The Purrrrrfect Solution ....
Although I am known as the Great Dane Lady, and most of my dealings
are with canines, I am also a cat lover and have a few myself. I do
not fashion myself the "expert" when it comes to cats, but
think I can provide you with a comprehensive nutritional program
to keep your cat healthy, and perhaps correct any of the - oh so frequent
"allergy" and urinary problems we see in cats.
Like with the dogs, most health problems are due to long term poor
quality nutrition and can be reversed in time with a comprehensive
balanced diet. This is what I do for my cats (Persians, Ragdolls)
and a couple of "your guess is as good as mine" Calicos,
and they are in superb health with "to die for" coats.
Always introduce new foods very slowly so they don't stop eating
and you end up with liver or kidney problems. I suggest putting some
of the Eagle kibble in with your regular kibble, gradually increasing
the Eagle and decreasing the old kibble. When using canned Eagle,
I would put it along with your current canned food or mix in with
it, starting small amounts until in time the cat is totally moved
over.
Blackwatch Feed Program for Cats
Food:
I think the Eagle Holistic Select
line of cat food is outstanding. Here is the website to learn more
about this food www.eaglepack.com
,which comes in a variety of kibbles and wet canned holistic foods.
Why I think Eagle Holistic
Feline Foods Can't Be Beat and are based in research!
If Eagle is not available to you, contact some of the better companies
on my list of better
foods, and locate a quality cat food. The foods from the grocery
store are not a quality food to use if you want to stay away from
urinary problems, dry, shedding coats and hotspots. Precise,
Felidae, Wysong are very good
products you might want to locate. I also suggest trying steamed fish,
meats, fresh fruits and steamed veggies with my cats - some enjoy
them others do not. If an inside cats, I try to keep some of the cat
grass available - cats needs salads too!
Supplements:
1). Ox-E-Drops - One of
the most useful supplements I know and it has numbers of uses and
must be used diluted, a little goes a long way, I used in the drinking
water and in the canned food to help keep the pH were it should be,
and help to prevent urinary problems. Instructions will come with
the product when you purchase it. www.nzymes.com
2) Nzymes - a dietary enzyme
that puts the living component back into a commercial food. I have
used Nzymes for 20 years on my pets, and myself, they have anti-aging
properities as well (which means neither me or my pets have wrinkles!).
Dietary enzymes are a natural anti-inflammatory and help in the prevention
of uninary issues with your cat.
www.nzymes.com
3) 4 in 1 Probiotics - this is
beneficial bacterias and digestive enzymes that help promote the digestion.
This product has Vit C in a buffered form and barley/wheat grasses
so your cat gets the grass it needs if it is an indoor cat.
www.firstchoicenaturals.com
4) Flexicose-
joint support -this is a glucosamine based joint support product.
there is new research that shows glucosamine is very beneficial to
cats in supporting the lining of the urinary tract to help prevent
irritations which leads to infection. www.flexicose.com
Introduce new things to your cat very slowly
and in lesser amounts than what is recommended. Work up to the normal
dose. I feed Eagle Kibble and canned and in my canned meat I add additional
water, Nzymes, 4 in1 Probiotics and Ox-E-Drops and mix in a "fish
slurry" as we call it. This will provide extra liquid/water to
your cat because so many cats do not drink enough liquid and it cause
bladder irratation which causes infection. This is the safest way
to prevent these issues.
OH, THOSE URINARY PROBLEMS IN CATS!
If you have ever owned a Persian cat, nothing is more of a princess
or particular in food, routine and habits. My cat Friday (affectionatly
known as "Fried Egg"), does not tolerate any change
in her routine.
As an example, I bought a new dryer, a place where Ms Fried Egg loved
to eat. But when the new dryer arrived, she would have NOTHING to
do with eating on it, and instead trained me to feed her in the bathroom,
on the pantry shelf, in the kitchen under the sink..you name it...she
kept trying new places to suit her "princess" attitude.
