Feel like I am jinxed ... need some input

Can't figure out what in the world I am doing or not doing that two of my male cats, age 3 1/2 are not healthy...

Spook , history : was prone to  Struvite crystals, on Royal Canin S/O canned and Dry (yes I know dry is not the answer for cats with urinary issues), Blocked over two months ago, diagnosed with Cystitis (IC) over one month ago (Give him Cosequin).

I detest the RC RX dry  diet food for these reasons: High Carbs, too many grains .

The canned isn't that bad, at least they have left out alot of the fillers .

Problem is Spook I believe has developed a food intolerance allergy to most likely all the grains in the dry and who knows it could possibly be the protein source which is chicken... I say this because we have been having ear problems off and on now for over 5 months.... Scratching at left ear, had two cultures done, nothing, although the swabbing at the vet indicated bacteria.

Drops, antibiotics, antibiotic wax plugs.. The antibiotic wax plug seemed to help since one of the vets thought the problem was more outer but here we are again with him scratching and he will also suddenly lick at his feet , tail etc, this is why I suspect some sort of allergy to possibly the food.

A month ago Spook had three treatments, one week apart called A-Cyst for his Cystitis, after the first treatment the frequent urination , growling after using the litter box and licking really got better. The last treatment Spook was back to normal and remained that way until two days ago when I noticed he frequented the litter box 4 times in one day and only produced smaller amounts of urine, unlike his normal amount...

Along when this started two days ago I noticed him scratching at his left ear and for the past two days he hasn't been as energetic and social (like wanting to be out the living room )...

I have been out $$$$ on Spook for sono, blood work, UA, treatment, all for the same process to start all over again...

I have beat myself senseless trying to figure out what I am doing wrong or what I can do to help him get and stay healthy..

I have spent countless amount of time on internet searching for answers, researching other foods, which there are no RX foods that are hypoallergenic and help to maintain healthy urinary tract.... I am afraid to try any other food right now due to the fact I did a few months back and he developed a high PH of 7.8 and struvite crystals... (Nature's Variety LID Turkey in canned and dry)

Holistic Select I have reviewed and found it has possibly some potential in the canned, especially the Duck since it is low in Magnesium, etc., has Glucosamine and cranberry for urinary health... Anyone ever use this for their cat who had urinary issues ??

Boo, he has probable IBD and Allergies, recently developed for the very first time a UTI !!!....

He is on Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Duck & Pea in canned and I also purchased Natural balance Duck & Pea because my cats are addicted to dry but I give him 75% canned with a little water added to it and 25 % DRY..

With my vet's blessing I tried N-Acetyl Glucosamine (was hard to find) in capsules, I dosed at 125 mg once daily for two days and he started scratching !!!

Come to find out, although it tastes like powdered sugar it's source is shellfish which can be a potential allergen..

He is currently finishing up Fortiflora because the antibiotic for the UTI caused Diarrhea... Yea !!!!

So as  I sit here wondering why I get all the special needs cats that are mysteries, I have to smile at something my vet said " I believe they are sent to us because someone knows(God) we will take care of them "

Sorry so long but I wanted to be specific and I am hoping that someone can shed some light on these issues and perhaps have some good suggestions for me..

Thanks

Wellness Core turkey as well as Petcurean Now! turkey and duck are both grain free and have cranberries if you want to try that for dry food? they also have grain free canned food with cranberries as well so you can have a variety cause they come in a couple different flavors. if you want to look at them online, you can find them both at www.chewy.com

AS far as the low magnesium, I don't know, but I DO know that Natural Balance makes a limited ingredient food, and so does Blue Buffalo.  Oh, I see yo already had Boo on the Natural Balance !  So...WHY did you start him on the Glucosimine, which started his scratching?  Was he having some issues which required it?  Did you stop it, and if so, has he stopped scratching? 

So is Spook the real problem in that he may have developed another UTI?  Have you taken him in, BTW?   At appears now that 3 days ago everything with him went haywire and now he is itching, possible UTI loss of energy?  What's his status as of today? 

