2014 Hill's Global Symposium a chance to present new evidence on the management of the disease

The key role of nutrition in helping to manage Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, one of the most common forms of feline lower urinary tract disease, was confirmed by new scientific evidence presented at the 2014 Hill's Global Symposium, held recently in Prague.

The two-day Symposium, which attracted more than 130 leading experts from 30 countries around the world, took Feline Lower Urinary Tract health as its theme with the role of stress as a risk factor for FIC as a particular focus. Speakers discussed a range of topics relating to FLUTD, such as problem behaviours induced by stress and anxiety and how certain ingredients and nutrients can be used to help manage feline stress.

The Symposium also marked the launch of a new feline Hill's™ Prescription Diet™ c/d™ Feline Urinary Stress in Europe. It is based on the nutrition of Prescription Diet™ c/d™ Multicare but with the addition of L-tryptophan and milk protein hydrolysate, which have been shown to play a role in modifying stress-related behaviours in cats. 

Dr Jody Lulich

During the Symposium, the results of a randomised, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial into the efficacy of Hill's™ Prescription Diet™ c/d™ Multicare were presented by Dr Jody Lulich, Co-Director of the Minnesota Urolith Center at the University of Minnesota. The results showed that this food, in both its wet and dry formulation, reduced the recurrence of the FLUDT signs.

"This study shows that specially designed nutrition has a positive impact on reducing the recurrence of urinary signs in cats with FIC.  We recommend that it should be used together with environmental enrichment and with stress reduction strategies," explained Dr Lulich.