Adding Cochise to the list of the many who are tossing hairballs

Cocheezie still doing well, considering. We are just back from a walk during which she marked special spots, and thoroughly inspected other prime locations. It was my decision to come in, not hers. She protested with a big growl. But I do want to add her to this year's list of hairball chuckers. The last 3 mornings she hasn't eaten 1st breakfast right away. She's usually keen about breakfast and will even have 2nd breakfast. Now, not immediately interested. She throws up a tiny hairball, waits about twenty minutes then eats normally. The other feedings are not affected. She's been feeling so well otherwise that I'm scared to rock the boast with hairball remedies. I've been brushing and I've delayed her evening Pepcid AC until late at night, hoping that it should still be having some effect in the early morning. Tomorrow morning I will have the pleasure of dissecting her next bowel movement to see if any hair is going through at all. With her internal organs squished by the tumour I'm leery of trying to send something (hair) down through her digestive system that her body has decided should be sent up. I'm afraid that a hairball will clog somewhere along the way and she'll be in big trouble.

I've been following all the hairball threads. Thank all of you for sharing your stories, and debating the merits of this and that. She won't go near SEL. EYL is high in phosphorous. She won't eat cooked egg white. Egg shell powder seems to be more for calcium intake. Hairball treats have had a lot of complaints. If it continues, and I'm not seeing no or little hair in the BMs, I'm thinking about trying a small amount of laxatone. Or should I leave everything alone? I don't really want to rock the boat because other than the morning hairballs, she's still feeling great (even though the tumour has grown) and we've noticed no new issues.

Apologies for the lengthy post. Just needed to think out loud.

What about the Vet's Best Hairball Relief?  The only thing I would caution against is using it with any meds.  You don't want the meds to not be absorbed.  So far a 1/2 pill once a day is all my crew needs.

Thanks. I'm keeping it in mind. She's on 3 meds and a b12 tincture at the moment + sub-q. Going to see what the next few days bring up (or don't).

So happy to read the Cocheezie is doing well, considering all that's happening. How does she do with psyllium? I give a tiny amount to Tim daily to help with motility as we taper his cisapride dose and I've noticed his poops are so hairy since starting this. The holistic vet and I played with the dose so it wouldn't increase his stool size much, and I really only notice his stools are larger when lots of hair comes out. I've started giving a tiny amount to Abby once a week for hairball control. By "tiny amount", I mean about 1/16 tsp, which is 1/4 capsule. And blend with a lot of water.

We were addicted to Laxatone until about a month ago. Both cats got it several times a week, but Tim still had hairballs. I don't know if he would have had more without the Laxatone. And, looking back, his digestion wasn't all that great; the other things we've changed over the past few months have helped overall with hairballs. Abby only got mushy poops the day after a Laxatone dose. But both cats love it and Abby got mad if Tim got a treat she didn't.

I should have mentioned, cats generally seem to like it and will take it without food.  So you could feed it as a between meals treat. 

Checked fresh BM this morning. No hair. She didn't toss a hairball this morning either.

Can the watered psyllium be added to food? Going up to the vet today to pick up supplies and will be passing health food store on the way.

I sure hope so, because that's how Tim gets his daily dose- mixed well with his canned food.

cocheezie said:

 
Checked fresh BM this morning. No hair. She didn't toss a hairball this morning either.

Can the watered psyllium be added to food? Going up to the vet today to pick up supplies and will be passing health food store on the way.

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Yes.  When I tried plain psyllium a long time ago to try to firm up my cats' stools, in the food with lots of water is the way to do it.  BUT, don't put in with Pepcid at the same time.  The cat isn't going to get as much of the Pepcid in their system.  I know I said it before but I wanted to say it again so your kitty gets the full benefit of H2 inhibitors (fellow GERD sufferer).

Thank you for the information. Mid-afternoon snack (which she believes to be high tea) is probably the best time. This would be between the morning and late evening Pepcid AC doses.