Starch and fiber stimulate formation of struvite crystals

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Starch and fiber stimulate formation of struvite crystals

Postby malernee » Tue Apr 20, 2004 6:33 pm

Evaluation of effects of dietary carbohydrate on formation of struvite crystals in urine and macromineral balance in clinically normal cats.
Am J Vet Res 65[2]:138-42 2004 Feb
Funaba M, Uchiyama A, Takahashi K, Kaneko M, Yamamoto H, Namikawa K, Iriki T, Hatano Y, Abe M
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of dietary carbohydrate on urine volume; struvite crystal formation; and calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium balance in clinically normal cats. ANIMALS: 21 healthy adult cats (15 sexually intact males and 6 sexually intact females). PROCEDURE: Diets containing no carbohydrate source (control diet), control plus starch, or control plus fiber were given in a 3 X 3 Latin-square design. The diets were available ad libitum in study 1 (n = 12) and given under restrictions in study 2 (9) to equalize daily intakes of crude protein among the 3 groups. Formation of struvite crystals and balance of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were measured. RESULTS: Urine volume was lower in the starch group and fiber group in study 1, whereas no differences were detected among the groups in study 2. Urinary pH and struvite activity product were higher in the starch group in both studies, and the fiber group also had higher struvite activity product in study 2. In both studies, urinary concentrations of HCl-insoluble sediment were higher in the starch group and fiber group. In the fiber group, a net loss of body calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium was detected in study 2. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Starch and fiber in diets potentially stimulate formation of struvite crystals. Hence, reducing dietary carbohydrate is desirable to prevent struvite urolith formation. In addition, a net loss of body calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium during feeding of the fiber diet suggests that dietary inclusion of insoluble fiber could increase macromineral requirements of cats.
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Postby cornelgingarasu » Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:11 am

I consider the article and its conclusions very interesting. They should normally change drastically the conceptions of the cat-food producers with a high level of fibres that are mildly laxative.
Amidin is a basic component of every animal diet that’s why different testing of amidin or a carbohydrate to replace it without influencing the crystaluria must be done.
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Increasing Water Consumption salt and other uroliths tx

Postby guest » Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:06 pm

Increasing Water Consumption




A common treatment strategy employed for all types of uroliths not caused by a bacterial infection is to increase the pet's water consumption. Increasing the amount of water that a pet consumes each day dilutes the urine or makes it less concentrated with urolith precursors. Effectively increasing a pet's water consumption can be achieved by switching pets that are on dry food to wet food or, for pets already on wet food, adding more water to the food. Although pets appear to drink more water when eating dry food, it is known that they do not drink enough water to make up for the difference in water content between dry (usually <12% water) and wet (around 75% water) diets. Another strategy that can be employed, when feeding wet food is not practical, is the use of salt. Increasing the amount of salt in the diet can increase thirst and cause the pet to drink more water. Specific recommendations from your veterinarian should be obtained before adding salt to any animal's food or using a high salt diet. A high intake of salt can be harmful if a pet is also suffering from heart, liver or kidney disease. Other less proven strategies to increase a pet's water consumption include placing multiple bowls of fresh water throughout the house and yard daily; using special water bowls that constantly re-circulate water with an electric pump; and adding ice or meat flavoring to water. Most veterinarians will recommend that pet's urine concentration be tested periodically to test the effectiveness of any of these approaches. This test result is referred to as a urine specific gravity, and the lower the number, the less concentrated the urine.




Struvite Urolithiasis




Struvite uroliths are comprised of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate and especially like to form in urine that is alkaline (higher pH). In dogs, struvite uroliths commonly occur when there is a concurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). In dogs that formed struvite uroliths due to a UTI, the prevention of recurrence is aimed at avoiding future UTI's with the use of antibiotics, and the dog's diet is usually not changed. In most cats and in some dogs, there is no UTI and the primary management of the disease is dietary. Dietary strategies to prevent struvite uroliths are primarily focused on decreasing the concentration of struvite precursors and acidifying the urine. Decreasing the struvite precursors is first accomplished by increasing water consumption by the methods discussed above. In addition, the amount of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate in the diet are reduced. Since the majority of ammonium and phosphate in the urine comes from the protein in the diet, the diets designed to prevent or even dissolve struvite stones are low in protein. The amount of protein in foods designed to dissolve struvite uroliths is so low that careful monitoring of the patient is necessary when dietary dissolution of struvite uroltihs is employed instead of surgical removal. This may include frequent and repeated radiographs (x-rays) to ensure that the diet is actually causing the stone to dissolve as well as blood teats. Unfortunately, low protein diets cause the urine to be alkaline which increases the likelihood of struvite formation. To counter this effect, diets designed to prevent or dissolve struvite uroliths have urine acidifiers added to them such as the amino acid methionine. Close monitoring for a low urine specific gravity, low urine pH and lack of struvite crystals with frequent urinalysis is crucial to effectively preventing recurrence of struvite uroliths.
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