Calcium oxalate stones, or kidney stones, form when your dog's body doesn't properly process oxalates in foods. Once your dog's body starts producing kidney stones, more are likely to form without a change in diet.
Suggested Foods
Specially formulated commercial dog foods, or homemade diets, to prevent kidney stones should be low in calcium oxalates. Low-oxalate foods include cheese, vegetable oil, avocados, beef, fish, lamb, poultry, eggs, barley, corn or rice cereal, pasta, white rice and wild rice. Your veterinarian should help you choose a prescription diet or help you choose the most appropriate homemade diet.
Foods to Avoid
Eliminate foods high in calcium oxalates from your dog's diet. These include nuts, soy, wheat, bran, beans, beets, spinach, buckwheat, carrots and kale. Avoid foods that have moderate amounts of oxalates, such as flax seed, sunflower seed, apples, liver, sardines, brown rice, corn starch, oatmeal and cornmeal.
Effectiveness
Even on a special diet, your dog may suffer from kidney stones. Other factors such as water intake and urine pH play roles in the formation of calcium oxalate stones. If your dog isn't drinking enough water, for example, a special diet won't be effective.