Urine pH/Diet question

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arozeboom

arozeboom

Member Since 2011
I have a question on our civvie girl, Midgie.

We just got some blood & urine tests back and her urine shows an elevated pH level, at 7.5 (the USG is 1.040). Unfortunately, I don't have a test of hers to compare it to and I don't know what "normal" is.

She's been eating the Friskies Special Diet food for about 3 months now (because that's what Ruby will eat and it's the compromise we've settled on to meet the levels of carbs & phosphorus she needs to keep her OTJ). If this food was going to improve her pH level, how long would it take for that to happen? And are diets for CRF and urinary issues generally the same?

Is possible that the vet would want to go with a prescription urinary diet (which I'm not thrilled with). These girls don't like to have their food changed, which its done a lot in the past year.

Thanks!
Amy
 
From the Merck Veterinary Manual:

The ideal urine pH should be 7-7.5 in dogs or 6.3-6.6 in cats. If the urine pH remains below these values after diet modification, potassium citrate at 80-150 mg/kg/day, PO, divided bid-tid, can be given to increase the pH. Ammonium chloride (200 mg/kg/day, PO, divided tid) and dl-methionine (1,000-1,500 mg/cat/day, PO) are the urinary acidifiers of choice. Chronic urine acidification, and ensuing acidosis, can be harmful and should not be instituted without complete evaluation of the animal.
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So yes, it appears a bit high, which means it is more alkaline (aka 'basic'). dl-methionine is an amino acid. A higher protein content in the diet may help with this, too, as a by-product of protein breakdown is ammonia.
For pH, below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, above 7 is basic.

From Vet Info
How DL-Methionine Can Help

DL-Methionine is a drug prescribed by vets to relieve the symptoms of FUS. It is one of the 10 important amino acids that cats need, but is the one often most lacking in their diets. DL-Methionine raises the acidity content of your cat's urine, which helps break down any crystals that may have formed and reduced the inflammation in the urinary tract.

DL-Methionine Side Effects

Since DL-Methionine is raising the acidity of your cat's urine, there are potential side effects associated with this. These include:
•Nausea and vomiting
•Loss of appetite
•Diarrhea

If these side effects occur, you can try giving your cat the medication without food. Other side effects which are much rarer include dizziness, methemoglobinemia (where part of the body tissue doesn't receive enough oxygen), cyanosis (a blue colouring of the skin) and Heinz Body Formations (damaged haemoglobin molecules).
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Note: they actually mean raising pH, not acidity.
 
Thank you!

I don't know if its relevant or not, but she was a bit dehydrated at the time they did the tests. She got a dose of SubQ fluids after. The poor little bug had had a night of tummy trouble and I took her straight in because I was worried about her being dehydrated. She weighs less than 6 lbs.
 
Blood and urine measurements do depend on how concentrated (dehydrated OR filled with stuff) the sample is. the body has a mechanism to re-absorb water when dehydrated (humans and most, if not all, animals)

Adding more fluids may bring it down some, with time. Using distilled water added to food or for drinking may help, as it has no solute to be filter and thus may carry more solute into the kidneys for filtering.
 
I pay zero attention to urine pH but even if one were to place much emphasis on urine ph, one reading is relatively meaningless.

Please review this subject on my Urinary Tract Health page.

My cats often register a 7.5 and I couldn't care less. Sadly, far too much emphasis is placed on pH without reason and then cats are put on extremely unhealthy so-called "prescription" diets.
 
Hello,
My cat was on the prescription urinary diet. and I believe that is what gave her the diabetes. To give a rough
idea on the carb. count, I used the food later for when Boots was hypo. It had 18 carbs. It solved
one problem while creating the other. Not sure what you would do instead. Maybe going raw with a premix
for urine/kidney issues.
 
Shelly/Boots said:
It solved
one problem
Click to expand...

Whatever issues these diets *may* address, they certainly do 'rob Peter to pay Paul'...that is IF Paul even gets paid.

The dry forms of these diets certainly do not 'pay' anybody and are extremely counter-intuitive to use for any urinary tract issue given that water is the most important issue when addressing UT health.
 
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