Some commercial dog foods contain high levels of minerals that can have a negative impact on your dog’s pH balance. To prevent this, you need to choose a dog food designed to promote the optimal pH balance. If your dog has urinary tract issues, kidney stones, or UTIs, then the choice of dog food is even more important.
Fortunately, switching to good quality dog food can help restore pH balance. Finding the best food for our pets can sometimes feel like an impossible mission, but our detailed reviews can help you choose the best product to meet your dog’s dietary needs. Whether you want grain-free, limited-ingredient, freeze-dried, or canned dog food, this list covers them all.
In this buying guide, we’ll explore the subject of pH balance in dogs to help you make better choices. Let’s dive in!
The Best Dog Foods For pH balance
| Top Products | Rating | Top 5 Ingredients |
| ROYAL CANIN — Canine Urinary SO Small Breed Dry Dog Food | 4.8 | Brewers Rice, Corn, Chicken Fat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, |
| Hill’s Prescription — U/D Non-Struvite Urinary Tract Dry Dog Food | 4.7 | Brewers Rice, Corn Starch, Pork Fat, Egg Product, Powdered Cellulose |
| Blue Buffalo – Veterinary Diet Weight Management & Urinary Care Canned Dog Food | 4.4 | Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Pea Protein, Carrots |
| Purina — Canine UR Urinary Care Ox/St Dog Food | 4.7 | Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat |
| CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, and Fish Meal Formula Dry Dog Food | 4.5 | Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice |
| Instinct LID Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Recipe Wet Canned Dog Food | 4.4 | Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Peas, Pea Protein |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet – c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food | 4.8 | Whole Grain Corn, Chicken Meal, Pork Fat, Corn Gluten Meal, Egg Product |
| Taste of the Wild: High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food | 4.7 | Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes |
ROYAL CANIN Canine Urinary SO Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Brewers Rice, Corn, Chicken Fat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal,
If you want your puppy to stay healthy as they grow, consider this alkaline diet for pH balance from Royal Canin. This diet is nutrient-dense and filled with healthy ingredients. It’s ideal for small- and medium-breed puppies and contains essential nutrients to support your puppy’s overall health.
The recipe features a single source of animal-based protein and digestible carbohydrates. Also, the recipe has prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion and is nutritionally balanced to encourage your puppy’s growth and development.
Hill’s Prescription — U/D Non-Struvite Urinary Tract Dry Dog Food xx
Top 5 Ingredients: Brewers Rice, Corn Starch, Pork Fat, Egg Product, Powdered Cellulose
Hill’s U/D Urinary Care formula is one of the best dog foods for pH balance. This formula focuses on maintaining mineral balance to prevent abnormal pH levels in your dog’s body. If you’re looking for premium quality dog food, this one is a great option. It’s a vet-recommended dog food that supports a healthy immune function. Plus, the formula contains L-carnitine for optimal heart health. This dog food is suitable for adult and senior dogs. It is a prescription product that requires authorization from your veterinarian.
Blue Buffalo – Veterinary Diet Weight Management & Urinary Care Canned Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Pea Protein, Carrots
Blue Buffalo canned dog food is suitable for all dog breeds and helps your dog maintain a healthy pH balance. This formula is a perfect choice if your dog has a pH imbalance and is prone to urinary tract infections. It is a nutritionally complete formula that can help with urinary issues and prevent the formation of bladder stones. Also, this recipe is delicious and is a great option for picky eaters. It has controlled levels of minerals and L-carnitine to keep your dog healthy.
Purina — Canine UR Urinary Care Ox/St Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat
If your dog is a picky eater, consider this tasty dog food for pH balance. The Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St is a highly recommended prescription formula for dogs with pH imbalances and urinary tract issues. This nutrient-rich formula features a perfect balance of nutrition and eliminates the risk of malnutrition. It also helps prevent the formation of various types of bladder stones and crystals, including calcium oxalate stones, sterile struvite stones, or idiopathic cystitis.
CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, and Fish Meal Formula Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice
CANIDAE All Life Stages Formula is ideal for senior dogs with a pH imbalance. It can take care of your dog’s urinary health and help them shed extra pounds. It is a highly digestible dog food with quality fiber and lean proteins. Plus, it contains antioxidants, probiotics, and fatty acids for optimum health. If you’re looking for a nutrient-rich formula that doesn’t require a prescription, this multi-protein dog food fits the bill.
Instinct LID Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Recipe Wet Canned Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Peas, Pea Protein
Treating pH imbalance requires a diet with excellent hydration and a selection of ingredients that’s less burdensome on the dog’s urinary tract. Instinct’s Limited Ingredient Real Turkey fulfills these requirements and provides premium-quality food that supports and improves your dog’s health.
The wet food’s moderate protein content reduces strain on your dog’s kidneys, and the high water content helps flush out minerals and toxins. Plus, this dog food features cage-free turkey loaf and pea protein to support lean muscle growth. It has everything your dog needs for optimal pH balance and good overall health.
