Struvite crystals, bladder stones and urinary disease syndromes are examples of nutritionally influenced disease conditions. As is the case with many domestic animal diseases, it is important to note that canines and felines in the wild that consume a natural raw diet do not experience struvite crystals and urolithiasis to any degree. Domestic animals on the other hand, which are fed a diet of highly processed denatured, starch-based, synthetic products, succumb to struvite crystals, bladder stones, and urolithiasis in large numbers.
There are two primary causes for this disparity in disease incidence: Domestic animals are fed an exclusive diet of nutrient depleted, highly processed pet foods. This is in stark contrast to the natural, meat based, raw diet replete with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and probiotics consumed by wild canines and felines. This plus overfeeding creates an unhealthy physiological environment in which disease can take root.
Conventional pet foods are unnatural in that they are denatured by heat, imbalanced in minerals, and laden with starches and carbohydrates (in far greater quantities than would ever be consumed in the wild). This yields a more alkaline urine, which causes the precipitation and the development of struvite crystals, bladder stones and urolithiasis disease.
The frequency with which companion animals fall victim to urinary disease syndromes is astounding. Prevention and treatment can be achieved while simultaneously creating optimal health for your pet by mimicking the natural/archetypal diet. This fosters an acidic body environment, which will aid in both the treatment and prevention of struvite crystals, bladder stones, FLUTD, and canine urolithiasis.
In spite of common opinion, the magnesium content of natural foods is not an etiological factor in FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) and canine urolithiasis unless it is added in the form of excess magnesium oxide rather than magnesium chloride. Animals in the wild maintain an acid urine and freedom from struvite crystals, bladder stones, FLUTD, and canine and feline urolithiasis, yet the foods consumed by wild canines/felines contain higher levels of magnesium (0.1%) than suggested by some pet food manufacturers.
Struvite Crystals, FLUTD, Canine Struvite Urolithiasis – Treatment and Prevention with a two step approach The objective in both prevention and treatment of struvite crystals, bladder stones and urolithiasis should be restoration of the essential natural archetypal canine/feline diet, and replenishment of essential nutrients to restore proper urinary tract balance.
Revert the diet to its natural form. The diet pet carnivores are designed for is meat based. It is not by coincidence that high protein foods naturally generate a more acidic urine which prevents the development of struvite crystals and bladder stones. Feed entirely meat based and foods, either raw or minimally processed to preserve full nutrient value. Feeding in variety, not feeding just one food meal after meal, is also critical to health. Supplement with pH balancing supplements depending on the circumstances increasing or decreasing pH balance to restore natural balances and acidify the urine. Decreasing the pH balance helps to overcome the deficiencies in commercial processed pet foods by helping the animal extract the nutrients that are locked into the mainstay commercial diet(s). Biotic pH- decreasing supplement nutrients, which are commonly lacking as a result of processing pet foods. They also supply nutrients which help regulate metabolism to generate an acid urine. An acid urine has been demonstrated to not only be calculolytic (dissolves existing struvite crystals), but also preventative for the formation of struvite crystals and bladder stones in Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) and canine urolithiasis.
Note: Food and supplement recommendations in the last paragraph refer to Wysong products.
Contribution by R.L.Wysong, DVM
Showing posts with label urinary crystals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urinary crystals. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Feline Cystitis and FLUTD: What are they, causes and dietary and other considerations when your cat has them
Once again I am addressing a specific health condition, which is not just too common these days but also most likely is caused by the insufficient and ill formulated mass marketed commercial pet foods being fed to cats.
According to How stuff works Dr. H. Ellen Whiteley: How to Treat Common Cat Diseases: “A cat's bladder can become inflamed because of infection or irritation. In most cases cystitis happens as part of a collection of bladder and urinary problems, which are commonly called feline urological syndrome (FUS) or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).”
I talked about FLUTD in my previously published comments Reduction of struvite and calcium oxalate in cat urine through the diet, Dietary needs of specific groups and individual breeds of dogs and cats and Urinary Tract Disorders in Dogs and Cats briefly summarized.
Cystitis is when your cat’s internal bladder wall is being irritated by something causing an inflammation of the bladder. Common sources of such irritation can be inflammation due to the cat retaining urine for an extended amount of time. The presence of stones or crystals which rub against the bladder wall or infectious organisms that have built up inside the bladder also can cause inflammation. The anus of the cat (both male and female) is located directly above the urethral opening, giving feces and bacteria an easy opportunity to collect and colonize in the urethra and bladder. While this is normally not a problem with regular urination and healthy urinary tract cells, it can become one with decreased urine volume leading to increased concentration of urine. In addition, crystals, bacteria, and sloughed off cells may cause a disruption of the urinary tract's normal defenses, thereby leading to a FUS attack. Dr. Whiteley continues: “Attacks of cystitis or FUS (which includes cystitis, along with inflammation of the urinary tract and the formation of stones or sand in the bladder) are announced by bloody urine, frequent urination of small amounts, litter box accidents, spraying, excessive licking of the urinary opening, straining in the litter box, and possibly tenderness of the lower abdomen.
The pH of a cat's urine, how acidic or alkaline it is, has a lot to do with cystitis and FUS. If the cat's urine is alkaline, it's much easier for urinary crystals to form. These crystals in turn form gritty "sand" or small stones that irritate the lining of the bladder and can plug up the urinary opening in male cats, which is an extremely serious problem.Serious complications of cystitis and FUS show up most often in adult male cats. The first flare-up usually occurs when the cat is fairly young, and repeat bouts can pop up for the rest of his life. That having been said, don't think that just because you have an older or female cat that you're in the clear: Urinary tract problems can strike any cat.Most experts agree that many factors, including diet, contribute to a cat's susceptibility to developing FUS. Plant based cat foods tend to make a cat's urine more alkaline with a higher pH, which encourages the formation of crystals and stones and is a more hospitable environment for bacteria. Some commercial dry cat foods seem to have the same effect on urinary pH. As a result, some say cats who develop cystitis or FUS should only eat dry foods recommended by a veterinarian or stick to prescription dry food specially formulated for cats with bladder problems.” Well, I don’t quite 100% agree with that. Reason for my disagreement is the feedback I am constantly getting from customers at the store. They complain usually not just that this kind of food is extremely expensive, but also that the results are less than satisfactory. What I have good experience with is the Wysong brand. Not just is it way more affordable, but more importantly it really works. Don’t believe me? Well let me show you the ad a customer of ours (what a nice gesture) ran in the local Craig’s List:
“2009-02-12, 9:31AM Check out lizzyshealthypetfood.com for the absolute best foods for your dogs/cats/ferrets. They ship worldwide. One of my cats has urinary tract problems. She was on prescription food from the vet at $40 a bag! I discussed the situation with Lizzys and now my cat is on an all natural dry food diet with occasional all natural wet food as a treat. Prescription wet food was $12 a can - I couldn't touch it at that price. The price is less, but honestly, price was only part of the consideration - I wanted her health again - not just hanging in there We tried it and kept a close eye on her to make sure there would be no problem with the switch. She's been on the diet now for about a year. My nine year old cat now acts like a teen! She's running all over the house like she did when she was young - even playing with the kitten! Check them out - you'll be SO glad you did and your pet will, too! Original URL: http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/pet/1031635363.html “
Sorry, but I couldn’t control myself and had to do this. I am just so proud of it. Coming back to the task on hand: My recommendation to this customer and others depend on the specific circumstances. If you wish more info please e-mail me and we can discuss more details. Important is that calcium to phosphorus ratios should be balanced.
Another dietary opinion comes from Dr. Feinman, VMD, CVH, who says on his HomeVet website: “Restrict the cat's intake of dry cat food. Though dry foods do not cause cystitis, several studies have shown that the cat's total fluid intake is decreased when dry diets are fed. When the fluid intake is decreased, the urine is more concentrated with minerals and other materials that can cause future episodes of cystitis. Canned foods can result in increased fluid intake and more dilute urine. However, we know that many cats do not like canned food and that there are several distinct advantages to feeding dry food. Therefore, if there have been only a few infrequent episodes of cystitis, these other factors may be more important.” I do not agree with Dr. Feinman when he says “though dry foods do not cause cystitis…”. I believe it has very well something to do with it. If we discuss ingredients influencing pH levels and calcium to pH ratios, then where are these ingredients we are talking about: In the food.
