Hair Balls... I think?

Rocky has been having episodes of what sounds like a sneeze and a cough or a hawk at the same time.  He goes thru about 12 of these before he stops.  So far he has had 2 of them the past month.  He's 6 months old now.

I read all thru your forums on hairballs, thinking this may be what is going on and 1) will now do timed feedings to improve motility and 2) add a raw egg yoke to his wet food.  He does get some dry, I just started him on Z/D by Hills dry along with his I/D from Hills.  The I/D from Hills is the only food he will either like or tolerate and the reason I started him on Z/D is thinking he may be having a problem with protein but his protein issue is a side issue here not, just wanted to say what his diet is currently.  He only gets 1/4 of a cup of dry a day and one can of 5 oz of wet a day.

I went to the website to look up the egg yolk lecithin by Swanson and the Prozyme Original Enzymes.  I noticed that the egg yolk lecithin actually has egg yolk in it so what is the benefit of buying this if I am already going to be feeding him an egg yolk twice a week.  BTW, he loved the egg yolk mixed in his wet food this morning, thank you for the suggestion of this.  Next one of your websites recommended giving a pad of Vaseline too, is this safe?

I have noticed he passes these hard twisted black stools along with his regular stools and I'm beginning to wonder if the dark twisted black stools (which are tiny) are the hairballs he's passing.

Lastly, I was looking into buying a Furminator to brush him with, but he does have short hair and not sure if this will do the job or not.  Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Debbie and Rocky

Stools should not be black, it could indicate dried blood from his bowel somewhere if he's not eating anything black. The 'cough' could indicate a heart problem too, but only your vet would know, especially if he doesn't produce a hair ball. I pray it's none of the above and just something simple, but once again only a vet could find out. I'll pray for your beautiful little Rocky, he's too young to have such problems, good luck and keep us posted!

Hello Di and Bob ~  The black stools are only present when they are tiny and hard, twisted.  He does have normal looking and feeling stools the same day as he goes

twice a day now.  Last check-up his heart was good, according to my vet, no murmur or anything else irregular..

Debbie

Rocky just had a very good solid bowel movement, well formed and good color today, no back stools so far. 

Debbie