Will these foods help your cat's poop?

A Nestlé Purina-funded study found that its own therapeutic food was more effective, when compared with a Hill’s Science Diet food in feeding trials. Sixteen cats (15 completed the study) with chronic diarrhea were alternately fed the two foods for four weeks in a double-blind clinical trial. Surprised?

The study found that dietary fat did not affect the “output” so to speak; a low fat diet was originally thought to be important in managing feline GI issues. The Purina diet contains Omega 3 fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect.

The two foods used in the study were Hill’s Prescription i/d Feline and Purina Veterinary Diets EN Gastrointestinal Feline Formula.

Do we need to offer our opinions here? The ingredients speak for themselves.

Purina Veterinary Diets EN Gastrointestinal Feline Formula: Poultry by-products, liver, water sufficient for processing, turkey, rice, oat fiber, calcium gluconate, fish oil, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, carrageenan, Vitamin E supplement, taurine, calcium phosphate, zinc sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium pantothenate, Vitamin A supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide.

Hill’s Prescription i/d Feline: Water, Pork Liver, Pork By-Products, Chicken, Wheat Flour, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Starch, Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Powdered Cellulose, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Manganous Oxide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate.

If Omega 3 fatty acid is the miracle ingredient that controls feline diarrhea, it’s something that can be easily added to an existing diet. Many cat owners already add it to homemade diets or use it as a supplement to a quality grain-free commercial canned food.

Dr. Karen Becker’s article here discusses the benefits of supplements for pets, stating that they can benefit joint health, skins and coat, liver and kidney support, and yes, GI tract.

Once again it looks as if the big commercial pet food manufacturers are relying formulas with less than stellar ingredients as a cure-all rather than food with wholesome ingredients..