We also, just as your vet would do, may also suggest a urinary acidifier to add to your cat's diet, making sure the pH of his urine stays low enough to prevent bladder stones, or may recommend a special diet formulated to dissolve crystals or stones in the bladder. However, research lately indicates that acidifying the pH of the food, and hence, urinary tract, is no longer thought to be the optimal strategy, a moderate or very slightly acidic food pH is now indicated, to give a urine pH of just below neutral, which should not affect or encourage the formation of either type of crystals.Reduced magnesium levels are also indicated for animals prone to crystals, although this mineral should never be eliminated completely from the diet. Magnesium is an important trace nutrient that every cat needs. It serves several important metabolic functions and plays an important role in the production and transport of energy. It is also important for the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Magnesium is involved in the synthesis of protein, and it assists in the functioning of certain enzymes in the body. Unfortunately, some commercial cat foods provide it in a form that also encourages crystals to form in the cat's urine, which can lead to bladder stones, which occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated and materials crystallize and in turn, can cause a urinary obstruction. A good quality commercial canned food is usually relatively low in magnesium, easy to digest, produces more acidic urine, and provides more fluid intake.
Let’s go back to Dr. Whiteley: “The body is an amazing thing: If it doesn't have enough of something it needs, it finds a way to get it. If a cat isn't drinking enough, his body will find a way to conserve and reclaim water. One way is by reabsorbing water from the urine, making it more concentrated. The urinary tract lining in cats that have already had a bout of cystitis or FUS is particularly sensitive, and concentrated urine can trigger additional attacks.Make sure your cat has constant access to plenty of clean, fresh water. Watch for your cat's drinking preferences, some favor a water faucet or even the toilet over a water bowl on the floor. It might seem odd or even a little bit disgusting, but it's probably a good idea to cater to his water drinking whims, especially if the option is a flare-up of bladder disease. Cats also get water from their food. The higher the moisture content in his diet, the more water he's getting, even without drinking. A cat eating canned food gets a lot of water with the meal and more as a result of breaking down the higher fat, higher energy ingredients that are in most wet foods.The "body-mind connection" works for cats just as well as it does for people. Country folks know that a healthy attitude toward life makes for a healthy body. Unfortunately, you can't explain that to your cat. Instead, it's up to you to minimize his stress and maximize his health. Try to anticipate problems. Do you know a major change is coming up in your household? Whether it's a new baby, someone going off to college for the first time, a family vacation, or remodeling the kitchen, if you know it's coming it's best to either ease the cat into it slowly or expect an attack of urinary problems and take the necessary precautions. You should have realistic expectations for your cat. Sure, cats are clever and agile and maybe even a little sneaky, but they're still cats.” I’d say, sure, some believe that it is entirely possible that your cat understands everything you say and is just playing dumb or being obstinate. However, my take is a little different: Could it be equally possible that cats only learned how to get along in human society just well enough to find themselves a comfortable situation? Dr. Whiteley: “Your cat possibly has absolutely no idea why you're so bent out of shape that it has been urinating in your beautiful potted plants instead of the convenient litter box you bought him or her. If a cat doesn't understand why he's being reprimanded, it stresses out. A stressed cat will announce its unhappiness with a change in behavior, often by elimination. To a cat, leaving it where you're sure to notice it, where your personal smell is strongest, is a great way to guarantee you'll get the message. Finally, to lessen your cat's stress, try to stay cool yourself. Have you ever tried to enjoy a favorite activity and then had someone who was really, really intense about it right next to you? To cats, life in your home is basically one long stay at a resort hotel: The weather is always fine, everything is already paid for, you don't have to work, and you can eat, sleep, and play whenever you like. If the humans in this little paradise are under stress, though, the vacation is suddenly over. Some of this may be cats' fabled sensitivity to people's emotions, but some of it certainly is a reaction to the changes in the way we humans move and speak when we're agitated.A clean litter box filled with the appropriate kind of litter must be available to the cat at all times. Using the litter box is not an instinctive behavior in cats; the instinct part is the action of digging in loose materials to bury their urine and feces, especially if there is a habit of using that spot or the very faint residual smell of elimination there. If something turns them off to the box, like it's too dirty, too perfumey, or too much trouble to get to, they'll either hold it too long, thereby increasing bladder irritation and the risk of infection, or find another "toilet." Check your cat's litter box regularly, making sure it is clean and free of irritants.” The actual cat litter also can make a difference. I usually recommend some of Dr. Elsey’s litter products as they offer solutions specifically designed to address the medical and urinary tract problems with an amorphous silica gel litter infused with hydrolized herbs. Litter should absorb urine on contact and trap it inside the crystal to prevent bacterial growth, thus helping to prevent urinary tract infections. A small particle size and dust fines also coat and dehydrate cat feces to reduce odor and prevent bacterial growth of E-Coli. E-Coli bacteria grow on feces and along with reduced natural body defenses can lead to kidney failure, urinary and uterine infections. Litter should have no organic materials such as wheat, pine, corn and paper that can support bacteria and fungal growth, thereby helping to prevent urinary infections.
Let’s close out with Dr. Whiteley’s conclusion: “Cats with urinary tract problems will often deliberately urinate outside of the litter box, even if they've been 100 percent accurate all their lives. If your cat suddenly starts having "accidents," spraying urine, or squatting and straining outside of the box, don't punish him. He's probably telling you he's got a problem. Call the vet as soon as you notice one of these signals and schedule an appointment for an exam. If it's a physical problem, the sooner your catch it, the easier it will be to treat. If it's a purely behavioral thing, you can start correcting it before it becomes an ingrained habit. If your cat is straining in the litter box or elsewhere and not producing any urine, produces small amounts of bloody urine, or cries during urination, call the vet immediately. These are the signs of a urinary blockage, an extremely serious and potentially fatal problem. Most bladder problems by themselves are not dangerous; they're mostly inconvenient and a nuisance for the owner. However, urinary blockage is extremely dangerous and should be treated as a life threatening situation.”
Sources & references:
How stuff works Dr. H. Ellen Whiteley: How to Treat Common Cat Diseases
Dr. Jeff Feinman, VMD, CVH: Feline cystitis (or Feline Urologic Syndrome, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease)
According to How stuff works Dr. H. Ellen Whiteley: How to Treat Common Cat Diseases: “A cat's bladder can become inflamed because of infection or irritation. In most cases cystitis happens as part of a collection of bladder and urinary problems, which are commonly called feline urological syndrome (FUS) or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).”
I talked about FLUTD in my previously published comments Reduction of struvite and calcium oxalate in cat urine through the diet, Dietary needs of specific groups and individual breeds of dogs and cats and Urinary Tract Disorders in Dogs and Cats briefly summarized.
Cystitis is when your cat’s internal bladder wall is being irritated by something causing an inflammation of the bladder. Common sources of such irritation can be inflammation due to the cat retaining urine for an extended amount of time. The presence of stones or crystals which rub against the bladder wall or infectious organisms that have built up inside the bladder also can cause inflammation. The anus of the cat (both male and female) is located directly above the urethral opening, giving feces and bacteria an easy opportunity to collect and colonize in the urethra and bladder. While this is normally not a problem with regular urination and healthy urinary tract cells, it can become one with decreased urine volume leading to increased concentration of urine. In addition, crystals, bacteria, and sloughed off cells may cause a disruption of the urinary tract's normal defenses, thereby leading to a FUS attack. Dr. Whiteley continues: “Attacks of cystitis or FUS (which includes cystitis, along with inflammation of the urinary tract and the formation of stones or sand in the bladder) are announced by bloody urine, frequent urination of small amounts, litter box accidents, spraying, excessive licking of the urinary opening, straining in the litter box, and possibly tenderness of the lower abdomen.
