Comparison between grains?

Moisture is important. Mazy was getting a full 8 oz a day added to her canned wellness. The crystals still came back.

Originally Posted by otto

A lot of foods do contain corn. Corn is not the only thing in prescription foods that make them "special". the foods are super low in magnesium(.08%) and phosphorous (.85%), sodium (.2%) and calcium (.5 %), and specially formulated to promote more frequent urination.

While diet is very important for an FLUTD kitty, it is also crucial that weight is controlled, water consumption is high, and vigorous exercise is done daily.

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Yes RXs are designed for issues... but for UTI and crystals ( depending on type ) there are nearly = OTC foods that have the same % and testing... Of course after research comes discussion with your vet

Originally Posted by sharky

Yes RXs are designed for issues... but for UTI and crystals ( depending on type

) there are nearly = OTC foods that have the same % and testing... Of course after research comes discussion with your vet

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I tried that already. Ton of research on OTC foods. Talked it over with vet. vet advised against. tried it anyway. result after two months: a 7.5 pH and a bladder full of crystals. The worst part is, now I have to take her back for yet another urinalysis after two months back on the prescription food. I feel bad I've put her through all these extra vet trips, she is one of those cats who really stresses at the vet.

I know others who have taken their FLUTD cats off prescription food too with the same disastrous results. In a male it can result in fatality.

Caused myself some extra expense, too, trying this, but I don't care so much about that. I'm poor, but I budget for vet bills.

Bottom line, IMO: if you trust your vet, and your vet says your cat needs to be on the prescription food, then follow your vet's advice. If you don't like the brand,discuss with your vet using another brand that makes the prescription food for the same condition.

If you don't trust your vet, find another vet.

Bottom line, IMO: if you trust your vet, and your vet says your cat needs to be on the prescription food, then follow your vet's advice. If you don't like the brand,discuss with your vet using another brand that makes the prescription food for the same condition.

I 1000% agree

I just want to thank Otto for sharing his experience, and Sharky for her time and energy in answering food questions. My vet just recommended Science Diet CD for my boy due to crystal formation, and I'm going with the recent advice - I do trust my vet and don't feel she's suggesting prescription for any reason other than health for my cat. We're going to try and then see what happens at our one month check-up. But I don't care what's in the food, as long as it helps my cat and he'll eat it.

Originally Posted by darlili

But I don't care what's in the food, as long as it helps my cat and he'll eat it.

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Lol, that's how my whole ordeal started - me caring about what was in the cat food. They seemed to be doing fine on the Cat Chow they were eating before (except for the metal issue). But nooo, I had to research "healthier" foods and cause the kitties grief with all the diet changes. Ignorance is bliss!

Chris10, I won't be going back to all dry food, but all wet is not a possibility. 2/3 wet food is probably the best I can do. I will work on getting a fountain though.

As for talking with the vet...my cats' vet will always suggest the same brand of food...which happens to be one I don't trust. I wonder what she'd say about that

Just one more question before I shut my yap and go away...I've heard calcium and phosphorus should be in a certain ratio...what is that?

Thanks everyone for all the answers.

(If any mods want to split this thread, it kinda went way off-topic)

OK- read this thread with interest. Have all male fosters. Knock wood - no UTI problems so far. Feeding Authority - rescue that I WAS working with has Petsmart adoption center space which donates that food for those cats.

They get a mix of wet and dry - about 2-3 oz of wet per cat per day, and free fed dry. I switched to Authority's sensitive solutions - Turkey and oatmeal - which claims to have no corn, wheat or beef in it - b/c one cat was having diarrhea. (Seems to have cleared with extended metronidizole.) They also have a pet fountain.

So I am confused about which grains cause food intolerances b/c that was what I was concerned about and why I switched to the SS formulation. I thought corn was a big culprit? Should I go back to their Chicken and rice formula?

PS just raised the price on everything... it's now $13 for an 8 lb bag.

Maybe transition them to Kirkland brand for value and quality?

Originally Posted by AddieBee

OK- read this thread with interest. Have all male fosters. Knock wood - no UTI problems so far. Feeding Authority - rescue that I WAS working with has Petsmart adoption center space which donates that food for those cats.

