Ask the Vet! Helpful articles from the Precise® Vet, Dr. Lisa Drapela

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

• This term is used to describe several disease processes associated with the lower urinary tract of cats. Another term for this disease is Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS). The terms FUS and FLUTD refer to the presence of signs of a lower urinary tract problem. There are many diseases which can result in the lower urinary tract signs. These include: Cystitis - an inflammation of the bladder Urethritis - an inflammation of the urethra Obstructive Disorder - consisting of soft plugs, gritty plugs, larger Stones (Uroliths), or an anatomical narrowing of the urethra. •  This disease is seen in both male and female cats and accounts for about 10% of feline admissions to veterinary hospitals in the United States. • This syndrome has multiple possible causes such as stress, environment, age, inadequate water intake, infection, and diet. It has been shown that stress plays a large role in the development of this disease. Some cats seem to experience stress when the diet is changed abruptly, but stress can include changes in other factors such as weather, litter pans, or recent additions or subtractions of humans or pets from the household. • In recent years, lower urinary tract problems were believed to result from diet-induced struvite stone formation. This type of stone was the most common type of urinary stone seen in cats. Struvite stones consist of magnesium ammonium phosphate. These stones can form in the bladder when the urine pH becomes too alkaline, which causes magnesium to precipitate out of the urine solution.  • Ash content of a food has been important in the past because magnesium is a component of ash. Ash is merely the mineral content of a food and by decreasing the ash, the magnesium is decreased as well. Many people would like to have a food with no ash, but this is impossible. All minerals are very important in the function of the body and cannot be completely eliminated from the diet. • In response to the belief that diet causes struvite stones to form, cat food diets have become lower in magnesium and have been formulated to create a lower urinary pH (pH<6.3). It has been shown that this type of diet would decrease the incidence of struvite stone formation in the bladder. However, in making these dietary changes, struvite stone formation is on the decline, but oxalate stones are occurring more frequently due to the extreme lowering of urinary pH.

Precise® Suggestions

All of the Precise feline formulas have been formulated with the latest research in mind.  They are designed with a lower level of magnesium and to give a target urinary pH of 6.3.  The Precise feline formulas have been formulated to produce an acidic urine, thus reducing the likelihood of struvite crystals while avoiding over-acidification and oxalate crystal formation.  A urinary pH level of 6.3 has been shown to be optimal for feline urinary tract health.  For cats prone to developing urinary stones, the latest research indicates increasing water intake is the best means of prevention of future stone formation.  Since this disease has multiple causes, it is not advisable to constantly change the cat’s diet because this in itself can cause added stress to the cat.  Please consult your veterinarian if your cat experiences any changes in behavior.

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