science question

[JackieOnLine]

I have an OTC medication I give one of my dogs to lower the ph of her urine. last time it was tested it was still high 8.5 but I'm afraid it would go even higher without it and then she gets crystals in her urine.

I just reordered the stuff and the new pills have an odor. any reason to worry? the former bottle I had for years (500 days, anyway) and no odor. the pills are an amino acid called DL-Methionine. it says it's expiration date is 6/16 but it came in the mail so who knows how much heat it's been exposed to. I asked my vet and she said she didn't know.

I just googled....and now I am even more confused. seriously, that was odd.

anyone have any idea?

 

[Sheanie]

Well, ****. If your vet doesn't know, I'd be calling MY pharmacist. As in people's drugs pharmacist. I wouldn't give it to my dog. BTW, I've had several pets with this, and we treated it with special food. I never knew you could give a pill instead.

 

[Sheanie]

After reading a bit, I've discovered that this chemical is also used as a urine deodorizer in cats. Curious and curiouser.

 

[Terri]

Can you call the manufacturer? Maybe they have a customer service department. They could tell you if exposed to high temps would affect it. May be able to find out if they changed any ingredients in the last year or so since the last time you purchased them.

 

[bearmom]

I also didn't know that could be treated with pills. I'd call a pharmacist.

 

[DianaCox]

Don't rely on this, but:

Sulfur products stink, and can be detect by the human nose in very small amounts.

Methionine is a sulfur-containing amino acid. A breakdown product is hydrogen sulfide (H2S) - which smells like rotten eggs. But it is a gas, and evaporates.

"L-Methionine smells "moldy", like "old potatoes" and "rotten dairy products" - so if some of the product ended up on the outside of the capsules, you would probably smell it.

My first thought is that it is just fine - BUT - I don't know for sure.

 

[JackieOnLine]

thanks, everybody, let's see if I can make the multi-quote work because in the past I haven't managed it. nope, I don't seem to get it.

Can you call the manufacturer?

I actually called them previously over another issue and got a nice woman for whom English was not a first language. I should try again, though, thanks Terri.

to Sheanie & Bearmom, in the past one of our vets in Nebraska treated it with science diet. it worked OK for years, then seemed to stop working. I never liked that food for different reasons and she seems to have done better over-all since we stopped using it.

Diana it's pills, not capsules...I will sniff it again and see if I think sulfur describes it.

Bunny might just need to have her urine tested again, that would give me the answer that counts, I guess. yesterday I thought she MAY have showed a symptom of a UTI but since she has had problems in the past and my oldest dog Sammie might be in the beginnings of renal failure I am hyper vigilant about water intake and urination. in other words, it could be I had a panic over nothing.

one reason it's hard to work in healthcare is there is no relief from all the pee and poop issues. all day, every day.

thank you to all - I think I will talk to a pharmacist, that's also an excellent idea.

 

[Sheanie]

Well, one trick for making a dog (or cat) drink more water is to put a small amount of chicken or beef bouillon in their water. I've done that for years with success with cats and dogs with kidney and bladder problems.