Raw Diet with Urinary Issues?

alexiso

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I have a questions concerning my cat's raw diet and his history with blocking / struvite crystals. 

The cat is male, 5 years old, overall good health but was the runt of the litter and has a small bladder. Murphy's been on a raw diet since January and I use the Feline-Nutrition Recipe and make 5lb batches of both Chicken and Rabbit from Hare Today. 

Over the weekend we had to take him to the vet because he started to display the telltale signs of having a problem; visiting the litterbox frequently and only urinating in small amounts, however he did not get to passing any blood or crying out while in the box. The vet gave us pain medication, an anti-biotic and requested a urine sample after we got home - something I haven't been able to get yet because he's very litterbox-sensitive since totally blocking 2 years ago.

This time may be stressed-induced as well but I wanted to get your opinions and advice: 

History

The first time we had this issue he totally blocked and it was due to dry food and not getting enough moisture. He was switched to wet food and didn't have a problem since. 

The second time I caught signs of the urinary issue and took him to the vet asap and I determined it was due to stress because my two other cats were fighting hardcore but since then the instigator has been put on medication and there hasn't been any issues since. 

This time I think it may be stressed-induced but I can't be sure: On Friday/Saturday we had plumbing issues so there was a lot of noise in the basement, unfamiliar voices, knocks on the door, etc and Sunday is when he started having a problem. I will add that I had been out of Feli-Way for a couple weeks so I think the stress + not having the Feliway may have been too much. After we got home I immediately went out and bought the Feliway (at highway robbery prices) and plugged it in while kicking myself. 

I wanted to know if there was something in the Raw Food that I should be wary about with him? Does anyone here make anything special for their cats with urinary issues? 

I was given Hils' "new" C/D canned food as a sample - it looks like Fancy Feast now - and I was thinking of adding that to the raw food because I can't keep going through this with him - not only is he traumatized from the vet visits, medication and pain but I just can't afford it. Would adding that be a mistake? (Mistake due to the supplements I use + whatever is in the C/D) 

Any advice?

Thanks!  
 

mschauer

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It was because one of my cats having struvite crystals that I switched to a raw diet. I didn't want to have to feed her an RX diet. The swtich to raw was 7 years ago and she has been crystal free since.  I use a recipe very similar to the one at catnutriion.org. The biggest difference is that I don't use real bone but use MCHA (freeze dried bone). I wouldn't expect any differences between the catnutrition.org recipe and mine to matter with crystal control.

I have read where some cats develop struvite srystals even when on a raw diet or an RX diet.  

If it  were me I would get him clear of the crystals then get a urine analysis to see what the pH of his urine is normally. If it isn't acidic enough you can talk to your vet about adding an acidifier to his diet.  

Just thought of something, do you add psyllium husk to your raw food? That may (I'm not sure) lower the acidify of his urine and make him more prone to crystals.

Edit: You have to be careful using acidifiers though. If the urine pH is too acidic he would be at risk of oxalate crystals which is a much bigger problem than struvite crystals because they have to be removed surgically. 
 
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lisamarie12

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Just thought of something, do you add psyllium husk to your raw food? That may (I'm not sure) lower the acidify of his urine and make him more prone to crystals.

Mschauer:

I use Rad Cat which contains psyllium husk, should I be concerned the ingredient will lower the acidity of my male cats' urine? Maybe I will contact RC with this question. Thanks. :)
 
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