Alternatives to expensive Urinary SO food

TexasCatMama

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I'm new here and found this thread after doing a search for alternatives to RC S/O...
My dude was hospitalized for a couple of days due to crystals and is now prescribed the RC. I'm planning on keeping him on it until his follow up and when we get the all-clear I'm gonna look into getting him the Dave's food long term.
Just wanted to pop in and say thanks! I'll update after we've been on Dave's.
 

StacyO

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I'm new here and found this thread after doing a search for alternatives to RC S/O...
My dude was hospitalized for a couple of days due to crystals and is now prescribed the RC. I'm planning on keeping him on it until his follow up and when we get the all-clear I'm gonna look into getting him the Dave's food long term.
Just wanted to pop in and say thanks! I'll update after we've been on Dave's.
My girl developed Struvite crystals within the first six months after I adopted her. She was eating Natural Balance which is on the higher end of brands. This continued for 7 long years. She ate PetSmart brand Simply Nourish salmon, Taste of the Wild River and Tractor Supply Untamed Glacial Stream. She developed the crystals like clock work about every four-five months. Then I had to buy Hills c/d prescription for two months. It was a never ending cycle. Until I found an article in January stating how the food manufacturer ingredients cause the crystals with lack of minerals and water. The article was written by a gal that had lots of cats and experience. Notice how people who feed only wet food or mostly wet food never have the issue? Because the answer to crystal prevention is water. I now add about 3-4 tablespoons of water to each bowl of kibble. No crystals for the first time since rescuing my girl from street life in Jan 2010. Water water water, the answer. No more $48 for 20 lb bag of RX kibble! Yay!
 

VoidIndigo

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Hi all!

I found this thread because my boy Milo just came back from the vet ER a couple days ago. After a "urinary blockage", catheter, overnight stay, HUGE bill, lots of stress for everyone... we're going through a pretty rough few days recovery. After a trip back today to find out that it was probably the result of a UTI that they didn't tell me about (and didn't give him antibiotics until today) we're starting the recovery over... and I'm trying to figure out the new food routine. They put him on Royan Canin SO for life, which is expensive and doesn't have the best ingredients... and I'm cynical enough to believe that's not necessarily the BEST solution. I don't like the idea of feeding him "special diet" made by some big company somewhere, with no options... I found this thread and it seems like it started a LONG time ago... is Dave's still a good option? I'm not adverse to starting a Raw diet, although I don't know how that works... but I have lots of free time to figure it out. I'm thinking stick with the RC SO for awhile, move to Dave's when we get the all clear from the vet, or possibly straight to Raw... is that reasonable? Basically I'm a little lost in the middle of this, looking for advice... thanks!

Milo & Scott
 

hexiesfriend

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Hi all!

I found this thread because my boy Milo just came back from the vet ER a couple days ago. After a "urinary blockage", catheter, overnight stay, HUGE bill, lots of stress for everyone... we're going through a pretty rough few days recovery. After a trip back today to find out that it was probably the result of a UTI that they didn't tell me about (and didn't give him antibiotics until today) we're starting the recovery over... and I'm trying to figure out the new food routine. They put him on Royan Canin SO for life, which is expensive and doesn't have the best ingredients... and I'm cynical enough to believe that's not necessarily the BEST solution. I don't like the idea of feeding him "special diet" made by some big company somewhere, with no options... I found this thread and it seems like it started a LONG time ago... is Dave's still a good option? I'm not adverse to starting a Raw diet, although I don't know how that works... but I have lots of free time to figure it out. I'm thinking stick with the RC SO for awhile, move to Dave's when we get the all clear from the vet, or possibly straight to Raw... is that reasonable? Basically I'm a little lost in the middle of this, looking for advice... thanks!

Milo & Scott
 

hexiesfriend

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With Blockages really the most important thing is increasing water consumption. When my cat had a blockage I placed a few more water bowls around the house to encourage drinking more water. It did. Also Instead of urinary dry food switch to wet. DO NOT feed anything with any fish products. They will cause crystals. This is what got mine in trouble. Also royal Canin and Purina make a urinary non prescription formula that is cheaper. The best advice is to get a lot more moisture in the diet.
 

VoidIndigo

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Thank you! I've had cats my whole life and never had to deal with this... I had no idea about the fish. I'll add more water bowls around the house, that's an easy one :) The RC SO that he's eating now is canned, and after doing some reading I see that wet food is the way to be, I have no problem keeping it that way! Some people have said purified water only... is that a real need? I did buy a filtered bubbler... but I don't have one for each room... if it helps my little guy to buy purified water, well I gotta go shopping anyway...

Thanks so much
 

angels mommy

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Im sorry you & your boy are having to deal with that. I've been through it.
My vet knew how I felt about the Rx foods as well, so she looked at all 3 SO formulas they had, & the Purina SO UR had the least of the crap ingredients, so thats what we did for a yr, until I found Dave's. I even took a can for the vet to look at the ingredients. She thought it looked good, & said, "try it, & let's do an ultrasound after he's been on it.
(We were dealing with cystitis w/ stervite crystals). It worked well. The ultrasound showed that it was working. Hardly any crystals left in there. I fed him that for the rest of his life, & he ate it with no problem. 💙. I hope it can work for you too. 😊
 

