Hairball issues

js124

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Hi,

Does anyone have a cat with extreme hairball issues?

My cat has had a ton of issues since Feb, with hairballs being stuck and then him puking and pooping out.

nothing seems to help.

any suggestions
 

jessv

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Hi! 

I can't say that my cat has extreme hairball issues but he has some. From what I read over the past few days, some members should be able to help (LDG, for example). Have you read this thread already? http://www.thecatsite.com/t/250653/egg-lecithin-for-hairballs

When you say nothing seems to help, what have you tried so far? How often does your cat vomits? 

I have noticed less hairball coming up since I've fed Ishi a high quality food (Tiki Cat and raw) and given him probiotics/digestive enzymes. Unfortunately, I can't say for sure if it's the food, or the probiotics/enzymes since I started them at the same time. Both should help anyways. As far as pooping hairball out, as long as it is during a normal bowel movement, and the fur is coated by a layer of feces, I would say it is good since the fur should go down the GI tract. It's when it's stuck in the stomach that it's a problem and it then comes up or when it's blocked somewhere in the colon. 
 
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js124

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Brushing, cat lax
He eats all grain free food so his diet isn't the issue.
He vomits a hairball at least one a week.
This season about two a week .
What probiotics do you use?
 

jessv

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My local Pet Food Express recommended that I buy the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes + probiotics. Now, I'm not sure this is the best because there's not too much probiotics in it. Next time, I will likely buy probiotics such as Mercola's (14 strains, I think this one of the most complete) and digestive enzymes such as Prozyme. 

I will look into egg yolk lecithin more because he's shedding more again: fur passes into the stools and yet, he vomits some more.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Brushing, cat lax
He eats all grain free food so his diet isn't the issue.
He vomits a hairball at least one a week.
This season about two a week .
What probiotics do you use?
Is the grain free feed dry or wet?  Grain free isn't actually what is best.  Low carb is what is best, although grain free is a good start, since cats don't really need wheat.  But they don't need corn, or soy, or potatoes, or that type of thing either.  However, your question was about hairballs, not food.

The reason I asked if wet or dry was because I use egg yolk lecithin, and if you are feeding wet, one type can be mixed into wet food  It's a really fine powder so doesn't do well on kibble.  The brand I use is Swanson's..  If feeding dry, one kind is more like egg yolks from boiled eggs,and many cats will eat that if you just empty the capsule right into their dish.  2 of mine love it "plain", but one won't touch it that way.  That one is Nature's Plus.  Anyway, I haven't seen a single hairball this season since I started adding one half capsule per day to each one's food.
 
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js124

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Thanks I will dry the egg

It is wet food.
 
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