wet food for struvite crystals

smokiethecat · Dec 3, 2009

My 3yr old neutered male cat came back from the vet a week ago after being
there 2 days on a cath for blockage. He's just now finally acting like himself. He still uses the litter box frequently,not a LOT at one time,but no blood...BUT
I am having a horrible time getting him to eat the hill's c/d..more than horrible,not at all! He will eat his Iams hairball "somewhat" and will eat some wet,but other than that - nothing..He has lost some weight. He has been doing better yesterday and this morning. He will eat tuna in water,but I know he shouldn't be...but i had to get him to eat something or he'd die.

My question is,is there another dry food that he can eat that won't cause the
crystals?

Also, are all wet foods safe for him or only certain ones...and how do I tell? He's not real big on wet food,but I thought I'd try some.

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

Also, he'd been snitching food out of our dogs bowl before he had his problems....could this be the likely cause of his blockage. The dog is on
Iams senior.......since my cat came back home,I only put the dog's food down
for him to eat and then take it back up again.

grogs · Dec 3, 2009

OK, take this advice with a big grain of salt because every cat is different and only you and your vet know the specific situation...

Your first course of action should be to call the vet and explain the situation. They might be able to prescribe you a different brand of food. Royal Canin makes one I believe. There's also a wet and a dry version of the CD, so you might try the wet if you think he might eat that.

I wouldn't recommend feeding him any dry food (now or ever) unless it's a urinary tract health formula. Several store brands sell these. Dog food isn't really healthy for him and it's definitely not UTI safe, so I would take steps to keep him from eating that.

Some people have had good results feeding wet food, but it depends on the underlying cause of the crystals. If the crystals were caused by chronic dehydration (pretty common with an all dry diet) then the extra water in the wet food would help prevent a reoccurrance. You can stir extra water into the wet to help that. If the underlying cause is some type of mineral imbalance, then regular wet food probably won't work. Unfortunately, there's probably no easy way to tell exactly what caused the problem.

Initially, I would try to stick to the prescription food (whatever you and your vet can find that he'll eat) for a few months until you're sure he's healthy and he tests crystal free. If you want to try and switch him to something else after that, do it with the help of your vet. Maybe start by adding a few meals a week of something different for a while and then have a urinalysis done to check for crystals. Then progress from there if he's still doing well.

sharky · Dec 3, 2009

Originally Posted by Grogs

OK, take this advice with a big grain of salt because every cat is different and only you and your vet know the specific situation...

Your first course of action should be to call the vet and explain the situation. They might be able to prescribe you a different brand of food. Royal Canin makes one I believe. There's also a wet and a dry version of the CD, so you might try the wet if you think he might eat that.

I wouldn't recommend feeding him any dry food (now or ever) unless it's a urinary tract health formula. Several store brands sell these. Dog food isn't really healthy for him and it's definitely not UTI safe, so I would take steps to keep him from eating that.

Some people have had good results feeding wet food, but it depends on the underlying cause of the crystals. If the crystals were caused by chronic dehydration (pretty common with an all dry diet) then the extra water in the wet food would help prevent a reoccurrance. You can stir extra water into the wet to help that. If the underlying cause is some type of mineral imbalance, then regular wet food probably won't work. Unfortunately, there's probably no easy way to tell exactly what caused the problem.

Initially, I would try to stick to the prescription food (whatever you and your vet can find that he'll eat) for a few months until you're sure he's healthy and he tests crystal free. If you want to try and switch him to something else after that, do it with the help of your vet. Maybe start by adding a few meals a week of something different for a while and then have a urinalysis done to check for crystals. Then progress from there if he's still doing well.

Very well put , IMHO follow the vets suggestion first .... then discuss other options once under control

farleyv · Dec 3, 2009

My cat Beeba is just coming off the struvite crystals also. My vet put him on wet s/d which has acidifyers in it. He would not come within 2 feet of the dish. I ended up feeding him with a spoon.

