Ok my friends cat got Struvite (she thinks) crystals a while back and the vet prescribed Hills Science Diet S/D. Obviously that stuff is nasty and she is also is running low on it, do you think she can feed something else? Would that be dangerous? What do you recommend?
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Food for cat with crystals
- Thread starter maxy24
- Start Date
Did you try asking the Vet for other suggestions besides Hills Science Diet S/D? And it is usually said that Fish flavored foods increases the chances of crystal formation, so you might want to avoid them if you can. And make sure that there is clean, fresh water available. And I’ve heard great success with canned foods. But ask the Vet and see what he/she says?
Yes, S/D is the food commonly prescribed to dissolve struvite crystals. Has your friend's cat had another urinalysis done to chekc for the presence of crystals and the pH level? If the cat eats the S/D for too long his urine could become too acidic. Your friend should ask her vet about another U/A (urinalysis) for her cat.
Most vets will switch cats to Hills C/D food when the urine pH is at an appropriate level - usually 6.0-6.5. As you said S/D is a nasty food and C/D is not much better. Most vets do not have a lot of education in pet nutriton and rely on what they are told by the food companies.
Both of my cats with a history of crystals are eating high quality canned food with no fish. I also add a little L-Methionine to their food once a day to keep the urine in the acidic range and prevent crystals. It is important that the urine be kept acidic so that the struvite crystals don't return. It is also important that any cat, especially those prone to UTIs and crystals, have lots of moisture in their diets. That is a major reason that canned food is good for these cats. The moisture encourages urination. If the urine doesn't sit in the bladder for a long time crystals and bacteria are less likely to form.
Here are some links to web sites your friend may be interested in.
http://www.catinfo.org/
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.ph...needcannedfood
http://www.peteducation.com/article....articleid=2729
Your friend should, of course, discuss any change in her cat's diet with the vet. Good luck to your friend. I hope she can find an appropriate diet for her cat that the cat will eat.
Most vets will switch cats to Hills C/D food when the urine pH is at an appropriate level - usually 6.0-6.5. As you said S/D is a nasty food and C/D is not much better. Most vets do not have a lot of education in pet nutriton and rely on what they are told by the food companies.
Both of my cats with a history of crystals are eating high quality canned food with no fish. I also add a little L-Methionine to their food once a day to keep the urine in the acidic range and prevent crystals. It is important that the urine be kept acidic so that the struvite crystals don't return. It is also important that any cat, especially those prone to UTIs and crystals, have lots of moisture in their diets. That is a major reason that canned food is good for these cats. The moisture encourages urination. If the urine doesn't sit in the bladder for a long time crystals and bacteria are less likely to form.
Here are some links to web sites your friend may be interested in.
http://www.catinfo.org/
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.ph...needcannedfood
http://www.peteducation.com/article....articleid=2729
Your friend should, of course, discuss any change in her cat's diet with the vet. Good luck to your friend. I hope she can find an appropriate diet for her cat that the cat will eat.
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that and two OTC s that MIGHT be OKAY WITH VET okay ... Purina and Nutros Max adult /lite are CERTIFIED for UTI healthOriginally Posted by Jean44
Yes, S/D is the food commonly prescribed to dissolve struvite crystals. Has your friend's cat had another urinalysis done to chekc for the presence of crystals and the pH level? If the cat eats the S/D for too long his urine could become too acidic. Your friend should ask her vet about another U/A (urinalysis) for her cat.
Most vets will switch cats to Hills C/D food when the urine pH is at an appropriate level - usually 6.0-6.5. As you said S/D is a nasty food and C/D is not much better. Most vets do not have a lot of education in pet nutriton and rely on what they are told by the food companies.
Both of my cats with a history of crystals are eating high quality canned food with no fish. I also add a little L-Methionine to their food once a day to keep the urine in the acidic range and prevent crystals. It is important that the urine be kept acidic so that the struvite crystals don't return. It is also important that any cat, especially those prone to UTIs and crystals, have lots of moisture in their diets. That is a major reason that canned food is good for these cats. The moisture encourages urination. If the urine doesn't sit in the bladder for a long time crystals and bacteria are less likely to form.
Here are some links to web sites your friend may be interested in.
http://www.catinfo.org/
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.ph...needcannedfood
http://www.peteducation.com/article....articleid=2729
Your friend should, of course, discuss any change in her cat's diet with the vet. Good luck to your friend. I hope she can find an appropriate diet for her cat that the cat will eat.
