Emergency kit for Hua pets
The article below was from The Dal Hub newsletter, our 10th edition. The Dal Hub newsletter is a FREE HUA & LUA resource. To sign up for The Dal Hub newsletter, fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScokRwo3tXu8fVqojZMRWOQAZOh_Secy_VIVTi3AutG0a0b_g/viewform?usp=sf_link
Being prepared in case of an emergency can make all of the difference, and if you own an HUA dog, their dietary restrictions can make this prepared kit all that much more important. For those of you who follow us on instagram, we conduct a weekly story Q&A where we open the floor for Dog & Cat owners to ask nutrition questions. During last weeks check-in an HUA owner asked what they should have in an emergency kit for an HUA Dalmatian, and I thought this was a great question, one I had not previously given much thought to. For this month’s newsletter we are going to be discussing packing an emergency kit for LUA and HUA dogs!
People create emergency kits for all kinds of different purposes, evacuations, power outages, natural disasters, etc. This question got me thinking a lot about what I would put in an emergency kit for my own pets (5 cats), and how important and even life saving having one could be for pets with moderate to severe health conditions. While I do think having one is important for all pet owners, pets with HUA for example have serious dietary restrictions that can make finding appropriate resources in the event of an emergency that much more difficult and being prepared could be the difference between a blockage or not.
HUA Dogs Emergency Kits:
In the case of an emergency where access to an appropriate diet may be limited or unavailable having a prepped HUA Emergency kit is important! While the below recommendations are NOT longterm diet solutions, they will help manage your pets condition for short term feeding! Remember, low purines, negative potential renal acid load, high moisture, minimally processed to keep inflammation low.
Canned Chicken Thigh or Cod - these are both very low in purines and while meat is acidifying their potential renal acid load or P.R.A.L is not overly high.
Canned Sweet Potato, sweet potato is quite low in purines and has a negative PRAL value that will not create more acid in the body. It supplies a balanced source of soluble vs insoluble fiber that helps manage stools and carbohydrates which can be used for energy (although not ideal) when fat intake is limited as it may be in a case of emergency.
Green Juju’s Freeze-dried greens blend which will be alkalizing and also provides herbs and greens that help control uric acid levels like; nettle, dandelion, ginger and turmeric.
Unrefined, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil or Hempseed Oil, a source of fat with a negligible amount of purines with a neutral PRAL score.
Bottled Water, prioritize alkaline water.
Corn Silk Tea, which can be used to alkalize the bladder if needed and encourage bladder emptying in the event of urine debris/crystals.
Thorne Basic Canine Nutrients Powder (will not cover ALL nutritional gaps) but can supply a daily source of some essential water soluble nutrients if you must use your emergency kit for more than 3 days.
KAL Bonemeal to supply essential calcium, magnesium and phosphorous.
RX Cranberry supplements for HUA dogs prone to UTIs (remember to keep a close eye on urine pH, if it dips below a 7, stop using it.)
pH strips, and P Pole for collection - pet specific pH strips that also check specific gravity, protein, blood, etc.
First Aid Kit
Waste Bags
Spare Leash and Collar
Psyllium Husk as needed to firm stool
Collapsible Bowl (large so you can continue to float food)
LUA Dog Emergency Kit:
Shelf-stable diet, canned, kibble or freeze-dried
Bottled Water
First Aid Kit
Spare Leash and Collar
Waste Bags
Psyllium Husk as needed to firm stool
Freeze-dried treats (avoid livers)
Collapsible Bowl
Nettle & Ginger Tea (nettle is a natural antihistamine and ginger can help settle the stomach)
For over a year our client list has remained 35-40% Dalmatians, many of which are HUA. HUA appropriate diets are our bread and butter. We created The Dal Hub after speaking with countless HUA owners who were unable to find sufficient and reliable information on how to take care of their pets with Hyperuricosuria. This newsletter is our way of giving back to the community and providing unique and specialized information on managing this uncommon condition (common among dalmatians, uncommon in general). We create custom whole-food based recipes and wellness plans for pets with moderate to severe health conditions, including HUA. Checkout our other articles for more information on our clients, diets and results, or visit this tab for more information on our services.