Current Complaints

[aMillionDreams]

I truly fucking hate my job right now. :'(

did you say you work for Purina?  If so your cat food made my cat piss blood. If I sue your company will i win?

[mjkoehler]

I truly fucking hate my job right now. :'(

did you say you work for Purina?  If so your cat food made my cat piss blood. If I sue your company will i win?

I do and I can answer your questions. I was in consumer affairs for over 2 years specializing in behavior and medical issues. You can try, but probably wouldn't win. Food does not cause UTI's, infections, or any other kideny/urinary issues. There are foods that can help actually. If your cat has blood in it's urine it could be from many things. Struvite Crystals can be a cause and are not created from food (regardless of old wives tales about "ash" in food. Many cats are just prone to this problem by having a narrow urinary tract. Calcium Occilate Crystals is another one. Again food does not cause it. Kidney infections can cause blood and those type of infections are not food related. Also, could be kidney failure, especially if an older cat.

Have you taken the cat to a vet to get the issue looked at? If it turns out to be struvite, usually they will recomand a commercial (or vet diet) that is designed to acidify the urine. Get the cat to drink plenty of water will help as well. Try very cold water or ice water. Most of the UTI foods that you can buy over the counter are designed to acidify urine. If its Calcium crystals or other kidney issues, you'll have to treat and typically stay on a prescription diet designed for an animal with that issue to hopefully prevent issue from returning.

Don't get me started on GI/ Upset or other bowel issues. At least I'm no longer answering those calls and emails. You can only take so many calls about dog shit.  ;D

[red]

I've been looking for this one particular Tom Waits picture for the past few days and it's driving me absolutely crazy!!!  

[aMillionDreams]

I truly fucking hate my job right now. :'(

did you say you work for Purina?  If so your cat food made my cat piss blood. If I sue your company will i win?

I do and I can answer your questions. I was in consumer affairs for over 2 years specializing in behavior and medical issues. You can try, but probably wouldn't win. Food does not cause UTI's, infections, or any other kideny/urinary issues. There are foods that can help actually. If your cat has blood in it's urine it could be from many things. Struvite Crystals can be a cause and are not created from food (regardless of old wives tales about "ash" in food. Many cats are just prone to this problem by having a narrow urinary tract. Calcium Occilate Crystals is another one. Again food does not cause it. Kidney infections can cause blood and those type of infections are not food related. Also, could be kidney failure, especially if an older cat.

Have you taken the cat to a vet to get the issue looked at? If it turns out to be struvite, usually they will recomand a commercial (or vet diet) that is designed to acidify the urine. Get the cat to drink plenty of water will help as well. Try very cold water or ice water. Most of the UTI foods that you can buy over the counter are designed to acidify urine. If its Calcium crystals or other kidney issues, you'll have to treat and typically stay on a prescription diet designed for an animal with that issue to hopefully prevent issue from returning.

Don't get me started on GI/ Upset or other bowel issues. At least I'm no longer answering those calls and emails. You can only take so many calls about dog shit.  ;D

It looks like I was mistaken, it's Meow Mix, we switched from Purina because my other cat was throwing up like every day.  We did take the cat to the vet and he told us it was the food causing crystals and put him on that special food, which is damned expensive!  Anyway, I'm not the suing type, I was half-joking about that part.

BTW, the fever was up to 103.4 this morning so my wife made me go to the ER.  Turns out it's just strep but at least I know now.

[megalicious]

yeah, it's possible I'm a little on edge.  But I can't leave the couch and this is one way to pass the time.

my dr. put me on bed rest until monday and i am going CRAZY. i can't stand not having work to do.

[aMillionDreams]

yeah, it's possible I'm a little on edge.  But I can't leave the couch and this is one way to pass the time.

my dr. put me on bed rest until monday and i am going CRAZY. i can't stand not having work to do.

Yep, I'm the same way.  I keep on trying to get up to do stuff and my wife yells at me and tells me lay down.  At least there will be some college football on soon.

[mjkoehler]

It looks like I was mistaken, it's Meow Mix, we switched from Purina because my other cat was throwing up like every day.  We did take the cat to the vet and he told us it was the food causing crystals and put him on that special food, which is damned expensive!  Anyway, I'm not the suing type, I was half-joking about that part.

Meow Mix used to be ours before Nestle bought us. Some foods just do not agree with some cats. I cannot feed my cat anything with the main protein source as fish or she vomits everywhere. Does great on poultry.

