Raw Diet For Flutd

mariya

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Hi! I have two cats. The one I adopted a year prior, developed a urinary blockage and was hospitalized and is now on prescription dry food (royal canin SO). We tried wet first but he wasn't having it at all.
Prior to this, both cats were eating Blue Buffalo dry for breakfast and friskies wet for dinner.
After the occurance, he gets prescription dry and Weruva wet. (My other cat eats Wellness/ Instinct dry and Weruva wet).
I mentioned raw food to my vet but he discouraged it because of the high phosphorus content. I know wet food is ideal and the more natural option but my cats are very picky and stopped eating when I decreased or removed their dry breakfast. In fact it took weeks of dinner strike for them to get used to Weruva from Friskies. The only thing they're not picky about is dry food. In addition, it's more economical for us to do part dry.
However, the healthiest and most economically friendly option I've researched is a raw diet. The only reason i haven't done it is because of the warning from the vet. I don't want to risk another blockage. I guess this post is looking for a second opinion or recommendations or alternatives.

Currently, I have thought about mixing prescription wet food with raw so I wouldn't totally get rid of it for the FLUTD cat. But idk if this is a safe option.
Obviously this would be a long and slow process but I'm open to it.
In addition, my other cat has been showing signs of gingevitis and knowing my vet, he'll put him on prescription food as well.
The issue I have with prescription food is the nutrition and id prefer to keep their diet as grain free as possible. So please feel free to leave suggestions for that as well. I do try to brush his teeth but he hates it. They get dental treats as well.

Ps
I'm in Canada so we don't have as many options (ex. Darwin)
And our cats are not free-fed. Id prefer to feed both cats the same food because they tend to also eat out of each other's bowls (they eat wet food throughout 2 shifts).
 

Furballsmom

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Hi!
my other cat has been showing signs of gingevitis
Are you open to having your cats' teeth cleaned by the vet? If your current vet won't do that, do you have another vet that you could speak with?

In any case, to address the low phosphorus issue, here's a post that might help a bit in the last paragraph of it;
Heeelllppp Low Phosphorus Foods? Sensitive Stomach?

and here's a database that might help;
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf
 

CHIKITTIES

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This recent thread is about someone in a similar situation as you: Vet Recommends Royal Canin?
It links to resources that discuss how to go about raw feeding a cat prone to blockages. I encourage you to read through!
Hi mariya mariya

In addition to the link Wile Wile provided, I suggest following two info;

Cat Urinary Tract Diseases: Cystitis, Urethral Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection

This thread discussing about raw/low pho diet
Help!! Radcat Going Out Of Business And I Need To Make Low Phosphorus Food

Hope you will find good diet for your kitties very soon!! :vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

lalagimp

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I mentioned raw food to my vet but he discouraged it because of the high phosphorus content.
Then cut the phosphorus content? :dunno:

If you're willing to make it, then by all means, Skype Dr Pierson, but don't spend 2 hours talking to her like it did.
Tommy had a pH of 8 and blocked from crystals. A few months later he had a pH of 7 and they never explained why he blocked twice that week...likely cystitis.
Anywho we ended up doing surgery because we can't afford to keep unblocking him for issues the vet isn't telling us how to treat. I started feeding him raw off her website at the very beginning of 2017, and then that summer I spoke with her about ongoing feeding and asking if we're doing things okay or what we should be doing. She reviewed his medical history and said that we can cut down the building blocks/minerals for latticework in his bladder to discourage anything to gather and either form crystals or commence irritation, by lowering the bone.
Also, to max out on the fish oil because it's a good anti-inflammatory.
I still keep the 3 lb meat recipe she uses, but we changed it from 2 lbs ground rabbit w 1 pound boneless poultry, to 1 lb ground rabbit and 1 lb boneless poultry.
Less bone per batch, worked out in x3, I do 9 lbs ground bone in rabbit and 9 lbs boneless poultry.
18/3=recipex6

I am not a professional. But this is what we do.
Nov 2016 - first blockage/ came home and immediately started canned food
Dec 2016 - moved to commercial raw
Jan 2017 - moved to home made raw
Feb 2017 - blocked twice+surgery
June 2017 - Revised recipe via Skype w Pierson

