What is pH/S in cat food. I know it is for Urinary Tract Infections. But what is pH/S. My cat will not eat the food with it.
Thank You
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What is pH/S in cat food. I know it is for Urinary Tract Infections. But what is pH/S. My cat will not eat the food with it.
Thank You
Hi – pH/S stands for pH (which is a measure of acidity) and struvite (which is a type of bladder stone that forms when the urine isn’t acidic enough). Ideal urine pH is usually considered to be 5.5 to 6.5 (very slightly acidic) – when it gets higher, your cat is at risk for struvite formation. (Struvite is magnesium ammonium phosphate, if you are chemically inclined.) If your cat won’t eat the diet that has been prescribed, you might want to try another brand. If I remember correctly, ph/S is made by Eukanuba? Maybe you could try the Hill’s equivalent, or my favorite which is Royal Canin S/O diet. The nice thing about S/O is that it not only prevents and dissolves struvite, but it also helps prevent oxalate crystals/stones which form when the urine becomes too acidic. It also seems to be tasty, and most cats eat it readily. Maybe you could ask your vet about getting some S/O for you to try?
Good luck –
Jo Ann Greenberg VMD
Atlantic Animal Care
Brooklyn, NY
pH/s stands for a diet that has a pH that is lower (more acidic) to reduce the risk of forming struvite crystals (the”s”). There are also pH/o diets for calcium oxalate crystals. If your cat won’t eat pH/s, you might try Hill’s c/d (original, chicken or seafood) or Royal Canin control or s/o. Canned is better for keeping the urine more dilute and helping to prevent crystals from forming.
Lori L Coughlin, DVM
Lori L Coughlin, DVM
Arlington Heights, IL