Supplements for Cat Urinary Problems or Feline Urinary Stones And Crystals – 4

Jessie & Jason are traveling with Blue, a cat that has a recently had a bout of bloody urine (hematuria). In the last few blogs, we’ve discussed Blue’s bladder, specifically feline urinary stones and crystals, diets, and drugs. Now, let’s cover supplements that help cats like Blue with bladder problems.

The most useful supplement for bladder cats is Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids can come from ground flax seed or from fish oils. For cats that are ill, use fish oils. For healthy cats, especially those with constipation, use ground flax seed.

Not all fish oils are equally healthy. Many fish oils contain heavy metals, PCBs, and other carcinogens. To avoid the inferior oils, buy supplements from companies that have the purity of their products verified by independent laboratories. Nordic Naturals is a company with the highest verifiable purity.

Cats are more inclined to accept pure fish oils, and they appreciate oils that are fresh, but some cats don't like fish oils even when they are the best. If Blue is one of these cats, supplement her with ground flax seed.

The second supplement for bladder cats is glucosamine. Glucosamine is normally thought of as an ingredient in joint medications but glucosamine also soothes the bladder. Blue could use Glyco-Flex, Dasuquin, or Missing Link as glucosamine sources. Missing Link is best for bladder cats with struvites because it acidifies the urine.

If Blue had hematuria because of a clotting problem, say from ingesting rat poison, she should not be given glucosamine. Instead, Blue would be receiving Vitamin K and herbal medications such as Yunnan Paiyo. Some veterinarians also feel cats with clotting problems should not be given fish oils, but the scientific data on the benefit of Omega 3s with clotting problems is unclear. It's not likely Blue has a clotting problem that caused hematuria because her urine is now clear rather than tan colored. In addition, Jessie and Jason don't report any signs of clotting problems: bruising, pale gums, rapid heart rate, lethargy, and black, tarry stools.

In a future blog, we’ll look at supplements to alleviate stress, the major factor in most cases of feline urinary disease. Stress is certainly a factor with Blue because she is driving across country in a 3,000 mile trip from California to Vermont.