| Cystitis is a very common problem encountered | | | | also called ji nei jin. |
| in the cat community. Typically there are | | | | |
| signs of blood in the urine, straining to | | | | Chicken gizzard lining has been used for over |
| urinate or even worse, a blocked bladder. If | | | | 2,000 years in China. Initially it was used |
| your cat has ever had a blocked bladder you | | | | in the treatment of diarrhoea. Later it |
| will know that this is a life-threatening | | | | developed a reputation for promoting |
| emergency. You need to get your beloved puss | | | | digestion and astringing fluid discharge. The |
| up to your vet as quickly as you can. | | | | digestion promoting effects were prominent on |
| | | | both meat and grains. The astringing effect |
| In my practice this condition is very common. | | | | was found to actually break down kidney and |
| It is more serious for males than for females | | | | urinary stones. |
| in that the male cats urine outflow pipe, the | | | | |
| urethra, is very fine. It can easily become | | | | An active principle, named ventriculin was |
| blocked by blood clots or crystalline sludge. | | | | named as the component that gave chicken |
| Typically there is a dietary history of | | | | gizzards its medicinal effects. |
| feeding dry cat food. One thing we always | | | | |
| advise is to stop feeding the dry food. Some | | | | In the wild situation one of the main food |
| cats are addicted to eating dry food and | | | | sources for cats is birds. Obviously not |
| refuse to eat anything but dry food. These | | | | chickens but chickens are birds and all birds |
| cats do better if they swap to a prescription | | | | have gizzards. I have to say I'm not entirely |
| diet designed to be lower in the minerals | | | | sure about what goes into the moist style of |
| that cause the crystals that cause the | | | | cat food in a can but I do wonder how much |
| blockage. They also contain a urinary | | | | chicken gizzards are incorporated. I doubt |
| acidifier to reduce the chances of minerals | | | | that there are any in the dry form of cat |
| forming together to create the crystals. Some | | | | food and I often wonder just how digestible |
| cats will still have problems regardless of | | | | it really is anyway. |
| what they eat. | | | | |
| | | | It makes sense to me to consider adding |
| One of my interests as a veterinarian is to | | | | chicken gizzards to our cats dinners. The |
| look at alternative ways of treating these | | | | eating of birds by cats is greatly frowned |
| common, often frustrating and frequently life | | | | upon in many circles. It is especially |
| threatening conditions. | | | | unacceptable in the National Park where I |
| | | | live. |
| In my reading around the subject of cystitis | | | | |
| in cats and possible approaches I came across | | | | Obtaining chicken gizzards is at best a |
| an interesting thought. | | | | challenge. It can however, be readily |
| | | | accessed in its medicinal form of ji nei jin. |
| In traditional Chinese medicine the | | | | |
| development of cystitis and crystals in the | | | | Given that it is a natural component of the |
| urine is considered a form of DAMPNESS. | | | | wild cat diet and its historical use in |
| Dampness is correlated to the presence of | | | | Chinese medicine as a treatment for cystitis, |
| food allergies or sensitivities and | | | | urinary stones and digestive disorders in |
| incomplete digestion. Many of the Chinese | | | | humans it seems logical to consider |
| medicines used specifically for the treatment | | | | supplementing cats diets with ji nei jin |
| and dissolution of bladder stones or crystals | | | | especially if they are prone to urinary tract |
| contain the inner lining of chicken gizzards, | | | | problems. |