Purines in dog food, explained without the jargon.
If your vet has said "low purine diet" and you've gone home to a cupboard of bags that don't mention purines anywhere — this page is for you.
What purines are
Purines are natural compounds in the cells of almost everything we and our dogs eat. When they're digested they're broken down into uric acid, and in most dogs that's turned into something that dissolves and leaves in the urine. Dogs with the HUA gene — most Dalmatians, and a few other breeds — can't do that last step properly. Uric acid builds up, concentrates in the bladder, and can form urate crystals and stones: painful, sometimes dangerous, and in male dogs occasionally an emergency.
Less purine in, less uric acid out. That's the entire logic of a purine-controlled dog food.
High-purine dog food ingredients (the ones to watch)
- Offal: liver, kidney, heart, spleen, "meat meal" of unknown origin.
- Oily fish: sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring, pilchards — and "fish meal".
- Game: venison, rabbit, pheasant, duck in large amounts.
- Meat extracts and gravies — concentrated purines.
- Yeast: brewer's yeast, yeast extract, many "coat and skin" supplements.
- Pulses in bulk: lentils, peas and beans are moderate, so a legume-heavy "grain-free" recipe can add up.
Lower-purine proteins
- Eggs — one of the best complete proteins for a Dalmatian.
- Dairy — cottage cheese, yoghurt, cheese (if your dog tolerates it).
- White meats in moderation — chicken and turkey breast rather than organ meat.
- Vegetables, rice, oats and most grains — low, and useful for bulk and energy.
What "purine-controlled" should mean on a bag
Not a marketing word — a recipe decision. The named protein sources should be lower-purine ones, there should be no offal or oily fish hiding in the "meat and animal derivatives" line, and the food should still be complete (balanced for everyday feeding, not a supplement). And because recipes change, the maker should promise to tell you before they do. Ours does: any change to any recipe gets emailed to every customer before it ships.
Beyond the bowl
Diet is the biggest lever, but not the only one. Water dilutes urine and gives crystals less chance to form — wet food, soaked kibble and fresh water everywhere. Regular wees stop urine sitting and concentrating. And if your dog has already had crystals or stones, your vet may add medication or a prescription diet — a purine-controlled complete food is the everyday foundation, not a replacement for that advice.
What we're making
A purine-controlled complete dog food, designed for Dalmatians and other dogs with urinary issues, made in the UK by two Dalmatian parents in Bristol with a qualified animal feed nutritionist. It's in development and testing now — on our own dogs first.
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Low purine questions, answered
What is a low purine dog food?
A complete dog food whose recipe keeps purines low by using lower-purine proteins (eggs, dairy, white meats in moderation) instead of offal, game and oily fish. "Purine-controlled" means the same thing — we prefer it because no real food is purine-free.
Which dogs need a purine-controlled diet?
Dalmatians with the HUA gene above all, plus some English Bulldogs, Black Russian Terriers and any dog that has had urate crystals or stones. It is also a sensible everyday diet for any dog in a Dalmatian household.
Is low purine the same as low protein?
No. Purines are in all proteins, but in very different amounts. A purine-controlled food can be perfectly normal in protein — it just chooses which proteins carefully.
Do treats and chews count?
Yes, and they are the usual culprit. Dried liver, fish skins, pizzles and many "natural" chews are offal- or fish-based and very high in purines. Treats need the same rules as dinner.
Breed-specific advice is on our Dalmatian dog food guide.
We're Dalmatian parents, not vets. This is our honest experience and research, not medical advice — if your dog has a diagnosed condition, please talk to your vet before changing their diet.