I am furious. You’d like to think your veterinarian knows a thing or two about pet food – a thing or two more than the average owner. You’d like to think your veterinarian has high standards, while understanding of costs involved.
My veterinarian didn’t have time to talk to me in person when I stopped in a week ago to pick up Scout’s medication and food. Instead, the assistant relayed back and forth between us, and what he relayed was that I had no other choice – use Purina UR or risk the life of my cat. So, after a half hour of standing around waiting for information to relay, I broke down and bought the food. I bought a lot – a case of wet and a large bag of dry because the vet claimed Scout “may have to be on it the rest of his life.” It was unbelievably expensive.
As mentioned in a previous entry, Purina UR is not the type of food I’d choose for my cats. It’s priced like premium food, perhaps because it is prescription, but I can’t help questioning the quality. Before putting my cats on Wellness back in June, they’d tried Friskies, Whiskas, and Nutro. What does Purina UR have in common with these latter three brands?
- It has byproduct, grains and corn
- It makes my cats throw up everywhere
Dead serious here – after putting them on Wellness in June, they haven’t thrown up once. Not once. I put them on Purina UR and I wake up to find four spots of puke on the basement rug, and then come home to find puke on my couch and in three other places on the floor.
Unless Scout has a relapse because of it, I’m immediately stopping the use of Purina UR. I spent time today doing more research on Wellness. It claims to be great for the urinary tract with its triple cranberry ingredients. I started the cats on Wellness at the same time that Scout started showing symptoms of the UTI, so I think the problem had already begun. Either way, I think if I feed him mostly the pouches (high content of water) and limit his dry food intake, it may help him. Water intake is a huge factor in helping cats with UTIs. Apparently dry food is thought to be a possible irritant and Scout loves dry food.
Anyway, if your cat is throwing up a little too often, take a look at what’s in his food. It’s clear to me that either my cats have really sensitive stomachs, or the average pet food is terribly unhealthy.
I am deeply cynical about some vet advice. Our former vet recommended glucosamine, and wanted £50 for 30 pills. Walking across the street you can buy the same quality at £3 for 90. We use a lot of common sense and no longer pay an ‘expert’ to tell us what we need. Funny, they never tell you to give them anything which isn’t really expensive. We changed vets until we found one who would empathise and be realistic. It’s not a practice that gives cats chemo or organ transplant. We have four indoor boys who have thus far been fairly healthy, and an old dog who trundles on with occasional vet checks. We don’t break the bank or upset our cats. And we love them like children. Good luck with your chaps, hope they feel better. Go with your gut.
mom had this problem with chessie. after a $2000 operation to divert his blocked urethra (!) they found out the could have used science diet for urinary health (or any LOW MAGNESIUM FOOD) and he didn’t have a problem since. however, they also raised the price of the food and you can’t buy it in large bags, so downsides for sure.
our cat hasn’t been back to the vet since he had his last set of shots and fixed. they wanted to put him on all kinds of allergy meds and i found the same thing at walmart in the pharmacy section in the same dose for $2. so vets are now reserved for absolute emergencies and yearly shots.
I have a website that specializes in urinary tract infections in cats (not meant as a plug), so I know a little something about the subject. And everything you’re saying is true, krisSquared. Vets rarely take the time, once they pass their exams and hang out a shingle, to keep up with all the latest thinking in care for every species they have to see in their practice. But after the pet food scare of a couple of years ago, people are sitting up, taking notice, kicking vet-and-commercial-cat-food-manufacturer ass and taking some names.
The sad fact is we do have to do our own research on the subject, as there are few people we can trust to tell us the truth when they have a vested interest in parting us from our money. As for Wellness brand cat food – for overall health as well as UTI care – I have never heard anything – repeat, anything – but good things. There are other excellent brands available too (NOT dry food).
So the more that grass-roots places like this blog, my site, Amazon reviewers of good products, etc. can get the word out that the health of our beloved cat buddies is in our hands and up to our willingness to go the extra mile, the better, longer, healthier and happier lives our pets will have.