I
n the last several months, I have been introduced to several
cats with urinary disorders. Most of them have been diagnosed with urolithiasis, stone formation(Struvite crystals). This situation occurs frequently in dogs as well.
These stones are caused from the waste products of protein digestion from inadequate sources of protein. These inadequate protein sources are not being digested and eliminated properly. The waste products pass into the bladder and urinary tract created irritation, bleeding, pain and sometimes a complete blockage of the urethra, which can be fatal if not attended to immediately. It saddens me to know this could have been prevented by feeding a natural diet containing digestible nutrients.
Cats and dogs are true carnivores. What is a carnivore? Carnivores REQUIRE a diet that is at least 35-50% quality protein and good fat because their bodies utilize these nutrients for energy, repair of the body, and toxic waste removal. There is NO carbohydrate requirement for dogs or cats. Carbohydrate is not used efficiently in a dog or cat's body because they don't have the proper enzymes to break them down for assimilation.
Cats recycle the water in their food. They need adequate amounts of moisture in their food otherwise a slow dehydration process ensues creating an environment for kidney/bladder disease and stone formation, among other potential diseases. Kibble is the worst food to feed cats and dogs since it is a dry food (there is no water to recycle). The chances of a cat or dog developing urinary disorders increases with each kibble feeding.
Why do Stones form? Digestion 101
Animals start the digestive process in the stomach, not the mouth as humans.
Once it reaches the stomach, hydrochloric acid(HCL) continues the process.
If the appropriate molecules that create HCL are not present in acceptable amounts in the blood, the HCL concentration will not be high enough and therefore the food will not be digested properly.
This undigested material is then moved into the pancreas to continue the process.
If the pancreas is unable to further break down the material, the undigested waste material is leaked into the blood through the intestinal wall where the immune system has to take over.
The immune system now identifies this undigested material as a toxic enemy.
The immune system has to abandon its job fighting germs, bacteria and other unhealthy microorganisms to assist in ridding the body of these undigested, toxic particles.
This is where the body begins to stray away from good health and enters the realm of disease.
The waste products are now channeled into the kidneys and bladder for possible elimination. If the toxic waste material is too large to pass, it gets left behind in the kidney, bladder and urethra, among other organs, creating stones or other degenerative conditions in these areas.
How can you prevent stone formation or heal your pet after they have been diagnosed? Put them on a raw diet.
When given a raw meat diet, the enzymes in the meat protein actually begin to digest the food immediately upon consumption.
The raw diet is easy on digestion, absorption and elimination.
Nature intended for your pet to eat raw foods.
Before or after disease begins to manifest in our pets, we need to give our pets the proper tools they need to heal themselves- naturally. Drugs only suppress symptoms and do not cure the underlying cause. Build your pet's immune system to peak levels with a proper diet and supplementation to lessen the possibility of ill health.
Personal story: 5 years ago when I brought Shamus, my Corgi, home from the breeder. He had struvite crystals; he was 5 months old. The breeder had him on a kibble diet, the best kind, Innova. I immediately put him on a raw diet and within 1 week there were no more crystals and none have appeared since.
The herbal Pee-Pee formula found at Carol's Pet Cafe was created for those pets with struvite crystals. It works naturally by generating a little more acidity in the blood to assist in dissolving struvite crystals and keep them from forming.
BARF = Biologically Appropriate Raw Food
Veterinarian Approved
