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Unique nutritional solution breaks cycle between lower urinary tract signs and stress in cats

Hill’s® Pet Nutrition Prescription Diet® c/d® Multicare Urinary Stress is the only food clinically tested to reduce the recurrence of feline idiopathic cystitis signs, formulated with ingredients to help manage stress.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (Jan. 19, 2013) – The pain, suffering and inappropriate urination associated with lower urinary tract signs (LUTS) can cause a great deal of stress for cats and their families. But what can be doubly frustrating is that stress itself can be a cause of the most frequent instance of LUTS, feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC).

To help break this cycle, Hill’s® Pet Nutrition has introduced Prescription Diet® c/d® Multicare Urinary Stress, an innovative product that is clinically tested to reduce the recurrence of FIC signs by 89 percent and is formulated with ingredients to help manage stress.

“Over the past 20 years, a growing amount of research has indicated that FIC is more than just a condition of the urinary bladder. Studies have revealed that FIC signs are, in fact, often the result of complex interactions between the urinary bladder, nervous system and adrenal glands. Stress appears to be an important factor in episodes of FIC and often precedes a cat’s first episode,” said Daniel S. Aja, DVM, Director US Professional & Veterinary Affairs for Hill's Pet Nutrition. 

“Environmental stress increases stimulus to the brain and activates the stress response system. This enhances sympathetic nerve input down the spinal cord to the urinary bladder. In normal cats, the sympathetic nerve input is dampened by cortisol released from the adrenal gland. However, cats with FIC appear to have a blunted cortisol response, which leads to less inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system. Increased sympathetic input to the bladder causes neurogenic inflammation and typical signs of FIC. 

“At this point, sensory input from the bladder is transmitted back to the brain and perceived as pain, which causes additional stress and can lead to a self-perpetuating condition,” said S. Dru Forrester, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, Director of Global Scientific Affairs for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. 

It’s a painful cycle that veterinary health teams can have trouble breaking. Up to 65 percent of FIC cases recur within one to two years. 

Now there is a nutritional solution for these patients. c/d®Multicare Urinary Stress is specially formulated with the following ingredients to help manage stress and promote urinary bladder health: 

  • Hydrolyzed casein (milk protein hydrolysate), a bioactive peptide, helps relieve anxiety in cats.
  • L-tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that affects mood and decreases anxiety.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, help reduce and control inflammation.
  • Antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene help counteract oxidative stress and free radicals.

 

Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Stress 

In addition to its unique, stress-managing ingredients, c/d® Multicare Urinary Stress contains the same nutrition and clinical efficacy as c/d®Multicare. 

c/d®Multicare is the only food clinically tested to dissolve struvite uroliths in as little as seven days (average 28 days in vivo study in urolith-forming cats). Additional research has proven the effectiveness of c/d® Multicare for decreasing the rate of recurrence of FIC signs during a 1-year clinical study. Feeding c/d Multicare results in the production of urine that is undersaturated for calcium oxalate and struvite, which decreases the risk for recurrence of the two most common urolith types in cats. 

Veterinarians can recommend c/d®Multicare as a long-term diet because it is rich in fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat, has controlled amounts of sodium to maintain normal blood pressure and is high in antioxidants to control oxidative stress and promote a healthy immune system. c/d®Multicare is appropriate for healthy cats in multi-cat households. 

About Hill’s Pet Nutrition 

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Prescription Diet® brand therapeutic pet foods and Healthy Advantage® brand preventative wellness pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Hill’s® Science Diet® and Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ brand pet foods sold through veterinarians and finer pet specialty stores. Founded more than 70 years ago with a unique commitment to pet nutrition and well-being, Hill’s is committed to its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill’s produces high-quality, great-tasting pet foods owners can trust and give to their canine and feline companions as part of a veterinary health care team recommendation. This ultimately improves patient health and the health of the practice. For more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. and Hill’s Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition™ visit HillsVet.com, search for Hill’s Pet Nutrition on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @HillsVet.