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Urine pH test strips

post #1 of 15
1/13/12 at 5:11am
Thread Starter 
I'm trying again to put Mazy on a commercial canned diet. I just can't take the regurgitation on the c/d, it's not good for her, it's not good for me. This time I'm going to monitor her urine pH as I try the various canned foods on her, so I need the test strips. I'm looking for recommendations on what brand to use and where to get them.

Thanks for any help.
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post #2 of 15
1/13/12 at 5:22am
These are great and the easiest to read compared to other strips
 
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post #3 of 15
1/13/12 at 7:23am
I've not used test strips before so can't offer a recommendation, but I would love to hear what kind you found that works for you. I have a chronic cystitis boy and who knows if I'll need them in the future.

Btw, my boy wouldn't touch the wet C/D, but absolutely loves the Purina UR.
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post #4 of 15
1/13/12 at 9:43am
otto, just thought of something. If for some reason that cannot be identified Mazy absolutely has to have an acidified diet, think cranberry. This supplement
or some other, specifically formulated for pets.
 
Info
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post #5 of 15
1/13/12 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Violet View Post

These are great and the easiest to read compared to other strips
 
http://www.amazon.com/Phinex-Diagnostic-Results-Seconds-Balance/dp/B003PDB79W/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1326460749&sr=8-2-fkmr0

Thank you! I'll try them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momofmany View Post

I've not used test strips before so can't offer a recommendation, but I would love to hear what kind you found that works for you. I have a chronic cystitis boy and who knows if I'll need them in the future.
Btw, my boy wouldn't touch the wet C/D, but absolutely loves the Purina UR.

Mazy won't eat the canned c/d either. frown.gif I won't try the Purina because it contains menadione sodium bisulfite complex. I won't try the Royal Canin because it contains powdered cellulose. I am as fnicky as a cat when it comes to what I feed them. The only reason I feed the c/d is because it have proven itself time and again to control her struvite and high pH problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Violet View Post

otto, just thought of something. If for some reason that cannot be identified Mazy absolutely has to have an acidified diet, think cranberry. This supplement
http://www.belfield.com/carpon.php
or some other, specifically formulated for pets.
 
Info
http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/health/urinarytract.htm

Thanks! Violet you are reading my mind. laughing02.gif That's why I want the strips. I am going to try her on the various canned foods I find acceptable to feed my cats, and test her urine on each of them. If her pH continues to climb, I will ask my vet about using an acidifier instead of feeding the c/d.

I just can't take the stress of all this regurgitation, and nothing I have tried has made a bit of difference. I know it's because that stuff just sits like a lump in her gut for hours and hours, instead of getting digested. So the next time she eats (and the kibbles are large, and she usually swallows them whole) even if it has been 10 hours, the new food is just lumping on top of the old, still lingering in her stomach.

She is fed tiny meals, but it makes no difference, every two or three days she regurgitates. I can't take it any more, and it's not good for her either. Bad for her teeth, besides.

The latest thing I've been trying is putting a little melted pure chicken fat in the dish, to help the kibbles slide down. But that doesn't change the fact that the previous meal is still sitting down there. It's made her coat lovely and soft, and she loves the chicken fat. But she still regurgitates every 2 or 3 days. I've tried giving her a probiotic, in the hopes it would help her body digest it faster. Nothing works. I have got to get her off this food. Off kibble, specifically.

If Purina or RC didn't have those "deal breakers" (for me) in their canned urinary diets, I might try them, even though the prices are outrageous. Mazy loves canned food in general, but she will not eat the canned c/d.
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post #6 of 15
1/13/12 at 12:31pm
Clearly a very serious food sensitivity issue and you're on the right track to solve it.
Two of mine could never, ever tolerate the ingredients in prescription foods, so I completely understand how frustrating this situation is for you. But you will solve it because you have the love and determination to do it.
 
(((HUGS)))
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post #7 of 15
1/13/12 at 5:16pm
Thread Starter 
Hmmm...I'm just thinking, how will I use the strips? I envisioned myself just sticking a strip under her for a quick second when she is peeing. (She would allow that, I think) But then reading the reviews I'm reading all this stuff about dipping the strip to avoid blurring the results.

If I waited until she was done and poked the stick quick into the clump, would that work?
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post #8 of 15
1/13/12 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post

If I waited until she was done and poked the stick quick into the clump, would that work?


I don't think the ph results would be very reliable if they're contaminated by litter. Do you think you could slide a shallow jar lid under her bum once she starts to pee? That's what I do. Peanut butter lids work well, or even a jam jar lid. Some people use a ladle or long handled spoon but I find those too difficult to position if the kitty is peeing close to the edge of the box. You don't need much urine to test. Wait till she starts to pee, then gently maneuver the lid until you hear the urine stream hitting it, then pull it back out after a couple seconds. Most cats are so involved with peeing that it doesn't bother them a whole heckuva lot. They may give you a funny look and that's it. For really shy pee-ers, another method is to cover the litter with plastic wrap. The pee will pool in the folds of the wrap and you can test it when she's done.

