Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Science Diet For Urinary Problems

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Helping Cats With Urinary Problems

Kidney Stones – Problem of Urinary System | Dr. Vikas, Dr. Abhinav & Dr. Paras

Often the most important aspect of helping your cat is detecting the problem at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be successful. This can only be done with regular veterinary visits. Cats are well-known for masking signs of pain, resulting in very subtle symptoms that are difficult for cat owners to detect. In addition, it can be difficult for cat owners to spot changes in litter box habits. Needless to say, if you do notice changes in your cats routine, you should consult with your veterinarian immediately.

Nutrition can also play a part in managing many of the diseases that can cause inappropriate urination. However, the best diet for your cat will depend on your cats individual situation. Diets that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates are often recommended for cats with diabetes, while diets that help control urine pH are often advised for cats that tend to develop stones or crystals in the urine. There are even cat foods which contain glucosamine and/or fatty acids such as DHA or EPA. These are beneficial for cats with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. Your veterinarian can help you determine which diet is best for your cat.

Spot The Signs Of Your Cats Urinary Issues

As stressful as your cats urinary issues can be for you, they are often just as painful for cats. Because cats tend to suffer in silence with urinary problems, they may struggle for some time before anyone notices and diagnoses the condition. Here are a few key signs you should look out for if you suspect your cat may be suffering from a urinary disorder.

ACCIDENTS IN THE HOUSE

If your adult cat is having frequent accidents or urinating in unusual places, this could be a sign of several common urinary conditions that often are manageable with the help of your vet.

YOWLING WHEN URINATING

If your cat is straining to urinate or is making pained, uncomfortable noises in their litter box, this could indicate feline idiopathic cystitis , bladder stones in cats or even urethral plugs.

BLOOD IN URINE

Schedule an appointment with your vet if you discover blood in your cats litter box or urine. A cat peeing blood is a serious sign of FIC, bladder stones in cats or a urethral plug, all of which need to be addressed quickly.

FREQUENT URINATION

If your cat is urinating small amounts and spending more time in the litter box than usual, address your concerns with your veterinarian immediately. This could be a sign of a urethral obstruction, which is a medical emergency.

Hills Prescription Diet: Digestive Care

This recipe from Hills focuses on helping your dog develop and maintain lean muscles and an ideal body condition. The ingredients are easy to digest and perfect for a fit-minded dog.

Something that confuses us a little is that everything contains many of the same ingredients, so we dont understand how theyre catering to individual issues.

This food claims to provide all the same benefits of the previous two which were for sensitive stomachs and digestive health its almost as if all the food has a placebo effect.

Luckily, the first five ingredients in this blend are better than the previous:

Chicken, whole grain wheat, cracked pearled barley, whole grain sorghum

The food also has an excellent reputation on Chewy just like every other food line from this brand. They have 279 reviews with 95% of reviewers recommending the product. Most people say their dogs coat improved and that they switched back to a grain diet and noticed improved health in their pup.

Recommended Reading: Instant Relief For Urinary Tract Infection

Also Check: Best Food For Feline Urinary Tract Health

What Makes A Best Cat Food For Urinary Crystals

As I mentioned earlier, food plays an important role in your cats urinary health. High-quality cat food with the right ingredients can prevent such issues and might even help in treating urinary problems by pairing along with the treatment prescribed by the vet.

Here is a quick lay down on the ingredients that make cat food good for urinary health:

Wet v Dry Urinary Cat Foods

Both wet and dry best urinary cat food options are designed specifically for urinary health contain nutrients and minerals necessary to combat infections and inflammations. However, there is one important factor we cannot ignore- moisture.

If your cat drinks adequate water, there is no reason why dry food wouldnt work. But in case your cat doesnt have the natural drive to drink water often, wet food might be a good option.

Berberis Vulgaris

Common Barberry, or Berberis Vulgaris, is known to promote healthy bladder and urinary tract. It has an immunity-boosting effect on humans as well as feline health.

Cantharis

This is a homeopathic strain obtained from beetles and is considered useful for acute cystitis attacks. Cantharis provides quick relief from urinary crystals.

Staphysagris

This is another natures gift that helps provide comfort to cats suffering from urinary infections and soothes the urinary tract.

The 12 Best Cat Food For Hairballs Of 2022

The Cystitis Diet Protocol

Hairballs are a nightmare.

Theres nothing worse than stumbling downstairs half-awake in the morning, just to squish your bare foot into the gift your feline friend left on the carpet. The thought is enough to make most of us physically shudder.

While hairballs are a common part of cat ownership, if your fluffy friend is dealing with a lot of them, this could be a sign that something is very wrong. Hairballs arent just an issue for the person who needs to clean them up. These gross regurgitations are bad for your cat too. Theyre capable of causing everything from intestinal problems to sickness.

So, what can you do to keep hairballs to a minimum?

