Obi keeps throwing up hairballs.. : (

Glad to hear re. the BMs. The SEB dosage is typically 1/4 tsp for small cats and dogs and so 1/2 tsp per feeding should be fine for above average cats. I don't recall if you mentioned his weight .. My Max is currently somewhere between 14-15 pounds and so I eyeball and give him about 1/2 tsp per feeding.

Obi is 11+ lbs.  I think I will, as you suggested, increase him to 1/2 tsp twice a day.

I also read on line that this can be given up to 4X's per day...Not that I want to do this, it is simply encouraging to know that it is safe to give more.

This is a "what if" question.  I am leaving town for a few days and my husband of 4 years will be in charge of the cats.  I have had cats for 40+ years, compared to his 4, since being with me.. so, what if he tosses hairballs a lot when I am gone??  I just increased his SLB syrup to 1/2 tsp twice a day (from 1/4 tsp); and he is on 2.5 mg of pred..  He last vomited the day before yesterday (hair only)  and I gave him small meals. ..but my husband will be working and will only be able to give him the three meals of 2 oz food that he has been getting.  I dont know if I need to increase his pred, that is the big issue - I dont want to but at what point would I need to??  Any thoughts are appreciated. 

Obi has decreased his hairball vomiting but still heaves one about once every week or week and a half.  I have been giving him 3 smaller meals, a probiotic, EYL (1/2 capsule twice a day), and 1/2 tsp slippery elm bark syrup twice a day, which I recently increased from 1/4 tsp twice a day.  Should I increase the SLB syrup to  three times a day?  any other suggestions? 

@myrnafaye   I've moved this question back to your original thread in the hope that someone will pick up on it.

It sounds like you're doing pretty well with this regime.

myrnafaye said:

 
Obi has decreased his hairball vomiting but still heaves one about once every week or week and a half.  I have been giving him 3 smaller meals, a probiotic, EYL (1/2 capsule twice a day), and 1/2 tsp slippery elm bark syrup twice a day, which I recently increased from 1/4 tsp twice a day.  Should I increase the SLB syrup to  three times a day?  any other suggestions? 

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I'm not sure about the SEB, but have you considered digestive enzymes?

He's on a probiotic and egg yolk lecithin.

myrnafaye said:

 
He's on a probiotic and egg yolk lecithin.

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Do continue the probiotic and EYL, but they are not digestive enzymes. A digestive enzyme supplement would include enzymes such as protease, amylase, lipase, and cellulase to aid in digestion and help break things down. Although I have not tried it on any of my cats yet, the one that I would consider is called Fresh Digest (http://inclover.com/products/fresh-digest/). I like that it has no fillers and is not in a lactose or grain base.

I don't know that I would add or change anything in Obi's regime just yet, but digestive enzymes are something to consider later down the road. Like anything else, there are no guarantees.

myrnafaye said:

 
Obi has decreased his hairball vomiting but still heaves one about once every week or week and a half.  I have been giving him 3 smaller meals, a probiotic, EYL (1/2 capsule twice a day), and 1/2 tsp slippery elm bark syrup twice a day, which I recently increased from 1/4 tsp twice a day.  Should I increase the SLB syrup to  three times a day?  any other suggestions? 

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Hi there,

Sounds like you are already doing everything possible. Some members here have reported that this year has been a particularly bad year for shedding. Perhaps its just a matter of riding things out, and maybe increasing the amount that you are brushing.

Yes, I am doing everything possible!  Thank you.  And yes, I read your post about this being a very bad year for cats shedding.  What is really puzzling about Obi's hairballs, is that he vomits hairballs, and then he appears to be fine.  However, I have increased his SLB to 1/2 tsp three times a day.  I was doing it twice a day.  I hope that is not too much.

Hi, GoHolistic.  I cannot speak for Obi, but I myself cannot tolerate Inulin.  It has devastating effects on my GI tract, and that is in the Go Clover.  I would worry about that.  It is a fiber I think - its in all human Fiber One products - and it is really irritating for me.  But thank you for the suggestion. 

Would Vet's Best Hairball Relief be worth a try?  Possibly in exchange for the SLB?

Have it, gave it to him once, and maybe it was just a coincidence, but he threw up immediately, his food, with the Hairball relief. Have been afraid to give it again since.

Yikes.  That would spook me too.  I "cleaned" my cats out first by giving them the dreaded Temptations Hairball treats first. 

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myrnafaye said:

 
Yes, I am doing everything possible!  Thank you.  And yes, I read your post about this being a very bad year for cats shedding.  What is really puzzling about Obi's hairballs, is that he vomits hairballs, and then he appears to be fine.  However, I have increased his SLB to 1/2 tsp three times a day.  I was doing it twice a day.  I hope that is not too much.