She would have nothing to do with the new dryer as her new eating
station, and was thrown into a stressful, "pH disrupting"
tizzy to the point that she stopped drinking or eating. Of course
that equals bladder/urinary issues.
I have realized that most of the time cats do not have bladder infections,
they are irritations first, even with blood in them, which results
later in an infection. So..this is how we handle this and have had
GREAT success.
Have your vet give you liquid antibiotic and add a pain medicine
to it, to take away the pain during urination. At the same time switch
their food to - (oh I can’t even believe I am saying this)
Fancy Feast. Yes, all the holistic cat foods in the world does not
entice them into eating like a can of Fancy Feast. This is even documented
in some new Ohio State Research on urinary issues.
I take 1 can of fancy feast, add 1 tablespoon of water
to make a "fish slurry" for the cat. Once the pain
subsides in a day or two on the antibiotic/pain killer, they start
to eat their fish slurry, which results in the extra consumption of
water, which in turn starts to flush out the urinary tract and we
get the whole system up and running again.
Once they are eating again, and on the road to feeling normal, incorporate
the following things into their diet to prevent this from happening
again. (see above)
These for additions to your cats "fish slurry" and water
will make all the difference in the world in your cat’s health
and vet bills due to reoccurring urinary problems. Oh and by the way,
it took 4 months before my Persian decided it was ok to eat on top
of the new dryer!!
Support Information for Cat Health
http://www.purrfectfence.com/default.asp
- Look
at this terrific cat enclosure system
Scientific
Cat Litter - it changes color
when your cat's urine pH is out of whack!
FUS Bladder Support Herbal Product - Owners tell me they have
great results with a change in diet and the use of this herbal product
called Bladder
Support from Vermont Naturals.
If you want to feed a RAW diet to your cat, here are some great options
to consider:
The Feline Future Cat Food
Company
Nature's Variety - Prairie
Formula
FelineFuture.com
This website is comprehensive and the equivalent
to my webiste only for feline information. They have just done a remarkable
job so take the time to read it.
FUS,
crystals/stones in urine
Maintaining A Low Urine pH by
Dr. Al Townshend DVM
Yeast Removal Kit -
If you think your cat has an allergy, or it was diagnosed as an allergy,
chances are it is a systemic yeast infection and need a change in
feed program and the yeast kit.
Cats are very prone to respiratory problems so it is important to
familiarize yourself with what Ox-E-Drops
can do for these problems. Oxydrops in a vaporizers as well as internally
can be very helpful in respiratory cases.
A Word About Senior Diets For Cats
Albert S. Townshend, DVM
Staff Veterinarian, Eagle Pet Products, Inc.
It was once thought that dogs and cats, as they grow older, need less
protein. Protein is the most difficult thing for the kidneys to deal
with (the heart and kidneys are typically the first organs to have
problems as we grow older). While it is true that if the kidneys are
already failing the protein level should be low, it has been found
that, in a normal healthy older animal, it is not the amount of protein
that is the problem, but the quality of the protein. If the protein
is of good quality, it actually enhances the efficiency of the kidneys.
All Eagle Pack Holistic line of cat foods are made from the highest
quality animal protein sources. While specific diets for older dogs
are of benefit, most nutritionists see no value in senior diets for
cats. There nutritional needs don't seem to vary with age. Until research
indicates an advantage, Eagle has no plans to make a senior diet for
cats.
by
Albert S. Townshend, DVM - Eagle Veterinarian
HISTORY:
- FLUTD has been described as far back as 1925.
- There have been many names give to this condition over the years,
most notable Cystitis, Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS), Feline Interstitial
Cystitis FIC) and Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). All
of which only describe where and what the condition is but give no
clue as to the cause.
INCIDENCE:
- The incidence is defined as the annual rate of appearance of new
cases of the disease among the entire population of individuals at
risk for the disease.
- For FLUTD the incidence has been reported to be approximately 0.5
to 1.0% per year.
