Dreamies alternative

[8bit]

Maybe one for BexVN or any other resident vet/vet nurses we have?

Our older cat is currently under tests having shown some evidence of crystals and blood in his urine as well as calcification in the kidneys. He (well, both of them really) were put on a special wet and dry diet of foods designed to maintain the correct pH in the urine. This resolved the issue of the crystals, just leaving the blood in urine. The vet has sent the x-rays and ultrasounds off to a specialist for further investigation but in the meantime wants him to stay on the special diet.

The trouble is, our two have gotten used to getting their daily handful of dreamies and the vet says we shouldn't give them to them, at least while the older chap is having to stay on the diet. She wasn't aware of any particular "treat" type thing that was formulated with the same thing in mind as the diet foods that we could try them with instead. I guess it's maybe a long shot but does anyone know of such a thing?

[Ace-T]

Thrive fish or chicken. Freeze dried pure meat. Ours go crazy for it, more so than dreamies (which are nasty)

https://thrivepetfoods.com/thriver-100-tuna-cat-tr...


FYI I am neither a vet nor an animal nutrition expert. They just seem to have less crap in them. Best ask your vet before feeding them.

[8bit]

Thanks, will run that past the vet - appreciate it.

[bexVN]

Yep agree Thrive as above would be fine to use. They are pure chicken or fish just dried. More expensive but much better quality than dreamies.

[8bit]

bexVN said:

Yep agree Thrive as above would be fine to use. They are pure chicken or fish just dried. More expensive but much better quality than dreamies.

Thanks - Bex, do you know from a veterinary standpoint, are these unlikely to potentially affect the pH of the cat's urine, that being the thing our vet was looking to rebalance?

In saying that, we think that's sorted now and it never occurred to us when they put him on the special wet and dry food that the Dreamies might affect it so I guess they've probably not done any harm, but if we're potentially going to have to adjust what we feed him now he's getting on a little bit then happy to try them with an alternative treat too.

[bexVN]

They shouldn't affect it especially as they have no added ingredients just dried meat and they should be just an occasional treat.

[8bit]

Thanks again Bex, appreciate it. The Dreamies packets say each cat can have up to 20 per day, both our cats were on a full 20-a-day habit...

[bexVN]

8bit said:

Thanks again Bex, appreciate it. The Dreamies packets say each cat can have up to 20 per day, both our cats were on a full 20-a-day habit...

I would only ever advise a few eg 4-5,once or twice a week. I don't think they should ever be given everyday and certainly not that many!

Dreamies are junk food but I would be lying if I said we have never used them to try and get inappitent cats eating again!! Sometimes they will get a cat eating again over fresh fish or chicken etc.

[8bit]

Well so much for the Thrive stuff, certainly the fish-flavoured one anyway - the older chap just sort of nuzzles his cheek against it then looks at me as if to say "nice try, no where's the Dreamies?" and the younger girl just chewed one a bit and started batting it around the floor...

Might try the chicken ones but could just be that they're fussy and stuck in their ways!

[bexVN]

8bit said:

Well so much for the Thrive stuff, certainly the fish-flavoured one anyway - the older chap just sort of nuzzles his cheek against it then looks at me as if to say "nice try, no where's the Dreamies?" and the younger girl just chewed one a bit and started batting it around the floor...

Might try the chicken ones but could just be that they're fussy and stuck in their ways!

It is like trying to retrain someone of a big mac to a lean grilled no skin chicken. It takes a bit of time. The point to remember if they were genuinely hungry they would eat them.