My cat, Belle, was diagnosed with this a month ago. As from Friday he's had his 3rd course of antibiotics prescribed. He's been given dry prescription food to break up the crystals. But there are 3 problems with this A - he's just not a cat that likes dry food. He has always had some but much prefers his wet food, the vet is adamant he has to be on this dry food but all the information I can find online tells me an all-dry diet is the worst thing for this condition. I know the vet is a vet and I'm not, but through past experiences with vets I don't take their word as gospel.
B, I have 3 other cats, feeding them separately is a total nightmare. (Vet advised me to feed all of them this prescription food even though it says on the package not to feed it to cats that don't have the condition). Belle wants what the others have and vice-versa. I put them in separate rooms and have 3 cats meowing on one side of the door, and 1 on the other with no food being eaten by anyone.
And C, the price of the prescription food is extortionate! I can manage it short-term but don't know how I'll afford to feed him this forever. He's insured so all treatment is covered, but a prescription diet isn't.
So what I wanted to know is that if anyone has had any success treating this condition with something other than the prescription food? I've been reading lots about apple cider vinegar and D-mannose. Has anyone got experience using these? I've already changed the other cats onto high-meat/no grain wet food.
He was diagnosed by being sedated and catheterised, even that took ages cos he had too much blood in his urine to get a decent sample. He also had an ultrasound, he has no stones but has struvite crystals.
He's been given Royal Canin S/O, I've read the ingredients and it seems very low quality for the price, and has calcium sulfate listed as the acidifying ingredient.
Any information any of you could give me would be very helpful. I'm trying to do my best for Belle as I love him to pieces, but just can't afford this food forever. There must be something I can give him alongside his regular food to do the same job as the prescription food.
I'm sorry for the length of this post!
B, I have 3 other cats, feeding them separately is a total nightmare. (Vet advised me to feed all of them this prescription food even though it says on the package not to feed it to cats that don't have the condition). Belle wants what the others have and vice-versa. I put them in separate rooms and have 3 cats meowing on one side of the door, and 1 on the other with no food being eaten by anyone.
And C, the price of the prescription food is extortionate! I can manage it short-term but don't know how I'll afford to feed him this forever. He's insured so all treatment is covered, but a prescription diet isn't.
So what I wanted to know is that if anyone has had any success treating this condition with something other than the prescription food? I've been reading lots about apple cider vinegar and D-mannose. Has anyone got experience using these? I've already changed the other cats onto high-meat/no grain wet food.
He was diagnosed by being sedated and catheterised, even that took ages cos he had too much blood in his urine to get a decent sample. He also had an ultrasound, he has no stones but has struvite crystals.
He's been given Royal Canin S/O, I've read the ingredients and it seems very low quality for the price, and has calcium sulfate listed as the acidifying ingredient.
Any information any of you could give me would be very helpful. I'm trying to do my best for Belle as I love him to pieces, but just can't afford this food forever. There must be something I can give him alongside his regular food to do the same job as the prescription food.
I'm sorry for the length of this post!