Can Dry Foods Promote Urinary Health
Well, yes and no. Dry foods cant provide everything thats needed, at least not on their own. There are without a doubt certain premium dry cat foods that specialize in providing the nutrients and minerals that are commonly used to combat infections and diseases, but by nature they lack a crucial ingredient. Moisture.
Moisture is incredibly important in promoting good urinary tract health in felines. For this reason, you cant promote it using just dry cat food, you need make sure they are also consuming enough water.
If adequate water is provided and consumed, then theres no reason why a dry cat food designed for urinary health would be less effective than a wet food for urinary tract health.
Most owners have concerns that their cats dont consume enough water, and its certainly true that cats dont have much of a natural drive to drink water. If you want to feed a dry food, you should consider making use of a small cheap fountain to entice cats into keeping themselves hydrated around the clock, and make sure there are water bowls in every room. You can also soak their biscuits in water to force them to take in more moisture, but many cats will get fussy about this and refuse the food.
Are Prescription Diets The Only Low Magnesium Foods
Absolutely not! In the 1970s, scientists and veterinarians made between urinary tract disease in male cats and too high an ash content in cat food. Later, it was determined that only magnesiumone particular mineral in that ash contentwas responsible.
Since then, more and more companies have jumped on the low mineral bandwagon which has helped cats.
So prescription diets are far from the only choice when it comes to finding low magnesium foods.
Royal Canin Urinary So Cat Food Vs Hills Prescription C/d Urinary Care With Chicken Dry Cat Food
Hills Prescription C/D Urinary Care with Chicken Dry Cat Food is another excellent urinary care brand for cats. It is also a prescription diet and is chicken flavored like Royal Canin Urinary SO Cat Food.
Hills Prescription diet, however, has a lower protein content than Royal Canin Urinary SO Cat Food. However, they both have a reduced mineral content. This is great for the prevention of the quick formation of struvite stones.
Regarding price, both urinary care cat foods cost about the same depending on your vendor. Hills Prescription diet, however, comes in 4-lb., 8.5-lb. and 17.6-lb. bags. Royal Canin Urinary SO only comes in 7.7-lb. and 17.6-lb. bags.
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Whats Good About Purina
First off, there are a number of different imprints within the Purina brand, offering customers a variety of choice. For instance, Purina ONE is its highest quality food, Friskies is aimed at lower budgets, and Beyond focuses on formulas with natural ingredients.
We like that Purina tries to use real meats as its primary ingredient wherever possible. This is the case in its Purina ONE Tender Selects Adult Dry Cat Food , Purina Cat Chow Gentle Dry Cat Food , Purina ONE Indoor Advantages Dry Cat Food and Purina Beyond Simply Adult Dry Cat Food .
The benefits of this is that your cat is getting a clean and reliable source of protein, with very little in the way of artificial preservatives. Furthermore, Purina is transparent regarding the sourcing of its ingredients, so youre left in no doubt as to whats in your cats food, and whats gone into creating it.
Should You Find A Non
I really want to emphasize that Im not a veterinarian and this article isnt veterinary advice. If your cat has been treated for crystals, blockages or stones already then you know how serious that condition can be.
So while a non-prescription diet may be cheaper, if it doesnt help with your cats condition youre going to end up with another huge veterinary bill and a lot of pain for your cat- or worse.
Thats not a good scenario for your cat or your budget.
But prescription diets are a very complicated subject and the ambiguity of FDA guidelines doesnt help the situation. These diets also dont contain prescription drugs which can certainly be confusing to the typical consumer that would associate a prescription diet with a prescription drug.
So whats the point of these diets in the first place?
While its not a perfect system, in most cases therapeutic diets have clinical trials backing up the effectiveness of their diet. You can see one such study backing up Hills C/D Multicare here. Most alternatives, unless theyre also a prescription diet, wont have a clinical trial supporting them.
Its important to make any decision with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be aware of the fact that there arent any prescription drugs in these diets and you both want whats best for your cat.
With all that in mind, lets take a look at a few reasons why youd pursue an alternative.
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Filtered Or Distilled Water Only
The kidneys main function is to filter out the toxins in our bodies. Since tap water can be loaded with chemicals and contaminants it is best to only give your dog clean, filtered water to drink. If you have a dog living with kidney disease like we do, you may also want to eventually invest in a slow water feeder. Dogs with kidney disease can get quite thirsty and will actually start drinking water too fast which causes its own unique set of problems.
Royal Canin Urinary S/o Veterinary Dry Cat Food 15 Kg
Highlights:Complete dietetic feed for adult cats.Royal Canin Urinary SO is a veterinary-exclusive cat food for cats with urinary health concerns.
