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Case Reports
. 2021 Apr 9:8:658265.
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.658265. eCollection 2021.

Case Report: Application and Limitations of a Plant-Based Diet Formulated for a Cat With Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Sarah A S Dodd  1   2 , Caitlin Grant  1 , Sarah K Abood  1 , Adronie Verbrugghe  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Case Report: Application and Limitations of a Plant-Based Diet Formulated for a Cat With Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Sarah A S Dodd et al. Front Vet Sci. .

Abstract

A 2-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented for recommendations for dietary management of chronic FLUTD using a strictly plant-based diet as per the stipulations of the cat's owner. The cat had a history of urethral obstruction of unknown etiology, persistent marked struvite crystalluria, and persistent inappropriate elimination. Commercial plant-based products meeting the nutritional recommendations for maintenance of adult cats with the lowest concentration of struvite precursors were identified, but the cat would not eat them. At the request of the client, a homemade plant-based diet was formulated with the intention of increasing water intake and promoting acidic, dilute urine. Urine concentration was able to be decreased somewhat and struvite crystalluria resolved, but the urine remained more alkaline than intended. The cat clinically improved and no further FLUTD episodes were reported by the client.

Keywords: crystalluria; feline nutrition; struvite; urethral obstruction; vegan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that SD is the owner of Dodd Veterinary Services and provides both veterinary care and nutritional consultation to private clients and industry partners. CG holds the Nestlé Purina Professorship in Companion Animal Nutrition at the Ontario Veterinary College, is the owner of Grant Veterinary Nutrition Services and consults with Simmons Pet Food. SA is the owner of Sit, Stay Speak Nutrition LLC and provides nutrition consultation to industry partners. AV is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition at the Ontario Veterinary College, serves on the Health and Nutrition Advisory Board for Vetdiet and has received honoraria and research funding from various pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.

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