Science Diet C/D

Has anyone heard of Sceince Diet C/D? My kitty had a problem last year and had crystals in the urine and when I picked him up from the vet they had put in on medicated Science diet C/D. Now both of my siamese eat it. You can not buy it over the counter only at the vet and it cost 24.00 for 10 pound bag. I mean you have to have a prescription! They have been one it a little over a year. has anyone heard anything about this and what they have had come out with it? The vet told me that 99% of there food intake has to be this food and they have to eat it for the rest of their life. I am little worried about my cats eating it and never coming off of it. What if they stop making it? They said it would be serious problems???

I would say go with the vet ... 24$ may be alot but surgery for cystal s is way way way more .... You may ask you vet if there is a less expensive rx that would work... or get a second vet opinion

I am not worried about the money. The best for my babies. I just to be sure its good and if anyone heard of side effects after years of being on it. I hope they continue the food for ever.But they don't seem to be happy with it.You know how kitties get when you shake the food or open the can with the can opener. Trust me they eat it but don't get excited about it.(10 pounds every two weeks at the most 2 1/2 weeks) I even got them can science diet c/d and they didn't tare into it like they would Iams before . I just wish it tasted better for them. I know how i like my food and i want they babies to feel the same. Thanks for you response.

I have been using it for.. just under a year I guess.. and I haven't seen any sign of bladder infections like I was before, they were on a mix of Meow Mix and Techini Cal I think, they still get mewow mix mixed in every once in awhile as they love that food to bits. but its not as healthy for them as the CD is.

Originally Posted by acarper21

I am not worried about the money. The best for my babies. I just to be sure its good and if anyone heard of side effects after years of being on it. I hope they continue the food for ever.But they don't seem to be happy with it.You know how kitties get when you shake the food or open the can with the can opener.

Trust me they eat it but don't get excited about it.(10 pounds every two weeks at the most 2 1/2 weeks) I even got them can science diet c/d and they didn't tare into it like they would Iams before

. I just wish it tasted better for them. I know how i like my food and i want they babies to feel the same. Thanks for you response.

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My vet also told me to put my cat on Science Diet C/D. My cat didn't like it either. But he doesn't have crystals so I am no longer feeding him Science Diet C/D. I wish vets were more informative but only thing they recommend is Science Diet, which makes me pretty angry. Vets around here are pretty much useless when it comes to food, as the only thing they seem to know of is Science Diet. Other companies also make urinary tract health food but I don't know if that's any good. If your vet is a reasonable person (unlike mine) maybe you could discuss the other foods with him.

I have a dog that has been on C/D for about 3 years now becauses of stones in both kidney's, with no problems. Science diet will not stop making the food because there is a need for it, it is used to change the PH of the urine and to keep it in a midrange (not acidic and not alkaline) to keep crystals from forming. If you have alot of crystals the they will start to from stones in the bladder or the kidneys and can cause blockages in cat (males being more prone). Regular over the counter foods for urinary tract health don't help to keep the PH where it needs to be they usually add cranberry to their fromula which makes the lining of the bladder less sticky and harder for bacteria to take hold and proliferate. Please continue with the diet your vet prescribed, if you are wooried about it you can talk to him/her about other prescription foods such as the ones Purina, Waltham (Royal Canin), or Eukanuba make for the same purpose.

Thanks everyone, It seems as though that food might not be to bad. i don't want him to get Crystals again. He was pitiful. I felt real bad. It bill was like 200 dollars for an hour no shots just antibotic and the test for crystal. I will not change I guess until I go to the vet again and he says something about it. I just wished it taste better for my kitties . I guess if itis the best then thats what my kitties get

I am sorry I missed your question yesterday! You've had great replies, that I agree with

Originally Posted by acarper21

Has anyone heard of Sceince Diet C/D? My kitty had a problem last year and had crystals in the urine and when I picked him up from the vet they had put in on medicated Science diet C/D. Now both of my siamese eat it. You can not buy it over the counter only at the vet and it cost 24.00 for 10 pound bag. I mean you have to have a prescription! They have been one it a little over a year. has anyone heard anything about this and what they have had come out with it? The vet told me that 99% of there food intake has to be this food and they have to eat it for the rest of their life. I am little worried about my cats eating it and never coming off of it. What if they stop making it? They said it would be serious problems???

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My cat was on CD dry for about two years. After his latest bout of stubborn bladder/urinary tract problems last December, I went against the advice of my vet and switched him to a rotation of premium canned foods and eliminated all dry food from his diet. He has had no problems whatsoever since that time, produces twice the urine volume (the best thing that could happen for his problem), has lost the small gut that he had, and is noticeably more energetic. It was not a decision that I arrived at lightly or without hesitation. I read everything I could lay hand to about this problem (and continue to do so) and took what I thought was the best course of action.