Recommended Reading: Women’s Urinary Tract Health

Diagnosing Utis In Cats

If a cat owner is observing symptoms of a urinary tract infection in their cat they should schedule a visit with their cats veterinarian. A urine sample will need to be collected either by the owner at home with the use of special, non-absorbent litter or by the veterinarian. The veterinarian may temporarily keep the cat in the animal hospital until it urinates on its own in some non-absorbable litter or the urine may be obtained by cystocentesis. Cystocentesis is a quick and non-invasive technique to obtain a urine sample through the use of a needle and syringe. Some veterinarians prefer obtaining urine by cystocentesis while others prefer to allow a cat to provide a sample naturally.

Once urine is obtained a urinalysis will be performed. This type of test checks the urine for bacteria, crystals, blood, parasites, abnormal pH levels, abnormal specific gravity levels, glucose, and other things to aid the veterinarian in making a diagnosis. If bacteria is present in the urinalysis a urinary tract infection is diagnosed. Sometimes a urine culture must also be performed to see exactly what type of bacteria is in the infection in order to choose a specific antibiotic.

Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Cat Food

Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Cat Food supports urinary health by providing optimal levels of magnesium, with natural fiber to help prevent hairballs. Many cats suffer from recurring urinary tract issues, so Hills has formulated this food with optimal nutrient, mineral, and fiber levels to prevent problems before they start. High quality protein, fatty acids, and antioxidants promote immune health and optimal nutrition, while wholesome, delicious ingredients like savory chicken make these foods irresistible to cats.

Read Also: Can Smoking Weed Cause Urinary Problems

Treating A Dog With A Uti

If a veterinarian does diagnose your dog with a urinary tract infection after running tests, theres a good chance that they will prescribe antibiotics to treat it. However, assuming that antibiotics will completely eliminate health problems for your dog is not safe to do. In general, UTIs are caused by an existing health issue, some of which are caused by diet and water intake. Making sure that your dogs diet is conducive to maintaining urinary tract health is absolutely crucial, especially when pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, may be responsible for the UTI to begin with. Thankfully there are a variety of dog foods available that are specifically designed to promote urinary tract health. A huge factor in preventing continued urinary tract problems in dogs is daily water intake, so switching to wet or moist food is highly recommended, otherwise a dry food specifically designed to help treat and prevent UTIs.

About Hill’s Pet Nutrition

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A must have food

We have a cat with kidney problems and this food helps her more than any other food we have tried. As far as flavor I’m not sure they like it as well as the Iams Chicken Flavor. When we started this food we mixed them together. When I try to feed this without the Iams they don’t eat it as well. So we will continue to mix the two brands. The cost is higher with Hill SD than most of the cat foods offered on chewy but vet bills cost more. On this food no more unexpected vet bills. My kidney issue girl has not had anymore problems. Thank you Science Diet.

Cat is VERY Unsure About This New Food

My cat had been on Hills prescription food and to try and save money Im switching her to this. Just got the food yesterday and right off the bat I am not thrilled with the size of the kibble. I have an automatic timed feeder and the pieces seem to be a little big, they do go through the feeder but it is a much smaller amount. So far my cat is turning her nose up at this food, she will pick one piece up and then spit it out. I am mixing it with her old food, 75% old 25% new, so my hope is over the next few days she will come to like it. Fingers crossed as all works out. If and when it does I will look to update my review

Godsend for a FLUTD cat!

Great for reducing hairballs

Perfect for my picky, sensitive boy

My sister loves it!

Read Also: What Is Urinary Tract Disease

Hills Urinary Care Dog Food Vs Blue Buffalo Weight Management And Urinary Care Dog Food

How does Hills Urinary Care stand up to Blue Buffalo W+U?

Like Hills, Blue Buffalo comes in both dry and wet recipes. Both dog foods require a vets prescription, and both work the same way to keep your dog healthy by limiting certain minerals and controlling sodium levels.

Blue Buffalo lists chicken as the first ingredient in their recipe, whereas Hills lists whole wheat corn. And if your dog struggles with weight gain, Blue Buffalo includes extra fiber to make your dog feel full longer.

How Does Wet Cat Food Help Urinary Tract Health

Moisture is so incredibly important in a cats diet, especially if they are experiencing discomfort due to inflammation, unnatural pH, and crystal formation.

Cats in the wild survive by eating only the prey they catch. They rarely need to drink. If you stop and consider than animal meat is made up of roughly 70% water, its no surprise that wet cat food is a favorite for tackling UTIs in cats.

Through its superior moisture content, wet cat food can help UTIs by flushing the system through, dissolving any crystals, returning the pH levels to their natural state and allowing urine to take control of any bacteria in the tract.

Although any premium wet cat food will provide adequate nutrition, choosing one thats best equipped to solve the other symptoms of urine disorders can help resolve things a little quicker and easy the discomfort your cat is experiencing.

So wet or dry?

Well, thats up to you and your cat. If you can get your cat to drink, the dry food is fine long-term, especially as its more affordable. But for difficult cases, or those that relapse, wet food might be more effective.

