Urinary Tract Health in Cats

Last year when I lived in Seattle, I lived with a cat named Buster. He was a lover, but a jealous one, and he was known to pout when his mom (my roommate) had been away for a while. Sometimes he even lashed out with his claws if he had not seen her in a week or so. Kitty knew how to communicate. So I was shocked the day he urinated on my bed--what had I done to provoke the little brat? But then he went in the bathtub, and his urine had blood in it. The vet diagnosed him with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD), and I had yet another opportunity to study the connection between diet and health.

In retrospect, Buster displayed many of the signs and symptoms of FLUTD:

• excessive urination or frequent attempts to urinate with little output
• urinating outside the litter box
• painful urination (or crying out when urinating)
• straining to urinate

FLUTD is inflammation of the lining of the bladder and/or urethra. This inflammation causes mineral deposits (struvite formation) to crystallize in the urinary tract. It is most common in neutered males, but females are not immune to the disorder. It can lead to total blockage of the urethra, which, if untreated, can be fatal. See the vet immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms and if your cat is increasingly distressed.

There are a number of dietary changes you can make that aid in the prevention of FLUTD.

1. Feed your cat a high animal protein diet. Animal protein in the diet helps keep your cat's urine acidic, which dissolves the mineral crystals which cause the problem. Many foods contain grains which are alkalizing. There are many grain-free foods on the market (Wellness CORE, Best Feline Friends, Mulligan Stew, Taste of the Wild) from which to choose. If you must feed dry food, always choose a grain-free dry food and let your cat's total dry food intake be no more than 50%. Raw food is best for preventing urinary tract disorders, followed by canned food, which generally has less grain.

2. Always have plenty of fresh water available and limit the amount of dry food your cat eats. Cats are inefficient drinkers and, in the wild, they get most of their liquids from the juicy prey they kill. Cats who are chronically dehydrated are prone to FLUTD. The easiest way to make sure that your cat stays hydrated is to switch to raw or canned food. Place the water bowl away from the food bowl, and consider a cascading waterer to encourage your feline to drink more.

3. Feed your cat a "low ash" and low magnesium food. Ash refers to the total mineral content of a food. Foods high in ash will be higher in the minerals that can crystallize in your cat's urinary tract. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are important, but need to be present in the correct amount and proportion. Dry foods should be less than 7% ash and 1% magnesium; wet foods (containing 78% water)--less than 1.5% ash and 0.02% magnesium.

4. Use supplements that encourage good urinary tract health. Cranberry supplements, such as NaturVet's Cranberry Relief, can prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing the urinary tract. NaturVet also makes VitaCat, a multi-vitamin that enhances you cat's overall health and immunity.

From the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine--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.
4. Provide an adequate number of litter boxes (usually one more than the number of cats in the household).
5. Keep litter boxes in quiet, safe areas of the house.
6. Keep litter boxes clean.
7. Minimize major changes in routine.

As always, feel free to contact us at info@luckydogdelivers.com if you have questions or need help choosing a food.

Itchy Dog

Itchy Lucy...silly chow mix hates photo time almost as much as she hates The Itchies.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night to the sounds of grunting, snorting, thumping, slurping, gnashing teeth, more slurping, maybe even the bed shaking a little from the monster underneath it? It came to a head last month, and the monster was Lucy, pobrecita, with the summer itchies which seem so much worse this year. Before we knew what happened, her belly was red and irritated and her hind legs were headed towards Baldville. If your dog is suffering, you may be interested in knowing that nutrition is a key factor in the itchies. Lucy responded well to a change in diet and some supplements, and now we are all sleeping better at night.

Here are some things you might try...

1. Change you pup's diet. Constant exposure to the same ingredients, even in high quality foods, can lead to food allergies. Rotation feeding, feeding pets with a variety of protein and grains to prevent sensitivities from developing, is being recommended by experts in pet nutrition. Avoid common allergens like corn and wheat. Even lamb, once touted as "hypoallergenic," can lead to sensitivities if it is the only thing your dog eats. If possible, try to feed your dog human grade ingredients, especially grains, as "pet quality" grains have been stored longer and may contain storage mites, to which your dog may be allergic.

2. Use Digestive Enzymes. Digestive enzymes are an important supplement for many reasons, and itchy skin is near the top of the list. (Stay tuned for more information about the importance of digestive enzymes in your pet's diet.) We all have digestive enzymes in our systems that help break down and assimilate nutrients. Enzymes are abundant in raw food, but in this day and age of food processing, which destroys enzymes, humans, dogs and cats alike generally need supplementation. Adding these enzymes to every meal can dramatically improve your pet's coat, skin and general comfort, often in ten days or less. Lucy responded well to Naturvet Digestive Enzymes.

3. Add Essential Fatty Acids. EFAs are another nutrient necessary to keep your pet's coat nourished and healthy, to calm the itchies, to reduce shedding and to feed their skin. Concentrated sources of Omega 3s and 6s, and linoleic and linolenic acids include flax oil, fish oils, hemp oil and evening primrose oil. Try Naturvet Ultimate Skin and Coat, Plato's Salmon Oil or Dr. Harvey's Health & Shine.

4. Control your Pet's Fleas. Animals with nutritional deficiencies will attract more fleas. More exposure to fleabites increases the likelihood that your pet will develop flea allergies. Improving your pet's nutrition by feeding him or her high quality food and adding enzymes and EFAs to their diet will improve your pet's natural resistance to fleas. (Stay tuned for more information on natural flea repellents.)