In creating CD dry, Hillâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s has taken a species-inappropriate, high-carbohydrate diet and monkeyed with it in the lab to create a product that will artificially lower a catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s urinary ph. Few people, most vets included, ever stop to ask why the catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s urinary ph is too high in the first place or how the nasty solutes came to exist in its urine in such concentrations that they precipitate out as crystals when urinary ph rises. It is my personal opinion that CD dry is a nutritionally inferior food (just read the ingredient list) and that any canned food fed exclusively would be a better choice than CD (or any other dry food for that matter) for a cat with urinary tract problems.

Below are links to the abstracts of two recent studies that are relevant to the discussion. They were conducted at the Laboratory of Nutrition, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine in Japan.

Evaluation of effects of dietary carbohydrate on formation of struvite crystals in urine and macromineral balance in clinically normal cats
This study concluded that a high-carbohydrate (high-starch) diet increased urine ph, increased struvite activity product in the urine, and increased concentration of HCl-insoluble sediment in the urine. It stated, “Starch and fiber in diets potentially stimulate formation of struvite crystals. Hence, reducing dietary carbohydrate is desirable to prevent struvite urolith formation.†I would add that the most direct way to reduce carbohydrate in the diet is to switch to a high-quality canned food.

Effects of a high-protein diet versus dietary supplementation with ammonium chloride on struvite crystal formation in urine of clinically normal cats
Ammonium chloride is an artificial urinary acidifier used in some cat foods. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know whether it is used in CD (can someone help me out here?), but the salient points of the study concern the efficacy of the high-protein diet:
1) Both the high-protein diet and the diet supplemented with ammonium chloride decreased urinary ph, decreased struvite activity product in the urine, and decreased the number of struvite crystals in the urine.
2) However, the high-protein diet decreased the urinary concentration of HCl-insoluble sediment, while the ammonium-chloride supplemented diet did not.
The study stated, “Compared with dietary supplementation with ammonium chloride, the high-protein diet is preferable as a urine acidifier for the prevention of struvite crystal formation in clinically normal cats.â€

So, why feed any high-carb dry (CD included) diet to a cat with urinary tract problems (or any cat if we want to actually prevent health problems rather than treat them with a diet change once they have occurred)? If you are going to feed a canned diet, why use CD when a premium canned food is better nutritionally and accomplishes the desired outcome? I realize this is only two studies, but other evidence is not difficult to find, and, intuitively, what seems to be the better diet for keeping a cat healthy (urinary tract or otherwise)? Why feed a dry high-carb diet (CD) that has been artificially formulated in a lab to accomplish what a high-protein canned diet (that mimics a mouse nutritionally) can accomplish better naturally? Choice of diet for a companion animal is a very personal decision, but I think one has to balance one's own views with the vet's recommendation and then go with your gut instinct.

Carl, what premium foods do you feed your cat, if you don' t mind?
The problem with mine is that they don't like wet food that much-they don't eat any that is pate. They eat Nutro Natural Choice but mostly just the jelly leaving chunks of meat alone. I agree that switching to all wet diet should help a cat with urinary problems, as cats don't drink enough water. The goal is-how do you switch them to all wet diet if they are so picky about the wet food? Mine aren't nearly as picky about their dry food as they are about their wet food.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

Carl, what premium foods do you feed your cat, if you don' t mind?
The problem with mine is that they don't like wet food that much-they don't eat any that is pate. They eat Nutro Natural Choice but mostly just the jelly leaving chunks of meat alone. I agree that switching to all wet diet should help a cat with urinary problems, as cats don't drink enough water. The goal is-how do you switch them to all wet diet if they are so picky about the wet food? Mine aren't nearly as picky about their dry food as they are about their wet food.

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I am feeding Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Innova, Nutro Natural Choice, Authority, Pet Guard, Pet Promise, and Newmanâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s Own. There are a number of other comparable brands out there, but these are available in my area. I have read that some cats are virtually addicted to dry food and switching them to canned can require some time and effort. Fortunately, my cat was a relatively easy sell, making the switch gradually over about three weeks. With a little patience, I would expect that just about any cat can be transitioned to canned food.

Here is a link with some advice on making the switch:
Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition by Lisa A. Pierson, DVM

Originally Posted by Carl

I am feeding Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Innova, Nutro Natural Choice, Authority, Pet Guard, Pet Promise, and Newmanâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s Own. There are a number of other comparable brands out there, but these are available in my area. I have read that some cats are virtually addicted to dry food and switching them to canned can require some time and effort. Fortunately, my cat was a relatively easy sell, making the switch gradually over about three weeks. With a little patience, I would expect that just about any cat can be transitioned to canned food.

Here is a link with some advice on making the switch:
Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition by Lisa A. Pierson, DVM

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The problem is they won't eat anything that is pate, which is most foods. I don't know how to switch them considering they refuse to eat most wet foods. Should I just stop dry and hope they will eat wet rather than starving to death? The article suggest trying low quality wet food first-I know they will eat Friskas and Whiskas. Should I feed them that? But it's a junk food... And I doubt they would switch later on to better food once I start giving them that-they will become Whiskas addicts and I don't want that.

