Calcium Oxalate Crystals/Stones- Diet

[Glacier]

Pete has a combination of both kinds of crystals. He had a PU surgery almost 6 years ago. He eats Royal Canin Urinary SO. Originally he was on the Hills CD, but it seemed to get less effective over time. He's been on the Royal Canin for a couple years and seems to be doing well. He eats both the dry and the canned formula. All my cats eat the kibble. Feeding different diets just didn't work for me and this kibble is nutritionally sound for all cats, except kittens.

My vet told me the single most important thing for Pete was to get enough water into him. He's not a big drinker, but he does love his squishy food!

I hope Denver finds a diet that works for him.

[Randi]

Oh poor Dakota.

Fister had stuvite crystals, and as you may remember he had the big operation. Hills S/D are the ones which are supposed to dissolve the struvite crystals and C/D are supposed to prevent cats from getting them, but since Dakota has another kind, I'm afraid I can't give you any advice really.

I don't know what PU surgery is, but if it's the same Fister had, he should not be in danger of blocking up again.

What did the vet suggest?

I hope Dakota will feel better and thrive on the diet you and your vet decide! Keeping all fingers and paws crossed for him.

[krazyaboutkatz]

He should be on a diet that will help dissolve the calcium oxalate stones and I don't think that that Hills C/D will do this. I think that Hills makes another diet that will do this so if you still want to use Hills you'd need to switch him over. Storm also had the PU surgery and he had the struvite crystals but may of also had the calcium oxalate crystals so I put him on Royal Canin Urinary S/O both wet and dry. This formula helps prevent both types of crystals.

Storm's now on a grain free diet and eats Innova Evo wet and dry and it's been approved by both my regular vet and my holistic vet. I just need to make sure that he gets plenty of wet food and I also add some water to it so he gets even more moisture. Good luck.

[Jessika]

I think that Hills makes another diet that will do this so if you still want to use Hills you'd need to switch him over.

I'm not a big fan of Hill's, but apparently their prescription diets are not too bad for specific conditions.

http://www.hillspet.com/hillspet/pro...y=&d-49653-p=1

There's a list of all of their prescription diets... Again I would speak with your vet about the best option because in some cases switching around from a bunch of brands may make it worse all-around on your kitty

[Cataholic]

All my cats eat the kibble. Feeding different diets just didn't work for me and this kibble is nutritionally sound for all cats, except kittens.

How true. Get this, for 3 months, I had ALL my cats on Hill's SD! Unaware that this was NOT a recommended practice, and that SD is specifically a short term application. I even had my kitten eating it. I was supplementing her with kitten food, but still.

I thought I had read that dissolving the oxalate crystals was NOT possible, and that working to prevent them was my goal. One of the stones that was removed was about a 1/2 inch (no, not a typo) in diamater round, and shaped like two jacks (the ones we played with as kids). The doctor said those words you don't like to hear, "I never saw that before".

Randi- I forgot that Fister did have the surgery, which is the same as Daks. The doctors call it PU here. And, while tiny crystals will pass now, the development of the larger stones will still be a concern. AND, Daks has stones in one of his kidneys, so, I am going to investigate 'blasting'.

KAK- what is the purpose of the grain free diet? And, does the Inova still help with urinary tract issues?

Phred- it was a CRAZY time since December with Dakota. He spent 4 days in the ER, coming home Christmas morning, as he was totally blocked, and then, long story, short, after being on SD for 3 months, I **knew** he was blocking. Only by a freak occurance did the ER vet xray Daks, and admit him overnight, with surgery the next day. Very, very scary time for us.

Happily, Daks does see mto be doing okay now. He looks a little 'bare' on the bottom, plus, he is shaved up his belly since they also had to open the bladder.

Thanks for the information already given, and hopefully the information to my new questions/comments above.


Johanna