Managing HUA genetics, allergies and balance on a raw diet
When you bring a Dalmatian into your life, you quickly learn that diet isn’t always straightforward.
Some Dalmatians are LUA (low uric acid), but Cammie is HUA (High Uric Acid) — the traditional Dalmatian gene type. On top of that, she showed signs of a chicken allergy very early on, with her ears reacting quickly.
So her diet needs to consider two things at once:
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Managing purines carefully
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Avoiding allergens
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While still remaining varied and nutritionally balanced
That’s a thinking process, not a tick-box exercise.
What Does HUA Actually Mean?
HUA Dalmatians have a genetic mutation affecting uric acid transport. Practically, this means they:
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Convert purines into uric acid
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Excrete larger amounts of uric acid in urine
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Have an increased risk of forming urate stones
Not every HUA Dalmatian develops stones — but the risk is higher.
What this means in real life:
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Moderate purine management becomes important
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Hydration is absolutely key
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You can’t just “feed normally and hope for the best”
The Biggest Realisation: “Offal” Isn’t Always Just Offal
When I first started researching low purine feeding, I assumed the main rule was simple: avoid offal and keep her hydrated.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
In the raw feeding world, “offal” typically means:
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Liver
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Kidney
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Spleen
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Pancreas
However, in low purine discussions, lung and heart are also included as higher purine components.
This matters because many premade raw minces — even premium brands — contain lung and heart. They are affordable cuts and commonly used.
That raised a big awareness point for me around labelling transparency in prepacked raw food.
Purine Levels Depend on the Cut
Not all meat is equal.
Premium cuts such as breast meat are generally lower in purines compared to organs or certain muscular cuts.
That means when buying premade minces, you may not always know the exact ratio of high vs lower purine components unless the breakdown is clearly stated.
It’s a bit like buying “minced beef” without knowing whether it’s 5% fat or 20% fat — the details matter.
One resource that is used to show Purine levels is Purine table
I also highly recommend, whatever breed you have, to follow the Raw Fed Dalmatian UK group. Full of such great experts that are more than happy to advise.
Tripe — The Grey Area
Tripe is controversial in low purine feeding.
Many experienced Dalmatian owners and long-standing breed groups consider tripe a staple in a low purine diet.
Yet online purine tables often classify it as higher purine.
At the moment, I sit somewhere in the middle.
I don’t avoid tripe entirely, especially because Cammie often eats higher bone-content minces and needs something to dilute that. However, I do limit it and monitor her closely — particularly as I’m also unsure whether it contributes to mild itching.
This is still an evolving part of her diet.
Oily Fish & Omega-3
I used to feed sprats regularly to my previous dogs. However, oily fish is higher in purines.
To support Omega-3 intake, I now mainly use algae oil several times a week.
Cammie does occasionally grab a sprat or dried fish skin (when she’s charging around the unit!), but I actively limit this.
It’s about balance rather than perfection.
Vegetables — Not All Created Equal
I was surprised to learn that some vegetables differ in purine levels.
For example:
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Broccoli is higher purine than spinach
So I’ve swapped broccoli for spinach as a regular inclusion.
Vegetables aren’t the core of a raw diet, but they can contribute fibre, phytonutrients and diversity — so I still use them thoughtfully.
Eggs — A Valuable Addition
Eggs are extremely useful in low purine diets.
They provide:
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High-quality protein
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Choline
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Fat-soluble vitamins
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Minerals
They’re generally recommended 2–3 times per week.
Cammie probably gets at least one per week (sometimes more if I’m organised!).
White Fish — A Useful Filler
White fish tends to be lower purine than oily fish and provides:
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Lean protein
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Digestibility
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Lower bone content in certain minces
I aim to include at least 500g per week.
Meat with Skin On
Something I’ve only recently learned — meat with skin attached can be higher in purines.
That’s something I now have to factor in, especially given that dried skin treats are easily accessible in the shop environment.
Another reminder that feeding is dynamic — you adjust as you learn.
What Cammie Is Currently Eating
Taking into account:
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HUA genetics
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Chicken allergy
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Mild intermittent itching
Here’s her current structure.
Main Proteins
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Turkey (her staple)
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Lamb (limited to once every couple of weeks due to purine level and inclusion of lung/heart)
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Duck & tripe blends
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Increasing use of chunked meats (turkey, wild boar, venison) so I can see exactly what she’s eating
Chunk feeding gives greater transparency — you see the muscle meat rather than relying on minced composition.
Tripe
Included, but limited and monitored.
Treats
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Cooked turkey steaks (cubed)
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Pâté from the shop (cubed for training)
Vegetables
Currently rotating:
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Butternut squash
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Spinach
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Garlic (small amounts)
As she is predominantly turkey-based, I am mindful of ensuring adequate mineral intake and supporting her skin health.
Hydration — The Most Critical Element
If there’s one point that outweighs everything else for urate crystal management, it’s this:
Hydration is vital.
Even though raw food contains moisture, I still add water to her meals.
Dilution of urine reduces crystal formation risk — simple, but powerful.
Ongoing Learning
This is not a complete guide to feeding a Dalmatian with urate crystal risk and not a completely conclusive guide to what Cammie gets. I am aware that she needs this refining to ensure she gets everything she needs.
It’s a working framework based on Cammie as an individual — and she also has allergies, which adds another layer of complexity.
Long-term, I do believe I’ll move more towards a DIY balanced approach rather than relying heavily on premade minces. That gives more control over purine levels and nutrient balance.
If you’re managing urate stones or crystal risk, working with a qualified nutritional professional is always advisable to ensure your dog receives a fully balanced diet.
I’ll continue updating this as I learn more.
Although I continually study Dog Nutrition, I am not a qualified Nutritionist. The advice that I give is based on my own personal experience and what I have learnt. However, if in doubt, please contact your vet or a qualified Dog Nutritionist.