VoidIndigo

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Im sorry you & your boy are having to deal with that. I've been through it.
My vet knew how I felt about the Rx foods as well, so she looked at all 3 SO formulas they had, & the Purina SO UR had the least of the crap ingredients, so thats what we did for a yr, until I found Dave's. I even took a can for the vet to look at the ingredients. She thought it looked good, & said, "try it, & let's do an ultrasound after he's been on it.
(We were dealing with cystitis w/ stervite crystals). It worked well. The ultrasound showed that it was working. Hardly any crystals left in there. I fed him that for the rest of his life, & he ate it with no problem. 💙. I hope it can work for you too. 😊
Thank you so much, that's wonderful to know... I really liked the ingredients (and price difference!) of the Daves... I'd like to switch to something like that. Glad it worked so well for you! This is hell to go through... :(
 

angels mommy

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Yes, I believe that purified water is important. Back then, I had a PUR water filter on the faucet, & used that. I also believe after that, wet food only. Water is very important, but crystals form from the pH in the bladder being off, & that's what the special food helps with.
 

hexiesfriend

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Thank you! I've had cats my whole life and never had to deal with this... I had no idea about the fish. I'll add more water bowls around the house, that's an easy one :) The RC SO that he's eating now is canned, and after doing some reading I see that wet food is the way to be, I have no problem keeping it that way! Some people have said purified water only... is that a real need? I did buy a filtered bubbler... but I don't have one for each room... if it helps my little guy to buy purified water, well I gotta go shopping anyway...

Thanks so much
 

angels mommy

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Thank you so much, that's wonderful to know... I really liked the ingredients (and price difference!) of the Daves... I'd like to switch to something like that. Glad it worked so well for you! This is hell to go through... :(
I understand, I remember!
Yes, the Dave's was great. I was so happy about it, and that it was working, I emailed the company (a small company), & Dave himself emailed me back. He said that thats why they do what they do, and thanked me for sharing my results with them. 😊
 

hexiesfriend

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I never used purified water. You should be OK with regular. It’s tough when it happens and you will find yourself following your cat to the litter box for the next 2 months and taking him to the vet for a false alarm bladder checks but eventually things will get back to normal. There will be a period where your kitty may not want to pee but it will work itself out.
 

VoidIndigo

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I never used purified water. You should be OK with regular. It’s tough when it happens and you will find yourself following your cat to the litter box for the next 2 months and taking him to the vet for a false alarm bladder checks but eventually things will get back to normal. There will be a period where your kitty may not want to pee but it will work itself out.
Thanks, I've been following him around and I feel like I have the ER on speed dial. It turns out in my area the vets are overwhelmed, they think "something to do with covid and people being home a lot" ... and pets are in the vet a lot more. So, the vet can't see me and the ER is crazy busy, but I call them anyway every time anything even looks vaguely wrong. We just had a rough time after peeing, and it was time for meds on top of it... I really feel for the little guy
 

VoidIndigo

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Yes, I believe that purified water is important. Back then, I had a PUR water filter on the faucet, & used that. I also believe after that, wet food only. Water is very important, but crystals form from the pH in the bladder being off, & that's what the special food helps with.
I have a PUR pitcher that I never use... I could always just filter through that if there's a need.

I understand, I remember!
Yes, the Dave's was great. I was so happy about it, and that it was working, I emailed the company (a small company), & Dave himself emailed me back. He said that thats why they do what they do, and thanked me for sharing my results with them. 😊
That's pretty amazing that Dave mailed you back... I saw that I can get them on Chewy now, which makes it all very easy. Thanks again!
 

angels mommy

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Yes, I think better to air on the side of caution, so the water picture filter would be great. I think I was worried about minerals in the water, etc... Contributing to the crystals. I think I also remember when getting advice from some of the very knowledgeable people on here when my boy was going through it, is when it was suggested. (I guess same as the deal w/ fish... minerals).
Yes, I was surprised when Dave emailed me back. It was nice of him, & just shows the kind of people who are behind the company. (& Doing it for the right reasons). We have a couple of natural food pet stores here, & thats where I first found it.
 

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I have a maincoon tabby boy (Socks). I've had him 10 years now and he got the stones crystals just after being a year old. Wasnt neutered at the time and was frisky as hell so he got plenty of exercise was an indoor cat only and I feed him the same food didn't change it up. But I don't remember what it was. He was 13 lbs at the time. And still is a big cat. After he got sick they suggested neutering him so I did and put him on the royal canine urinary so. I couldn't tell any difference in his rambunctiousness after getting neutered. After a few more years he became an indoor outdoor cat. I still feed him the same food and have had no problems except for his dumb butt jumping into the mouth of a pit bull I guess to protect me... anyway he got tore up... lived hes fine. Through out years I've always given him the tuna water from the canned tuna he loves it. I mean over 7 years been doing it to average it out maybe once every 2 to 3 months. And a little tuna here and there. Just to mention the amount of tuna + water is way I registered. Still have no problems and I dont know what he eats or drinks when hes outside. But hes brought me 4 moles, 3 bunnies, 1 rabbit, 3 squirrels, mice, a RAT, and a baby opossum. Doesn't eat them just plays with them until they stop playing. But I think hes starting to not like his the SO food. AMD royal canine has a bag sealing problem they cant fix. So I was starting to find out who else makes it. Haven't found anyone, so started thinking maybe he is ok and doesn't need it. They just said that to make more money off me. Hes had a few cans of wet SO food but no more than 10. And I give him milk. He playful doesn't mope around at all. He drinks tap water or any water he finds outside. Damn I guess we're just lucky as hell. Seems like I'm doing almost everything wrong. Some table scapes here and there to add to the destruction...lol not really though..
 
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