They get a mix of wet and dry - about 2-3 oz of wet per cat per day, and free fed dry. I switched to Authority's sensitive solutions - Turkey and oatmeal - which claims to have no corn, wheat or beef in it - b/c one cat was having diarrhea. (Seems to have cleared with extended metronidizole.) They also have a pet fountain.

So I am confused about which grains cause food intolerances b/c that was what I was concerned about and why I switched to the SS formulation. I thought corn was a big culprit? Should I go back to their Chicken and rice formula?

PS just raised the price on everything... it's now $13 for an 8 lb bag.

Maybe transition them to Kirkland brand for value and quality?

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Chicken is the easiest to digest meat and rice is the easiest to digest grain... Hence why I usually like chicken and rice formulations

I just picked up my first supply of Science CD dry & wet last night and, yeah, have to admit looking at the ingredients I wouldn't be leaping to buy it if I were at Petsmart. But, since Dante has struvite crystals and vet recommended this diet change, at least for a month, I'm going with it. And, thankfully, both kitties snarfed it up at dinner and breakfast.

I was warned to not overfeed - apparently the CD is very calorie-packed. He's having another urine test in a month, which should give us some clues too. But, if SD helps with the crystals, I'm going to be a very happy camper and will not overly worry about the ingredients.

Originally Posted by darlili

I just picked up my first supply of Science CD dry & wet last night and, yeah, have to admit looking at the ingredients I wouldn't be leaping to buy it if I were at Petsmart. But, since Dante has struvite crystals and vet recommended this diet change, at least for a month, I'm going with it. And, thankfully, both kitties snarfed it up at dinner and breakfast.

I was warned to not overfeed - apparently the CD is very calorie-packed. He's having another urine test in a month, which should give us some clues too. But, if SD helps with the crystals, I'm going to be a very happy camper and will not overly worry about the ingredients.

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One slight correction, the prescription c/d is not Hills Science Diet. Science Diet is the grocery story brand. The prescription food is also made by Hills, but is called Hills Prescription Diet.

The ingredients do seem..not so great. But you are back to the lesser of two evils. A male who is prone to crystals is very high special needs. Males can block without warning. If not given veterinary attention within 24 hours after blocking, (catheterization) they die. And it is a terrible painful death.

Some males end up having to have a very expensive surgery called Perineal Urethrostomy, which then offers up it's own set of problems.

And yes, they may gain weight on the c/d. Exercise is very important for FLUTD cats anyway, so in addition to adjusting doses, keep him running! (I make Mazy run up and down the stairs chasing the Red Dot, every night <weg>) Weight gain is bad for FLUTD cats.

In case your vet didn't tell you, it is very important that the FLUTD cat eat only the prescription c/d multicare.

Feeding any other food, including treats, will interfere with the food being able to do it's job correctly, which is to prevent your boy from forming any more crystals.

Originally Posted by darlili

I just want to thank Otto for sharing his experience, and Sharky for her time and energy in answering food questions. My vet just recommended Science Diet CD for my boy due to crystal formation, and I'm going with the recent advice - I do trust my vet and don't feel she's suggesting prescription for any reason other than health for my cat. We're going to try and then see what happens at our one month check-up. But I don't care what's in the food, as long as it helps my cat and he'll eat it.

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You're welcome! I'm a "she" though "otto" came from the first letters of my two oldest cats: Ootay and Tolly. Ootay is gone now, so I'm glad I used part of her name in my username!

I think you are making a very wise decision.

Hi, Otto - and sorry about the gender confusion!!! But what a beautiful way to honor your kitties....

I am very happy that, if Dante were going to develop crystals, for whatever reason, I was home and was able to notice his actions in the box. Both vets told me they didn't think he'd been overly uncomfortable, but that it was extremely good luck to be able to catch it relatively early. My poor guy - he's lost a few pounds since I got him 3 years ago, but he could lose a little more - vet's going to help me figure out portion sizes as we go along the next month. And I'm glad I have enough money to buy the recommended food (although not that much more than a lot of the mid to premium petstore brands, I think)...sure, mom doesn't need a new raincoat this fall!

Oh, well, the upside is that I'll hopefully make more new friends at the front desk when I pick the food up - although the practice has been great at getting me in promptly whenever I called, and I am the most nervous mommy you can imagine.