The pH of a cat's urine, how acidic or alkaline it is, has a lot to do with cystitis and FUS. If the cat's urine is alkaline, it's much easier for urinary crystals to form. These crystals in turn form gritty "sand" or small stones that irritate the lining of the bladder and can plug up the urinary opening in male cats, which is an extremely serious problem.Serious complications of cystitis and FUS show up most often in adult male cats. The first flare-up usually occurs when the cat is fairly young, and repeat bouts can pop up for the rest of his life. That having been said, don't think that just because you have an older or female cat that you're in the clear: Urinary tract problems can strike any cat.Most experts agree that many factors, including diet, contribute to a cat's susceptibility to developing FUS. Plant based cat foods tend to make a cat's urine more alkaline with a higher pH, which encourages the formation of crystals and stones and is a more hospitable environment for bacteria. Some commercial dry cat foods seem to have the same effect on urinary pH. As a result, some say cats who develop cystitis or FUS should only eat dry foods recommended by a veterinarian or stick to prescription dry food specially formulated for cats with bladder problems.” Well, I don’t quite 100% agree with that. Reason for my disagreement is the feedback I am constantly getting from customers at the store. They complain usually not just that this kind of food is extremely expensive, but also that the results are less than satisfactory. What I have good experience with is the Wysong brand. Not just is it way more affordable, but more importantly it really works. Don’t believe me? Well let me show you the ad a customer of ours (what a nice gesture) ran in the local Craig’s List:
“2009-02-12, 9:31AM Check out lizzyshealthypetfood.com for the absolute best foods for your dogs/cats/ferrets. They ship worldwide. One of my cats has urinary tract problems. She was on prescription food from the vet at $40 a bag! I discussed the situation with Lizzys and now my cat is on an all natural dry food diet with occasional all natural wet food as a treat. Prescription wet food was $12 a can - I couldn't touch it at that price. The price is less, but honestly, price was only part of the consideration - I wanted her health again - not just hanging in there We tried it and kept a close eye on her to make sure there would be no problem with the switch. She's been on the diet now for about a year. My nine year old cat now acts like a teen! She's running all over the house like she did when she was young - even playing with the kitten! Check them out - you'll be SO glad you did and your pet will, too! Original URL: http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/pet/1031635363.html “
Sorry, but I couldn’t control myself and had to do this. I am just so proud of it. Coming back to the task on hand: My recommendation to this customer and others depend on the specific circumstances. If you wish more info please e-mail me and we can discuss more details. Important is that calcium to phosphorus ratios should be balanced.
Another dietary opinion comes from Dr. Feinman, VMD, CVH, who says on his HomeVet website: “Restrict the cat's intake of dry cat food. Though dry foods do not cause cystitis, several studies have shown that the cat's total fluid intake is decreased when dry diets are fed. When the fluid intake is decreased, the urine is more concentrated with minerals and other materials that can cause future episodes of cystitis. Canned foods can result in increased fluid intake and more dilute urine. However, we know that many cats do not like canned food and that there are several distinct advantages to feeding dry food. Therefore, if there have been only a few infrequent episodes of cystitis, these other factors may be more important.” I do not agree with Dr. Feinman when he says “though dry foods do not cause cystitis…”. I believe it has very well something to do with it. If we discuss ingredients influencing pH levels and calcium to pH ratios, then where are these ingredients we are talking about: In the food.
We also, just as your vet would do, may also suggest a urinary acidifier to add to your cat's diet, making sure the pH of his urine stays low enough to prevent bladder stones, or may recommend a special diet formulated to dissolve crystals or stones in the bladder. However, research lately indicates that acidifying the pH of the food, and hence, urinary tract, is no longer thought to be the optimal strategy, a moderate or very slightly acidic food pH is now indicated, to give a urine pH of just below neutral, which should not affect or encourage the formation of either type of crystals.Reduced magnesium levels are also indicated for animals prone to crystals, although this mineral should never be eliminated completely from the diet. Magnesium is an important trace nutrient that every cat needs. It serves several important metabolic functions and plays an important role in the production and transport of energy. It is also important for the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Magnesium is involved in the synthesis of protein, and it assists in the functioning of certain enzymes in the body. Unfortunately, some commercial cat foods provide it in a form that also encourages crystals to form in the cat's urine, which can lead to bladder stones, which occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated and materials crystallize and in turn, can cause a urinary obstruction. A good quality commercial canned food is usually relatively low in magnesium, easy to digest, produces more acidic urine, and provides more fluid intake.
Let’s go back to Dr. Whiteley: “The body is an amazing thing: If it doesn't have enough of something it needs, it finds a way to get it. If a cat isn't drinking enough, his body will find a way to conserve and reclaim water. One way is by reabsorbing water from the urine, making it more concentrated. The urinary tract lining in cats that have already had a bout of cystitis or FUS is particularly sensitive, and concentrated urine can trigger additional attacks.Make sure your cat has constant access to plenty of clean, fresh water. Watch for your cat's drinking preferences, some favor a water faucet or even the toilet over a water bowl on the floor. It might seem odd or even a little bit disgusting, but it's probably a good idea to cater to his water drinking whims, especially if the option is a flare-up of bladder disease. Cats also get water from their food. The higher the moisture content in his diet, the more water he's getting, even without drinking. A cat eating canned food gets a lot of water with the meal and more as a result of breaking down the higher fat, higher energy ingredients that are in most wet foods.The "body-mind connection" works for cats just as well as it does for people. Country folks know that a healthy attitude toward life makes for a healthy body. Unfortunately, you can't explain that to your cat. Instead, it's up to you to minimize his stress and maximize his health. Try to anticipate problems. Do you know a major change is coming up in your household? Whether it's a new baby, someone going off to college for the first time, a family vacation, or remodeling the kitchen, if you know it's coming it's best to either ease the cat into it slowly or expect an attack of urinary problems and take the necessary precautions. You should have realistic expectations for your cat. Sure, cats are clever and agile and maybe even a little sneaky, but they're still cats.” I’d say, sure, some believe that it is entirely possible that your cat understands everything you say and is just playing dumb or being obstinate. However, my take is a little different: Could it be equally possible that cats only learned how to get along in human society just well enough to find themselves a comfortable situation? Dr. Whiteley: “Your cat possibly has absolutely no idea why you're so bent out of shape that it has been urinating in your beautiful potted plants instead of the convenient litter box you bought him or her. If a cat doesn't understand why he's being reprimanded, it stresses out. A stressed cat will announce its unhappiness with a change in behavior, often by elimination. To a cat, leaving it where you're sure to notice it, where your personal smell is strongest, is a great way to guarantee you'll get the message. Finally, to lessen your cat's stress, try to stay cool yourself. Have you ever tried to enjoy a favorite activity and then had someone who was really, really intense about it right next to you? To cats, life in your home is basically one long stay at a resort hotel: The weather is always fine, everything is already paid for, you don't have to work, and you can eat, sleep, and play whenever you like. If the humans in this little paradise are under stress, though, the vacation is suddenly over. Some of this may be cats' fabled sensitivity to people's emotions, but some of it certainly is a reaction to the changes in the way we humans move and speak when we're agitated.A clean litter box filled with the appropriate kind of litter must be available to the cat at all times. Using the litter box is not an instinctive behavior in cats; the instinct part is the action of digging in loose materials to bury their urine and feces, especially if there is a habit of using that spot or the very faint residual smell of elimination there. If something turns them off to the box, like it's too dirty, too perfumey, or too much trouble to get to, they'll either hold it too long, thereby increasing bladder irritation and the risk of infection, or find another "toilet." Check your cat's litter box regularly, making sure it is clean and free of irritants.” The actual cat litter also can make a difference. I usually recommend some of Dr. Elsey’s litter products as they offer solutions specifically designed to address the medical and urinary tract problems with an amorphous silica gel litter infused with hydrolized herbs. Litter should absorb urine on contact and trap it inside the crystal to prevent bacterial growth, thus helping to prevent urinary tract infections. A small particle size and dust fines also coat and dehydrate cat feces to reduce odor and prevent bacterial growth of E-Coli. E-Coli bacteria grow on feces and along with reduced natural body defenses can lead to kidney failure, urinary and uterine infections. Litter should have no organic materials such as wheat, pine, corn and paper that can support bacteria and fungal growth, thereby helping to prevent urinary infections.
