Food for Struvite Crystals

[Newt]

The vet has Bert on a 6 month diet of Hills S/D for struvite crystals. This food is expensive and I find it hard to believe there isn't something similar with better ingredients that doesn't require a trip to the vet to pick up.

What other foods can I investigate?
Wysong
Weruva
Merrick
Nature's Logic
Halo

Bert's diet prior to this was Blue Buffalo (dry) and Wellness Turkey or Chicken (wet). We have a second cat on BB and Wellness without issue.

[Newt]

Sounds like only Hills S/D meets the requirements.

[Kattt]

Hey Newt.

I'm going through the same issue, but with the opposite - oxalate crystals. My 7 year old male had to have bladder stones surgically removed 2 weeks ago, and the vet put him on Hill's C/D, which she states he'll have to permanently stay on.

Like yourself, I'm not happy with this food. I think this food is highly overpriced for the crappy ingredients. But I have no choice, until I can obtain concrete information that something else works to prevent stones from reforming.

I've been trying to do research, and have come up with absolutely no alternatives. The only 3 foods I've found recommended for crystals in every single article I've read have been Hill's, Royal Canin SO and Purina Urinary (or something like that).

With the help of Laurie, she referred me to BalanceIt.com. Which is a site that is created and ran by veterinary nutrionists from UC - Davis. It allows your vet to log in and design a homemade diet recipe for your particular cats health needs. I have not tried this yet, because I'm waiting on more info. I sent an email a couple of days ago to the vet nutritionists on that site with my cats situation, and I'm waiting to hear back on if they would recommend him staying on Hill's or if a homemade diet would be better or at least equal to preventing crystals. I'll let you know the outcome.

If you go to that site, and click on Contact Us, you can send them info on your cats situation as well. Good luck.

[nanook]

Well, it really depends on the cat. In most cases, switching to a high quality all wet food diet or raw with NO dry food at all, is all that's needed to avoid struvite crystals. Making sure your kitty is getting as much moisture in his diet is key so, even adding some spring water to the food is always a food idea. They will never drink enough water to make up for what isn't in their food.
By high quality food I mean one that has meat, not by products or meal as the first ingredient or two. No or low grains, and no fish. Also best to stay away from foods with soy, glutens and artificial colorings and flavorings just on principle!
Along with that, mealtimes instead of free feeding is important with a cat prone to UTIs or crystals. By feeding timed meals, it gives your kitty a fast between meals and that enables the body to become naturally acidic, which is what the prescription diet is doing artificially. Also, long term use of urinary prescription diets can, potentially, lead to oxalate crystals, and you want to avoid that!
In some case, some cats may need to be on a prescription diet for life but with the right, balanced diet, I don't think they are necessary.
I've had two cats, one with struvite crystals and the other just prone to UTIs. After switching both to an all wet diet, they haven't had any further problems.
Her's an article I think is pretty good:Little Big Cat
Hope that helps!