Keeping Your Dalmatian Stone-Free: Food, Water and Our Picks
The short version: fresh water 24/7, frequent potty breaks, low-purine food and treats, and 20–26% protein content for adults. No special urinary diet is needed unless your dog has a diagnosed stone problem.
All our puppies are standard HUA (High Uric Acid) Dalmatians, so they need some special care when it comes to food and water.
Why? Because of a genetic difference in their metabolism, Dalmatians can’t convert uric acid into allantoin, the more soluble compound other dogs excrete easily. Instead, uric acid passes into the urine as urate salts. When urine is concentrated, these salts can clump into crystals and, over time, form bladder stones. Males are at higher risk because their urethra is narrower, so even a small stone can cause a blockage.
Watch for straining, frequent small pees or blood in the urine. A male who strains but can’t pee may have a blockage. That’s an emergency, so call your vet right away.
How to prevent stones:
- Frequent potty breaks. The less time urine sits in the bladder, the less chance crystals have to form.
- Plenty of water. Diluted urine keeps urate levels low. Encourage drinking and add water to meals (soak or “float” the kibble). Fresh water must be available 24/7.
- Low-purine diet. Purines in food are broken down into uric acid, so choose food and treats that are low in purines.
Keep in mind that the body produces uric acid naturally, even on a purine-free diet. That’s why all three points are equally important.
What to look for in a food
For purine content, see the DCA list of foods by purine content. In a nutshell: no organs or innards (many treats contain them!), no game, and avoid beef-heavy foods. Chicken, lamb or salmon as the main protein source are generally safe.
Watch the protein content, too. High-protein foods usually contain more purines, so a food with 30% protein puts more load on the body than one with 21%. Puppy food is high in protein and isn’t suitable for adult dogs. For a normally active adult Dalmatian, we recommend food with 20–26% protein. For very active dogs, you can add extra protein with low-purine protein sources such as cottage cheese, eggs or yogurt.
Unless your Dalmatian has a diagnosed stone problem, there is no need for a special urinary diet! A low-purine diet is enough. Prescription urinary diets do prevent stones, but they have other health (and monetary!) drawbacks and aren’t needed for a healthy dog.
You may still hear otherwise from your vet. We have great respect for veterinarians, but nutrition is a specialized field, and general-practice vets don’t always have experience with the specific needs of Dalmatians. If you’re told your Dalmatian must go on a special or breed-specific diet, don’t feel pressured or guilty. Unless the advice comes from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or is based on a diagnosed problem, it’s worth getting a second opinion. We’re happy to put you in touch with veterinarians who are members of the Dalmatian Club of America and have worked with hundreds of Dalmatians.
Our picks
When it comes to dog food, every owner has their own preferences. We don’t feel strongly about whether you choose grain-inclusive or grain-free food. Below are the foods we like, in no particular order. We recommend switching to one of them, choosing whichever fits your budget. You don’t have to follow our recommendation; what matters most is that the food fits the guidelines above. Contact us with any questions.
Protein % is the minimum crude protein from the guaranteed analysis on the bag. Prices as of October 2026.