Again food per se will not cause crystlas. Some cats are just very prone to UTI's just as some humans are prone to them. A food that acidifys the urine will help those cats, hence the UTI formulas you see in the market place. Plenty of water helps dilute the PH also. Prescription diets are painfully expensive. I know ours is, but it is helpful and is really expensive to make because they are FDA regulated, use different ingredient sources, and are made in small batches. Hope the kitty is better.

[aMillionDreams]

Thanks for the info, Mike.  He seems to be better.  Haven't found any blood.  I forgot the vet also gave him amoxicilin so the cat and i are on the same meds right now.  I'm still bed-ridden and stir crazy!

[mjkoehler]

Thanks for the info, Mike.  He seems to be better.  Haven't found any blood.  I forgot the vet also gave him amoxicilin so the cat and i are on the same meds right now.  I'm still bed-ridden and stir crazy!

Good deal. Well I hope you both fell better. Let me know if you need any other friendly pet advice. I probably would start a very slow switch over to a UTI formula (any major brand is fine mine would be preferable but any are good) to help reduce the chances of it ever happening again.

[aMillionDreams]

Thanks for the info, Mike.  He seems to be better.  Haven't found any blood.  I forgot the vet also gave him amoxicilin so the cat and i are on the same meds right now.  I'm still bed-ridden and stir crazy!

Good deal. Well I hope you both fell better. Let me know if you need any other friendly pet advice. I probably would start a very slow switch over to a UTI formula (any major brand is fine mine would be preferable but any are good) to help reduce the chances of it ever happening again.

We just switched over all of a sudden.  Should I mix some of the old food in?  Thanks a lot for the advice and I swear I was joking about suing your company!

[mjkoehler]

Thanks for the info, Mike.  He seems to be better.  Haven't found any blood.  I forgot the vet also gave him amoxicilin so the cat and i are on the same meds right now.  I'm still bed-ridden and stir crazy!

Good deal. Well I hope you both fell better. Let me know if you need any other friendly pet advice. I probably would start a very slow switch over to a UTI formula (any major brand is fine mine would be preferable but any are good) to help reduce the chances of it ever happening again.

We just switched over all of a sudden.  Should I mix some of the old food in?  Thanks a lot for the advice and I swear I was joking about suing your company!

I know you were. Hell I joke about suing the place for making me sick.  :P

Yes, sudden changes in diets for both dogs and cats when they are accustomed to a regular diet of the same food can be a shock. GI upset is typically what you'll see. We always recommended about a 10 day transition by starting with a small amount of the new mixed with the old and gradul increase the new and decrease the old. Always try to do a slow change when at all possible. Also, regardless of what commercials say, cats and dogs do not really crave variety (those damn marketing people). Frequent changes in the food tends to create picky eaters, especially in cats.

[getinthevan]

The Current Joys thread wasn't on the first page.  Nor was this one, but given the nature of the thread, I can't complain about that.

[TEO]

My bannister is assuming more and more of my weight as I take my first few steps of the day down a stairway... :-?

[TEO]

Stupid white trash hillbillies who cannot contain their 120 lb. German Shepherd when two calls were made last Thursday, then attacked crazylove's 10 lb. Norwich Terrier when she was innocently staked out in our front yard today.  Tawny will be ok, but sheesh, deal with the reality you have created for yourselves rather than infringing on our rights!  >:(

[ms. yvon]

**healing dog vibes!**

and **clueless neighbors getting their shit together vibes, too!**


current complaint:  i'm a little bored at work.  have stuff to do, but still looking for distraction.  meh.

i know:  COFFEE RUN!!  YES!!  WHO'S WITH ME?!

[TEO]

I am with you for the joe! Also, that neighbor took the dog and left last night and has not been home since. The neighborhood is a safer and quieter place. I hope she moved to Texas!   ;)

[FACE]

applicaiton for bard has to be done for tomorrow god help me.

[The DARK]

"How much of this can I leave behind" is a question that I'm starting to ask myself every day.

[TheBigChicken]

Stupid white trash hillbillies who cannot contain their 120 lb. German Shepherd when two calls were made last Thursday, then attacked crazylove's 10 lb. Norwich Terrier when she was innocently staked out in our front yard today.  Tawny will be ok, but sheesh, deal with the reality you have created for yourselves rather than infringing on our rights!  >:(

Matt, I'm buying you a Red Rider BB gun for X-Mas ;)

[MMJ_fanatic]

Stupid white trash hillbillies who cannot contain their 120 lb. German Shepherd when two calls were made last Thursday, then attacked crazylove's 10 lb. Norwich Terrier when she was innocently staked out in our front yard today.  Tawny will be ok, but sheesh, deal with the reality you have created for yourselves rather than infringing on our rights!  >:(

Some people aren't even qualified to own pets.  I hope animal control took away that Shepherd