Hooligan Update: Is this really square 1 again?

[melrai]

Well, another weekly update on the little dude. He's been eating his raw like a CHAMP. His favourites have been Rabbit, Horse and Horse/Chicken. He has been eating strictly raw (with the occasional canned food when I forget to thaw raw) for about a week or two now. BUT, of course cause this journey is never EASY, his hairball puking situation has been out of control.

I know I come here with this every time I start raw again, but maybe I just need the reassurance that this is the right thing. I heard here that by giving him raw it will have his digestive system working like it is supposed to so, it is getting rid of all the hair that was left over from 6 months of eating kibble. If that is the case, should I be worried? Should i continue to feed him raw until this is over?

Albeit, I stopped the egg yolk, probiotics and slippery elm cause he was doing really great. I just started back on them. I'm starting to think he is lacking fiber? Maybe?

What should I do?

 

[eb24]

I'm wondering if your post may get more responses over in the nutrition section since the base of your question is on raw feeding. I have asked a mod to move it over there. 

Hopefully you will get better feedback with the right audience! 

 

[ldg]

Wait - I'm confused. He was doing great, but you stopped the slippery elm, probiotics, and egg yolk? Then clearly they were doing the job, if he wasn't having the same problem with hairballs.

The egg yolks are typically a part of the raw diet, even for prey model raw feeders. But ESPECIALLY during shedding season - the lecithin in the yolks helps emulsify the fat that binds the hair, and the acetylcholine helps motility. And if you're not feeding green tripe, then the probiotics are used by some on a daily basis, forever. In the wild, a cat would eat the stomach and intestines of its prey - which is a dose of probiotics with every meal. Some of us believe it is important to replicate that, especially because a raw diet is so low in fiber (which in omnivores and herbivores is what provides the substrate for healthy bacterial growth in the gut).

The slippery elm is used for many reasons - often just to soothe the digestive system. But if hairballs are particularly bad, the fiber (and coating) from the SEB can help. I don't normally give the cats SEB, but during shedding season, they're all getting it twice a week to help prevent hairballs. I'll probably stop using it the end of May.

So in your shoes, I'd put at least the egg yolks and probiotics back into his diet. If you have to choose just one, make it the egg yolks. When hairballs are bad, it may take as many as 3 - 4 a week. Or part of one every day. And the SEB can be used daily - even 2x a day - if need be.

But if he was fine when on all of them - and now isn't - it seems pretty clear they just need to be added back to his diet!

 

[melrai]

I sure did!

Thanks!

 

[otto]

Wait - I'm confused. He was doing great, but you stopped the slippery elm, probiotics, and egg yolk? Then clearly they were doing the job, if he wasn't having the same problem with hairballs.

The egg yolks are typically a part of the raw diet, even for prey model raw feeders. But ESPECIALLY during shedding season - the lecithin in the yolks helps emulsify the fat that binds the hair, and the acetylcholine helps motility. And if you're not feeding green tripe, then the probiotics are used by some on a daily basis, forever. In the wild, a cat would eat the stomach and intestines of its prey - which is a dose of probiotics with every meal. Some of us believe it is important to replicate that, especially because a raw diet is so low in fiber (which in omnivores and herbivores is what provides the substrate for healthy bacterial growth in the gut).

The slippery elm is used for many reasons - often just to soothe the digestive system. But if hairballs are particularly bad, the fiber (and coating) from the SEB can help. I don't normally give the cats SEB, but during shedding season, they're all getting it twice a week to help prevent hairballs. I'll probably stop using it the end of May.

So in your shoes, I'd put at least the egg yolks and probiotics back into his diet. If you have to choose just one, make it the egg yolks. When hairballs are bad, it may take as many as 3 - 4 a week. Or part of one every day. And the SEB can be used daily - even 2x a day - if need be.

But if he was fine when on all of them - and now isn't - it seems pretty clear they just need to be added back to his diet!

SEB can be used daily? For some reason I thought that was a twice a week only supplement. Doesn't it interfere with nutrient absorption somewhat? I'm so confused!

 

[melrai]

SEB can be used daily? For some reason I thought that was a twice a week only supplement. Doesn't it interfere with nutrient absorption somewhat? I'm so confused!

That's what I thought too!

 

[vball91]

I've been doing some reading on SEB recently, and there's no research to indicate that it can't be used daily. It *may* delay the absorption of certain things so it is suggested to take SEB separately (an hour) from any medications.