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Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
It is very important to understand that what most cat owners think of as "bladder" or "kidney" stones play only a part role in the disease processes involved in the feline urinary tract. There are many agents that will cause the tell tale symptoms most of us have experienced with cats. These signs are basically a result of inflammation or irritation and as such, are multifactorial.
SIGNS
- Straining in the litter box
- Frequent visitation to the litter box
- Excessive licking of privates
- Obvious discomfort & associated symptoms, i.e: crying, off food, depression
- Blood in the urine
- Lack of ability to pass urine
CAUSES
- Urinary crystals
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Mycotic agents (rare)
- Parasites (rare)
- Physically obstructive agents such as: polyps, or tumors, congenital, deformities, strictures, etc...
A proper diagnosis is very important and available only by a veterinarian.
PREVENTION A lot of publicity is given to proper feline nutrition. While important, diet can only aid in the prevention of urinary crystals and even then, only to a certain point.
There are several types of urinary crystals. The type of crystal most likely to benefit from optimal dietary features, is known as a “struvite crystal”. The key dietary factors involved in prevention are optimal magnesium levels, specific urinary P.H. control (slightly acidic) and enhanced water intake.
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS IN PREVENTING "STRUVITE CRYSTALS"
- ASH
Ash is a total, non combustible material of the diet, or the total mineral content of the diet. As such, ash per se has no relevance to the formation of struvite crystals, except for perhaps high concentrations of magnesium.
- OPTIMAL LEVELS OF MAGNESIUM
Earlier studies to recreate urinary crystal formation identified primarily magnesium excess as a possible cause. While this subject is under review, maintaining levels of 0.1% of magnesium is a prudent approach.
- URINARY ACIDIFICATION
It would appear that if there is a singular dietary parameter that might control the formation of struvite crystals, it is proper urinary acidification. Promoting a pH of between 6.2 and 6.4 would seem optimal.
- ADEQUATE WATER INTAKE
Possibly the most important dietary preventative consideration next to optimal urinary P.H. control. Increased drinking provides essential physiologic health benefits in addition to crystal prevention and can be enhanced by proper salt levels, or perhaps considerate of life stage differences, more safely by added herbals. Increased water intake serves to dilute out causative agents and to cleanse the urinary system.
- SMALL FREQUENT MEALS
There is evidence that large meals may promote transient alkalizing action of the urine and consequently might negatively influence crystal formation.
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