how do I compare cat digestive enzyme products?

Greetings everyone.

I just joined. 

I have two cats.  One of them has a history of throwing up not long after eating, and also other times, lots of hairballs.  He is part persian, and has that thick silky persian hair, but is short haired.  He's a senior cat, but single digit.  Frisky and intelligent.  I have repeatedly tried to wean him off kibble, which is pretty much the only thing he considers food.  I now have them on Blue Buffalo mature, and the change has been dramatic; their fur glows, they look so healthy.  But still the vomiting with the one.  I have, however, gotten him to the point where he eats canned food.   An additional problem with him is That his stools have always been very foul smelling, whereas the stools of his older brother hardly smell, and they are on identical diets. So I have thought that it might help him if I bought digestive enzymes as it is something I have seen suggested on some sites.  The problem is that when I went to compare the enzyme amounts in different products, the amounts were in different units.  Some formulations gave the amounts in a serving in milligrams, but others used exotic measurement units I'd never heard of. 

If someone could help me figure out how to determine what measurements are considered safe for cats, and how to compare formulations, I would appreciate it. 

I prefer things that are not high potency.  I just want to give them what might be considered the minimum daily requirement.  For example, I take a multi vitamin that supplies 100% of my minimum daily requirement for the substance, no more.  And that is what I am looking for in the enzyme formulation.  Maybe that info isn't available.  Then I'd look for the lowest possible dose.  So that is what I want.

Thanks,

Shepherdess

I'm not sure that digestive enzymes are going to be the "cure all" for this issue.  Have you discussed this constant vomiting with your Vet?  I would think a good probiotics might be more what is needed rather than a probiotic, especially when you mention the foul odor associated with his stools, which your other cat does NOT have, even though they are on the same food. 

That being said, I DO give my cats both digestive enzymes and probiotics, and all I can tell you is that I use Prozyme and give approx 1/32 teaspoon mixed into their wet food. (don't know quite how you would mix it into dry food  )  I used to give it to ALL my cats when they were  eating raw food, now I just give it to my senior (14 years old) because I need her to gain weight, and digestive enzymes help the nutrients absorb better. 

I prefer products not in a lactose base for cats. Dr. Goodpet Feline Digestive Enzymes and Fresh Digest for Cats (also goes by the name OptaGest) are two feline-specific products that are not in a lactose base. Both are made with human-grade ingredients, but are dosed for cats.

Mrs.Greenjeans, thank you for this information.  Is there a particular reason why you use Prozyme?

GoHolistic,

I agree with you about not using a lactose base.  I try to go holistic when possible. 

Can you all tell me some good sites to purchase from, and a ballpark for prices?

Thanks,

Shepherdess

I agree with mrsgreenjeens that a probiotic might be a more appropriate product here. A good probiotic will be made from different strains of bacteria. I chose Total-biotics from NWC Naturals for that reason.

Get Vets best hairball remedy flavor tabs (amazon.com) has them. They have all health food store ingredients and are good for digestion, vomiting and smelly poo.

Raintyger,

I already give probiotics, but thanks for the tip and input.

Shepherdess

Bonepyker,

I already use hairball gel, one from the vet and one I just got that I like better because it doesn't have benzoate or sodium potassium [I think it is] in it.  It is Hartz "hairball remedy plus".

Shepherdess

GoHolistic,

I was thinking of getting Mercola's enzymes.  Wondering how they compare to the ones you use?

Shepherdess

shepherdess said:

 
GoHolistic,

I was thinking of getting Mercola's enzymes.  Wondering how they compare to the ones you use?

Shepherdess

Click to expand...

It is a decent product. think the main difference with the Mercola enzymes is that it uses animal-sourced enzymes. They make a good case for using animal-sourced enzymes on their website. After researching enzymes for my cats, I decided that plant-based enzymes would suit them better and the two products I mentioned above use plant-based enzymes. Dr. Jean Hofve says that animal-based enzymes will not hurt your pet and some do better on animal-based enzymes, but she recommends plant-based enzymes because they can survive the stomach's acidic environment better (sources: www.onlynaturalpet.com/knowledgebase/knowledgebasedetail.aspx?articleid=137 and www.littlebigcat.com/health/giardia-natural-treatment-protocol).

Opinions vary widely on this. It might come down to giving it a try and seeing how they do!

I used Enzyme Miracle. My vet examined the label and thought it was good because it had a wide variety of enzymes. He especially liked the bromelain, which is an anti-inflammatory.


As @GoHolistic has pointed out, the Mercola product is animal-based. Many have used it with good results, but I prefer to start off with a plant-based enzyme mixture due to the reasons @GoHolistic stated. Animal enzymes are typically used for pancreatic disorders.

Thanks, goholistic.

I hope the Mercola product doesn't harm animals to get the enzymes.  I am vegetarian most of my adulthood, which eventually evolved into being a vegan.  Try not to use products that harm animals.  Will probably get the Mercola for now.  Appreciate all your info.

shepherdess

You might want to check out Natures Farmacy (with an F).

They are very well known and have been in business for years selling digestive enzymes, probiotics and other natural supplements. I have used their stuff a lot over the years when I was breeding and showing dogs. They have some cat products in the mix, including digestive enhancers. Catzymes or something similar is the name.