Let’s close out with Dr. Whiteley’s conclusion: “Cats with urinary tract problems will often deliberately urinate outside of the litter box, even if they've been 100 percent accurate all their lives. If your cat suddenly starts having "accidents," spraying urine, or squatting and straining outside of the box, don't punish him. He's probably telling you he's got a problem. Call the vet as soon as you notice one of these signals and schedule an appointment for an exam. If it's a physical problem, the sooner your catch it, the easier it will be to treat. If it's a purely behavioral thing, you can start correcting it before it becomes an ingrained habit. If your cat is straining in the litter box or elsewhere and not producing any urine, produces small amounts of bloody urine, or cries during urination, call the vet immediately. These are the signs of a urinary blockage, an extremely serious and potentially fatal problem. Most bladder problems by themselves are not dangerous; they're mostly inconvenient and a nuisance for the owner. However, urinary blockage is extremely dangerous and should be treated as a life threatening situation.”
Sources & references:
How stuff works Dr. H. Ellen Whiteley: How to Treat Common Cat Diseases
Dr. Jeff Feinman, VMD, CVH: Feline cystitis (or Feline Urologic Syndrome, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Urinary Tract Disorders in Dogs and Cats briefly summarized
Urinary tract disorders are just another one of the disorders/diseases/illnesses, which affect more than half of America’s pet population these days. Today more than ever before is known about urinary tract disorders in dogs and cats. The possible causes, treatment and prevention regimes now consider diet, feeding, and environmental issues. Common clinical signs include urinating with greater frequency, straining or urinating outside the litter box. If a total urinary tract blockage occurs, seek immediate veterinary attention. There are several different types of disorders that can affect the urinary tract, and these fall into two primary categories: Crystals or stones and infections. The crystals or stones category breaks down into 2 variations: Struvites are made up of magnesium ammonium phosphate. These thrive in a urinary tract which is too alkaline or not sufficiently acidic. The other type are Calcium Oxalates, which are crystals formed when the urinary tract environment is too acidic or not sufficiently alkaline. Struvite crystals were formerly the most prevalent type to affect cats in particular and, in response, many manufacturers developed "acidifying" diets designed to dissolve the struvite crystals and discourage their future development. However, this change in many diet formulations is thought to be partly responsible for the recent increase in the development of calcium oxalate. The two types of crystals now occur with almost equal frequency. More recent research indicates that strongly acidic diets may actually do more harm than good, particularly if fed to cats who are not actually affected by struvite formation, as they are then at greater risk of developing calcium oxalate. The only way to be certain which type of crystal is affecting a cat or dog is veterinary examination or testing. Treatment and prevention should be planned accordingly. Since acidifying the pH of the food, and hence, urinary tract, is no longer thought to be the optimal strategy, a moderate or very slightly acidic food pH is now indicated, to give a urine pH of just below neutral, which should not affect or encourage the formation of either type of crystals.
Reduced magnesium levels are also indicated for animals prone to crystals, although this mineral should never be eliminated completely from the diet.
The Calcium to Phosphorus ratios should be balanced.
Increased water intake is recommended, particularly for the prevention of future crystals. Canned food is a good option as it contains up to 78% moisture, as opposed to the 10% moisture found in most dry foods. Other treatment should be geared to the exact type of crystals or stones that are present. Cranberry extract or vitamin C is often recommended for struvite, as these substances are acidic. We found that many companies use vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. We recommend foods which do not add sodium or salt as dogs and cats do not require an excess of this mineral in their diets. For calcium oxalate crystals, other veterinary treatments are available.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in dogs and cats may result from insufficient water intake and are most commonly caused by the bacteria, E. coli. There is a substance in cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and blueberries (Vaccinium myrtilus) that has been shown in a number of clinical trials to prevent the adhesion of E. coli to the bladder wall and Urethra. If the bacteria are unable to attach, they are washed out of the urinary tract during urination and an infection cannot develop. Increased water intake will assist in flushing out infections and can be achieved by feeding a canned food that can contain up to 78% moisture. A good idea is to look for foods containing either blueberries or cranberries. Of course you don’t have to look for those in the shelves of your mass merchandise or grocery super market, you are wasting your time looking for something they don’t have. Typically those ingredients are only contained in high quality foods starting at the upper midrange. Extra cranberry juice may be added to the food or drinking water as an additional aid in the prevention of urinary tract infections and struvite crystals. However beware of and avoid products with added sugar, corn syrup, or other fruit juices that can negate the cranberry's acidic and beneficial effects. The best is to go with supplements specifically made for our companions.
Urinary Tract Disorders are a very serious problem and I strongly recommend to seek veterinarian advice and help. Be open minded. In most cases the vet will prescribe some scientific diet. This, based on what many of my customers reported to me does not mean the problem is being taken care of. Only problem it seems to solve is the vet’s need for an improved bottom line through the sale of pet food. There are non prescription high quality food brands available to you. They cost way less and, based on the feedback I got from my customers, do a much better job at a way lower price. If you want more info on those, e-mail me.
Reduced magnesium levels are also indicated for animals prone to crystals, although this mineral should never be eliminated completely from the diet.
The Calcium to Phosphorus ratios should be balanced.
Increased water intake is recommended, particularly for the prevention of future crystals. Canned food is a good option as it contains up to 78% moisture, as opposed to the 10% moisture found in most dry foods. Other treatment should be geared to the exact type of crystals or stones that are present. Cranberry extract or vitamin C is often recommended for struvite, as these substances are acidic. We found that many companies use vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. We recommend foods which do not add sodium or salt as dogs and cats do not require an excess of this mineral in their diets. For calcium oxalate crystals, other veterinary treatments are available.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in dogs and cats may result from insufficient water intake and are most commonly caused by the bacteria, E. coli. There is a substance in cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and blueberries (Vaccinium myrtilus) that has been shown in a number of clinical trials to prevent the adhesion of E. coli to the bladder wall and Urethra. If the bacteria are unable to attach, they are washed out of the urinary tract during urination and an infection cannot develop. Increased water intake will assist in flushing out infections and can be achieved by feeding a canned food that can contain up to 78% moisture. A good idea is to look for foods containing either blueberries or cranberries. Of course you don’t have to look for those in the shelves of your mass merchandise or grocery super market, you are wasting your time looking for something they don’t have. Typically those ingredients are only contained in high quality foods starting at the upper midrange. Extra cranberry juice may be added to the food or drinking water as an additional aid in the prevention of urinary tract infections and struvite crystals. However beware of and avoid products with added sugar, corn syrup, or other fruit juices that can negate the cranberry's acidic and beneficial effects. The best is to go with supplements specifically made for our companions.
Urinary Tract Disorders are a very serious problem and I strongly recommend to seek veterinarian advice and help. Be open minded. In most cases the vet will prescribe some scientific diet. This, based on what many of my customers reported to me does not mean the problem is being taken care of. Only problem it seems to solve is the vet’s need for an improved bottom line through the sale of pet food. There are non prescription high quality food brands available to you. They cost way less and, based on the feedback I got from my customers, do a much better job at a way lower price. If you want more info on those, e-mail me.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Nutrition related diseases in pets
The 100% complete diet. A goal based on the idea that one pet food provides all the nutrition a companion animal will ever need for its entire life. Careful, it is a dangerous myth. All what promoting a 100% complete diet does is selling a lot of product. It is simply a marketing tool supposed to build consumer confidence. It increases convenience. But it does not address the most important issue of how to maximize nutrition.
Today’s diets for our companion animals are a far cry from the variable meat based diets that their ancestors ate. The unpleasant results of grain based, processed, year in and year out diets are coming in. Pets have adopted the same degenerative disease as we ourselves, the humans. They include cancer, obesity, diabetes, allergies, auto immunities, arthritis and dental diseases. In addition new ones have been and are still discovered. They include for example polymyopathy due to low potassium levels, dilated cardiomyopathy due to low taurine levels, arthritis, skin diseases and urolithiasis from acid base and zinc malnutrition and chronic eczema from essential fatty acid malnutrition. The most common health problems associated with pet diets these days include:
Urinary tract disease: Plugs, crystals, and stones are more common in cats eating dry diets, due to the chronic dehydration and highly concentrated urine they cause. Struvite stones used to be the most common type in cats, but another more dangerous type, calcium oxalate, has increased and is now tied with struvite. Manipulation of manufactured cat food formulas to increase the acidity of urine has caused the switch. Dogs can also form stones as a result of their diet.
