Fabulous users of TCS,
This is a companion thread to one that I have started in the Raw section of the Nutrition forum. If so inclined you read it in full here: [thread="267809"]What Is The Quickest And Most Convenient Way To Feed Raw[/thread] To avoid repetition, I'm just going to give the reader's digest version of what's going on.
My parents' cat has been suffering from irritable bowel syndrome for several years and has frequent, recurring urinary tract infections. The main issue at this point are the UTI's, as when she has one she pees on the furniture to communicate to us that she is in pain. And that is certainly not making my Dad very happy!
A year and a half ago we put her on an all grain free, wet food diet and it seemed to help some. But, we noticed a huge change this past summer when she was going outside regularly and feasting on as many rabbits as she could get her paws on. From May until a few weeks ago she didn't have a single episode! But, Winter is now upon us and the bunnies are in short supply and she's having to spend a lot more time indoors. And, of course, now she is in the middle of having a major flare. Because of this observation and other supporting documents I have read that show a correlation between a raw diet and a decrese in UTI's, we are in the process of switching her over.
What I am wanting to know is what, In addition to a raw diet, have other people who have cats with frequent UTI's done to try and prevent them. Specifically, are there any supplements you have found particularly helpful? How about medications? Or, any particular type of meat for the raw diet that seems to help more than another? I'm open to any and all suggestions!
I would love to hear your experiences on what has worked and what hasn't. That said, I for sure want to get her started on her new diet before I start adding other things. That way, if something is working or not working we will know what it is and not have to go through any more of the trial and error process than we already are. At this point I am just trying to collect as much information as I can so we have options of what else to try when something inevitably doesn't go quite right. And, hopefully having options will keep my Dad from getting so frustrated!
Thank you in advance for any advice that you can offer- I really appreciate it!
This is a companion thread to one that I have started in the Raw section of the Nutrition forum. If so inclined you read it in full here: [thread="267809"]What Is The Quickest And Most Convenient Way To Feed Raw[/thread] To avoid repetition, I'm just going to give the reader's digest version of what's going on.
My parents' cat has been suffering from irritable bowel syndrome for several years and has frequent, recurring urinary tract infections. The main issue at this point are the UTI's, as when she has one she pees on the furniture to communicate to us that she is in pain. And that is certainly not making my Dad very happy!
A year and a half ago we put her on an all grain free, wet food diet and it seemed to help some. But, we noticed a huge change this past summer when she was going outside regularly and feasting on as many rabbits as she could get her paws on. From May until a few weeks ago she didn't have a single episode! But, Winter is now upon us and the bunnies are in short supply and she's having to spend a lot more time indoors. And, of course, now she is in the middle of having a major flare. Because of this observation and other supporting documents I have read that show a correlation between a raw diet and a decrese in UTI's, we are in the process of switching her over.
What I am wanting to know is what, In addition to a raw diet, have other people who have cats with frequent UTI's done to try and prevent them. Specifically, are there any supplements you have found particularly helpful? How about medications? Or, any particular type of meat for the raw diet that seems to help more than another? I'm open to any and all suggestions!
I would love to hear your experiences on what has worked and what hasn't. That said, I for sure want to get her started on her new diet before I start adding other things. That way, if something is working or not working we will know what it is and not have to go through any more of the trial and error process than we already are. At this point I am just trying to collect as much information as I can so we have options of what else to try when something inevitably doesn't go quite right. And, hopefully having options will keep my Dad from getting so frustrated!
Thank you in advance for any advice that you can offer- I really appreciate it!