Can canned tuna cause urinary crystals in cats? What are the causes?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If I am reading your question correctly, you indicate that Sapphire's urinary diet may have contributed to her developing cancer. I have never heard of this. Now, any chronic inflammation/irritation does have the potential to possibly incite a tissue to mutate to a malignant form, but again, this would be very unusual. For example, a bone cancer can developed at the site of a previous fracture in very rare instances. If your veterinarians have submitted urine to a laboratory, the sample should have come back with evidence of cancer cells. An ultrasound should also provide evidence of cancer, as well as a biopsy of the urinary bladder. If there is no evidence of cancer ( & I would be very suspicious of this in such a young cat ), then I would have no issues keeping Sapphire on a urinary diet to keep her crystalluria under control.

Special diets like the Royal Canin urinary diet work by keeping the urinary pH at a good level so crystals are less likely to form. So by feeding treats this may have thrown off the urinary pH and caused crystals to form. For this reason it's recommended to only feed the prescription diet. Feeding an all canned version of the prescription Royal Canin diet may be even more beneficial in preventing crystals so if Nila will eat canned food I'd recommend the canned version of the diet. Blood in the urine can also be related to urinary tract infections and bladder stones. It sounds like your veterinarian may have ruled these issues out, but if Nila has not had a urine culture or X-rays of her bladder these may be indicated (especially if the problem persists). Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best wishes to you and Nila!

Cranberry juice doesn't work very well for cats with urinary issues. Depending on the type of crystals present, it could actually make it worse. The best thing you can do for them is increase their water consumption. This can be done by adding water to their food, feeding canned cat food, and adding a pet fountain (cats usually prefer to drink from a running water source). This article talks about a similar problem in cats, but has great advice on how to improve bladder health (like decreasing stress): http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=612

I'm sorry to hear that Sammy is having this problem! Recurrent urinary crystals (along with urethral blockages, causing difficulty urinating) can be very frustrating to deal with in many cats. There are some things that can be done to help manage this problem medically, such as putting Sammy on a prescription urinary diet and feeding a canned food only diet to help increase his water intake. If he has had a urinary obstruction more than once before in the past, you could also consider a surgical procedure called a perineal urethrostomy - essentially, this opens up the narrow urethra at the tip of the penis and gives him a larger opening to urinate through, which should prevent future blockages from occurring. I would recommend discussing these options with your veterinarian to see what would be the best course of action for Sammy at this time.

Urinary issues are quite common in cats. Different issues can include urinary tract infections, crystals in the urine, bladder stones, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) that is often related to stress, among many other conditions. As with most health-related issues, prevention is the name of the game. Offer your cat ample quantities of water to assure that they are drinking appropriate volumes. Some cats prefer running water sources, so a water fountain designed for cats may be helpful. Water can also be mixed in with canned foods or added to dry food. Monitoring your cat at home for changes is another critical step. Always be sure that your cat is using the litter box appropriately by urinating normal volumes several times per day and is not straining excessively in the box. Too much or too little urine volume can indicate changes that warrant veterinary attention, as can straining to urinate, vocalizing while urinating, or blood in the urine. If a cat has been previously diagnosed with bladder stones or crystals, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to regulate the pH of the urine and mineral content of the diet to prevent the recurrence of these issues. Cats with previously diagnosed FLUTD may also benefit from calming pheromone collars or diffusers to keep their stress levels at bay.

Have her seen by your veterinarian. A urine sample can be collected and submitted for urinalysis. Crystals in the urine can cause inflammation or infection. Enough crystals may form kidney or bladder stones. Depending on the type of crystals, a diet change or medication may be needed. https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/urine-crystals-and-bladder-stones/

If you feed occasionally and in moderation, it should not be cause for concern. Discuss the recurring UTI with your vet. Consider a urine culture and sensitivity panel to identify the organism responsible as well as the best antibiotic to use in treatment. Reculture the urine after a course of antibiotics to confirm resolution. Abdominal xrays or ultrasound can diagnose stones or tumors in the kidneys or bladder or bladder inflammation (cystitis). Sometimes, a cause for cystitis cannot be diagnosed. The sardines will contain beneficial omega 3 essential fatty acids which are thought to decrease inflammation. Consider adding an EFA supplement to the diet. Recommended brands to be discussed with your vet are DermCaps or EicosaCaps.