- The above figure should not be confused with the proportional morbidity
ratio of cats with FLUTD. This figure is the frequency with which
these cats are seen in veterinary hospitals.
- For FLUTD the incidence has been reported to be as high as 10%,
but the most common reports are between 1% and 6%.
- These figures would indicate that although the incidence in all
susceptible cats is only approx. 1%, up to 10% of them are seen by
veterinarians and that seems to be a significant number.
- These figures further translates to between 250,000 and 500,000
of the 57 million cats in the United States are afflicted with this
disease annually.
- The condition most commonly affects mature cats and infrequently
immature animals (when it does the cause is most likely to be associated
with bacterial infections).
- Of the 24,000 cat diagnosed with FLUTD in 24 veterinary schools
7% were nonspayed females, 25% were neutered females, 16% were noncastrated
males and 52% were castrated males.
RISK FACTORS:
- Age: Uncommon in cats younger than 1 year of age. Most commonly
occurs in cats between 1 and 10 years of age with peak between 2 and
6 years of age.
- Sex: Urethral obstruction occurs most commonly in males. Nonobstructive
forms
of the disease occur equally in males and females.
- Neutering: There is an increased risk in neutered males and females
regardless of the age when neutered.
- Diet: Consumption of an increased proportion of dry food in the
daily ration is
associated with an increased incidence.
- Water Consumption: Decreased daily water intake is associated with
an increased risk of the disease.
- Sedentary Life Style: Lazy cats are at increased risk.
- Spring and Winter Season: Some have indicated that there is a seasonal
increase in risk.
- Indoor Lifestyle: Cats using indoor litter boxes for urination and
defecation are at increased risk.
SYMPTOMS:
- Symptoms very generally begin with frequent urination (pollakiuria)
eventually with blood (hematuria). Animal may also display inappropriate
urination (urinating in unusual places). Eventually the cat will typically
become obstructed and unable to urinate (dysuria). The latter almost
exclusively occurs in male cats and is a true emergency.
- Symptoms vary greatly as there are so many causes that have been
identified and so many cases that have unknown causes.
CAUSES:
- The following is a list of known causes of FLUTD taken from "Canine
and Feline nephrology and Urology" by Osborne and Finco 1995.
Metabolic Disorders (including nutritional)
Uroliths
Urethral Plugs
Inflammatory Disorders
Infectious agents
Viruses (feline Calicivirus sp. and more)
Bacteria (many species)
Mycoplasmas
Fungi (Candida sp. and more)
Parasites (Capillaria feliscati)
Noninfectious
Immune mediated
Others?
Trauma
Neurogenic disorders
Reflex dyssynergia
Uretheral spasms
Hypotonic or atonic bladder
Others
Iatrogenic disorders
Reverse flushing solutions
Uretheral catheters (reverse flushing)
Indwelling urethral catheters
Postsurgical urethral catheters
Urethrostomy complications
Anatomic abnormalities
Congenital
Urachal abnormalities
Persistent uterus masculinus
Urethrorectal fistulas
Phimosis
Others
Acquired
Urethral strictures
Others
Neoplastic
Benign
Cystadenoma (bladder)
Fibroma (bladder)
Leiomyoma (bladder)
Papilloma (bladder)
Hemangioma (bladder)
Malignant
Transitional cell carcinoma (bladder and urethra)
Squamous cell carcinoma (bladder)
Adenocarcinoma (bladder)
Unclassified carcinomas (bladder)
Hemangiocarcinomas (bladder)
Lymphosarcoma (primary and metastatic in the bladder)
Myxosarcoma (bladder)
Prostatic adenocarcinoma (urethra)
Rhabdomyosarcoma (bladder)
Endometrial adenocarcinoma (extraurinary invading and compressing
the
urethra)
Idiopathic: Up to 53% in some studies are as a result of unknown causes.