Hill’s Prescription Diet – c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Whole Grain Corn, Chicken Meal, Pork Fat, Corn Gluten Meal, Egg Product
This dog food is vet-formulated to ensure optimal nutrition with the added benefit of supporting a healthy pH balance. It provides holistic nutrition and has limited quantities of minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium to ensure that your dog gets optimum micronutrient support for pH balance.
The Hill’s Prescription c/d Urinary Care is one of the best dog foods out there. Its MultiCare formula enhances your dog’s health and vitality. The dog food also helps your dog maintain a healthy weight and delivers omega fatty acids to nourish their skin and coat. Finally, this dog food is recommended by several veterinarians and is only available by prescription.
Taste of the Wild: High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes
This dog food is one of the best bets for dogs with a history of pH imbalances and urinary tract infections. It’s a perfectly balanced and delicious recipe, making it a great choice for picky eaters. It features premium protein sources such as lamb, beef, and bison. The roasted venison gives your dog all the nutrients it needs to maintain optimal pH balance. Other ingredients include sweet potatoes and peas that deliver the highly digestible energy your active dog needs. Additionally, this grain-free recipe has natural antioxidant support from real vegetables and fruits. If you’re looking for a dog food that helps balance your dog’s pH to prevent bladder stones and other renal problems, consider this Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dog Food.
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Kidney Support Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Potato Starch, Pea Starch, Peas, Potatoes
This recipe can help support kidney health and maintain optimal pH balance in dogs. It features controlled levels of protein and minerals, making it a great choice for dogs with pH imbalances. The recipe also contains antioxidants for whole-body health, L-carnitine for heart support, and omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
This grain-free dog food has a holistic, natural formula to keep your dog happy and healthy. It has highly digestible ingredients and prevents allergic reactions. Finally, you’ll need veterinary authorization to purchase this high-quality dog food.
Firstmate — Australian Lamb Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Lamb Meal, 2. Burbank Potato, 3. Norkotah Potato, 4. Chicken Fat, 5. Tomato Pomace
If you’re not looking for a prescription diet, FirstMate’s Australian Lamb recipe is an excellent option to keep a check on your dog’s pH balance. It is a hypoallergenic recipe that is free of gluten, grains, and other dietary allergens. It contains novel animal proteins and nutritious ingredients to minimize the risk of a pH imbalance.
FirstMate Australian Lamb dog food is suitable for all breeds and life stages. It has superfoods such as cranberry to strengthen your dog’s immune system. Plus, there is enough dietary fiber to ensure the natural absorption of nutrients.
Solid Gold Holistique Blendz Oatmeal, Barley & Ocean Fish Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Oatmeal, 2. Pearled Barley, 3. Peas, 4. Ocean Fish Meal, 5. Dried Eggs
If you want to restore your dog’s pH balance, this dog food from Solid Gold is a good choice. This recipe has low protein content and provides controlled amounts of minerals to minimize changes in the pH levels. It features ocean fish meal and highly-digestible grains such as oatmeal and pearled barley to provide complete nutritional support. A unique mix of superfoods in the recipe strengthens your dog’s immune system and benefit overall health. Also, the recipe is high in fiber and probiotics to support your dog’s gut health.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Canned Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Water Sufficient For Processing, 2. Chicken Liver, 3. Chicken By-Products, 4. Pork By-Products, 5. Corn Grits
If your dog struggles with high pH, consider the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet. This canned dog food has a unique formula and helps dogs maintain an optimal pH to prevent urinary tract issues. It helps restore the nutrients that regulate metabolism to balance your dog’s pH level. Also, it fulfills your dog’s micronutrient needs and reduces mineral density to prevent a pH imbalance. This dog food comes in easy-to-serve cans and is a great choice for long-term urinary support.
Buyer’s Guide
Healthy dogs can maintain a normal pH in their bodies. But if your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with a urinary tract issue, then your dog may have a pH imbalance. When the pH levels are abnormal, crystals and stones can easily form in your dog’s urinary tract. An optimal diet can help balance the pH levels and keep health problems at bay. Here are some shopping considerations for the best dog food for pH balance.
Important Features to Consider
Premium-quality, Natural Ingredients
Higher quality dog food is easy to digest and boosts nutrient absorption. Dogs perform better when they get the right nutrients in a highly digestible form. Look for dog food with premium-quality, natural ingredients so that your dog can enjoy and fully digest its meal.
Moderate Protein Content
A diet containing moderate protein content can help restore pH levels and prevent the formation of struvite stones. Try to restrict the protein content to 15-20% and feed your dog antibiotics to help them recover quickly.
Complex Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the best fuel source for dogs and provide essential dietary fiber to encourage good digestion. Whole grains, peas, cooked potatoes, and sweet potatoes are great carbohydrate sources for your dog.
