What is in this stuff?
March 31, 2011 3:07 PM Subscribe
Is Hills C/D garbage?
2 year old male neutered cat just got back from the vet. He had a bladder the size of a baseball but kidney function is back to normal and he's urinating basically normally. The vet was great. My question is - is this Hills C/D food he's supposed to go on actually any good for him? IIRC ingredients on animal feeds are listed by weight, proportionately, making rice hulls and some other carb filler the lion's share of what's in this food. I know this is supposed to make his urine pH more acidic, but is it worth feeding him something that normally I'd consider low quality?
2 year old male neutered cat just got back from the vet. He had a bladder the size of a baseball but kidney function is back to normal and he's urinating basically normally. The vet was great. My question is - is this Hills C/D food he's supposed to go on actually any good for him? IIRC ingredients on animal feeds are listed by weight, proportionately, making rice hulls and some other carb filler the lion's share of what's in this food. I know this is supposed to make his urine pH more acidic, but is it worth feeding him something that normally I'd consider low quality?
Oops. I mean it is absolutely "worth feeding him something that normally I'd consider low quality", not that it is absolutely "garbage".
posted by Rock Steady at 3:46 PM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 3:46 PM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hills R/D did wonders for weight loss of a big guy who couldn't lose a pound but was very healthy oherwise.
Just after the weight loss he developed a thyroid condition, and then 2 years later, a stroke.
Recently I was informed that Hills is known for ingredients that cats can't digest (grain, corn mostly) and that it rough on their systems. I was considering it using it for another fattie I now own, but that info talked me out of it.
I always thought the other cat's bizarre out-of-the-blue health problems were diet related, but I never knew for sure how it all went so wrong. He was my best friend.
So, no. I wouldn't chance it if I were you.
I decided to find healthier alternatives for my current big cat rather than risk it again with the Hills R/D formula, even though I know it does wonders for weight loss.
Weight loss (or better urination) + Death isn't really a solution, y'know?
FWIW.
posted by jbenben at 3:57 PM on March 31, 2011
Just after the weight loss he developed a thyroid condition, and then 2 years later, a stroke.
Recently I was informed that Hills is known for ingredients that cats can't digest (grain, corn mostly) and that it rough on their systems. I was considering it using it for another fattie I now own, but that info talked me out of it.
I always thought the other cat's bizarre out-of-the-blue health problems were diet related, but I never knew for sure how it all went so wrong. He was my best friend.
So, no. I wouldn't chance it if I were you.
I decided to find healthier alternatives for my current big cat rather than risk it again with the Hills R/D formula, even though I know it does wonders for weight loss.
Weight loss (or better urination) + Death isn't really a solution, y'know?
FWIW.
posted by jbenben at 3:57 PM on March 31, 2011
o you know what the diagnosis of the problem was?
Cornell veterinary school page on feline urinary problems lists three main diagnoses and has a few words about diet in relation to these diagnoses. Here are some snippets:
I would ask your vet about this and if there are other acidifying formulas with more meat and less grain. If he is prone to developing blockages, they can kill him within 24 hours - I would follow vet's advice about the food until you get a clear veterinary opinion to do otherwise.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:26 PM on March 31, 2011
Cornell veterinary school page on feline urinary problems lists three main diagnoses and has a few words about diet in relation to these diagnoses. Here are some snippets:
Feline Idiopathic cystitis - FICOne suggestion I've heard, and I don't know how relevant this is to your cat's case, is that cats naturally don't drink much water, and in cats prone to urinary problems (especially young male cats) the lack of water can make it worse. So some people suggest feeding wet food, since that way the cat gets a minimum threshold of water intake every day.
[...]the term FIC is used if all diagnostics fail to confirm the presence of another disease such as urinary stones.[...] Many pet food manufacturers market diets formulated for "urinary health." While these "special diets" may reduce the likelihood that cats with FIC will develop a [life-threatening] urethral obstruction, there is no evidence that they have reduced the incidence of idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease itself.[...]
Urinary stones
[...] Cats that have formed a stone are at increased risk for recurrence, and your veterinarian may recommend medication or dietary changes to help prevent recurrence. [...]
Urethral obstruction
[life-threatening emergency]
[...this section does not mention food]
Steps to Reduce Occurences and Signs of Lower Urinary Tract Disease
1. Feed small meals on a frequent basis.
2. For cats with a history of struvite formation, owners should feed diets that promote the formation of urine that is acidic. Most commercial diets meet this criteria. Avoid supplementing such diets with additional urinary acidifiers, because over-acidification can cause metabolic acidosis, impaired kidney function, and mineral imbalance.
3. Provide clean, fresh water at all times.
[...a few more steps listed...]
I would ask your vet about this and if there are other acidifying formulas with more meat and less grain. If he is prone to developing blockages, they can kill him within 24 hours - I would follow vet's advice about the food until you get a clear veterinary opinion to do otherwise.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:26 PM on March 31, 2011
And from what I've read about cat food, Hill's has in general a poor reputation BUT some of their special diet formulas have good reputations. So I think we should be cautious about extrapolating from the weight-loss formula to the urinary formula. Ask your vet, or ask a different vet.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:29 PM on March 31, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:29 PM on March 31, 2011
I can't speak to C/D, but I've had two other cats on other Hills' Prescription Diet foods, with good results.
