SD prescription CD vs Wellness Chicken with triple cranberry

[Beckie210789]

I was out and about today, and came across a brand of wellness dry food that has a Triple cranberry System. I bought the bag, because of the cranberry, and quality ingredients as compared to SD. Here's my question.

My vet has my cats on prescription SD c/d dry because one of my boys has issues with struvite crystals. He's been great since we switched his dry food (He gets wet twice a day, but he's a carb addict and nothing we have tried makes him more excited about food (and less likely to walk away after one bite) than the rattle of dry kibble in his bowl) The SD, aside from being 60.00 per 16lb bag (and for 5 cats they'll go through that in a few weeks), it's also FULL of by products and fillers (I'm sure you all know) SO my question is, while I'm trying to be mindful of all of my cat's health, I also need a little help in the wallet department. Can I mix a 50/50 split of this? (The wellness chicken complete health and the prescription SD C/D) At least it'll make the food go a little farther.. the wellness having better ingredients is better FOR them, but the C/D helping his urinary tract? I've looked into the Royal Canin prescription urinary tract health food as well, almost 30.00 for a 6.6lb bag I think it was (OUCH) I wish I could afford that.. maybe if I only had the one cat.

[YayHappens]

Hi Beckie,

The items in the prescription food which are helping to prevent new crystals and keep it all under control is the Potassium Citrate in combination with the citric acid. The use of the citric acid functions to balance the pH to get it just right, but there is a catch to it. The corn gluten meal on its own as an ingredient actually messes up pH so they use the citric acid to further correct and compensate for what the corn product messes up.

As I understand it, neither of the aforementioned ingredients actually break down the crystals but help prevent the issue from continuing.

As for the cranberry in the wellness brand, cranberry does three things for the purpose of use as in ingredient in cat food: it is an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. I would need to look at the rest of the ingredients in the package to understand why it is called a triple cranberry system. In humans, too much of it can cause stomach irritation and possibly diarrhea and increase the risk of kidney stone formation.

It is hard to say really whether to mix them 50/50 will help or hinder his progress because the prescription diets are often formulated in a way that if you deviate from the food it can complicate their overall pH and their nutritional balance. Too much of one vitamin, mineral or another can really do some work on their kidneys and other systems. But I have heard it is possible if you really, really keep on top of doing the pH tests.

I wouldn't do the following without running it by the vet first, but also if it is ideal for his condition, then hopefully you have an option to feed the food you want to, and use a Potassium Citrate supplement sold for cats and dogs.

I hope he continues to do well! Please keep us updated!