Hi all,

Does anyone have experience with their glider(s) getting kidney/bladder stones and/or crystals? What diet have they been on, and did you change diets with better results?

Currently, my little guy is on the BML diet, but I don't think he is eating all the components well (which keeps things balanced).

He is also currently trying to pass several stones in his urethra. This is the second time, the first being 2.5 years prior. My vet isn't very knowledgeable about diets.

Thanks much!

Didn't you say you were getting a sample of the Critterlove diet.

He is getting too much calcium from the BML because he isn't eating all the vegetables that are to offset the high calcium in the staple.

Yes, I have requested a sample of the CritterLove diet to try.

I posted here to see if anyone else has had similar experiences with kidney stones and, if so, what diet they were using, if they experimented with changing the diet, and if the kidney stones returned once they changed diets.

I'm also considering the Priscilla Price diet, and weighing the pros and cons.

I don't care for the Pet Glider diet, check out this diet study for more information on the TPG diet: Opinion on the Pet Glider diet.

I have the same opinion as Shelly, the ingredients are different from batch to batch, it is either eggs or chicken.

I really don't like the sprinkle on of the vitamins. As the first glider to the plate will get too many vitamins and the last one to the plate doesn't get enough.

This is my opinion.

My gliders have been fed, while in my care one or another form of HPW diets, this includes Critter Love. I've not once, as of yet had any issues with my gliders health, while on any of these diets. Currently I've been feeding Critter Love Original, but have also use Critter Love Complete, as well as Critter Love Plus. All of these diets are good and have been eaten well.

As stated above, crystals in the urine is a sign of too much calcium intake.

The Critter Love® diets have been designed and developed with this in mind. If you feed one of our products along with the salads that are to be fed alongside you will no longer have to worry about this issue any longer, UNLESS the glider is experiencing some type of renal failure.

Thanks to everyone for your replies.
Wow, I didn't realize the TPG diet was considered imbalanced. I thought the sprinkling of vitamins wouldn't be a problem (in my case), since I now have one glider + I thought chopping up/blending the fruits and veggies with the staple might require him to eat more balanced, since he only wants to eat certain things (hence our current predicament, we think).

I really like what I am hearing about the Critter Loves diet, so I will definitely give it a try first and hope he takes to it well.

Any tips regarding the preparation of particular fruits or veggies? I'm not familiar with several of them, so I know I will be stumped a time or two with questions *lol* (ie. what to peel, what to seed, use stems or leaves only, etc.).

Also, how should meal worms be rationed, since they have been a necessary part of the BML he's currently eating? How long does he need to adjust to the new diet? I have had to cut back on his BML this week, anyhow, and provide more fruits and veggies (and variety) to get the stones to move through...

Thanks!

Peggy, how many ounces of CritterLove Complete should I order for 1 glider to last a month (once mixed with water and frozen in cubes)? How long before the mixed, frozen staple loses freshness in the freezer? And how long do you recommend keeping the salad mixes frozen? Finally, how long do the (dry, unmixed) packages last if stored in the pantry...or should they be frozen too?

You can find how much you need and how much to use if you go to this page and change the number of gliders you have.
http://www.critterlove.com/conversion-charts.html

If you only have one glider you would only need a 4ounce pack.

You can do the same with the salad mixtures. Just put in how many gliders, which salad and how many nights worth.

Thanks and very nice website design! I'm not sure how I missed the conversion page *lol*!