Our vet put our older cat on K/D dry food when she started having kidney problems, and she had an immediate and dramatic improvement in her appetite, her energy level, her weight, her appearance, everything. It was like a second kittenhood for her, and a year and a half later she's still going strong. Also, we had another cat who was refusing to eat due to what turned out to be a liver problem, and force-feeding her via syringe with Hills A/D was what kept her going until her liver problem cleared up and she wanted to eat on her own again.
posted by deadmessenger at 4:34 PM on March 31, 2011
Our vet put our older cat on K/D dry food when she started having kidney problems, and she had an immediate and dramatic improvement in her appetite, her energy level, her weight, her appearance, everything. It was like a second kittenhood for her, and a year and a half later she's still going strong. Also, we had another cat who was refusing to eat due to what turned out to be a liver problem, and force-feeding her via syringe with Hills A/D was what kept her going until her liver problem cleared up and she wanted to eat on her own again.
posted by deadmessenger at 4:34 PM on March 31, 2011
Check out Royal Canin food. It seems to be much tastier than SD, and at least one vet I know recommends it. They have a full line of varieties, including two different kitten food sizes.
It looks like they have a Renal LP variety in cans, Renal LP 21 in chicken or pork, and Urinary SO for urinary tract problems (all varieties seem to be only available from the vet, though).
posted by amtho at 4:36 PM on March 31, 2011
It looks like they have a Renal LP variety in cans, Renal LP 21 in chicken or pork, and Urinary SO for urinary tract problems (all varieties seem to be only available from the vet, though).
posted by amtho at 4:36 PM on March 31, 2011
I don't have a cat but I did have a very sick dog last year (as in, increasingly-frequent bloody-vomit attacks that left her hospitalized), and she has been thriving for almost a year now, since the vet put her on a prescription diet (in her case, the low-allergen food) from Hills as a last ditch effort. The only health problems she's had since are minor things caused by the medication she's also on.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 4:36 PM on March 31, 2011
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 4:36 PM on March 31, 2011
I had a male cat who developed urinary stones and obstruction at age 11. I fed him Hills c/d until he died, fat and happy, at 22. So no complaints here.
posted by Corvid at 7:02 PM on March 31, 2011
posted by Corvid at 7:02 PM on March 31, 2011
Melony Snickets Purrpants Orangie Boy was on C/D-- and hated it. And we hated it for your reasons. Now he is on Royal Canin Renal--as amtho mentioned-- and we find the quality to be better, the kitteh likes it better. Blocked kitties do need their wet, according to my vet, and the RC wet is vastly better than the C/D wet.
posted by oflinkey at 7:53 PM on March 31, 2011
posted by oflinkey at 7:53 PM on March 31, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the advice everyone but this cat was put down last night. The choice was between surgery and euthanasia; we didn't want to put him through the complications and pain and the vet told us he was a bad candidate and would probably be in and out of the hospital for the rest of his life. I'm not sure we did the right thing
posted by r_nebblesworthII at 4:52 AM on April 1, 2011
posted by r_nebblesworthII at 4:52 AM on April 1, 2011
Oh dear. I'm so sorry. Assuming you are talking about PU surgery (perineal urethrostomy), it is true that even in the best case scenario it is a hard row to hoe. The life of a cat with serious urinary problems can be a very tough one, so you have spared him that.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:25 AM on April 1, 2011
posted by Rock Steady at 6:25 AM on April 1, 2011
I'm so sorry.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:24 PM on April 1, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:24 PM on April 1, 2011
I am so sorry for your loss, r_nebblesworthil.
For future readers: yes, Hills food isn't necessarily the best stuff, but some of their formulas are what's good for your kitty.
I have one cat, Mingo, who gets crystals in his urine. C/D is the recommended food and that's what we feed him. Because he's one of four cats all the cats get C/D. I tried another high quality food that claimed to help with crystals but it didn't and Mingo had another episode. I put the cats back onto C/D and there hasn't been a problem since then (well over a year).
posted by deborah at 3:00 PM on April 2, 2011
For future readers: yes, Hills food isn't necessarily the best stuff, but some of their formulas are what's good for your kitty.
I have one cat, Mingo, who gets crystals in his urine. C/D is the recommended food and that's what we feed him. Because he's one of four cats all the cats get C/D. I tried another high quality food that claimed to help with crystals but it didn't and Mingo had another episode. I put the cats back onto C/D and there hasn't been a problem since then (well over a year).
posted by deborah at 3:00 PM on April 2, 2011
There is no wrong choice in a situation like this. Be at peace.
posted by amtho at 5:29 PM on April 2, 2011
posted by amtho at 5:29 PM on April 2, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Rock Steady at 3:45 PM on March 31, 2011