Kidney disease: Chronic dehydration associated with dry food may also be a contributing factor in the development of kidney disease and chronic renal failure in older cats. Cats have a low thirst drive; in the wild they would get most of their water from their prey. Cats eating dry food do not drink enough water to make up for the lack of moisture in the food. Cats on dry food diets drink more water, but the total water intake of a cat eating canned food is twice the amount.
Dental disease: Contrary to the myth propagated by pet food companies, dry food is not good for teeth. Given that the vast majority of pets eat dry food, yet the most common health problem in pets is dental disease, this should be obvious. People, it is very simple: Dry food does not clean the teeth.
Obesity: Feeding recommendations or instructions on the packaging are sometimes inflated so that the consumer will end up feeding (and purchasing) more food. One of the most common health problems in pets, obesity, may also be related to high carb, high calorie dry formulas. Both dogs and cats respond to low carb wet food diets. Overweight pets are more prone to arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. Dry cat food is now considered the cause of feline diabetes. Prevention and treatment include switching to a high protein, high moisture, low carb diet.
Chronic digestive problems: Chronic vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and inflammatory bowel disease are among the most frequent illnesses treated. These are often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet food ingredients. The market for limited antigen or novel protein diets is now a multi million dollar business. These diets were formulated to address the increasing intolerance to commercial foods that pets have developed. Even so, a pet tending to develop allergies can develop allergies to the new ingredients as well. One twist is the truly hypoallergenic food that has had all its proteins artificially chopped into pieces smaller than can be recognized and reacted to by the immune system. Yet there are documented cases of animals becoming allergic to this food, too. It is important to feed variance, change brands, flavors and protein sources every few months to prevent problems.
Bloat: If you feed your pet only one meal daily it can cause the irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid. This appears to be associated with gastric dilitation and canine bloat, also known as volvulus. Feeding two or more smaller meals is better.
Heart disease: An often fatal heart disease in cats and some dogs is now known to be caused by a deficiency of the amino acid taurine. Blindness is another symptom of taurine deficiency. This deficiency was due to inadequate amounts of taurine in cat food formulas, which in turn had occurred due to decreased amounts of animal proteins and increased reliance on carbohydrates. Cat foods are now supplemented with taurine. New research suggests that some dog breeds are susceptible to the same condition. Supplementing taurine these days is more common in higher grade dog foods as it may also be helpful for dogs.
Hyperthyroidism: There is evidence that hyperthyroidism in cats may be related to diet. Experts discuss the possibility that excessive iodine in commercial cat food is a factor. There is also new research pointing to a link between the disease and pop top cans, and flavors including fish or giblets. Hyperthyroidism is a serious disease and treatment is expensive.
Many nutritional problems appeared with the popularity of cereal based commercial pet foods. Some have occurred because the diet was incomplete. Although several ingredients are now supplemented, we do not know what ingredients future researchers may discover that should have been supplemented in pet foods all along. Other problems may occur from reactions to additives. Others are a result of contamination with bacteria, mold, drugs, or other toxins. In some diseases the role of commercial pet food is understood; in others, it is not. The bottom line is that diets composed primarily of low quality cereals and rendered meals are not as nutritious or safe as we should expect for your cat or dog. The clear goal should be to mimic as close as possible the original, primitive diet as our pet’s ancestors ate it. To use ingredients containing naturally high levels of all nutrients. Aside from releasing their pets into the wild, pet owners can select pet food that recognizes the limitations of our knowledge and at the same time offers the best possible opportunities for best health and a long life.
Today’s diets for our companion animals are a far cry from the variable meat based diets that their ancestors ate. The unpleasant results of grain based, processed, year in and year out diets are coming in. Pets have adopted the same degenerative disease as we ourselves, the humans. They include cancer, obesity, diabetes, allergies, auto immunities, arthritis and dental diseases. In addition new ones have been and are still discovered. They include for example polymyopathy due to low potassium levels, dilated cardiomyopathy due to low taurine levels, arthritis, skin diseases and urolithiasis from acid base and zinc malnutrition and chronic eczema from essential fatty acid malnutrition. The most common health problems associated with pet diets these days include:
Urinary tract disease: Plugs, crystals, and stones are more common in cats eating dry diets, due to the chronic dehydration and highly concentrated urine they cause. Struvite stones used to be the most common type in cats, but another more dangerous type, calcium oxalate, has increased and is now tied with struvite. Manipulation of manufactured cat food formulas to increase the acidity of urine has caused the switch. Dogs can also form stones as a result of their diet.
Kidney disease: Chronic dehydration associated with dry food may also be a contributing factor in the development of kidney disease and chronic renal failure in older cats. Cats have a low thirst drive; in the wild they would get most of their water from their prey. Cats eating dry food do not drink enough water to make up for the lack of moisture in the food. Cats on dry food diets drink more water, but the total water intake of a cat eating canned food is twice the amount.
Dental disease: Contrary to the myth propagated by pet food companies, dry food is not good for teeth. Given that the vast majority of pets eat dry food, yet the most common health problem in pets is dental disease, this should be obvious. People, it is very simple: Dry food does not clean the teeth.
Obesity: Feeding recommendations or instructions on the packaging are sometimes inflated so that the consumer will end up feeding (and purchasing) more food. One of the most common health problems in pets, obesity, may also be related to high carb, high calorie dry formulas. Both dogs and cats respond to low carb wet food diets. Overweight pets are more prone to arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. Dry cat food is now considered the cause of feline diabetes. Prevention and treatment include switching to a high protein, high moisture, low carb diet.
Chronic digestive problems: Chronic vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and inflammatory bowel disease are among the most frequent illnesses treated. These are often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet food ingredients. The market for limited antigen or novel protein diets is now a multi million dollar business. These diets were formulated to address the increasing intolerance to commercial foods that pets have developed. Even so, a pet tending to develop allergies can develop allergies to the new ingredients as well. One twist is the truly hypoallergenic food that has had all its proteins artificially chopped into pieces smaller than can be recognized and reacted to by the immune system. Yet there are documented cases of animals becoming allergic to this food, too. It is important to feed variance, change brands, flavors and protein sources every few months to prevent problems.
Bloat: If you feed your pet only one meal daily it can cause the irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid. This appears to be associated with gastric dilitation and canine bloat, also known as volvulus. Feeding two or more smaller meals is better.
Heart disease: An often fatal heart disease in cats and some dogs is now known to be caused by a deficiency of the amino acid taurine. Blindness is another symptom of taurine deficiency. This deficiency was due to inadequate amounts of taurine in cat food formulas, which in turn had occurred due to decreased amounts of animal proteins and increased reliance on carbohydrates. Cat foods are now supplemented with taurine. New research suggests that some dog breeds are susceptible to the same condition. Supplementing taurine these days is more common in higher grade dog foods as it may also be helpful for dogs.
Hyperthyroidism: There is evidence that hyperthyroidism in cats may be related to diet. Experts discuss the possibility that excessive iodine in commercial cat food is a factor. There is also new research pointing to a link between the disease and pop top cans, and flavors including fish or giblets. Hyperthyroidism is a serious disease and treatment is expensive.
Many nutritional problems appeared with the popularity of cereal based commercial pet foods. Some have occurred because the diet was incomplete. Although several ingredients are now supplemented, we do not know what ingredients future researchers may discover that should have been supplemented in pet foods all along. Other problems may occur from reactions to additives. Others are a result of contamination with bacteria, mold, drugs, or other toxins. In some diseases the role of commercial pet food is understood; in others, it is not. The bottom line is that diets composed primarily of low quality cereals and rendered meals are not as nutritious or safe as we should expect for your cat or dog. The clear goal should be to mimic as close as possible the original, primitive diet as our pet’s ancestors ate it. To use ingredients containing naturally high levels of all nutrients. Aside from releasing their pets into the wild, pet owners can select pet food that recognizes the limitations of our knowledge and at the same time offers the best possible opportunities for best health and a long life.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
FDA Orders: Chinese milk products, milk derived ingredients and finishied food products to be detained due to melamine contamination
Earlier this week, the FDA issued an import alert detaining all milk products, milk derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk from China due to the presence of melamine. This chemical became really “famous” just about 2 years ago. Unfortunately no glorious fame, it simply is a poison. It caused history’s largest recall of pet food. Melamine tainted wheat, rice and corn protein additives were the cause for illness in thousand of pets all across the United States. Even deaths were reported. To this day the chemical Melamine still continues to make news around the world. And these news always can be back tracked to originate in China. The latest ones were about melamine contaminated baby foods in China, causing illness and death in countless human infants (wrote about this in one of my earlier comments: .
