Struvite Urinary Formula is a diet to nutritionally manage struvite related FLUTD Struvite Urinary Formula increases the acidity of your cat?s urine and reduces the mineral concentration in the urine. In an acidic urine (pH between 5.9 and 6.3) struvite crystals are less likely to be formed.
What is FLUTD
FLUTD is not a single disease, but a term to describe problems that affect the lower urinary tract in cats. Many different conditions can be the potential cause of feline lower urinary tract disease.
However the characteristic symptoms for most underlying causes will be the same:
- frequent and unsuccessful attempts at urination
- urination in inappropriate places
- painful urination, abdominal pain
- blood in the urine
- excessive licking of the genital area
What causes FLUTD
FLUTD can be frustrating to diagnose and to treat. It is estimated that about 10 % of cats seen by veterinarians have FLUTD related problems. Bladder stones, plugs in the urethra, cancer, neurogenic disorders, viral and bacterial inflammation, anatomic abnormalities and injury, can be the cause. Bacteria and viruses are rarely found to be the source of irritation and in almost half of the cases no specific cause of the disorder can be identified. The most commonly observed cause of FLUTD is the formation of gravel, small stones or crystals called uroliths. These stones irritate the lower urinary tract and may partially or even completely block the flow of urine. Male cats are more at risk for FLUTD which can be related to their physiology. A male cat has a more narrow urethra which makes obstruction more likely. Obstruction is a potentially life threatening condition so if your male cat shows signs of difficulty urinating they should be seen by a vet promptly.
The most frequent uroliths type of stone found in cats are struvite or calcium oxalate stones.
Dietary Management of struvite or oxalate related FLUTD
Struvite and calcium oxalate are the uroliths that can be influenced most by nutrition. Dietary components have been implicated to be important in the development and management of struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths in cats. The urine composition is crucially affected by the intake of food and liquid. Each type of crystal or stone develops under different or even opposing circumstances, hence requiring two different approaches in the nutritional management of these two disorders. Dietary therapy should always be instituted depending on the analysis of the crystals and/or uroliths. The objective is to arrest further stone formation by correcting or controlling the underlying causes. Regular examinations by a veterinary surgeon will be required for cats with FLUTD, this is likely to include analysis of fresh urine samples. | 