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Well, I think the result of vomiting hairballs must be much like when we vomit something (depending on the reason) and usually feel better afterwards?

Personally I would stick with the 1/2 tsp of SEB twice a day which has helped to lessen the frequency of hairballs considerably. You could also go back to giving Obi a very small amount of psyllium and see if this can improve things further. 

myrnafaye said:

 
Have it, gave it to him once, and maybe it was just a coincidence, but he threw up immediately, his food, with the Hairball relief. Have been afraid to give it again since.

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Some cats have had this reaction to Vet's Best. It contains both psyllium and SEB. Looks like it also contains some digestive enzymes and probiotics. The combination of things may have been too much.

myrnafaye said:

 
Have it, gave it to him once, and maybe it was just a coincidence, but he threw up immediately, his food, with the Hairball relief. Have been afraid to give it again since.

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Hi,

I was actually going to start a thread to ask if people have had this reaction in their cats with Vet's Best. I give my little Grace this and when I upped the dose to a whole tab a day, the nausea seemed to get worse. I spoke to the company several times and one person told me it takes 3 weeks for maximum efficacy. Grace has been on it for like 6 weeks or more. Then another told me to increase the dose to two tabs. I never dared go there. Instead I lowered the dose to a quarter tab twice daily and I thought things were going somewhat okay. I figured she could not handle a whole tab a day. However, now everything is out of control! NOTHING is stopping the hairballs in Grace. I totally get your concern and frustration. It sounds like at least you have somewhat of a handle on it, however. Ever since Memorial Day weekend, I have been cleaning hair. I have had 8 incidences of vomiting due to hairballs in the last two weeks. My other cat, Meadow, has also been throwing up hair. I found more hair yesterday too and I don't even know who it was this time. I heard such rave reviews about this product but I'm not having luck with my cats which makes me think something is seriously wrong. I just want it to stop  

Would you like to commiserate over a cup of coffee?  I have mine here right now.

I totally get your frustration.  I personally will probably not repeat the Vet's Best.  And I have not repeated it; when I gave it to Obi, I had also given him a different flavor of the food I had been feeding him (it was duck); and I thought perhaps it was the change, or the vet's best, or both, but when there is an immediate vomit, and it is not like he ate too fast and it came back up, which does happen, then I am not inclined to chance it again.

People on this wonderful site say it is a bad season for shedding/hairballs.  Yes, my Obii went for over a week with no hairballs, I thought I had the problem more or less under control; then he vomited hair twice in three days.  It is so frustrating!  I get it.

I am giving him the slippery elm syrup that many recommend here.  It is easy to make.  In addition, he gets a probiotic and a half capsule of egg yolk lecithin twice a day.  he still has  hairball issues. He is also on 2.5 mg of predinisolone.  I am trying to look at him as a total cat; he is 15, has always vomited a lot of hairballs, has a good appetite, is not losing weight.  Yes, I could do more testing, get an ultrasound, but I dont think it would change much in terms of treatment.

What are you doing for your baby?

Hi, Oneandahalf:  I gave Obi the Vet's Best way before I tried the other things.  That was my first line.  When he threw it up, I moved on to EYL, probiotic and SLB.

I have increased the SLB to three times a day, because I read that it could be given up to four times a day.  But, maybe I need to reduce that third dose to a smaller amount.  What I notice is that, while he still throws hair, it seems like a lot more passes in his stools.

What would you consider a small amount of psyllium?  I thought the SLB had some of that...

Right. I realized after I posted that you had given the Vet's Best before starting other things.

I must say I haven't read about that dosage for Slippery Elm, but would be concerned that too much 'can' interfere with nutrient absorption due to the coating action of the SEB. Just something to keep in mind.

A small amount of psyllium would be 1/8 tsp. SEB is a fiber as well but doesn't bulk up (at least in my experience) like psyllium does, and so you don't want to overdo it in the fiber department.

I feel for you pet carers with kitties who are struggling so much. Vomiting in kitties (and humans) is not fun. I hope your kitties can find some relief soon.

Agree with oneandahalfcats about trying psyllium again, but a very, very small amount. I initially tried 1/8 tsp, which is 1/2 capsule, and it bulked Tim's stools a bit more than I was comfortable with. I give him 1/16 tsp now, which is 1/4 capsule, and his stools are a good size. They only time they're bigger is when lots of hair comes out. I give this to him daily, only once per day. I also give slippery elm a couple of times a week, but am still experimenting with that dose and timing. A lot of this is just trial and error, but you do need to give each change some time. And make only one change at a time so you can see what's working and what's not.