry food. There are also foods that require a vet’s script and off-the-shelf products. We’ll help make sense of all the choices. And remember: you can supplement dry kibble with wet food to boost your dog’s fluid intake. 

Dry Dog Food

Wet Dog Food

Prescription Dog Food

Our Criteria: How We Chose the Best

Here at A-Z-Animals, we have a special interest in your dog’s overall health, as we care about pets living their best lives. We researched many dog foods that claim to help dogs with urinary issues, in search of those that we can recommend with confidence. We sought the foods that are recommended by veterinarians, or have been developed by animal experts to improve your dog’s urinary health, and we also consulted reviews by owners like you who have experienced the challenge of keeping their dogs healthy. We hope that this review has provided you with some insightful information and helped you to make an informed choice.

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