Conference misery::feline_v1

    where are you located?

    I wish that was all I was paying!  Both of my cats have had FUS and
    we are not willing to take any chances on their health so we have
    followed are vets advise and feed them only the Hills CD prescription
    formula.  The dry food costs $17 per 10 lb. bag (the only size they
    carry) and much more than that for the canned food, although off-hand
    I can't remember the price.
    
    I know that a lot of you noters with FUS cats are feeding them Science
    Diet but I am leary about doing so.  I certainly cannot afford to spend
    another $600+ (which is what it cost me for one of my FUS cats) if the
    cat has a reoccurrence.
    
    Any thoughts about this?  Any suggestion on vets who may charge less
    for this food or carry a more price effective size bag?
    
    Jo Ann
    (Mom to Oscar and Kashmere)

    FYI:  Old Mother Hubbard canned cat food is lower in ash and magnesium
          than the Hills CD and cheaper !!  Vets will okay its use if you
          ask - they reccommend the Hills because they carry it - there are
          other brands that will also work - Old Mother Hubbard also
          contains an acidifier which will help prevent blockage in the
          urinary tract.  My cats have been on it for years, and I highly
          reccommend it - it's a very good food!

    Pet Food Plus in Merrimack has very good prices - it's on the old route
    3, beside Agway, just before the Bedford, NH line.
    
    e.t.

    I didn't know that about the OMH.  That does it!  I'm going to
    stop the Perform shipment and start using HILLS & OMH.  The Perform
    is costing me $30 for 6 days, Hills is $26 for 8 days.  
    
    Bob was just diagnosed with a minor UTI and I think Dundee has the
    same problem.  There may not be any connection, but we just finished
    a case and a half of Proplan Canned and I noticed that the ash
    content was 3%.  By comparison, Hills feline maintenance is only 1.9%.
      Nancy DC

    My vet would not approve OMH or any other over-the-counter brand
    food.  He emphatically stated that nothing except the Hills CD
    prescription diet is effective in preventing a relapse of FUS.
    
    Am I just being snowed by him because he wants my money?  I am really
    confused about this issue.  I certainly don't want to jeapordize my
    cats' health, but at the same time I feel like my vet is taking me
    for a ride!
    
    Jo Ann
    
    

If you don't completely trust your vet, try a few others (take a survey).
Call other vets and ask them what they think about OMH and WHY,
then go with the most logical.  If your vet can't explain why CD is 
the only one and OMH won't work, question his advice.

Becky

P.S.  I haven't been able to find OMH in dry (Arizona).  Do they make
dry?

   No, OMH doesn't make a dry food, but they are working on a formula for it.
   I haven't been able to find out when it will become available.

   Cindy

>   No, OMH doesn't make a dry food, but they are working on a formula for it.
>   I haven't been able to find out when it will become available.


Thanks,
PLEASE let us know if you hear anything.  Tsunami and I LOVE  the canned.
(Not that I have tasted it)

Becky

    I don't that your vet is trying to snow you.  OMH may have low ash
    and magnesium levels, but it doesn't have the urinary acidifier (a
    medication to help promote an acid urine and prevent crystal formation)
    that C/D was.  It is because of this ingredient that C/D is a
    prescription only food sold only through a vet's office.  
    
    I have found the cost of C/D to be very close to the cost of other
    foods when you consider that ounce per ounce it has more nutrition than
    other foods and that because of that, the cat requires less of it at
    each meal than other foods.  Also, before the C/D, when Kalliste had a
    bout of FUS, it was nothing to plop down $200 at the emergency vet's
    office to get his urine test, blood work, and medication.  With the
    C/D, I figure I saved lots of money in vet bills.
    
    Jo

    re: 6
    
    Jo Anne,
    
    OMH is not an over-the-counter cat food - it can only be
    purchased in a pet food specialty store or a feed and grain
    store.
    
    Again, compare the ingredients yourself and then judge.
    Vet do make a profit from selling the Hills - 
    Yes, the Hills IS a quality food.
    Yes, there ARE other alternatives that are healthy for our animals
         that are less costly.
    
    Another choice could be:  Lick Your Chops
    Now, that canned food is NOT by any means cheap, but it, too, is a
    quality low magnesium food (low ash also).  Always keep in mind, that 
    the magnesium is more important to monitor with the ash level
    secondary.  I think vets have discovered that the crystals forming
    were from a high level of magnesium.
    
