Question QUESTION: Our 5 yr. old female is responding well to treatment for flutd. I understand she needs to be on a special diet for life.All our vet will allow her is Hill's prescription diet C/D. She absolutely hates the chicken and barely tolerates the seafood.Is there any other special food she can have? My husband is willing to cook for her, but I don't know what might be allowed. Help!
ANSWER: Tara -
Did you kitty have crystals in her urine? If so, what kind of crystals did she have?
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QUESTION: When we first brought Inky to see the vet he gave her a shot and antibiotic for home.She responded well at first but then started leaving blood-tinged urine.On her return the vet gave her another shot,some pills for home said she was chronic and put her on the Hill's prescription diet C/D. He never tested her urine that I know of.He did x-ray the first visit and ruled out stones. I thank you for taking the time to answer my question.
Answer Tara -
There are many reasons why cats develop chronic bladder problems. Hills' C/D is a good diet but it won't do any good if she will not eat it.
I manage FLUTD with diet, anti-depressants,(yes, they do help!!) and clean litter boxes. You want to encourage her to use the litterbox frequently, ensuring that it is clean and she is comfortable there. Cleanliness is next to godliness when it comes to the cat's litterbox. You should mimic the ideal litter for cats, and most prefer the sandy type. You may have to experiment to determine the litter your kitty prefers. Also, try to have more than one litter box; cats like an area that is quiet to do their business and if other cats are around or the box is not in a place where she is comfortable, then she will wait until she absolutely has to go. Make her trip to the bathroom a comfortable on and she will go often. This may sound strange, but the happier she is, the more she will use the litterlox and will have fewer urinary problems.
Of course, make sure she has plenty of water. This, too will encourage the her urine to be less concentrated, once again avoiding potential bladder problems.
I advise feeding canned food since it is higher in moisture than dry food. Dry foods are associated with more concentrated urine that may contain materials that can promote crystals in the urine. There are other prescribed diets that other than Hills that can help manage urinary tract disease. Tell your vet that she will not eat the one that was initially prescribed and he/she should be able to provide you with another brand. Soem speciality brands have a canned component and that is what should keep her healthy. A diet high in moisture can provide her with the water she needs to keep the bladder healthy, and once again avoiding crystals that can develop in the urine. Leave the dry food out forher to graze on during the day, but try to encourage her to eat canned food.
Consult with your veterinarian regarding the use of antidepressants to manage FLUTD. I sue them often for my patients and have had great success. Stress can also exacerbate urinary disease in cats. and I have found that once the stress is relieved the kitty is healthier.
Keep me posted on her progress. FLUTD can be quite frustrating to treat and harder to manage; be patient and remember that it is hard on the kitty, too. I am sure she appreciates all you have done for her her.