DIAGNOSIS:
- Diagnosis is based on history given by the owner, a complete physical
examination by a veterinarian, laboratory tests and radiographs. Some
or all of the above may be necessary in order to make a diagnosis,
keeping in mind that a
cause may never be determined. Also one must remember that the cause
is usually
multiple in nature.
- All available information must be obtained in order to initiate
the best protocol for a successful treatment and prevention program.
TREATMENT:
- Within the scope of this article we will limit the discussion of
treatment too the three most common forms of FLUTD. Nonobstructive
hematuria and dysuria, Urolithiasis, and Obstruction with matrix-crystalline
urethral plugs.
-Nonobstuctive hematuria and dysuria: If a cause can be determined,
the appropriate therapy should be instituted, however, as in most
cases, the cause will be undetermined. In such a case a veterinarian
would initiate a broad spectrum of therapy. It could include all of
some of the following: antibiotics, corticosteroids, antispasmodics,
analgesics, and intravenous fluids
- Urolithiasis: If stones are found in the bladder, they should be
removed. That can be achieved by surgery, or if possible, by using
a special diet designed to dissolve stones made up of magnesium ammonium
phosphate (struvite). Again, if a cause can be determined the proper
therapy should also be initiated so as to prevent reoccurrence
- Obstruction with matrix-crystalline plugs: The obstruction should
be eliminated as soon as possible. This is best accomplished while
the cat is under anesthesia. If the obstruction has been for a considerable
amount of time there may be significant damage to the kidneys and
so blood should be drawn and the status of the kidneys evaluated.
Later additional blood should be tested to further study the kidneys.
An intravenous catheter would be instilled and the cat sedated. At
the same time as eliminating the obstruction intravenous fluids are
given as well as some additional medications. If a cause can be determined
appropriate medication would be given.
- In all cases canned food, fresh water, clean litter boxes and the
reduction or elimination of stress are essential
DIET CONSIDERATIONS:
- It is thought that one of the most significant problems associated
with this disease is the adequate consumption of water, both in treating
and preventing this condition. Canned food is 70+ % water and
should be fed. Fresh water should always be available and encouraged.
- Infection is a part of the problem and it is the nonobstructive
hematuria and
dysuria form a diet change may not be necessary. Eliminating the infection
and
canned food for a short period of time may be all that is needed.
- The majority of uroliths are either magnesium ammonium phosphate
(struvite) or calcium oxalate in composition.
- Struvite: Fresh water and canned food are essential so as to get
as much liquid into the animal, at least initially. Hill's Feline
S/D Diet is designed to dissolve struvite uroliths. The difficulty
is that they may take a very long time to do that and in the mean
time the cat is uncomfortable and may continue to exhibit symptoms
such as inappropriate urination etc. A canned diet that makes the
urine acid (pH around 6.3) is recommended as well as a diet low in
magnesium (less than 0.1% Dry Matter). To convert the as fed nutrient
content of a food to a dry matter basis divide the percentage of the
nutrient on an as fed basis by the percentage dry matter.
- Calcium Oxalate: Since the introduction of cat diets that are low
in magnesium and make the urine acid we have seen a reduction in the
incidence of struvite crystals as well as uroliths. However, there
has been an increased incidence of oxalate crystals and uroliths.
The ideal diet for a cat with the above problem is a canned diet that
maintains a more alkaline urine pH (6.6 to 6.8), is not as low in
magnesium. Potassium citrate is also useful as it has the ability
to form soluble salts with calcium.
PREVENTION:
-Prevention is of utmost importance. Once a cat has had a problem
there is an increased chance that it will reoccur. This is thought
to be as a result of the many predisposing factors mentioned above
and the difficulty in controlling many of then.
DIET CONSIDERATIONS:
- In order to prevent the reoccurrence of any of the above conditions
it may be necessary to maintain the animal on a diet specifically
designed to help control the condition. In many instances this is
the case, however, a dry diet may be substituted for the canned totally
or partially.
- Water consumption, urine pH and stress are the most important factors.