I know Dave's makes a special diet canned food that is low in magnesium, if that helps at all.  It's made with pork vs chicken

Hi,

Boo has most likely probable IBD and N-acetyl Glucosamine works similar to L-Glutamine, repairing and restoring lining of bowel.

Vet gave the ok to try this supplement and I was in hopes they it may be helpful for him but after second dose I noticed he was scratching around his head and since I've seen this before it was a warning to me that more than likely this supplement can not be tolerated.

Spook, he had a series of 3 treatments, one week apart, called A-Cyst by Dechran pharmaceuticals.(total of $680).It is used in Cystitis to temporarily coat and help replenish the deficient GAG layer on bladder wall.

This worked very well for him from the first treatment to the last but after 3 weeks (three days ago) I noticed all the symptoms I posted above ...

Today  he is doing better, out and roaming about the house.

I give him Cosequin (remove it from the original capsule and put it in a smaller veg, capsule) due to the fact that I don't like the ingredients their capsule contains.., I also have started back on giving him Dr. Mercolas Pet probiotic.

I have been cleaning his left ear (for the past three days) with Halo's Cloud nine Herbal Ear Wash, this stuff is amazing as i haven't noticed him scratching like he was at his ear.....

No he has not been back to the vet, I truly believe it is just his Cystitis , no infection., no blood in litter box, no straining., no growling, no excessive licking. As a matter of fact he has only had one infection since I have had him and that was about a year and a half ago.

I monitor my cats closely and if he would start any symptoms of very frequent urination, producing only tiny amounts, or see blood in his urine, I would take him immediately to the vet....

Boo is on the Natural Balance LID Duck & Pea in Dry and I incorporate more canned of Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Duck & Pea into his diet, adding a little water to it.

Spook is the one I wish there was something else I could give him, especially since the RC S/O dry is not what I want to see him having to eat....

I don't know if there was any connection  but Boo was eating the S/O many months ago and suddenly he started throwing up and was positive for Pancreatitis, now probable IBD ... This RC has many corn grains and ingredients that I just am not comfortable with....

To add to my most recent post I also have PH strips and special litter for checking any urinary problems that might arise..

OK, let's start with Boo.  Since you said the N-acetyl glucosamine works the same as the L-glutamine, why can't you give him the L-glutamine instead?  I'm guessing there is some reason, but perhaps not?  But if so, could you maybe start with much smaller doses of the glucosamine and see how that effects him.  I did read that allergies to it are very uncommon (in cats) even though it is made from shellfish, but that if they do occur to try starting out with lower doses and work your way up)   You say he has probable IBD.  I'm guessing they have not done an actual biopsy to completely determine his diagnosis?  What are you doing for him other than the Mercola probiotics and trying to get him on grain free food and the glocosamine?   Anything else?  Is he over the pancreatis now? 

Do you run Feliway plug-ins in your home?  I have heard they work really well for cats to help DEstress them, and with cats prone to urinary issues, DEstressing is critical.  Has anything changed recently that could be causing them to be stressed?  Even changing your furniture around can cause some cats anxiety .  Maybe this is why Boo suddenly developed a UTI too (or maybe you're getting stressed and they are picking up on that )  Some cats are much more sensitive to things than others.

As far as Spook, I know you don't like the ingredients in the RC S/O, but there really is a place for those prescription foods. (I know you said you think he may be allergic to chicken now, but then later you said his ear is getting better, so do you STILL think it's chicken allergy, or not?)   We do have a member here, @LDG, whose cat Spooky has chronic cystitis, and she ended up feeding her a raw diet versus prescription or canned food.  I know her Spooky is MUCH BETTER!  She still has the occasional flare-up, I believe, but not like before.  I have flagged her so maybe she'll pop in and give her two cents when she gets the time.  In the meantime, I'm guessing you try to get him to eat the S/O canned as much as possible?  Have you tried crushing some of the S/O kibble and using it as a topper for the canned ?   Otherwise, take a look at that Dave's low magnesium I mentioned in my first post.  And, of course, water, water, water.  I'm sure you know that.  Have you seen this article.  It was written by LDG, Spooky's meowmy    http://www.thecatsite.com/a/tips-to-increase-your-cat-s-water-intake

Additionally, here is a recent very short thread  on FLUTD that you might find helpful:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/270377/for-all-of-you-struggling-with-flutd-in-cats

Thanks for the reply...