    The reason I mention LYC, is that I discovered a store had a few
    cases on sale - must have picked up an odd lot, the price was so
    low that I scooped up all that they had.  My kids seem to like
    it a lot.  The mg. level in that is VERY low as is the ash level.
    It's full of vitamins etc.  Purchased in a pet food store, it's
    expensive.  When my supply runs out, it's back to OMH again !!
    
    Another method of acidifying urine would be to feed tomato juice.
    Speak to your vet - a couple of ounces a few times a week would
    probably work - no junk, no treats, and a good quality food will
    be good preventative medicine and save your pocketbook.
    
    Again, I agree - check with many different vets - first ask if they
    carry Hills - if they don't then go on.  But, have a can of OMH by
    your side so you can read items off of the label and answer questions
    accurately.  Also, make sure that your cat doesn't have other problems
    that your vet is treating along with the urinary problems.
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Elaine

    re: 10
    
    Jo, from what my vet said, it does have an acidifier - folks 
    can check with the nutritionist at OHM - their factory is located
    in Lowell, Mass.  I'm sure they can tell you.  Acidifiers can be
    given in a less expensive way than using C/D - they can be either
    added to OMH or given separately.  I think C/D is very costly.
    A good food, but costly.
    
    I don't think vets are snowing folks - but there is more than 
    one way to treat a problem - ways that won't make folks go
    broke caring for their animals.  Just my opinion.
    
    e.t.

    I have OMH on the phone right now - they say it produces an acid urine.
    
    You can call a MR. Jim Scott, SR. at 508-454-8083.
    
    There is also NEURA canned food by OHM, is the alternative
    answer to Hills - perscription type diets - there are a bunch 
    of new types in this new line.
    
    OHM is located on Rogers St. in Lowell - they have a store there also.
    Erikson also carries both OHM and the NEURA prescription line.
    
    Give them a call (OHM) or check with your vet.  From what I understand
    the food is ph balanced to produce an acid urine, which will prevent
    crystals.

    OMH just called me back - they are very nice - I received an
    explanation of how their product works - if you call, and I
    told them that folks might be calling, so don't hesitate !,
    here goes (they may send me some info I can post here also,
    just so I get the info right).
    
    They formulate the food using chicken, so that the minerals,
    which creates the ash, create a ph in the urine of 6.2.  They
    feel that using an acidifier for long periods of time can cause
    calcium to be pulled out of the system causing osteoporosis 
    (brittle bones) - that's why instead of using a chemical acidifier,
    they formulate their food to be balanced to create the acid urine
    in a natural way.
    
    If they send me information, I'll post it - but, please check with
    your vets before going off and doing anything.
    OMH has been around for about 60 years (fyi).  Please call them -
    they are very helpful over the phone and will answer all of your
    questions.

    As mentioned in a previous note OMH is also available under the
    name Neura and I believe Neura DOES make a dry cat food.
    

RE: .1

I live in Sudbury, MA

My cats all eat dry food which I leave out for them at all times.  The three 
of them are all niblers and like it at odd hours.  I will check out the OMH if
they have a dry food.  Thank God none of them are over eaters (althought the
Maine Coon definately comes looking for you the minute the bowl is empty.)

Thanks,

Priscilla

    A local grain/feed store will probably have a better price than a
    pet shop or vet.  I don't know of any near Sudbury though.
    
    

    The OHM Neura dry food is coming out this year - I don't believe
    it's available quite yet.  Your food store may have a better idea
    when it is due to be on the market.
    
    e.t.

entered: 12:00 noon
    Old Mother Hubbard was kind enough to write me with more details.  
    They follow.  If you have further questions regarding their food, don't
    hesitate to call them:  Patti Green, Sales Coordinator. 508.454.8083

OMH low ash canned cat food produces an acidic urine, not through the
addition of an acidifier, but rather by its high animal protein levels.
The protein levels average 42% on a dry weight basis which is about 50%
above the stated requirements of protein.  The protein content is over 90%
animal protein, including a large percentage from chicken products which are    
excellent natural sources of methionine.

pH control is primary factor in controlling urine acidity.  Primarily, pH
control is accomplished by formulating the diet to produce an excess of acid
residues over alkaline residues.  Proteins produce acid residues.  Animal
proteins particularly produce high levels of sulfur amino acids which
eventually metabolize and are excreted as sulfate ion (this word ion may be
a typo, and maybe should be iron) which is highly acidic.  OMH low ash canned
cat food produces an average urine pH of 6.2, well below the 6.6 pH which 
causes FUS complications.

If you require further information, please feel free to call OHM. 508.454-8083.