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Adult Urinary Hairball Control Chicken Recipe Cat Food

AVAILABLE SIZES

RECOMMENDED

100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE At Hills, were dedicated to making foods your pet will love. If youre not satisfied for any reason with a product purchased from one of our authorized sellers, simply return the unused portion to the place of purchase for your money back or a replacement product. Additional terms may apply. Please click here for full details.

Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Adult dry cat food supports the health of the whole urinary system and helps avoid hairball formation.

  • Supports the health of the whole urinary system with optimal levels of magnesium
  • Natural fiber comfortably reduces hairballs
  • High quality fiber, fatty acids and antioxidants to support healthy digestion, skin & coat and a strong immune system
  • Highly digestible, high quality protein to help maintain lean muscle

Science Diet pet food is available in a variety of dry foods and treats for your cats unique needs, and canned foods, with many delicious flavors your cat’s will love.

Additional info:

At Hill’s we have been studying how nutrition supports cat health. We learned that a healthy urinary system is vital to overall health and how natural fiber comfortably reduces hairballs.

Recommended for:

Adult cats 1 – 6 years to help support the health of the urinary system and reduce hairballs.

Not recommended for:

Chicken ingredient #1

Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe

Overactive Bladder diet protocol

Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe is a dry dog food specially formulated to help dogs achieve a healthy weight. Made with real chicken, this formula helps build lean and strong muscles.

Prebiotic fibers are included for digestibility. A clinically proven blend of antioxidants with vitamins C and E is included to help boost the immune system.

Like all Hills Science Diet recipes this Perfect Weight chicken recipe is backed by decades of scientific research. It is recommended by numerous vets globally.

The first five ingredients of this Perfect Weight formula are chicken, cracked pearled barley, brown rice, pea fiber, and corn gluten meal.

According to reviews, dogs love the rich chicken flavor of this Science Diet formula. The are excited for mealtimes and gobble up the pieces. However, some find the new and improved version of this food to have kibbles that are too small for their liking.

The smaller kibbles are preferred by some older and smaller dogs, as they are much easier to chew and digest. It has indeed been effective in managing the weights of dogs. Many of them have lost excess pounds and are able to maintain healthy weights.

Also Check: How To Help With Urinary Incontinence

Feeding Only Dry Food Makes Cats Prone To Urinary Issues

This was the most shocking revelation for me, as Ziggy had been eating a high-end dry food exclusively since he was a kitten with no problems. But ultimately, I was dehydrating Ziggy, which made his urine more concentrated and less likely to be able to flush out the crystals that caused his blockage. Our domestic kitties wild ancestors consumed most of their necessary water through eating meat. Mimicking that style of diet through feeding wet or even raw food will help ensure that your cat is well-hydrated enough to keep urinary problems at bay. I mention this first because I have learned that ensuring your cat is fed a healthy, species-appropriate diet is the most important preventative measure against FLUTD. Ziggy was prescribed a special wet food that keeps the pH of his urine acidic, which prevents harmful crystals from forming.

Of course, its also important to make sure the water youre giving your cat is appropriate as well. That means no unfiltered tap water, especially if you live in an area with hard water, like we do. Encouraging your cat to drink more water by introducing a water fountain, multiple sources of water, and adding a bit of extra water to their food are all good ways to ensure they are hydrated and their urine is dilute.

Hills Prescription Diet Multicare Urinary Care Dog Food Review: Recalls Pros & Cons And More

  • Best Dog Food
  • Hills Prescription Diet Multicare Urinary Care Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons, and More
  • This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world’s species..

    Best for
    Hills Prescription Diet Urinary Care Dog Food
    Key Points:
    • Hills Urinary Care Dog Food is a prescription dog food that helps dissolve and prevent bladder and kidney stones in your dog. It is available in wet and dry recipes.
    • Hills Science uses high-quality ingredients in the foods they develop, which must pass safety and quality checks. The foods support immune health in your dog and can be used for life.
    • Older dogs and female dogs are more prone to urinary health problems. Some breeds are more apt to develop bladder stones like Dachshunds, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, to name a few.

    Hills Multicare Urinary Care Dog Food is an excellent choice for managing canine urinary health. Scientifically formulated to dissolve and prevent bladder and kidney stones, Hills offers the perfect balance of nutrients and minerals.

    Read Also: What Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotics

    When To See A Vet

    These at-home treatments and remedies may be effective for clearing up minor infections, but more serious infections need to be treated by a professional animal doctor.

    If your cat is experiencing mild or moderate symptoms, you can try these remedies to relieve their symptoms. If their symptoms show no sign of improvement in a few days, talk to a veterinarian. If your cat seems to be in pain or is unable to pass urine, see a vet immediately. This could be a sign of urethral obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated within 24 to 48 hours.

    A vet may be able to prescribe antibiotics to target the harmful bacteria. Be sure to give your cat the full dose of prescribed antibiotics to prevent the UTI from returning or becoming resistant to treatment.

    Even if youre pursuing professional treatment, these remedies can be effectively used alongside antibiotics to strengthen the bladder and balance your cats pH levels. Some can also be used as a daily supplement to prevent the UTI from coming back.

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