Struvites - Need Diet Recommendations

cattime

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
2
Purraise
0
My cat currently had surgery to remove Struvite stones from her bladder. The vet recommended I feed her strictly with the Hill's Prescription Diet C/D however my cat despises the food and won't eat (I despise it too). I read the label and a lot of it contains pork by products, Corn Gluten Meal, Ash 2% --all those I thought were bad in a canned cat food. I have been recently feeding her Natural Balance Ultra Formula which has very similiar ingredients but missing the Vitamin C and cranberry.

Is the canned food I'm currently feeding ok to prevent the stones from reoccuring or if you could possibly recommend a diet that is just as recommended as the Hill's Prescription Diet? I have been looking at Evo, Wellness and Royal Canin, but I'm so confused as to which is best since a lot of ingredients appear to be similiar?

What are the ingredients to look out for to prevent the likely reoccurence of Struvite Stones?

Thank you
 

mschauer

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
6,753
Purraise
2,338
Location
Houston, Tx
I feed Jeta raw to prevent the struvite crystals she is prone to. Feeding raw is a big step though, just thought I'd mention it. You might want to research feeding raw for some time in the future.

I also monitor her urine pH to make sure it is acidic enough to prevent the crystals.
 

mews2much

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
13,424
Purraise
27
Location
Central Valley,California
Coco hated the C/D so she got Roayal Canin Urinary and Purina So.
I am afraid she will get crystals again because the vet had to put her on Kidney Food now. everytime i tried to get her off urinary food the crystals came back. Did the vet try to shrink the crystals before surgery?
Coco got S/D for 2 months for bladder stones and it worked.
Surgery was not safe for her.
 

chris10

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Messages
204
Purraise
1
Location
Northern California
Three things must happen before crystals can form. Urine ph is either too high or low, a low volume of urine which leads to a high concentration of minerals in the urine. A high moisture diet (wet food) purges the urine ph and dilutes the concentration of minerals. And a high moisture diet flushes out the urinary tract system more often. Producing unfavorable conditions for crystals to form.
I feel this site provides some good info on urinary problems
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1&aid=2729

With a all dry diet they only take in about half of the water they need no matter how much they drink. Cats really don't have that desire to drink. This came hardwired from their ancestors which is a reason why its hard to get enough moisture into a cat.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

cattime

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
2
Purraise
0
No the vet did not suggest that dissolving the stones would be a good idea giving the condition that my cat was bleeding and peeing in spots. So I went with the surgery to remove all of them. My cat does not like the taste of Hill's Prescription Diet and frankly I admit I don't like some of the ingredients on there. So I have been intensively researching on all brand cat food and some have similiar ingredients with a few things missing.

I am aware that every cat is different, but I really don't want to go through this whole ordeal again. My cat is a very picky eater as well, and so I had to mix her old food with the Hill's and I'm not sure if that is allowed for a cat with her issue.

Please if anyone else has recommendations let me know. I wish you could buy these at the local pet store. I hate always going to the vet.

Are the Omega Fatty and L-Lysine, Citric Acid, Beta Carotene, Vitamins A through D, L-Methione, Potassium Citrate and I'm not sure which else are an absolute necessity??
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
yes water is very needed but without the mircro nutrients it would not do any good...


Fatty acids are Essential

lysine is a amino acid that in cats aids in helping things like acne and herpes
methonine is another amino which aids in uti health

beta carotene is not really needed and likely used as a preservative as in this form cats cannot use it ..

vitamins a-d ... you really should know these are needed
 

chris10

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Messages
204
Purraise
1
Location
Northern California
Originally Posted by sharky

yes water is very needed but without the mircro nutrients it would not do any good...


Fatty acids are Essential

lysine is a amino acid that in cats aids in helping things like acne and herpes
methonine is another amino which aids in uti health

beta carotene is not really needed and likely used as a preservative as in this form cats cannot use it ..

vitamins a-d ... you really should know these are needed
I could have misread the post. I was thinking she was going to add or trying to find a food that contained these certain ingredients in the hopes of preventing Struvites. Of course these micros are important.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
the methonine is a item often increased to aid in struvite management ... lysine is often used as a overall immune aid ... so YES those are good items to aid in UTI and crystal management
 

gailuvscats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
2,283
Purraise
34
Location
philadelphia
I didn't realize they did surgery for struvite crystals, are you sure you don't have the other kind of stones?

I prevent struvite crystals with a natural supplement called carpon. here is the link http://www.belfield.com/carpon.php
and a lot of info on both conditions, one caused by too hi a ph (struvites) and the other (oxite?)with too low. That is why it is essential you know which one you are dealing with.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Originally Posted by gailuvscats

I didn't realize they did surgery for struvite crystals, are you sure you don't have the other kind of stones?

I prevent struvite crystals with a natural supplement called carpon. here is the link http://www.belfield.com/carpon.php
and a lot of info on both conditions, one caused by too hi a ph (struvites) and the other (oxite?)with too low. That is why it is essential you know which one you are dealing with.
It is common to surgically remove either stone ... but yes knowing is essential
 
Top