Avoid Acidic Fruits and Veggies
Extremely acidic fruits and veggies are undesirable in dog food for pH balance. Look for non-acidic foods such as apples, broccoli, alfalfa, and celery.
Healthy Fats
The best dog foods for pH balance include healthy fats to nourish your dog’s skin and coat. Chicken fat, fish oils, and flaxseed oil are the best sources of healthy fats.
High Moisture Content
A diet with high moisture content is ideal for dogs with pH imbalances and urinary tract or kidney problems. Making the switch to wet dog food is a great idea. Wet foods have high moisture content to increase palatability and bind ingredients together.
Calcium sulfate and Potassium Citrate
Most veterinary-recommended diets contain calcium sulfate and potassium citrate to help balance pH levels and reduce stone formation.
Additional Micronutrients
Mictonutrients provide excellent health benefits for dogs. Among the most desirable micronutrients to look for in high-quality dog food are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
No Artificial Additives
Artificial additives like flavors, colors, and preservatives have no place in a premium-quality diet for dogs. Low-quality grains, fillers, and by-products can harm your dog’s pH levels, so it’s best to avoid them.
Does an Alkaline diet help?
Dog foods designed to restore your pup’s body and urine pH to an alkaline level have many benefits, including:
- An alkaline pH can help dogs absorb more oxygen into their bloodstream. These increased oxygen levels enhance muscle efficiency and reduce premature aging.
- An alkaline diet can prevent the onset of chronic illnesses
- It closely matches the pH of a dog’s ancestral diet consisting of whole prey animals and grasses.
- It makes sure that your dog’s body is functioning at its optimal level.
How to Balance a Dog’s pH levels At Home
Test pH Levels Regularly
It is important to check if dietary changes are effective. Urinary pH levels may change from day to day. A vet can test urine pH or recommend supplies for home testing.
Cranberry Juice
The quickest way to balance pH levels is to feed your dog cranberry juice with an eyedropper or syringe. Use pure and unsweetened cranberry juice from a health food store. Some dogs may also prefer buffered vitamin C with bioflavonoids. You can consult a vet for feeding guidelines and dosage information.
Veggies and Meat Option
A natural diet is ideal for pH balance. You can substitute raw meat for commercial dog foods. Add a mix of veggies like shredded spinach, kale, romaine, or powdered spirulina in the food bowl. Your dog may be willing to take a little green food at first, so you can experiment with the food quantities. Add probiotics, enzyme powders, and omega-3 rich fish oils to ensure a nutritionally complete meal. Dogs love fresh food, and their digestive systems can handle vegetables.
Vegetarian Option
You can choose a vegetarian option if raw meat is distasteful for your dog. Adding eggs, fish, and a lactose-free protein supplement powder can supply essential amino acids to maintain optimal health. A slow and gradual will help the dog adjust to new foods. Many dogs will enjoy pureed vegetables mixed with whole, uncooked brown rice or oats. You can include fresh peas, carrots, cucumbers, romaine, cabbage stumps, apples, and red bell peppers. Many dogs also eat dried fruits such as dates and coconut. Additionally, you can include soaked sprouted grains, brewer’s yeast, and olive oil for added flavor and nutrients.
Pro tips:
- Feed vegetarian dogs two meals a day to ensure easy digestion.
- Avoid indigestible foods such as potatoes and soy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I reduce my dog’s pH level?
You can lower pH levels by increasing your dog’s moisture intake to help dilute its urine.
What causes high pH levels in a dog’s body?
If your dog consumes an alkaline diet, its urine pH might rise after each meal. A low-quality diet can also raise your dog’s pH levels.
Why is high urine pH bad?
A high urine pH can increase your dog’s risk for health problems, including urinary tract infections.
Can cheap dog food cause urinary issues?
Yes. Low-quality dog food is a common cause of urinary issues in dogs. They do not contain nutrients and minerals that support optimal pH balance. They also have a high pH level, which provides a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.
What foods help with optimal pH balance?
Most fruits and vegetables, tofu and soybeans, and legumes are good for pH balance. You may also want to avoid feeding your dog dairy, meat, grains, and processed foods.
Why does my dog have high pH in urine?
High levels of minerals such as magnesium and phosphate in dog food can raise urine pH. These minerals can also contribute to the formation of struvite crystals.
How are special diets for pH balance different than regular dog food?
Special dog foods that help promote a balanced pH will include a mix of ingredients designed to achieve this goal. These include potatoes, alfalfa, organ meat, beans, and more. They also lower protein levels and sometimes use pork fat instead of real meat.
Is wet dog food suitable for pH imbalances?
Wet dog foods will usually contain a higher moisture percentage than regular dog food. This is to help dilute excess minerals in your dog’s urine and balance pH levels. You can also add broth or water to your dog’s kibble to achieve the same results.
