 Animal protein has a high acidic amino acid content (glutamic and aspartic acid); therefore, its nitrogenous metabolites that are excreted via the urine are acidic, making the normal range of a dog's urine pH 5–7.Plant-based protein is relatively lower in these acidifying amino acids, which can lead to urinary alkalization (pH > 7).Alkaline urine puts dogs at an increased risk of developing struvite crystals, dysuria, hematuria and obstructing the urinary tract, which can have fatal outcomes.