After 2 days of this, the vet put him on dry s/d. He took to it immediately! I am not a fan of dry food. All my cats get wet, but this food had the meds he needed. I am ok now with it. It is crucial he get the right food.

Do you have an automatic drinking water fountain for your cat. If not I highly advise you to get one. Beeba is now drinking maybe 3x as much as before. That is key in treating and prevention of crystal formation. IMO it is just as important as the meds.

Do not change foods without vet approval. Not all otc wet foods are ok. Beeba has to be on s/d for 2-3 months and then c/d probably for the rest of his life.

Is your cat on any meds? Beeb is on Baytril, a urine acidifyer and a bladdar relaxant.

There has been an epidemic here lately of urinary issues. You shouldn't be feeding him anything but what the vet prescribes. He may never be able to have otc food again. Also, these crystals are prone to return. So that is another reason not to give otc food. Keep a good eye on his box from now on. There was a cat on the site that after 2 years, they came back. Another reason to keep on the prescribed food.

Just make up your mind to do what the dr says. Do not deviate from his advice.

Please keep us utd.

darlili · Dec 3, 2009

My boy had struvite crystals - his last urine sample was great, but he's been eating Hills CD dry, with some wet (because that's what he'll eat!). I also strongly urge you work with your vet very closely on this - please do not change foods, or select foods, without consultation with the vet.

There are several prescription foods for this issue - I'm betting your vet will know of them.

Good luck - I know you're worried.

jack31 · Dec 3, 2009

I agree that working with a vet is important.

But it does upset me alittle to hear people say that because of a urinary problem their pet will be on vet food for the rest of their lives--it doesn't have to be that way. Explore raw food if possible. Jack has had some urinary issues that have been corrected through raw feeding.

Leslie

sharky · Dec 3, 2009

Originally Posted by Jack31

I agree that working with a vet is important.

But it does upset me alittle to hear people say that because of a urinary problem their pet will be on vet food for the rest of their lives--it doesn't have to be that way. Explore raw food if possible. Jack has had some urinary issues that have been corrected through raw feeding.

Leslie

Very well written... I agree work with the vet ... I suggest start with vet recommendation and then work together to find the correct " lifelong " food

summermh · Dec 8, 2009

Originally Posted by Jack31

But it does upset me alittle to hear people say that because of a urinary problem their pet will be on vet food for the rest of their lives--it doesn't have to be that way. Explore raw food if possible. Jack has had some urinary issues that have been corrected through raw feeding.

Leslie, I'm exploring the idea of switching my cat, who has been on C/D for several years, to an all natural diet. Did your cat have struvite crystals or UTI's?

thanks,
Summer

farleyv · Dec 9, 2009

Please don't do any switching without your vets input. As you can see in the other threads, others have tried this with negative results.

mschauer · Dec 9, 2009

Originally Posted by SummerMH

Leslie, I'm exploring the idea of switching my cat, who has been on C/D for several years, to an all natural diet. Did your cat have struvite crystals or UTI's?

thanks,
Summer

My cat had struvite crystals and I choose to use a raw diet as a long term solution. I used the rx foods (s/d and c/d) until her crystals were cleared up though.

Originally Posted by farleyv

Please don't do any switching without your vets input. As you can see in the other threads, others have tried this with negative results.

I completely agree that great care should be taken when considering deviating from a vets recommended treatment.

In my case I was certain feeding a prescription food long term was not in the best interest of my cat but at that time I already had done extensive research on the risks of and on alternatives to processed foods. Even then I was very nervous about doing it. I *did not* want her to suffer through crystals again!

wet food for struvite crystals

smokiethecat

TCS Member

Thread starter

grogs

TCS Member

sharky

TCS Member

farleyv

TCS Member

darlili

TCS Member

jack31

TCS Member

sharky

TCS Member

summermh

TCS Member

farleyv

TCS Member

mschauer

TCS Member

Latest Posts

Connect with us