Influence of diet on urine pH and the Feline urological syndrome

The hypothesis that feline urine pH can be manipulated by use of varying amounts of natural food components was tested. A relatively simple experimental model was constructed whereby soybean meal in a basal calculogenic diet was substituted by other components at varying levels and the changes in urine pH measured. In a different phase of the experiment the result of rapid change of diet was used to show the speed of response of urine pH. The effect of urine acidifying compounds was also demonstrated by the model. The prophylactic effect of three food components on urine pH was compared, with corn gluten meal the most potent. The model also demonstrated that feline urological syndrome (FUS) is possible in the presence of reduced levels of magnesium confirming previous work noting that the effect of urine pH is greater in the prevention of the condition than magnesium levels per se.