struvite crystals and crappy prescription food

[DonnaYav]

Good day all!
First and foremost, don't forget to vote !!!!!

My 2 1/2 year old cat, Spook, developed an infection a few weeks ago and was put on Baytril.
Infection was gone but he had crystals in his urine after a second UA and was put on Royal Canin Prescription S/O to dissolve crystals. This food leaves a lot to be desired, with all the fillers like corn, corn meal and it also has wheat gluten !!!!
He was also given CoseQuin joint health supplement for the purpose of helping with inflammation in the bladder and to help support the protective layer of the bladder .

Now, after we finish this lovely prescription food it is hopeful that he can return to regular cat food. I know the most important thing is hydration, hydration ! Canned food would be the best for him and I have been incorporating wet food into all three of my cats diets. I add distilled water to it (Usually Wellness grain free turkey or chicken) and make it real soupy, they accept this alot better than just pouring it out the can and giving it to them.
However, they still like their dry too so I am on a mission to find a dry cat food that would be acceptable for my spook and boys that is not too high in magnesium, phosphorus and ash.
I was feeding Wilderness Blue grain free but am hesitate on going back to it as Spook developed infection and crystals while on it.
I am also not real thrilled with the CoseQuin since it has dyes and sodium lauryl sulfate in it.
Any suggestions on a high quality dry cat food ?

I just bought a great stainless steel pet fountain which all drink out of (plus I have water bowls all over the house) and purchased two Feliway plug ins that have made a difference in the behaviors of my boys (not as much fighting)

I have been looking at Halo spot stew sensitive dry cat food since it contains no grains such as rice, corn (does have oats) and no "meals" ...

[opus88]

hi Donna, nice to see you back although not with kitty problems.....one of the very best things you can do for your kitty is never feed dry again, esp to a male with crystals already present....I learned this the hard way too wit my Nemo, he was such a kibble head I had a real ordeal getting him OFF that took a few months to transition him but he's been clear of crystals for 2.5yrs now. He had been fed a diet of GRAIN FREE DRY, its not the grains that are the prob. its the fact that the food is so dehydrated already than NO amount of water can compensate.

I will send you a website to do all the reading, the rest is up to you....

http://www.catinfo.org/#Cystitis_


I will also send you the 2 products that I use that are excellent for coating the bladder and giving the best mucosa health. I order these particular ones NOW brand from iherb b/c they are safe for cats...no added salt, sugar, starch, yeast, soy, shellfish or preservatives. the MSM I used 1/2 a capsule mixed with water and given via dropper once a day for a week than cut that into 1/4 for maintenance

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Glucosamine-MSM-Vegetarian-240-Vcaps/16566

and the Slipperry Elm Bark, excellent for coating mucosa too...also in cases of diarrhea/constipation/upset tummy/bladder/bowel...its an all round excellent supplement. I also prefer the NOW brand in this too. its a powder. mix 1/2 teas. with 2 Tbls. boiled water. can mix more at that ratio. mix in a jar let stand 30 min. than shake it will form a gel. when cooled give 3cc's(mls) 2-3x a day via dropper. keep unused portion in the fridge for up to 3 days.....

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Slippery-Elm-Powder-4-oz-113-g/788

use my code and you'll receive $10 off your first order....b/c I'm such a good customer.. SED957

[opus88]

I should also have added this link also on Dr Piersons site, 'tips to transition dry food addicts to canned food'

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Tips%20for%20Transitioning%20PDF%201-14-11.pdf

[DonnaYav]

Thanks..
Yeah I know dry is not the way to go but wanted a dry to use in between till I can successfully transfer them over to 100% canned.. I am trying but I think this is going to be a long haul as they too are dry food junkies!!!!!
Thanks for the extra info..

[DonnaYav]

do you think putting the glucosamine (now brand) over Spooks food would be ok? I don't want to stress him out by syringing him..

Also, would the Glucosamine , chondrotin (sp?) msm in Now brand be just as appropriate since the Cosequin only has Glucosamine and chondrotin and was recommended by the vet ?
two more weeks on this Royal canin S/O , can't wait to get him off of it !

I will be working hard on getting my boys on wet food but while doing this I need a little of dry so I did find online Wysong Uretic, sounds like it may be more appropriate during the transition...(I plan on putting a little dry ontop of the wet and hopefully that will entice them to eat the wet..

[opus88]

sounds like a good plan with the transition Donna..Wysong has a good reputation, can also try the EVO its a good one too.

the cosequin is fine to use. it just may have some less desirable inactive ingredients...that they seem to put in anything labelled for pet use. the human form is Glucosamine/Chrondroitin and cheaper to buy that way.

Donna I'm doing some more indepth checking on this thru the holistic ppl I will get back to you so don't do any ordering until I do....continue with the cosequin.

[opus88]

sorry for the delay, had to go back and have another look.....I was wrong its not NOW brand its the NATURAL FACTORS brand you need. you can use either the Gluc/Chon alone or Gluc/Chon with the MSM.. this one is just a bit lower in the Gluc but the sodium is a bit lower too....if thats a concern. theres also sodium in the cosequin so your Vet mustn't have thought it was a worry, just need to be careful particularly with CRF cats...I'll post a link to both products. you may even be able to buy the Natural factors brand locally....both products work equally as well on the GAG layer of the bladder. the Slippery Elm Bark I posted abt earlier is also highly recommended...good luck.

http://www.iherb.com/Natural-Factors-Glucosamine-Chondroitin-Sulfates-900-mg-120-Capsules/2591?at=0

http://www.iherb.com/Natural-Factors-MSM-Joint-Formula-180-Capsules/2653?at=0

[DonnaYav]

So, you don't use the Now brand ? I think the Now brand looks better as , although it does not contain Chondroitin, it does not have any shellfish.
I use MSM for my Interstitial cystitis because I cannot use the Elmiron my urologist had prescribed for me. The MSM works very well for me but when I do not follow my IC diet that's when I have major flair ups.
I bought some cans of EVO turkey & chicken, Halo grain free and Natural balance duck & pea today. My vet recommends though that Spook only eat a very small amount till he finishes this crap for a prescription diet and he is cleared for crystals...go figure !

[opus88]

no I thought the one I use was NOW b/c so many of the supps I do order are that brand, but when I checked my stuff I saw that it was the Nat. Factors...so I went back and read more to find out why. ...you can use NOW, its a great brand for kitties but like you say it doesn't have the Chondroitin. I will copy out what is said on the holistic site for you than you can decide .

"Glucosamine has anti-inflamatory action that helps rebuild the protective mucosal surface/GAG layer or the bladder, so helps with spasms. Chondroitin keeps the GAG layer from being broken down so its more of a defense player while Glucosamine plays the offense"

[DonnaYav]

Thanks I will look into it.

[DonnaYav]

I have discovered  another promising canned cat food, no fish in it, does have barley but I can live with that, it is Holistic Select, Petco has it...anyone try it before on your cats ?