The FDA orders all milk products, all milk derived ingredients, and all finished food products containing milk imported from China are being detained nationwide without physical examination. While many types of human food are impacted by this measurement, it also affects pet nutrition.
Pet products on the alert list include pet cat and dog foods, other pet foods, laboratory animal feeds, pet and laboratory animal foods, by-products for animals, dairy by-products for animals, and animal waste feed products imported from China. The alert includes milk derived pet food ingredients shipped to the U.S. from China.
According to the alert the problem is specified as melamine being an “Unsafe Food Additive, Poisonous or Deleterious Substance Unfit For Food”. As reason for the alert, the FDA cites:
“In September, 2008, FDA became aware of thousands of infant illnesses in China due to the consumption of infant formula reported to contain melamine. Reports indicated over 53,000 illnesses, including almost 13,000 hospitalizations, and at least four deaths of infants. The illnesses involved the formation of kidney stones and crystals and related complications. The milk used in the infant formula has been implicated as the source of the melamine contamination. According to sources, at a bulk fluid milk collection point, water is added to the bulk fluid milk to increase the apparent volume of product. Melamine is added to the water/milk mixture to increase the nitrogen content in order to inflate the apparent protein content found in the product. Milk is transported from the collection centers to milk processing facilities. The problem of melamine contamination is not limited to infant formula products. Chinese government sources indicate contamination of milk components, especially dried milk powder, which are used in the manufacture of a variety of finished foods. These contaminated milk components appear to have been dispersed throughout the Chinese food supply chain. FDA analyses have detected melamine and cyanuric acid in a number of products that contain milk or milk-derived ingredients, including candy and beverages. In addition, information received from government sources in a number of countries indicates a wide range and variety of products from a variety of manufacturers have been manufactured using melamine contaminated milk or milk derived ingredients, including: fluid and powdered milk, yogurt, frozen desserts, biscuits, cakes and cookies, taffy-like soft candy products, chocolates, and beverages. These products appear to contain at least one milk-derived ingredient and they are of Chinese origin. Reports of contamination have come from more than thirteen countries in Asia, Europe, and Australia, in addition to the United States. Additional products from various manufacturers continue to be found to be contaminated with melamine. The problem of melamine contamination in Chinese food products is a recurring one. In 2007, bulk vegetable protein products imported from China were contaminated with melamine and melamine analogs, apparently from deliberate contamination.”
Granted, this all, at the first glance may sound the FDA’s order is only concerned about human food, it does however in the last sentence address the pet food problem 2 years ago. It also makes important statements which apply to human food and pet food alike. Example: “Melamine is added to the water/milk mixture to increase the nitrogen content in order to inflate the apparent protein content found in the product.”
Finally, it was about time that we have some action taken here. Because the problem is serious and should have everybody on his toes. Anybody needing more reasons? How about these, all detected by Susan Thixton:
Time Magazine wrote in it’s 11/04/08 issue: “the Chinese government continues to downgrade the severity of the melamine problem. Melamine tainted pet food in 2007; baby formulas, candy, and fish feed to mention a few in 2008. Experts state “If those lessons don’t sink in, then expect a Chinese Product Safety Scandal of 2009.”
The Epoch Times, a world-wide newspaper reported on November 6, 2008 of Lin He, a geneticist and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences speech to the Summit Medical Academy; believing melamine contaminated foods to be “one of the most important factors resulting in the soaring number of birth defects in China.” The Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Trinidad & Tobago posted a full page advertisement in the 11/08/08 newspaper warning consumers about food products from China and Japan. “The ad mentioned ham and sausages were under suspicion of Cyanide contamination. In addition, it noted that certain products suspected of being tainted with Melamine, the industrial chemical at the heart of the Chinese milk scandal.” The ad mentioned specifically named products and manufacturers.
Hong Kong reported on 11/12/08 of “food inspectors having found fish feed imported from China contaminated with high levels of melamine.”
As if that all wouldn’t be enough: The FDA announced on 11/06/08 it seized 11 lots of contaminated heparin from Celsus Laboratories in Cincinnati, Ohio; all imported from China. The FDA has notified Japanese, Canadian, Australian, European Union, and other international authorities of shipments of contaminated heparin from Celsus.
Susan Thixton, always trying to figure ways how we best can protect ourselves, in her newsletter complains: “The threat of melamine continues worldwide. Consumers are left with few options to protect their families from contaminated Chinese imports.” She figured out that “While it’s only a partial help, the UPC or Bar Code number listed on product labels gives consumers limited Country of Origin information. The first three digits of a bar code indicates the location country of the company which produces the product; not necessarily the country where the product was manufactured. As an example, products that are manufactured by a Chinese company in China have a bar code that begins with 690 thru 695. However, a US company whose products are manufactured in China would have a bar code that begins with 000 – 019; the codes for the US and Canada. The first three digits of the bar code number indicate the country location of the company headquarters. Also, foods that would contain ingredients from China would not be noted by the bar code.” Thank you Susan, I was wondering about that in the past quite a few times myself. Maybe it is time for someone to restructure the UPC codes. And I am convinced that we all would be in for a big surprise. Is it even possible these days to buy anything what has clearly nothing to do with China?
The FDA orders all milk products, all milk derived ingredients, and all finished food products containing milk imported from China are being detained nationwide without physical examination. While many types of human food are impacted by this measurement, it also affects pet nutrition.
Pet products on the alert list include pet cat and dog foods, other pet foods, laboratory animal feeds, pet and laboratory animal foods, by-products for animals, dairy by-products for animals, and animal waste feed products imported from China. The alert includes milk derived pet food ingredients shipped to the U.S. from China.
According to the alert the problem is specified as melamine being an “Unsafe Food Additive, Poisonous or Deleterious Substance Unfit For Food”. As reason for the alert, the FDA cites:
“In September, 2008, FDA became aware of thousands of infant illnesses in China due to the consumption of infant formula reported to contain melamine. Reports indicated over 53,000 illnesses, including almost 13,000 hospitalizations, and at least four deaths of infants. The illnesses involved the formation of kidney stones and crystals and related complications. The milk used in the infant formula has been implicated as the source of the melamine contamination. According to sources, at a bulk fluid milk collection point, water is added to the bulk fluid milk to increase the apparent volume of product. Melamine is added to the water/milk mixture to increase the nitrogen content in order to inflate the apparent protein content found in the product. Milk is transported from the collection centers to milk processing facilities. The problem of melamine contamination is not limited to infant formula products. Chinese government sources indicate contamination of milk components, especially dried milk powder, which are used in the manufacture of a variety of finished foods. These contaminated milk components appear to have been dispersed throughout the Chinese food supply chain. FDA analyses have detected melamine and cyanuric acid in a number of products that contain milk or milk-derived ingredients, including candy and beverages. In addition, information received from government sources in a number of countries indicates a wide range and variety of products from a variety of manufacturers have been manufactured using melamine contaminated milk or milk derived ingredients, including: fluid and powdered milk, yogurt, frozen desserts, biscuits, cakes and cookies, taffy-like soft candy products, chocolates, and beverages. These products appear to contain at least one milk-derived ingredient and they are of Chinese origin. Reports of contamination have come from more than thirteen countries in Asia, Europe, and Australia, in addition to the United States. Additional products from various manufacturers continue to be found to be contaminated with melamine. The problem of melamine contamination in Chinese food products is a recurring one. In 2007, bulk vegetable protein products imported from China were contaminated with melamine and melamine analogs, apparently from deliberate contamination.”
Granted, this all, at the first glance may sound the FDA’s order is only concerned about human food, it does however in the last sentence address the pet food problem 2 years ago. It also makes important statements which apply to human food and pet food alike. Example: “Melamine is added to the water/milk mixture to increase the nitrogen content in order to inflate the apparent protein content found in the product.”
