We accordingly urge the Dalmatian breeder and fancier, and certainly those publishing and disseminating dietary recommendations, to go to their local library and consult a nutrition textbook for a tabulation of purine-yielding foods. The veterinary authorities on urinary stones state quite emphatically that many stone-forming dogs, Dalmatians included, live out their lives without ever showing symptoms of this health problem which therefore goes undetected and undiagnosed. This characteristic of Dalmatians is taught to students at veterinary schools and has been the subject of articles in veterinary journals and veterinary textbooks throughout the world for the past 78 years. The influence of diet and other contributory factors on Dalmatian stone- forming is also taught to veterinary students. Be aware, though, that urinating flushes out many crystals and stones from the dog's bladder.
Incorrect diet is a major problem for Dalmatian urinary stone-formers but by no means the only one.
Urine which sits in the unemptied bladder will worsen stone- forming. Flushing out of the bladder also should be encouraged by permitting the Dalmatian frequent or uninterrupted access to drinking of water. Addendum Two horror stories have been reported to the Study Group on Urinary Stones of a young Dalmatian and a puppy, both males, whose bladders burst as a result of urinary obstruction. A little precautionary observation by their owners could have aborted the progression to such a terrible end. Males will demonstrate warning symptoms more obviously than bitches perhaps because of the marked difference in their normal urinary anatomy.