How to help cats with feline lower urinary tract disease

Feline lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) can be a very painful and uncomfortable disease that felines can contract. It is most commonly found in older cats, cats that have a dry food diet, have indoor litter boxes with little chance to go outside and in obese cats. One of the first lines of treatment of LUTD is changing their diet to food which contains low-magnesium, higher pH levels and less additives.

However, a type of food that may protect your cat against one type of urolith (bladder stone; one of the main causes of LUTD), may actually increase the chances of the cat producing another type of urolith. In previous years there was an increase in calcium oxalate uroliths, which was managed by acidification of food and severely restricting magnesium, and was linked to causing an increase in risk factors and chances of producing calcium oxalate stones, which are much harder to treat, because it cannot be effectively treated by urine pH manipulation or restricting dietary calcium.

A popular choice for the prevention and management of both types of uroliths is Royal Canin Urinary S/O, which is a complete and balanced diet that helps manage feline lower urinary tract disease and is the first and only diet for felines that has been proven to reduce both struvite and calcium oxalate stones. It has been designed to ensure a production of undersaturated urine for struvite uroliths and has the correct level of calcium oxalate saturation which prevents spontaneous homogenous crystallisation.

Royal Canin Urinary S/O works because of numerous factors:

• It effectively dissolves pure struvite stones.
• It increases the urine volume whilst simultaneously reducing the calcium oxalate and struvite saturation which prevents both types of uroliths occurring.
• In the dry version, it is naturally preserved which helps to reduce the potential of uroliths forming.
• The canned version has been clinically proven to reduce reoccurrence of feline cystitis.
• It enhances the production of urine to be undersaturated in struvite cases, and for the urine to be metastable in calcium oxalate cases.
• It has a moderate pH level to keep urine slightly acidic.
• Promotes urine volume and keeps the cat hydrated
• Moderately restricted magnesium levels, controlled levels of calcium and oxalate, phosphorus and increased levels of potassium.Also if it becomes apparent that your cat has feline LUTD frequent vet visits may be needed. At nutrecare.co.uk they have many cat carriers and other pet supplies that would keep your furry friend feeling safe and comfortable for the journey.

As always, if you have any worries or concerns with your cats’ health, please seek advice from a registered vet.