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Hill’s single nutritional solution for a common feline co-morbidity

BY JENNIFER ERVINAPRIL 15, 2019 - URINARY & KIDNEY

Fun FLUTD Facts

Did you know?

  • Overweight and obese cats have 1.6 times higher prevalence of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) than lean cats1
  • Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) is the most common cause of FLUTD, representing 60%, nearly 2/3, of all cases2-5
  • Stress is a major risk factor for FIC
  • Uroliths are the 2nd most common cause of FLUTD (20% of cases)2-5
  • Struvite and calcium oxalate (CaOx) and are the two most common urolith types in cats6

Hill’s has combined the proven technology of Metabolic & c/d™ Multicare Stress Feline to help effectively manage overweight and obese cats with common feline urinary disorders.

About NEW Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ Metabolic Plus Urinary Stress Feline

  • Contains the full strength technology of Metabolic AND c/d™ Multicare Stress
  • Nutrition clinically proven to reduce weight by 11% in 60 days7
  • Reduces recurrence of FIC signs by 89%8
  • Dissolves struvite stones in as little as 7 days9
  • With L-tryptophan and milk protein hydrolysate to help manage stress
Protein chart

How does nutrition help with FIC?

Stress is postulated to play an important role in the development of FIC, and stress reduction is recommended as a key component of multimodal management for these cats. L-Tryptophan and milk protein hydrolysate (also known as hydrolysed casein) have been shown to decrease anxiety and stress-related behavioural signs and may be helpful for cats with FIC.10,11 Foods containing these ingredients to help manage stress, such as Hill’s™ c/d™ Stress for cats and now Hill’s™ Metabolic Plus Urinary Stress, can play an important role in the management of cats with FIC.


Moreover, the nutrition in Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ Urinary products for cats has been clinically proven to reduce the recurrence of episodes of FIC by 89% through enrichment with n­-3 fatty acids from fish oil and antioxidants.8

Need a refresher on how Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ Metabolic works?

Hill’s™ Metabolic works differently to traditional (low calories and fat, increased fibre) calorie counting diets. Through breakthrough research in our Predictive Biology lab, Hill’s scientists have identified the gene expression patterns associated with obesity in dogs and cats. Put simply, weight gain changes gene expression.  Many different gene expression pathways are affected including key pathways of inflammation, insulin sensitivity, amino acid and fat metabolism and appetite control.

fat and angry cat

Metabolic is formulated with a blend of natural ingredients specifically selected based on their ability to change the UNHEALTHY metabolism of overweight pets to be more like the HEALTHY metabolism of lean pets. The ingredients include coconut oil, phytonutrients and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, and controlled amounts of high quality protein along with an optimal mix of soluble and insoluble fibre. This proprietary blend helps activate the pets’ metabolism and puts them in fat-burning mode; activating the body’s natural ability to burn excess body fat and affect calorie utilisation.

 

For more information on Metabolic and weight loss success stories try this short read….

 

Or check out this great blog …. A confession and some top tips written by one of our very own veterinarians about her beloved, but overweight, cat Minnie J

How do you manage your feline struvite urolith cases? Jump to cut? Or try food first?

If you are inclined to jump in to remove suspected struvite uroliths surgically, perhaps you should take a look at The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement on urolith management.  This is an excellent resource that outlines several recommendations and standards of care for dogs and cats with lower urinary tract uroliths.  One key ACVIM recommendation is that uroliths consistent with a composition of struvite should be medically dissolved.12

 

This is particularly relevant for feline urolith cases as they are almost always sterile, and thus are relatively quick and easy to dissolve with dietary management.  Our general advice to veterinarians for suspected feline struvite uroliths is to re-x-ray (or scan) 2 weeks after starting any one of our three Prescription Diet™ Feline Urinary foods for dissolution, and if the stone/s is indeed struvite then it should be reduced in size or density by 50% or completely gone at the 14 day mark. 

So, for your next overweight feline patient with a concurrent lower urinary tract issue….

Reach for Hill’s™ Prescription Diet™ Metabolic Plus Urinary Stress Feline!  This clinically proven solution helps your patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight whilst simultaneously reducing recurrence of FIC signs, helping to manage stress and dissolve struvite uroliths and minimising the risk for recurrence of both struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths.

tabby with beautiful eyes

Dr Jennifer Ervin BVSc (Hons) Hill’s Technical Services Veterinarian

Jen graduated from the University of Melbourne with honours in 1999.  After graduation Jen worked in mixed animal/dairy practice for a short spell before moving into 100% small animal practice.  In 2002, Jennifer and her now husband Matthew (also a veterinarian), spent two years working in the U.K.  This entailed many different small animal veterinary roles including work in an emergency centre, as well as a stint as a greyhound track vet! Since returning to Australia, Jen has worked as a sole charge practitioner in small animal practice, spent a year as a Veterinary Territory Manager for Hill’s and also worked as a Practice Manager of a large mixed animal practice for eighteen months.  Since 2008, Jennifer has worked as a Technical Services Veterinarian for Hill’s Pet Nutrition.  

Dr Jennifer Ervin

References:

  1. Lund EM, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult cats from private US veterinary practices. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med. 2005;3(2):88-96.
  2. Kruger JM, Osborne CA, Goyal SM, et al. Clinical evaluation of cats with lower urinary tract disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1991;199:211-216.
  3. Buffington CA, Chew DJ, Kendall MS, et al. Clinical evaluation of cats with nonobstructive urinary tract diseases. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997;210:46-50.
  4. Lekcharosensuk C, Osborne CA, Lulich JP. Epidemiologic study of risk factors for lower urinary tract diseases in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:1429-1435.
  5. Gerber B, Boretti FS, Kley S, et al. Evaluation of clinical signs and causes of lower urinary tract disease in European cats. J Small Anim Pract 2005;46:571-577.
  6. Annual Minnosota Urolith Center Data – e.g. from over 17,000 feline uroliths submitted in 2016 (49% were struvite, 40% were CaOx)
  7. Floerchinger AM, Jackson MI, Jewell DE, et al. Effects of feeding a weight loss food beyond a caloric restriction period on body composition and resistance to weight gain in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;247(4):365-374.
  8. Kruger JM, Lulich JP, MacLeay JM, et al. Comparison of foods with differing nutrient profiles for long-term management of acute non-obstructive cystitis in cats.  J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015; 247:508-517
  9. Lulich JP, Kruger JM, MacLeay JM, et al. Efficacy of two commercially available, low-magnesium, urine acidifying dry foods for the dissolution of struvite uroliths in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013;2438:1147-1153. Average 27 days in vivo study in urolith forming cats.
  10. Pereira GG, Fragoso S, Pires E. Effect of dietary intake of L-Tryptophan supplementation on multi-housed cats presenting stress related behaviors. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, April 2010 [Abstract].
  11. Beata C, Beaumont-Graff E, Coll V et al. Effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) on anxiety in cats. J Vet Behavior 2007; 2:40-6
  12. Lulich JP, Berent AC, Adams LG, Westropp JL, Bartges JW, Osborne CA. ACVIM Small Animal Consensus Recommendations on the Treatment and Prevention of Uroliths in Dogs and Cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2016;(5):1564. doi:10.1111/jvim.14559

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