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- Jun 14, 2014
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Clapton - neutered male, 8'ish yo, DSH, heart murmur otherwise healthy - is my feeding challenge.
He vomits. Hairballs. Bile. Bile with semi-digested food (wet or dry). Regurgitates both wet and dry - appears as unchewed.
Usually vomits 2-4 times over the spam of 2-3 days. Then weeks without an issue.
Feeding my dogs was easy, including one with horrific allergies.
In the last 2+ yrs I've learned: "obligate carnivores", single protein, no gums, no carrageenan, fish as potential allergen (not to mention the mercury), feed wet not dry, hydration awareness, rotation diet for nutritional balance and taste enjoyment... and more.
As I've learned more, I've made healthier choices for him. Of course for Layla too but she just joined us 3 months ago and, bless her sweet belly, she's not nearly so complicated as Clapton.
He only seems to like chicken. Will tolerate duck on occasion if he's feeling benevolent. Even then I'm convinced he eats it with one hairy eyeball staring at the back of my head while he plots the most "upsetting-to-her" spot in the house where he will return his meal to me.
I've given him chicken, duck, beef, fish (once), rabbit, turkey, venison. All as wet except the rabbit (freeze-dried Wysong) which was served per package directions and also offered with chicken. She ate some of it. He ate around it.
I've given him countless brands and recipes. He's sticking to Weruva paw lickin' chicken and NutroMax minced chicken. Plus the odd Nature's Balance LID Duck and Pea. Oddly, he LOVED the LID wet from the Vet (think it was Hill's?) to rectify Layla's initial tummy upset upon her arrival at Chez Moi.
1 - How do I sort out what he'll eat without breaking the bank?
Not cheaping out on them. I know the costs of pet guardianship and I accept them for their lifetime when I bring them home. It's simply that the money tree in my backyard failed to leaf this spring.
And, yes, I saw a link to itsapetslife.com where I can purchase single cans!
I have 5 cases and two pouches of different freeze-dried foods here that neither of them will eat. Happy to donate all of it to cat rescue and will. But I've already donated ample goods & time this year.
2 - How do I make sure I'm not setting us both up for a big problem with food later if he one day wakes up and never wants to see another chicken again as long as he lives?
3 - What to do about this chronic vomit/regurgitation problem?
He's been checked 3x for thyroid/metabolic issues - always negative/normal results.
Best advice I've gotten from any Vet has been to feed him very small amounts often. It lessens the sensitive stomach product but doesn't eliminate it.
Plus vomit and regurgitation are not sources they are symptoms!
4 - Are there effective hairball management products - other than dry food formulations - to address hairballs and/or sensitive stomach? If so, please tell me what you use, where you get it and why you like it.
5 - if there's so much information about single protein and potential fish-associated problems are these premium and ultra premium food manufacturers pushing "health", "back to nature", etc messaging yet delivering "sockeye salmon & wild boar" and "Chilean sea bass & bluefish"? I need to go into the cat good business.
I know this is super long. It's all been swirling and building in my head ever since I got Clapton. I've been reading here but none of my friends have cats. We're all dog people. Ok, I'm the only convert in my group...
I hope Mr. Chewy will give me some consideration for all this uneaten food...
Thanks for your patience and advice. :-)
He vomits. Hairballs. Bile. Bile with semi-digested food (wet or dry). Regurgitates both wet and dry - appears as unchewed.
Usually vomits 2-4 times over the spam of 2-3 days. Then weeks without an issue.
Feeding my dogs was easy, including one with horrific allergies.
In the last 2+ yrs I've learned: "obligate carnivores", single protein, no gums, no carrageenan, fish as potential allergen (not to mention the mercury), feed wet not dry, hydration awareness, rotation diet for nutritional balance and taste enjoyment... and more.
As I've learned more, I've made healthier choices for him. Of course for Layla too but she just joined us 3 months ago and, bless her sweet belly, she's not nearly so complicated as Clapton.
He only seems to like chicken. Will tolerate duck on occasion if he's feeling benevolent. Even then I'm convinced he eats it with one hairy eyeball staring at the back of my head while he plots the most "upsetting-to-her" spot in the house where he will return his meal to me.
I've given him chicken, duck, beef, fish (once), rabbit, turkey, venison. All as wet except the rabbit (freeze-dried Wysong) which was served per package directions and also offered with chicken. She ate some of it. He ate around it.
I've given him countless brands and recipes. He's sticking to Weruva paw lickin' chicken and NutroMax minced chicken. Plus the odd Nature's Balance LID Duck and Pea. Oddly, he LOVED the LID wet from the Vet (think it was Hill's?) to rectify Layla's initial tummy upset upon her arrival at Chez Moi.
1 - How do I sort out what he'll eat without breaking the bank?
Not cheaping out on them. I know the costs of pet guardianship and I accept them for their lifetime when I bring them home. It's simply that the money tree in my backyard failed to leaf this spring.
And, yes, I saw a link to itsapetslife.com where I can purchase single cans!
I have 5 cases and two pouches of different freeze-dried foods here that neither of them will eat. Happy to donate all of it to cat rescue and will. But I've already donated ample goods & time this year.
2 - How do I make sure I'm not setting us both up for a big problem with food later if he one day wakes up and never wants to see another chicken again as long as he lives?
3 - What to do about this chronic vomit/regurgitation problem?
He's been checked 3x for thyroid/metabolic issues - always negative/normal results.
Best advice I've gotten from any Vet has been to feed him very small amounts often. It lessens the sensitive stomach product but doesn't eliminate it.
Plus vomit and regurgitation are not sources they are symptoms!
4 - Are there effective hairball management products - other than dry food formulations - to address hairballs and/or sensitive stomach? If so, please tell me what you use, where you get it and why you like it.
5 - if there's so much information about single protein and potential fish-associated problems are these premium and ultra premium food manufacturers pushing "health", "back to nature", etc messaging yet delivering "sockeye salmon & wild boar" and "Chilean sea bass & bluefish"? I need to go into the cat good business.
I know this is super long. It's all been swirling and building in my head ever since I got Clapton. I've been reading here but none of my friends have cats. We're all dog people. Ok, I'm the only convert in my group...
I hope Mr. Chewy will give me some consideration for all this uneaten food...
Thanks for your patience and advice. :-)