 

 

 

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post #9 of 15
1/13/12 at 6:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugarcatmom View Post



I don't think the ph results would be very reliable if they're contaminated by litter. Do you think you could slide a shallow jar lid under her bum once she starts to pee? That's what I do. Peanut butter lids work well, or even a jam jar lid. Some people use a ladle or long handled spoon but I find those too difficult to position if the kitty is peeing close to the edge of the box. You don't need much urine to test. Wait till she starts to pee, then gently maneuver the lid until you hear the urine stream hitting it, then pull it back out after a couple seconds. Most cats are so involved with peeing that it doesn't bother them a whole heckuva lot. They may give you a funny look and that's it. For really shy pee-ers, another method is to cover the litter with plastic wrap. The pee will pool in the folds of the wrap and you can test it when she's done.



Thank you, those are very useful tips. I don't think she will mind, but she may surprise me, I'll have to see. Do you test regularly? Do you have a diabetic kitty or a FLUTD kitty? Where do you get your strips?
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post #10 of 15
1/13/12 at 9:30pm
vibes.gifvibes.gif For your dear Mazy... I use PH strips for Pipsqueak and I just stick the strip in the urine stream while he goes. He is very easy for me to collect urine too. The strips I have are very old and I think a vet gave them to me years ago. I am going to order the ones that Amy recommend from Amazon. Much luck in your search for a diet for her. I am sure it is hard on both of you.... This regurgitation. Keep us posted on all fronts, diet and PH strip testing wavey.gifvibes.gif
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post #11 of 15
1/20/12 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
First urine strip test! A perfect color match with the 6.5 pH! banana1.gif (mine on the other hand was slightly too acidic for a human, at 6.0 laughing02.gif)

I just stuck it under her stream as she peed, she didn't mind a bit.

Mazy has been on the Before Grain canned beef for one week. For a few days she was still getting the c/d for supper. Now, no c/d for the last three days, either.

No vomiting, no regurgitation. Not once.

I did a dry matter comparison on the c/d kibble and the BG canned beef for phosphorous and magnesium. Not all that much difference. The sodium is significantly higher in the canned food than the c/d kibble. I am not thrilled with that, but it's tough to find a cat food without salt added.

I have decided against adding water to her food. The canned food is 77% moisture. My water is very hard well water. I think it's better if she doesn't have it. She was a very poor drinker on the c/d kibble, so she is getting way more water this way even without adding any. And she is peeing more.

Oh yes, and no constipation problems either, since taking her off the c/d. Now, as long as her pH stays where it should, that should control the struvite.cross.gif

PS Mazy, who is an active cat anyway, is already so much more active since being on the canned diet. I've noticed it before, when I tried the switch, but this time is really really noticeable. her little body just did not want that c/d any more.

320
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post #12 of 15
1/20/12 at 8:15pm
AWW Mazy is just beautiful - LOOK at that coat marbling - very pretty love.gif YAY for the good PH test. I just received my PH strips too clap.gifclap.gif I guess you are suppose to read and match the top color first? Pips was between 6.5 and 7.0 then. Hope Mazy continues to do well on the canned food hugs.gifrub.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #13 of 15
1/21/12 at 10:20am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post

First urine strip test! A perfect color match with the 6.5 pH! banana1.gif (mine on the other hand was slightly too acidic for a human, at 6.0 laughing02.gif)

I just stuck it under her stream as she peed, she didn't mind a bit.

Mazy has been on the Before Grain canned beef for one week. For a few days she was still getting the c/d for supper. Now, no c/d for the last three days, either.

No vomiting, no regurgitation. Not once.

I did a dry matter comparison on the c/d kibble and the BG canned beef for phosphorous and magnesium. Not all that much difference. The sodium is significantly higher in the canned food than the c/d kibble. I am not thrilled with that, but it's tough to find a cat food without salt added.

I have decided against adding water to her food. The canned food is 77% moisture. My water is very hard well water. I think it's better if she doesn't have it. She was a very poor drinker on the c/d kibble, so she is getting way more water this way even without adding any. And she is peeing more.

Oh yes, and no constipation problems either, since taking her off the c/d. Now, as long as her pH stays where it should, that should control the struvite.cross.gif

PS Mazy, who is an active cat anyway, is already so much more active since being on the canned diet. I've noticed it before, when I tried the switch, but this time is really really noticeable. her little body just did not want that c/d any more.

320


Great news!  And she IS gorgeous.  Wonder why I never noticed her striking coloring before headscratch.gif.  Must be that chicken fat you were giving her!

 

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post #14 of 15
1/23/12 at 6:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post

AWW Mazy is just beautiful - LOOK at that coat marbling - very pretty love.gif YAY for the good PH test. I just received my PH strips too clap.gifclap.gif I guess you are suppose to read and match the top color first? Pips was between 6.5 and 7.0 then. Hope Mazy continues to do well on the canned food hugs.gifrub.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif

Yes. Mazy's has gone up slightly and is now showing between 6.75 and 7 frown.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post

 


Great news!  And she IS gorgeous.  Wonder why I never noticed her striking coloring before headscratch.gif .  Must be that chicken fat you were giving her!

Thanks, she's my Lovey cat. Her colors and markings seem to become more and more striking as she ages. (she's 7 1/2)
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post #15 of 15
2/10/12 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
The strips are working out well. They are easy to read. If no match on the top square, find the match on the bottom square. I don't understand the concept behind this, but I'm no chemist. Anyone else know why this is what it is?

I more often get my match/result from the bottom square.

Mazy is a social pee-er so I just stick the strip under her stream, she doesn't mind in the least. I just slip it under then remove it, takes less than a second.

banana1.gif
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