Hope that was coherent.
 

kittyluv387

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Then cut the phosphorus content? :dunno:

If you're willing to make it, then by all means, Skype Dr Pierson, but don't spend 2 hours talking to her like it did.
Tommy had a pH of 8 and blocked from crystals. A few months later he had a pH of 7 and they never explained why he blocked twice that week...likely cystitis.
Anywho we ended up doing surgery because we can't afford to keep unblocking him for issues the vet isn't telling us how to treat. I started feeding him raw off her website at the very beginning of 2017, and then that summer I spoke with her about ongoing feeding and asking if we're doing things okay or what we should be doing. She reviewed his medical history and said that we can cut down the building blocks/minerals for latticework in his bladder to discourage anything to gather and either form crystals or commence irritation, by lowering the bone.
Also, to max out on the fish oil because it's a good anti-inflammatory.
I still keep the 3 lb meat recipe she uses, but we changed it from 2 lbs ground rabbit w 1 pound boneless poultry, to 1 lb ground rabbit and 1 lb boneless poultry.
Less bone per batch, worked out in x3, I do 9 lbs ground bone in rabbit and 9 lbs boneless poultry.
18/3=recipex6

I am not a professional. But this is what we do.
Nov 2016 - first blockage/ came home and immediately started canned food
Dec 2016 - moved to commercial raw
Jan 2017 - moved to home made raw
Feb 2017 - blocked twice+surgery
June 2017 - Revised recipe via Skype w Pierson

Hope that was coherent.
Any blockages since revision of homemade recipe with Dr. P?
 
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mariya

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Then cut the phosphorus content? :dunno:

If you're willing to make it, then by all means, Skype Dr Pierson, but don't spend 2 hours talking to her like it did.
Thank you for the information!
I just want to clarify that I am looking into raw but not "making it".
The raw pet food brand that I was looking into was Big Country Raw. Unfortunately they don't make meals for cats but the meat, organ, and bone content is pre-grounded and packaged. (I'd have to add the additional supplements)

I'm not really comfortable handling meat (cutting up and grinding) regardless of who's consuming it. lol
 

lalagimp

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oh yeah it's definitely gross
I hate the smell
especially when it gets to the fish oil part

The likelihood of reblocking after the surgery was very small, and now it's been two years. I didn't alter his recipe until I spoke with her 4 months after the procedure.
 

molly92

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If you have access to meat and just need a premix, my vet was over the moon about this one: TCfeline - Special Formula, low Phosphorus. 280 gram jar

Website says they're out of stock right now, but I'm sure it'll be back when the weather gets better. You use it with meat only, no organs or bones.

I also asked my vet if I could give it to my other cat without kidney issues, and she said absolutely, she'd recommend it for any cat.
 
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kittyluv387

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If you have access to meat and just need a premix, my vet was over the moon about this one: TCfeline - Special Formula, low Phosphorus. 280 gram jar

Website says they're out of stock right now, but I'm sure it'll be back when the weather gets better. You use it with meat only, no organs or bones.

I also asked my vet if I could give it to my other cat without kidney issues, and she said absolutely, she'd recommend it for any cat.
Or alnutrin with eggshell calcium if you have access to liver. It's a nice compromise since it's not as expensive. Eggshell is low in phosphorus.
 

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I personally use this supplement and the recipes when doing homemade cat food: http://www.hilarysblend.ca/Default.aspx It is sold through vets in Canada, so your vet should already be familiar with it. The supplement was formulated for home cooked recipes, but the website says the recipes can also be fed raw. I find it helpful with flutd issues as well because each of the recipes tells you what the general urine ph outcome should be (low, neutral, high), as well as complete information about nutritional content. I am not sure why your vet is worried about phosphorus content, but there is also a version of the supplement for renal patients if needed.
 
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mariya

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If you have access to meat and just need a premix, my vet was over the moon about this one: TCfeline - Special Formula, low Phosphorus. 280 gram jar

Website says they're out of stock right now, but I'm sure it'll be back when the weather gets better. You use it with meat only, no organs or bones.