Boo had pancreatitis over 5 months ago, which eventually lead the "probable" dx of IBD.

He had x-ray but no Biopsy to confirm IBD...Just going by the slight thickening of the intestional wall and his symptoms.

He is not on any medications right now except the supplement  Fortiflora due to the UTI and having to take Antibiotics that lead to Diarrhea.

He has been on a short course of steroids before but two weeks to a month or so later he always has a flair of something, this time it was a UTI, last time it was Pancreatitis.

Don't know if this was just a fluke or what, seems strange though to me.

The L-Glutamine, I read where some cats can not tolerate it so that is why I went with the N-Acetyl Glucosamine... I think I am going to start over and go very slow on the dosage and see what happens.

Spook, I reviewed Dave's Canned, looks promising but I will have my vet check it out and see if he gives me the go ahead..

I don't know what to think about Spook and possible allergies, he seems to be doing better in the past two days as far as scratching at his ear...

I know the RC S/O has probably helped but looking at the high carbs, fillers, the sodium content (Dry 1.45), it makes me wonder about the long term effects on him, perhaps developing Diabetes, kidney issues...

Dave's dry has less Magnesium and sodium in it than the RC S/O does... Also Dave's restricted canned has less phosphorus, magnesium and sodium...

RC S/O has not prevented Spook from becoming Blocked over two months ago, I try to incorporate more canned than dry and I add a little more water to the canned...

Yes, I have tried the Feliway, as a matter of fact I have the diffuser plugged in right now.

Yes, there have been changes in my household, our son moved back in for awhile and he has a 7 year that comes over twice a week now.

I know it can cause anxiety , that is the problem that I am dealing with most certainly ....There also was a death in our family 3 months ago, so I am sure the boys picked up on our emotions also.

Spook is a shy cat(Russian Blue) and gets excited too easily, Boo is a nervous cat and the vet put him on a 1/4 Elavil given a few hours before I go to bed in the evening, he has been on that for about 2 1/2 weeks now it does help.

I have a third cat, Peanut, about the same age as the other two, he and Spook do not get along... That is why I keep them separated, Peanut downstairs late morning  till evening, Spook late evening till next mid morning, etc...

Thank you..

How are things going?  Did you try reintroducing the N-Acetyl Glucosamine slowly?

How about Spook?  Have you tried crushing some of the S/O kibble and putting it on the S/O canned to get him to eat more of the canned, or gotten your Vet to give the OK to try the Dave's?  Other than that, or to try to switch them to raw, I don't know what to suggest, since there isn't much you can do about the stress factor at this time

Spook is doing well... My normal vet has been off due to wife having baby so I will contact him tomorrow and ask about Dave's Restricted can..

I have been using the Halo herbal ear wash and haven't noticed any major scratching going on either..

I have not tried the dry crumbled up on top of the canned. I have just been giving him less dry and offering the canned S/O . The dry is only after he has ate some canned and then a little before I go to bed in the evening.

Boo, I have not reintroduced the Glucosamine as of yet, however I am having success with the Curcuvet -SA50 by Thorne research, which is Curcumin Phytosome and Phosphatidylcholine complex.

It is used for Hepatic, Musculoskeletal & GI support...I found this online and did some research on it and Vet said from what he could find that it would be worth a try for the inflammation ...

No scratching or anything unusual that I have noticed and he has been on it for 5 days... His stools are now back to normal also, this is a blessing....

Yes , there is not much I can do about the stress issue except what I am currently doing, the feliway, keeping Spook separated from Peanut..

Thank you...

Sounds like things are improving .  Let's hope things continue in this direction