Finally, it was about time that we have some action taken here. Because the problem is serious and should have everybody on his toes. Anybody needing more reasons? How about these, all detected by Susan Thixton:
Time Magazine wrote in it’s 11/04/08 issue: “the Chinese government continues to downgrade the severity of the melamine problem. Melamine tainted pet food in 2007; baby formulas, candy, and fish feed to mention a few in 2008. Experts state “If those lessons don’t sink in, then expect a Chinese Product Safety Scandal of 2009.”
The Epoch Times, a world-wide newspaper reported on November 6, 2008 of Lin He, a geneticist and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences speech to the Summit Medical Academy; believing melamine contaminated foods to be “one of the most important factors resulting in the soaring number of birth defects in China.” The Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Trinidad & Tobago posted a full page advertisement in the 11/08/08 newspaper warning consumers about food products from China and Japan. “The ad mentioned ham and sausages were under suspicion of Cyanide contamination. In addition, it noted that certain products suspected of being tainted with Melamine, the industrial chemical at the heart of the Chinese milk scandal.” The ad mentioned specifically named products and manufacturers.
Hong Kong reported on 11/12/08 of “food inspectors having found fish feed imported from China contaminated with high levels of melamine.”
As if that all wouldn’t be enough: The FDA announced on 11/06/08 it seized 11 lots of contaminated heparin from Celsus Laboratories in Cincinnati, Ohio; all imported from China. The FDA has notified Japanese, Canadian, Australian, European Union, and other international authorities of shipments of contaminated heparin from Celsus.
Susan Thixton, always trying to figure ways how we best can protect ourselves, in her newsletter complains: “The threat of melamine continues worldwide. Consumers are left with few options to protect their families from contaminated Chinese imports.” She figured out that “While it’s only a partial help, the UPC or Bar Code number listed on product labels gives consumers limited Country of Origin information. The first three digits of a bar code indicates the location country of the company which produces the product; not necessarily the country where the product was manufactured. As an example, products that are manufactured by a Chinese company in China have a bar code that begins with 690 thru 695. However, a US company whose products are manufactured in China would have a bar code that begins with 000 – 019; the codes for the US and Canada. The first three digits of the bar code number indicate the country location of the company headquarters. Also, foods that would contain ingredients from China would not be noted by the bar code.” Thank you Susan, I was wondering about that in the past quite a few times myself. Maybe it is time for someone to restructure the UPC codes. And I am convinced that we all would be in for a big surprise. Is it even possible these days to buy anything what has clearly nothing to do with China?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Reduction of struvite and calcium oxalate in cat urine through the diet?
Customers having this problem with their cats keep come to me for many reasons. I would say the most cited one is that their cat has been diagnosed by their vet and prescribed a specific, though helpful, yet very expensive diet. This brings up the question of which dietary factors have to be considered and what are the non prescription options if there are any.
I have looked a little deeper into the issue. To say that the problem is strictly due to wrong feeding is only partially, if, in some cases, at all true. Additionally this opinion is strongly supported by vets who keep prescribing specific diets to cure the condition. It appears as if there is no evidence that a diet directly causes feline lower urinary tract disease, also short called FLUTD. However it also looks like that there is definitely some evidence that a diet may increase the risk that a cat may develop urinary crystals, stones or (urethal) plugs.
Let’s start with what we know for sure: Development of crystals and stones is by large depending on urine pH, urine volume, and mineral concentration in the urine, feeding habits/schedule (i.e. scheduled or free choice all day) and/or genetics.
A veterinarian study performed by the pet food industry addressing the issue reveals: Crystals and stones containing struvite (= magnesium ammonium phosphate) were common in cats (more so than in dogs). Because of this the pet food industry developed diets designed to minimize the risk of struvite forming. These diets were low in magnesium and caused the cats eating them to produce acidic urine with a low pH value. When cats were fed these specific diets, the percentage of those with struvite stones decreased from 75% in 84 to 48% in 1995. However, at the same time the number of cases with calcium oxalate crystals and stones went up from 2% in 84 to 40% in 1995. As of today, struvite is still the more common component of urethal plugs.
Dietary factors affecting struvite crystals development appear to be concentration of magnesium, urine ph and water consumption. The dietary factors affecting struvite stones (or uroliths) minimizing the risk are low to moderate protein content and low magnesium values. Additionally it is also a fact that besides decreasing the magnesium content of a diet, acidifying the urine is even more helpful.
This means the diet you feed your cat can indeed influence the health of the urinary tract. Controlling mineral levels, changing the urine pH, increasing water intake and adjusting feeding schedules reduces the risk of a cat developing urinary crystals and stones. Following are diet related issues to keep in mind when feeding a cat suffering from the condition.
The FDA does allow statements such as for example “reduces urine pH to help maintain urinary tract health”, however at the same time requires that such statements only are made if the food delivers on the promise. Such determinations are made based on controlled veterinary studies, which provide data used to ensure this safety. Pet food manufactures walk a fine line here because too much acidifying can cause serious health problems for the animal. The feeding directions need to say that the diet is for adult maintenance only (since safety for kittens and pregnant cats has not been established yet) and that the food is to be used as a stand alone diet to be fed throughout the day. While talking about feeding another factor plays an important role: Water. Water supply and consumption is an important part as it influences the development of urinary crystals and stones. Provide ample water supply. This results in a lower urine concentration and thereby reduces the risk of stone or crystal formation. More water means more urine. More urine translates into shorter urine presence in the bladder. Cats naturally are not crazy about drinking water due to the fact that they simply do not need as much water as other animals. You may have to play a more enforcing role. Try providing numerous bowls in various easy accessible locations, running water, flavor enhanced water and mixing water into the food.
Another important factor is the mineral concentration in the food. This includes magnesium and phosphorus. Look for the ash content on the label. Ash is considered the inorganic portion of a food remaining in the food after it is burned at 600 degrees Celsius for a 2 hour period. Ash includes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, manganese and trace minerals. AAFCO in its nutrient diet profiles for cats requires minimum values of these components to be present in cat food. FDA requirements state that a “low ash” claim is not allowed on cat food. Such or similar claims, even if they don’t reference FLUTD, are inherently false and misleading and originally were based on a by now outdated scientific consensus, which concluded that ash is not related FLUTD. Basically, there are no valid reasons to reference ash on the product label (other than in the guaranteed analysis) except in regard to this outdated theory.
In the past it was generally assumed that lowering dietary magnesium would be important to lowering the risk of struvite formation. Magnesium is one of the constituents of ash. This led people to assume that a low ash content in food meant it was low in magnesium. That is simply wrong. Low ash diets could contain normal amounts of magnesium, but be lower in any of the other minerals. According to FDA guidelines, in order for a food to be considered “low magnesium” it must be present with less than 0.12% (dry matter basis) and less than 25 mg/100 Kcal.
With regards to magnesium, further consideration has to be given to its actual form as it is present in a food. Back in the seventies research demonstrated that high levels of magnesium oxide in a food could contribute to the formation of stones. More current research shows that this is simply not true if the magnesium is in the form of magnesium chloride. It appears as if magnesium oxide causes alkaline urine while magnesium chloride results in the formation of acidic urine.
Since phosphorus is a component of struvite, it should theoretically be of value to reduce dietary phosphorus in an attempt to reduce the formation of struvite stones and crystals. Slightly lower levels of dietary phosphorus may be beneficial, but extreme care needs to be taken to not reduce the phosphorus too much, since the ration of calcium to phosphorus is important to many body functions. Acidified diets have been proven to decrease phosphorus levels in adult cats. This could cause a calcium phosphorus imbalance.
Provide smaller amounts of food to cats at risk for developing struvite crystals or stones all day long rather than only feeding a larger meal once or twice a day. After eating a large meal, the pH of the urine usually becomes more alkaline. If the cat is fed smaller portions several times and throughout the day urine pH will stay more acidic. However, do not over feed. Keep in mind that over feeding results in more than the recommended amount of magnesium being consumed. The excessive amount of magnesium is excreted in the urine and may increase the risk of stone formation.
Some cats are genetically predisposed to develop oxalate crystals if they are fed diets resulting in acidic urine and low in magnesium. To reduce this risk, I usually recommend a diet formulated to contain moderate calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels and with decreased urine acidifying potential.
