Nestlé Purina PetCare has awarded nearly $1 million in funding over the next five years to the School of Veterinary Medicine’s G.V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory (USAL). This grant will enable companion animal veterinarians to offer free urinary stone analysis to their patients, helping improve diagnosis and treatment for urinary diseases in dogs and cats.

This collaboration between USAL and Purina holds great potential for advancements in veterinary urology, particularly in the development of new diets, supplements, and devices to manage urinary diseases like urolithiasis. Sheri Smithey, Senior Vice President of Global PetCare R&D at Purina, stated, “Our shared goal is to advance the science of urinary tract health in companion animals by investigating the relationship between diet, environment, and urinary conditions.”

Through the grant, USAL will provide complimentary analysis and consultation for up to 800 stone submissions per year. Data collected will help researchers better understand how to manage urolithiasis and other forms of tissue mineralization in pets, leading to potential innovations in treatment and prevention.