As always, call Lucky Dog Delivers if you have more questions about our products or your pet's unique situation. We are here for you...828.215.9503.

Rotation Feeding

Rotation feeding is one of the newer buzz words in pet nutrition. Gone are the days of auto-pilot feeding where your pet gets the same old kibble night after night after night. And your pets will be all the better for it. Changing your pet's diet periodically is one of the best things you can do for his or her health and well being for several reasons.

First, wouldn't you get bored eating a bowl of corn flakes every day for the rest of your life? Wouldn't you crave a scrambled egg or a pop tart or a bowl of oatmeal just for fun once in a while? Keep them excited about mealtime by keeping them guessing. Even if your dog or cat has a sensitive stomach, there are brands like Nature's Variety Prairie or Instinct that are specifically designed for rotational feeding and are similar enough in composition that pets usually can make the switch without a lot of planning and preparation.

Second, changing your pets food regularly can help prevent the development of food allergies by limiting their exposure to potential allergens.

Third, by exposing your pets to a variety of foods, you help strengthen their digestive systems and limit stomach upset.

Finally, exposing your pet to a wide variety of protein sources and brands of foods, you provide them with a large and varied cornucopia of nutrients and minerals and vitamins that will keep them healthier over the long run. Just like in human nutrition, the bigger variety of foods we eat, the more building blocks our bodies have to keep us healthy and vibrant.

How to Switch

If you have a new puppy or kitten, you are in luck (in so many ways)! They are usually the easiest to transition because their digestive systems are more flexible. While they are young, give them a big variety of foods--different flavors, different textures, different kinds (dry, canned, freeze dried raw and frozen raw), different brands.

For older dogs, you may need to transition more slowly. As mentioned above, certain brands are designed for rotational feeding and should need minimal transition time. Eventually, though, you want to introduce different brands to get the most out of rotational feeding (in other words, to give your dog exposure to the biggest variety of ingredients). Give older dogs transition time, by adding 10-20% of the new food to their old food and increasing the percentage gradually over a week to 10 days. Add digestive enzymes or probiotics to help with digestion. After a few months of switching gradually, your pet's digestive system with get tougher and you may be able to eliminate the slow transition time altogether.

Dogs transition easily from dry to canned or raw food, but cats who have been fed dry food for a long time may turn their noses up because, well, cats have attitudes and definite ideas about things. Here are a few tips on how to make it easier to switch cats to canned or raw food...

• Try a variety of flavors and textures--my cat loved anything seafood, but eating turkey was a chore; loved pate, but had her doubts about gravy.
• Remove dry food when wet is offered and feed them twice a day.
• Mix the canned food with the kibble to get them used to the smell and taste.
• Top the canned food with something irresistible like bonito flakes or salmon oil.
• Be patient. They will come around eventually.

Introduce raw foods slowly to your cat or dog. Raw food is so dense in nutrients that it will be easy for your pet to overdo, especially if you have a lab or any other eating machine.

Remember, you are giving your pet the most nutritionally complete, well rounded diet you can by providing him or her a wide variety of foods. That means your pet will be with you longer and will live a high quality, happy life.

Super Dogs

Rico graduated from Super Dogs class today. Offered by Gail at A Good Dog's Life in West Asheville, this class really helped my kangaroo dog settle and focus and temper his shenanigans.

Rico loves everyone and everything and can't wait to share that love by full on frontal hugs...he is at least 5 feet tall while standing on his hind legs; crotch poking; spinning and what to me is general hilarity but may be a bit over the top for most amongst us).

Gail is all about positive training techniques. I use a clicker, but you don't have to. Treats are essential, but toys work for dogs who stop eating treats when they are out in public. For the last 6 weeks, the group has met in various places around town to work on manners. We've been to Pritchard Park, Carrier Park, someone's house. We've worked on behaving around other dogs, doorbell manners, walking on the leash in crowded areas. There is lots of personal attention, and lots of time to practice. Gail starts a new session next Monday, August 9, so be sure to call to join the fun. We are going to Bent Creek.

Here's what I learned today--for an excitable pup like mine, a brief puppy play date before class can do wonders for boosting puppy focus during class (Thanks, Tena and Bertie), and Rico really likes Stella & Chewy"s Bison treats. So did Bertie, and she is my new best friend.

Here's what else I love about Super Dogs. It is 6pm and Rico has been out cold since we got home at noon. A tired dog really is a super dog.

Eco-friendly AND Fashionable Pet Beds

Closing in on launch date and we are getting some wonderful products in. Very exciting! There is so much out there that is eco-friendly---pet beds made of recycled soda bottles, truly biodegradable poo bags made of corn starch, even pet food manufactured in a plant that is powered by wind. So modern.

I wanted to preview these beds, though, because they are so cute and so versatile. Made by Molly Mutt, they are not really beds, but duvets. Here's how it works. You fill the stuff sack (sold separately) with old bedding or clothes you have lying around. I filled one with a hideous old comforter that was lying out on the porch (looking ugly) for the dogs anyway. In another went feathers and simulated down from old, tired

pillows (I never could throw a pillow away, and the dogs are all the more comfy for it). Then you

cover the stuff sack with a durable, stylish duvet cover, just like the one on your own bed. Dog bed dirty? Remove the duvet and throw it in the wash. So easy. Decor change? Molly's fabrics keep changing with the times, so your pet's bed can keep up with your decor, too. Visit Lucky Dog Delivers to see what's in stock now. Remember...we will bring it to your door.