Have you considered doing a homecooked diet - then you can control the texture, making it shredded, chunky if that is what you wish.

Fwiw, Active Life is coming back into production, it's a high quality canned food that comes in shredded and chunky varieties. I'll be posting when I know this is truly becoming available across the country again.

And no, you do not pull all dry and hope they will eat the wet, it's a fallacy that cats will eat if they get hungry enough..some will simply lose all appetite and then you risk hepatic lipidosis.

If you search on homecooked meals you'll pull up my past posts with links.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Have you considered doing a homecooked diet - then you can control the texture, making it shredded, chunky if that is what you wish.

Fwiw, Active Life is coming back into production, it's a high quality canned food that comes in shredded and chunky varieties. I'll be posting when I know this is truly becoming available across the country again.

And no, you do not pull all dry and hope they will eat the wet, it's a fallacy that cats will eat if they get hungry enough..some will simply lose all appetite and then you risk hepatic lipidosis.

If you search on homecooked meals you'll pull up my past posts with links.

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I don't think home cooked meal is an option. I hate cooking. I am no good at it. Nobody human will eat anything I cooked, I doubt the cats would eat it either.
What would be better in your opinion-switching them to Friskas/Whiskas wet or continue on feeding them dry?

I'd rather see you feed them the best quality dry that you can, then a poor wet...have a water fountain to encourage water intake, give "treats" of plain chicken broth (you *can* do this...just boil a piece of chicken to death with no salt or herbs, strain and give them the cooled broth)...and wait for when Active Life is available at your local upscale pet store

Plain boiled shredded chicken is also a decent treat for your cats

In addition, have you considered using something not complete on it's own, in conjunction - such as Wysong's All Meat - their variety pack contains one 14 oz. can each of: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Rabbit and Venison. Or you can buy this as a single flavor...it is just the meat, nothing else added and if it were the only food you fed, it would need appropriate vitamin and mineral supplementation. As I recall (but I'd ask them) the consistency was soft shredded not ground. If someone else has used this recently and can comment, please do!

Anyhoo...my thought was if your wee darlings liked any of these flavors, you could supplement their dry with meals of this, and achieve some of the goal of increased canned food/moisture/decreased carbs in their diet.

Just a thought..and as always, consider discussing this with your vet as diet is an important long term decision for your cats.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

In addition, have you considered using something not complete on it's own, in conjunction - such as Wysong's All Meat - their variety pack contains one 14 oz. can each of: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Rabbit and Venison. Or you can buy this as a single flavor...it is just the meat, nothing else added and if it were the only food you fed, it would need appropriate vitamin and mineral supplementation. As I recall (but I'd ask them) the consistency was soft shredded not ground. If someone else has used this recently and can comment, please do!

Anyhoo...my thought was if your wee darlings liked any of these flavors, you could supplement their dry with meals of this, and achieve some of the goal of increased canned food/moisture/decreased carbs in their diet.

Just a thought..and as always, consider discussing this with your vet as diet is an important long term decision for your cats.

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Discussing it with my vet would be useless. THe only thing vet recommends is Science Diet, and that's it. I don't think she knows about anything else. Poor cat is still having FIC problems so I don't know what else I could do. I bought them some other canned foods to try but they don't seem to like any so far. I also tried giving them boiled chicken but they wouldn't eat any.

I apologize, as you can tell from my reply, I wasn't connecting you with the kitty I knew had FIC. This really is a different case, as the switch is canned is part of the treatment (based on my vet's advice with Lyra when she was diagnosed with cystitis. Fwiw, his advice was no matter how cheap/bad, it was best to simply get her onto a wet food only diet. Plus we had her on glucosamine.)

Please disregard my previous note re sticking with dry, it's a different case with your kitty with the FIC. I so wish you find another vet for a second opinion or a specialist.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I apologize, as you can tell from my reply, I wasn't connecting you with the kitty I knew had FIC. This really is a different case, as the switch is canned is part of the treatment (based on my vet's advice with Lyra when she was diagnosed with cystitis. Fwiw, his advice was no matter how cheap/bad, it was best to simply get her onto a wet food only diet. Plus we had her on glucosamine.)

Please disregard my previous note re sticking with dry, it's a different case with your kitty with the FIC. I so wish you find another vet for a second opinion or a specialist.

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I got glucosamine and sprinkle it on their food. Doesn't seem to make a difference as he is sill having the same problems. As far as I understand, there is really no treatment for FIC except getting the cat to drink more water and eat more wet food. What else did vet tell you to do with Lyra? Any more tips would be greatly appreciated.

I am no expert but I give human gluc/ condrotin to my "kid" one capsule every third day in something she likes.. Try the broth trick Pat mentioned .... try all the canned foods out there you may get lucky... as for homecooking can you make rice and hambuger?? Does the cat like fish?? I use salmon juice , clam juice and tuna juice for my oldest to eat at times gives extra taste and liquid... I dont have first hand knowledge of FIC so I cant tell you any definates..