Royal Canin has launched a new urinary range for cats and dogs. There are four new products including the veterinary market's first canine pouch. 

The launch also includes a 20 page booklet for owners which explains the urinary system, different types of problem and stone, and why and how diet can make a difference. Royal Canin says this should be a real boost to encouraging owners to adopt the new diet.

According to the company, the pouch format is highly palatable, convenient and easy for owners to use, which will ultimately lead to improved compliance once a prescription has been made. 

Canine Urinary S/O comes in a 150g pouch, and dissolves struvite uroliths as well as diluting the urine to decrease oxalate concentration and ensure the bladder is regularly washed out.  Feline Urinary S/O Moderate Calorie in a 100g pouch is for adult cats with difficulty maintaining ideal weight (neutered, overweight, low activity levels) and is indicated for the nutritional management of cats with feline idiopathic cystitis, struvite urolithiasis, and the management of recurrent struvite and calcium oxalate stones. 

New dry food additions include Canine Urinary S/O Moderate Calorie with the same benefits in formulation to help limit weight gain, while Canine Urinary S/O Small Dog offers benefits for the smaller canine population; particularly important as 50% of all stones analysed in reference laboratories worldwide come from small breed dogs. 

Royal Canin Director of Scientific Communications Pauline Devlin said: "Urinary problems are a common reason for veterinary consultation, and this new range brings together our existing products with four new ones, meaning that vets can be even more precise in prescribing the clinical diet which will best suit the owner and the nutritional management of the pet, meaning that compliance levels will improve."

Royal Canin says neutering and obesity are known predisposing factors for urolithiasis, and some patients are more prone than others - Persian and Burmese cats are predisposed to oxalate stones for example.  Age and sex have also been recognized factors influencing the risk of both struvite and oxalate stones.  In dogs, small breeds such as the Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier are at risk, while Dalmatians have a tendency to ammonium urate stones. 

Royal Canin's urinary diets should be fed for a period of five to twelve weeks, and have been proven to dissolve uroliths in as little as 17 days.  To avoid recurrence of clinical signs it is recommended their use is continued as required.

The Royal Canin Urinary range is available from all veterinary wholesalers.  Find out more by contacting your Veterinary Business Manager, visiting http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/, or by calling 0845 717 800.

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