Product Detail:When your cat has urinary issues, easing their discomfort requires special care. But with the help of your veterinarian and Royal Canin, there s not just hope?there can be a true difference.
This veterinary-exclusive dry cat food was developed to nutritionally support your adult cat s urinary tract and bladder health. It increases the amount of urine your cat produces to help dilute excess minerals that can cause crystals and stones. Relative Super Saturation methodology is used to help lower ion concentration in urine, which contributes to stone formation.
This formula promotes a urinary environment unfavorable to the formation of both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. And this specialized nutrition, with a reduced level of magnesium, helps dissolve pure struvite stones and prevent struvite stones from forming. Lower urinary tract issues may be a recurring concern for some cats. Talk to your veterinarian about keeping your cat on this urinary cat food for long-term urinary support. And ask them about the right Royal Canin wet cat food and treats to complement your cat s diet.
Ingredients and Nutritions:Composition: meat and animal derivatives , cereals, oils and fats, eggs and egg derivatives, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals, molluscs and crustaceans, various sugars.
Feeding and User Guidelines:
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Best Overall: Evanger’s Evx Restricted: Urinary Tract
Courtesy of Evanger’s
Key Ingredients: Boneless chicken, chicken broth, tomato paste, cranberries, blueberries, Alltech Acid Balance | Calories per Serving: 62 | Balance: Protein min. 9%, Fat min. 5%, Crude Fiber max. 1%, Moisture max. 82% | Life stages: All | Texture: Chunks of boneless chicken in gravy
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Chicken is the first ingredient
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Includes digestive support ingredients
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Occasionally on back order
Evangers EVx Restricted Diets Urinary Tract Recipe is a great option for cats prone to urinary struvite crystals and urinary pH imbalance. Formulated with nutritionists and experts, they ingredients are simple, recognizable and formulated in compliance with AAFCO standards for all life stages.
Manufactured in Markham, Illinois, this food contains just a few main ingredients and essential vitamins and minerals plus three special components. Alltech Acid Balance lowers urinary pH to prevent bladder stones and struvite crystals. Alltech NVGEN, made from yeast and yucca extracts, meant to feed the gut nutrients called postbiotics that its not currently making well on its own. Actogena cocktail of yucca, chicory root, and yeastalso promotes healthy digestion.
Evangers canned pet food has a long history of striving for a healthier diet for pets, and is a family-owned and operated company.
Royal Canin Urinary So Cat Food
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Top 3 Royal Canin Urinary So Cat Food Alternatives
Hills c/d Multicare Prescription Diet – Feline
Hills Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare is specially formulated to promote a healthy urinary tract. It helps reduce the risk of bladder stones or urinary crystals.
Hills Prescription Diet Feline is available in 5 types: dry food , dry food , canned food , meal pouch and meal pouch .
This medicine will add salt to increase the urine volume and minimize the load on the cats kidneys. Additionally, the high volume of antioxidants boosts the neutralization of free radicals.
Please be noted that this medicine isnt applicable to kitten , lactating and pregnant cats.
Apart from Hills Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare, the Hill company also has the Hills c/d Urinary Stress Feline containing additional ingredients to control stress and the Hills c/d Urinary Stress Reduces Calorie Feline for overweight cats.
Why Is Royal Canin Cat Food So Expensive
Many Royal Canin foods are considerably higher-priced than other products with similar ingredient lists. After decades as one of the two brands that are recommended most often by veterinarians, Royal Canin has a reputation that justifies its price.
Its one of the few brands that offer condition-specific products, which makes Royal Canin easy to recommend to frustrated patients and has earned it a place in veterinarian offices around the world. This lends the brand status and respect that goes beyond the veterinary line.
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Squarepet Vfs Low Phosphorus Formula Dry Dog Food
If you dont want to get a vets approval for dog food, other foods can support urinary health. Our favorite option is SquarePet VFS Low Phosphorus Formula dry dog food.
Like Royal Canin, Squarepet is low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium for dogs who need urinary support. But its also packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and other ingredients to defend against oxidative stressors. These promote a healthy immune system and overall wellness for most dogs.
It starts with cage-free turkey and whole eggs. So its a decent alternative to Royal Canins SO food if your dog cant handle chicken. These ingredients offer glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and muscle support.
Unlike Royal Canin, SquarePet doesnt have wheat, corn, or soy. It provides white rice and sweet potatoes for prebiotic fiber and complex carbohydrates. These are easy to digest and contain high vitamin A and E concentrations for eye and skin health.
One of the best additions to the VFS formula is turmeric. This is a natural antioxidant, helping keep your dogs immune system strong. But it can also help relieve the inflammatory response of their bladder. Even if its not vet-prescribed, SquarePet is an excellent alternative to Royal Canins SO dog food.
