Posted on 03/17/2015 9:06:56 AM PDT by rarestia
I'm hoping the FR community can help me with a seemingly chronic feline issue.
I have two boys, Luke and Drake, who are from the same litter. They are very different cats. A few years ago, Luke developed urinary crystals. He was straining to urinate, would squat on everything, and he was generally irritable. Vet gave us anti-spasmatics to keep him from trying to urinate excessively and antibiotics to clear up any infections. After a few weeks, his symptoms cleared up, and he seemed better.
Two weeks later, he started again, we put him through the same regimen, and this time we changed him from kibble to canned food after I'd read about all the fillers in kibble that can lead to the formation of these stones. The problem with this strategy was that his brother, Drake, didn't handle the transition well and was vomiting up everything he ate. The wet food was too rich, so we kept him on the dry food thinking that he wasn't having the problem so why change?
Around the same time the next year, it all came around again with Luke. We took him to the vet, same diagnosis, put him through the regimen, and he's back to normal. Doc ruled out anything environmental insomuch as allergies causing this issue.
Fast forward to last weekend, and now Drake is having this same issue! We took him to the eVet, and they said his bladder was empty. Put him on antibiotics and gave him a painkiller, and he was fine; but now he's doing the same thing his brother was doing with the licking of his genitals and going to the cat box ten times an hour.
The question I have for you all: I've read tons of reviews on the urinary health foods. We currently feed Drake Blue Buffalo indoor cat kibble. I've heard some doctors say Blue is one of the worst for crystals and others say its one of the better for overall health. Our vet recommends Hill's Science Diet C/D or Royal Canin SO (which runs up to $85 for a 15 lb. bag!), but I've read some nasty things about Hill's foods.
Can any FReepers help me out here? Any kitty owners who've had these problems who can help me find a good balance? We want our boys to be happy, healthy kitties, but I feel like I have two irreparably broken toms.
That worked for my mom’s cat.
The other poster didn’t like the guy referring to his pets as “boys”.
Show me a dog owner who hasn’t called their dog “boy” or “girl”. Show me anyone who raises animals, shows animals, rides animals, takes care of animals, who doesn’t use the terms “boy” and “girl” in an informal, close, or even loving, way.
Show me veterinarians who don’t call animals they are examining and caring for “boy” or “girl”, or even other nicknames like “pumpkin” and “sweetie”. Now I guess we’ll have people pissed off at the fact there are people that call an animal a fruit.
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>> “Apparently the dog food manufacturers were adding something that caused digestive problems for our dachshund.” <<
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You can take that to the bank!
They definitely do put deleterious garbage in commercial pet food. (including the flesh of down animals)
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>> “Maybe he found some joy on the thread about the pit bull tied to the railroad tracks.” <<
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Made his day, I’m sure!
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>> “You might want to take them off all store bought pet foods.” <<
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Absolutely, if you want them to live long and be happy.
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Gonna start patting my dogs on the head and saying “Good it! Who’s a good it? You are!”
Seven, who will cheerfully rip faces off of bad people, is nicknamed Sweet Pea.
Alert the vegans.
I do not trust people who dislike animals.
Not one bit.
Yeah, she’s a tortoiseshell Siamese. She’s lost a little weight, but otherwise she’s healthy. Still enough of a pest to climb me and bug me for lunchmeat when i make sammiches.
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