One of my guys is scratching/ overgrooming right now due to suspected chicken allergy. We're in the process of finding a food that works for him. He is having bad hairballs because of the overgrooming....so my question is, what do you guys suggest I try to help him with the hairballs? I think most hairball foods and treats are out because most contain chicken products of some sort. So what do you think? Lecithin? Pumpkin? I'm hoping once we get the allergy sorted out, the hairballs will take care of themself.
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Hairball remedy without chicken?
- Thread starter krysta
- Start Date
i use simple plain petroleum jelly (vaseline, or a generic brand) for my cats hairball prevention/treatment. our vet recommended it years ago because my mickey
and snick
didn't like the malt flavoring in many hairball remedies.
I used to use one I found at pet smart. Its a GNC lets hairball remidy. It is malt flavor. Angel loved the malt flavor. Its also pertroleum free. Which I liked.
Will "chicken flavor" cause an allergy?
I use Laxatone in catnip flavor and natural (chicken) flavor.
Here's a salmon flavored hairball remedy: http://www.nutri-vet.com/hairball-paw-gel-for-cats-salmon-flavor/
Sometimes a product will list "natural flavor" which may be chicken.
Here's a salmon flavored hairball remedy: http://www.nutri-vet.com/hairball-paw-gel-for-cats-salmon-flavor/
Sometimes a product will list "natural flavor" which may be chicken.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
"Will 'chicken flavor' cause an allergy?"
I have wondered this myself...it is my understanding that it's the protein that does it...so chicken, chicken meal, chicken by-products, chicken liver. But chicken fat wouldn't do it because it doesn't contain protein. I'm not sure what "flavor"actually consists of, so I don't know if that's safe or not.
I have wondered this myself...it is my understanding that it's the protein that does it...so chicken, chicken meal, chicken by-products, chicken liver. But chicken fat wouldn't do it because it doesn't contain protein. I'm not sure what "flavor"actually consists of, so I don't know if that's safe or not.
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http://www.chewy.com/vets-best-hairball-relief-digestive/dp/45141
It does have some chicken for flavoring, but it likely will not bother your guy. A true chicken allergy is really rare, what you are probably dealing with is an allergy to something in the food you're feeding because commercial cat foods are full of tons of weird ingredients that can aggravate cats. IMO you can only really truly rule out a protein allergy by feeding raw or homemade so that you know for sure it's not another additive.
Perhaps try going with a very simple limited ingredient food. Maybe something like Merrick LID turkey, or even better, make your own food.
It does have some chicken for flavoring, but it likely will not bother your guy. A true chicken allergy is really rare, what you are probably dealing with is an allergy to something in the food you're feeding because commercial cat foods are full of tons of weird ingredients that can aggravate cats. IMO you can only really truly rule out a protein allergy by feeding raw or homemade so that you know for sure it's not another additive.
Perhaps try going with a very simple limited ingredient food. Maybe something like Merrick LID turkey, or even better, make your own food.
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Yes, the Vets Best seem to work with my 2. They are tablets that you can crush up. My cats love the taste of them so much they think they are treats.
