Question:
My male Persian cat (a rescue cat) was neutered when he was over 2 years old. He has had oxalate stones removed twice in the past two years. He was thoroughly examined by a veterinarian internist/specialist. My cat's vet did both surgeries. What seems to be working to keep the stones away, so far, is a daily dose (0.5 cc) of liquid hydrochlorothiazide. I use a syringe and squirt it into his mouth.
His dry food is Royal Canin Feline Nutrition PRO Persian 30, which is formulated to help with his urinary tract -- he likes it. He drinks plenty of water but is a bit finicky about moist food. I've offered him Hill's Prescription Diet c/d, minced turkey in gravy, chicken pate and homegrown grass (he likes that), but he prefers his kibble. He's an indoor cat. He loves being groomed several times a day. I monitor his litter boxes and clean them several times a day.
So far, the prescription is keeping the bladder stone problem in check. I hope this helps others with this awful problem.
A.G., Norfolk, Va Jan 02, 2012
Answer:
Cats and dogs develop calcium oxalate crystals, or sand, and larger calculi, or stones, in their lower urinary tract for a variety of reasons. The acidification of manufactured pet foods -- to help lower the incidence of struvite crystals -- is believed to be one factor. Not drinking enough water, being given only dry food and too much sodium in the diet may also play a role in this all-too-common malady.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic, making the recipient produce more urine. This essentially keeps the urinary tract regularly flushed, preventing the accumulation of oxalate crystals that might grow into larger stones or calculi. A moist diet and ensuring the cat drinks plenty of water (even seasoned with salt-free chicken gravy or a little milk) or getting the cat used to 5 to 10 cc of water given orally in a syringe if the cat does not drink much -- these are the best preventive measures. I do not advise giving cats more salt (sodium chloride) to get them to drink more. Starting kittens out on a moist, home-prepared or raw food diet will do much to stop urinary tract problems from developing.
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