Feline Silica

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Available clinical data indicates a strong link between silica uroliths and consumption of specific dietary ingredients. Diets that contain substantial quantities of corn gluten feed, grain hulls, and whole grains are especially suspect. Water in volcanic areas has also been implicated in the formation of silica uroliths because of its high silica content.

• Determine if foods contain corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, and intact grains, which are high in silica. Grain-free foods may contain whole flax seed. • Determine if medications and nutraceuticals contain silica.

• Avoid foods containing high silica ingredients (corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, and intact grains). • Eliminate medications and nutraceuticals that contain silica. • Provide distilled water if living near volcanic rich soils (e.g. northwest America, Central America, Japan) • Potassium citrate if urine pH is consistently ≤6.5 (starting dose: 75mg/kg q12-24h)

• Low silica diets (e.g. m/d, z/d, others). If needed, feed canned therapeutic foods or add water to food to achieve a specific gravity ≤1.030.

Medical imaging every 6 to 12 months to detect recurrent stones when they are small to potentially permit their removal without surgery.

We advise reviewing manufacturer's literature regarding selected therapeutic foods to determine indications and contraindications. For pets with multiple health concerns,we suggest that the selection of diet should take into consideration all health needs of the pet.

Feline Silica