Pet owners say their dog prefers this kibble over Royal Canin and Hills. And they love the simple ingredients and low phosphorus levels.
How Does Wet Food Promote Urinary Tract Health
Moisture plays a vital role in a cats diet, especially when your cat is suffering acidic urine.
As we mentioned above, wet food tends to be more moisture. Moreover, it also helps cats stay hydrated, keep the pH level well-balanced to maintain cats health and keep track any bacteria in the track.
Even though all high-quality wet cat food will offer sufficient nutrition, you should pick up one which is best equipped to handle other undesired symptoms of urine disorders.
Check us out for further detailed cat’s health guide!
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Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary S/o Dry Cat Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary S/O Dry Cat Food
- ROY/CAN VET CAT URINARY 1.5KG
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Urinary S/O is formulated for the nutritional management of adult cats with lower urinary tract disease.
Its urine acidifying properties and its low level of magnesium make it suitable for dissolving struvite stones and reducing their recurrence.
Recommended for:
- Management of recurrent struvite and calcium oxalate urolithiasis using a single diet
Not recommended for:
- Treatment with urine acidying drugs
Please Note:The wet version of Urinary S/O Feline is recommended for recurrent idiopathic cystitis. In older cats, renal function should be checked before Urinary S/O Feline is prescribed
Recommended for:
Not recommended for:
- Treatment with urine acidying drugs
Best Variety: Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Variety Pack Canned Cat Food
Courtesy of Chewy
Key Ingredients: Varies by flavor | Calories per Serving: 82 to 107 depending on flavor | Texture: Wet, varies | Balance: Varies but most are Crude Protein min. 10.0%, Crude Fat min. 6.5%, Crude Fiber max 0.5%, Moisture max. 78.0% | Life Stage: Adult
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Nutritional and flavor diversity for your cat
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No prescription needed
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Meat by-products are the first ingredient
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Added color
If your cats digestive system can tolerate more than one type of food, a variety pack is a wonderful way to give them a broader range of flavors and nutrients at the same time.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Wet Cat Food Variety Pack comes as a case of 12, 24, or 36 cans. It can be purchased as four, eight or twelve cans each of three flavorsOcean Whitefish or Beef & Chicken, Chicken, and Turkey and Gibletsor as twelve cans each of two flavorsOcean Whitefish and Salmon.
Each recipe has low dietary magnesium and has been designed to reducing urinary pH. Purina products are also manufactured in the U.S. and are widely available and among the more affordable brands on shelves today.
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Best Urinary Cat Foods
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Note: This article is NOT a substitute for veterinary advice and is for informational purposes only. Diet and nutrition are extremely important, especially if your cat has a pre-existing condition like FLUTD, and you should always follow the advice of your veterinarian.
If youre here, you probably have a cat thats suffering from some kind of urinary issue or youre trying to get ahead of any potential problems by making sure your cat has a crystal-reducing diet.
And youre certainly not the only one.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, or FLUTD, is among one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases in our feline friends, and according to Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine FLUTD is the number one reason that cats visit veterinary clinics.
Because FLUTD is really a broad set of conditions, the exact cause can vary between cats. Still, many forms of FLUTD, specifically those caused by crystal and stone formation, can be managed with special and sometimes prescription diets.
These diets reduce the development of crystals by balancing urine pH levels along with reducing minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. Some of the most popular urinary cat foods require a prescription but there are many cat foods that can help despite not being specifically labeled as urinary diets.
Purina Vs Royal Canin Cat Food: Which One Should You Pick
BySteve Wrightpublished 17 January 22
The royal rumble: Purina vs Royal Canin cat food. They’re both top cat food brands, but which one is the best?
Purina vs Royal Canin cat food is likely to be one of the biggest dilemmas you’ll face if you have a feline friend and is it any wonder? After all, when it comes to selecting the best cat food, both are popular brands with strong reputations, so choosing one can feel overwhelming.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. When it comes to choosing a cat food, there are always going to be various advantages and disadvantages no matter what brand you opt for. And yet, as long as the brand you go with is known for producing some of the best dry cat food and wet cat food formulas, you can rest assured your kitty will be getting everything they need to thrive.
Thankfully, both Purina and Royal Canine have created quality kibbles that are packed full of vitamins and minerals, and they also lead the way with some of the best wet cat food options as well. Where they tend to differ is their ingredient choices and their affordability, two things we’ll delve into in more detail below.
So, without further ado, let’s take compare and contrast these two brands, looking at both their strengths and their weaknesses so that you can fill your foodie fur baby’s bowl with the best food to meet their needs and your budget.
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