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My vet recommended dry food and not wet food

Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 2
10/04/2021 1:30 am
Topic starter

Hi everyone!

I took my new cat to the vet for the first time. My cat has had digestive issues since I got him: his poop is rarely fully solid, it smells REALLY bad, it sometimes has a slimy texture, and it sometimes has blood in it. I've been feeding him Friskies wet food primarily (as everyone says dry food is a big no no). My vet suggested dry food to help with his digestion as it should produce more solid poop, but she suggested to feed him dry food even after his digestion gets better. She said it's better for his teeth too (which I've also read is not necessarily true). I got a little concerned because she pretty much went against everything I've ready regarding wet and dry food and I wanted to know everyone's thoughts regarding her recommendations.

Thanks!

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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 31
15/04/2021 12:06 pm
  • Hi @julianhtc,

    Every cat is an individual. If your vet has seen your cat, and talked about this at length with you, they've got a lot more information than we have and are in a better position to make any recommendations. Therefore, I generally advise you talk further with your hands-on vet if you have concerns or are confused at all. Did she give you a specific diet recommendation?

    Having said that, some general advice:

  • Cats are living longer than ever before, whether on wet food or dry. And the science hasn't come down on one side or the other yet - there are pros and cons to both. Some studies say dry food helps teeth, others don't, and it's likely it depends on the food.
  • Dry food doesn't necessarily produce more solid poop - it'll depend more on the type of dry food and what's in it. Try to find a diet with insoluble fibre, as this adds fecal bulk. Soluble fibre sources are also good- they help to feed the good bacteria in the gut, so can improve gut health.
  • I'd also be wondering if diet is the sole cause of your cat's digestive issues - sometimes a fecal exam is a good idea, so it might be worth discussing that with your vet if you haven't already done one. They probably have a good reason for not going down that route yet and might be planning to check that only if your kitten doesn't improve after a diet change

 

When you do switch the food, don't forget to do so very slowly, so as not to upset your cat further!

 

 

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Heidi the Cal Vet Tech
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 1
30/04/2021 10:12 pm

I agree with Dr. Woodnut. Not enough people consider that when veterinarians prescribe or recommend a diet, it is based on their years of education and experience in medicine. Maybe we should write out our questions and concerns and email them to our vet before appointment. We all want to feel better about doing the best for our cats. This might help put a stop to the stress of misinformation.  

I have found that the people warning us not to trust our veterinarians about pet food usually have a pet food to sell you. Remember, as with all doctors, continuing education is required through out their career so they probably haven't missed anything.

 

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