Calcium oxalate crystals and stones are more likely to occur in acidic urine. Excess levels of vitamin C in the diet can acidify urine and increase the risk of calcium oxalate crystals. Stay away from food with high vitamin C content.
Important: When feeding such a diet do not provide additional supplements with the specific goal to help this particular health condition. Neither magnesium, calcium nor phosphorus should be restricted or supplemented for the following reasons:
Diets that are either very high or very low in magnesium can increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones.
High levels of urinary calcium increase the risk of calcium oxalate crystals, especially in concentrated acidic urine. High urinary calcium results from excess intake of calcium in the diet, abnormal hormonal regulation of calcium levels by the parathyroid gland or hyperparathyroidism and excess vitamin D intake. At the same time it is important that calcium intake is not restricted too much. Decreasing calcium too much may increase the amount of calcium oxalate found in the urine. When calcium is high in the diet, it decreases the absorption of oxalate from the digestive system, and the excess oxalate is excreted in the feces. When dietary calcium is low, more of the oxalate is absorbed from the digestive system and is then excreted in the urine. Levels of phosphorus in the bloodstream affect the levels of calcium.
Vitamin D should be fed at a moderate level, since deficiencies or excesses of this vitamin can result in abnormal blood and urine calcium and phosphorus levels.
If all of this is of concern to you and you want specific suggestions with regards to which diets I recommend, please e-mail me.
I have looked a little deeper into the issue. To say that the problem is strictly due to wrong feeding is only partially, if, in some cases, at all true. Additionally this opinion is strongly supported by vets who keep prescribing specific diets to cure the condition. It appears as if there is no evidence that a diet directly causes feline lower urinary tract disease, also short called FLUTD. However it also looks like that there is definitely some evidence that a diet may increase the risk that a cat may develop urinary crystals, stones or (urethal) plugs.
Let’s start with what we know for sure: Development of crystals and stones is by large depending on urine pH, urine volume, and mineral concentration in the urine, feeding habits/schedule (i.e. scheduled or free choice all day) and/or genetics.
A veterinarian study performed by the pet food industry addressing the issue reveals: Crystals and stones containing struvite (= magnesium ammonium phosphate) were common in cats (more so than in dogs). Because of this the pet food industry developed diets designed to minimize the risk of struvite forming. These diets were low in magnesium and caused the cats eating them to produce acidic urine with a low pH value. When cats were fed these specific diets, the percentage of those with struvite stones decreased from 75% in 84 to 48% in 1995. However, at the same time the number of cases with calcium oxalate crystals and stones went up from 2% in 84 to 40% in 1995. As of today, struvite is still the more common component of urethal plugs.
Dietary factors affecting struvite crystals development appear to be concentration of magnesium, urine ph and water consumption. The dietary factors affecting struvite stones (or uroliths) minimizing the risk are low to moderate protein content and low magnesium values. Additionally it is also a fact that besides decreasing the magnesium content of a diet, acidifying the urine is even more helpful.
This means the diet you feed your cat can indeed influence the health of the urinary tract. Controlling mineral levels, changing the urine pH, increasing water intake and adjusting feeding schedules reduces the risk of a cat developing urinary crystals and stones. Following are diet related issues to keep in mind when feeding a cat suffering from the condition.
The FDA does allow statements such as for example “reduces urine pH to help maintain urinary tract health”, however at the same time requires that such statements only are made if the food delivers on the promise. Such determinations are made based on controlled veterinary studies, which provide data used to ensure this safety. Pet food manufactures walk a fine line here because too much acidifying can cause serious health problems for the animal. The feeding directions need to say that the diet is for adult maintenance only (since safety for kittens and pregnant cats has not been established yet) and that the food is to be used as a stand alone diet to be fed throughout the day. While talking about feeding another factor plays an important role: Water. Water supply and consumption is an important part as it influences the development of urinary crystals and stones. Provide ample water supply. This results in a lower urine concentration and thereby reduces the risk of stone or crystal formation. More water means more urine. More urine translates into shorter urine presence in the bladder. Cats naturally are not crazy about drinking water due to the fact that they simply do not need as much water as other animals. You may have to play a more enforcing role. Try providing numerous bowls in various easy accessible locations, running water, flavor enhanced water and mixing water into the food.
Another important factor is the mineral concentration in the food. This includes magnesium and phosphorus. Look for the ash content on the label. Ash is considered the inorganic portion of a food remaining in the food after it is burned at 600 degrees Celsius for a 2 hour period. Ash includes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, manganese and trace minerals. AAFCO in its nutrient diet profiles for cats requires minimum values of these components to be present in cat food. FDA requirements state that a “low ash” claim is not allowed on cat food. Such or similar claims, even if they don’t reference FLUTD, are inherently false and misleading and originally were based on a by now outdated scientific consensus, which concluded that ash is not related FLUTD. Basically, there are no valid reasons to reference ash on the product label (other than in the guaranteed analysis) except in regard to this outdated theory.
In the past it was generally assumed that lowering dietary magnesium would be important to lowering the risk of struvite formation. Magnesium is one of the constituents of ash. This led people to assume that a low ash content in food meant it was low in magnesium. That is simply wrong. Low ash diets could contain normal amounts of magnesium, but be lower in any of the other minerals. According to FDA guidelines, in order for a food to be considered “low magnesium” it must be present with less than 0.12% (dry matter basis) and less than 25 mg/100 Kcal.
With regards to magnesium, further consideration has to be given to its actual form as it is present in a food. Back in the seventies research demonstrated that high levels of magnesium oxide in a food could contribute to the formation of stones. More current research shows that this is simply not true if the magnesium is in the form of magnesium chloride. It appears as if magnesium oxide causes alkaline urine while magnesium chloride results in the formation of acidic urine.
Since phosphorus is a component of struvite, it should theoretically be of value to reduce dietary phosphorus in an attempt to reduce the formation of struvite stones and crystals. Slightly lower levels of dietary phosphorus may be beneficial, but extreme care needs to be taken to not reduce the phosphorus too much, since the ration of calcium to phosphorus is important to many body functions. Acidified diets have been proven to decrease phosphorus levels in adult cats. This could cause a calcium phosphorus imbalance.
Provide smaller amounts of food to cats at risk for developing struvite crystals or stones all day long rather than only feeding a larger meal once or twice a day. After eating a large meal, the pH of the urine usually becomes more alkaline. If the cat is fed smaller portions several times and throughout the day urine pH will stay more acidic. However, do not over feed. Keep in mind that over feeding results in more than the recommended amount of magnesium being consumed. The excessive amount of magnesium is excreted in the urine and may increase the risk of stone formation.
Some cats are genetically predisposed to develop oxalate crystals if they are fed diets resulting in acidic urine and low in magnesium. To reduce this risk, I usually recommend a diet formulated to contain moderate calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels and with decreased urine acidifying potential.
Calcium oxalate crystals and stones are more likely to occur in acidic urine. Excess levels of vitamin C in the diet can acidify urine and increase the risk of calcium oxalate crystals. Stay away from food with high vitamin C content.
Important: When feeding such a diet do not provide additional supplements with the specific goal to help this particular health condition. Neither magnesium, calcium nor phosphorus should be restricted or supplemented for the following reasons:
Diets that are either very high or very low in magnesium can increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones.
High levels of urinary calcium increase the risk of calcium oxalate crystals, especially in concentrated acidic urine. High urinary calcium results from excess intake of calcium in the diet, abnormal hormonal regulation of calcium levels by the parathyroid gland or hyperparathyroidism and excess vitamin D intake. At the same time it is important that calcium intake is not restricted too much. Decreasing calcium too much may increase the amount of calcium oxalate found in the urine. When calcium is high in the diet, it decreases the absorption of oxalate from the digestive system, and the excess oxalate is excreted in the feces. When dietary calcium is low, more of the oxalate is absorbed from the digestive system and is then excreted in the urine. Levels of phosphorus in the bloodstream affect the levels of calcium.
Vitamin D should be fed at a moderate level, since deficiencies or excesses of this vitamin can result in abnormal blood and urine calcium and phosphorus levels.
If all of this is of concern to you and you want specific suggestions with regards to which diets I recommend, please e-mail me.
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