I also asked my vet if I could give it to my other cat without kidney issues, and she said absolutely, she'd recommend it for any cat.
Thanks! So I would just have to add this mix to the meat? Also, I was thinking of Big Country Raw. Their meat is premixed and all you have to add are a few supplements. Anyone who buys raw from them?
 
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mariya

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So I've been thinking of some ideas and have started transitioning the cats into fully wet food. (they used to have dry for breakfast)
Also, thank you so much for letting me know about the TCfeline low phosphorus mix! Definitely gonna try that stuff.
So I've decided to go full raw on my first cat and Half raw for the FLUTD one. So he'd get prescription SO wet food for dinner and raw for breakfast.
Now, I'm wondering about the ratios when feeding raw and wet. The one on full raw would get 2oz of raw per meal (2 meals a day so 4oz daily).
I'd like to feed the other one 2oz for breakfast and maybe 1/2 can wet? Or should I go with 1 whole can wet for dinner? Any ideas? They're both 12lb each.
Thank you everyone!! So far the transitioning is going well!
 

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Hi!
I'm not a raw feeder, but was wondering, how did things go?
 
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mariya

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Unfortunately I can't answer that yet. I spent the past few weeks transitioning the cats to fully wet food. I'm planning on slowly introducing raw starting this week. Wish me luck!
 
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mariya

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So I have begun added small spoonfuls of raw and mixing them with the wet food and it's going smoothly.
I have to mix in the raw instead of add it on top because they'll eat around it otherwise.
So catto #2 (the one with FLUTD) has always had constipation issues ever since we adopted him, even before the blockage and FLUTD diagnosis. I think it's constipation because his bum is rarely clean; there are poo pieces around there and I noticed some blood (I think?) today. My other cat has never had this issue and his bum is always clean.
Because the raw is known to cause constipation in some cats, is there a supplement can I add to aid that issue?
BCR site suggests phsyllium husk powder but I've also heard of people using coconut oil and pumpkin puree. Any recommendations?

Also, my cats eat slowly so they finish half the food in one go and come back an hour later. How long can I leave raw out? It would be better to feed them 3 times daily instead of 2 but it's just not possible with my work and school schedule.
 

kittyluv387

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So I have begun added small spoonfuls of raw and mixing them with the wet food and it's going smoothly.
I have to mix in the raw instead of add it on top because they'll eat around it otherwise.
So catto #2 (the one with FLUTD) has always had constipation issues ever since we adopted him, even before the blockage and FLUTD diagnosis. I think it's constipation because his bum is rarely clean; there are poo pieces around there and I noticed some blood (I think?) today. My other cat has never had this issue and his bum is always clean.
Because the raw is known to cause constipation in some cats, is there a supplement can I add to aid that issue?
BCR site suggests phsyllium husk powder but I've also heard of people using coconut oil and pumpkin puree. Any recommendations?

Also, my cats eat slowly so they finish half the food in one go and come back an hour later. How long can I leave raw out? It would be better to feed them 3 times daily instead of 2 but it's just not possible with my work and school schedule.
One of my boys is prone to constipation so he gets 1/8tsp of miralax in his food twice a day. It’s flavorless so that’s nice. He also usually has a dirty bum.
 
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mariya

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Update everyone!
So today is the second day Leo (catto #1) has been eating only raw for breakfast and dinner.
I think I moved a bit fast on him since he enjoyed raw with friskies wet mixed in, then I removed the friskies too quick so he isn't as enthusiastic but he does finish his food. Overall, his transition was pretty easy.
Catto #2 will only be getting raw for breakfast and went on a hunger strike yesterday and ate nothing for breakfast. For dinner, he gets half of his urinary prescription can. This morning he finished his raw completely so YAY!
Thinking if getting some treats for them today. They like chicken liver so far. I know Barker's Kitchen also has a good selection.
For raw, they get 40g per meal since they also need to shed some pounds. Also I only add omega 3 supplements to the raw as it's 80% muscle meat, 10% ground bone, and 10% organ meat.
 
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mariya

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EDIT: I supplement omega 3 by adding dried sardine to their food (1/2 sardine per meal per cat)
not fish oil
 
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