My cat hates C/D. Can I switch to non-prescription urinary food?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I politely disagree with your Vet. I do not recommend over the counter urinary diets for cats who have been obstructed. It is a life threatening condition and not to mention expensive issue. I wouldn't risk a non-prescription diet. They are not comparable to the prescription options. I recommend, if your cat will eat it, an all canned food prescription urinary diet like Hill's c/d, Royal canin SO or Purina UR. Increase water intake where ever possible (adding water to the canned food, water fountains, etc). If you decide to go with an over the counter option then go with the lowest ash and do all canned food. I wish you the best!

Yes it is, C/D is a prescription food, it's basically food + medicine for various urinary conditions. regular urinary health foods are non medical diets that usually have much less medical effects on a urinary tract condition, it can be good enough long term but the prescription diet is almost always a must short term.

I would strongly advise against this. I would keep him on some form of food labelled for urinary crystal prevention. Urinary blockages can be a fatal emergency. Royal Canin, Hills, and Purina ProPlan are the three foods that use the most science in their nutrition. I have never heard of young again. Any of their foods that are labelled "S/O" are meant to prevent the formation of urinary crystals. Many urinary diets do have an increased caloric amount, and I sympathize that can be a struggle, but it is related to what keeps their urinary tracts healthy. You can try feeding canned food that is watered down to lower some calories. The extra water and hydration is great for the urinary tract as well. Feeding the food out of toys and feeders, instead of bowls in meals, to encourage their working for food and hunting behaviors can also help with their food intake.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Speedy. If his veterinarian has recommended a prescription diet, then he should stay on one. Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Urinary SO, Hills Veterinary Diet C/D or Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diets U/R are all great choices to help prevent crystals in his urine. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! if Lucky is on a prescription urinary diet for bladder stones, to prevent a urinary obstruction or to prevent urinary crystals it is not recommended to mix the food with anything else as it virtually makes it in effective. I would discuss other brands that may be more affordable with your Vet. Purina, Hills and Royal canin all make urinary foods. If you absolutely can not afford it then I would have him on an all canned food over the counter urinary diet and add extra water to the canned food. This will cause his urine to be more dilute. I wish you the best!

Hill's (Science Diet) makes a prescription urinary s/d diet and a c/d diet. If it is SO, then it must a diet made by Royal Canin. Royal Canin S/O diet is OK to feed to all the cats as is Hill's c/d multicare diet. The s/d diet is probably OK if it is only going to be a short term diet.

Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. Your friend isn't wrong. No studies have been done to the best of my knowledge, but I don't think it's a problem given the amounts that you feed. The diets do have different mechanisms of action. However, as long as the Hills diet makes up 90% of Milo's total calorie intake or more, it should work just fine. It sounds like Milo only gets the canned food every other day so I suspect it is just fine. When in doubt, decrease the amount of canned food. You could count up how many calories he gets in the dry and how many he gets in the canned. Then do the math and get an exact ratio as well. Then you will have no doubts! I hope this answers your question! Please feel free to reach out any time.