Hairballs in cats

[AliceR]

Hello,
I have a question about my 11 yr. old cat, Gritzi. She is a former feral kitten, the only one in her litter who survived a coyote attack, probably because she was the most fearful, she eluded being eaten.

She has always been a picky eater- ate Honest Kitchen, then Small Batch raw, also Rad cat, now will only eat various canned foods. She may like the flavor one day and the other, it's a no.

In the last couple years, she has been coughing- what sounds like hairballs. I know hairballs mean her body is out of balance. My vet last year said to give laxatone 3 days in a row and yes, she coughed up hairballs, but cough came back and I had to repeat.

She is still coughing. She is going in for her wellness exam this month. Just wondering if there is anything that can be done homeopathically to help her body expel the hairballs. I give her pumpkin, water and psyllium daily in her food.

I know Holistic Actions view is that hairballs mean the animal is out of balance...her BEAM is good, except for the appetite and she has always been fearful, considering he past, but not with me.

Is it ok to continue giving the laxatone?
Thanks,
Alice

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hi Alice.

Sure, Tomlyn Laxatone is "OK" (tho it uses vaseline and sugar and is not a particularly healthy product).

There are many other products out there such as Petco Well and Good.

You can also try sardine, olive oil or a great oily blend like:

RX VITAMINS Ultra EFA Liquid Skin & Coat Supplement for Cats & Dogs, 8-oz - Chewy.com

Buy Rx Vitamins Ultra EFA Liquid Skin & Coat Supplement for Cats & Dogs, 8-oz at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

As you said, the key to curative reduction of this common early warning sign (hairball vomiting) is internal treatment.

How to Use Clues From Your Animal Companions to Promote Optimal Health - Holistic Actions!

www.holisticactions.com

What's most important is that you know that you're palliating whenever you're using the Laxatone (or similar).

How about using it (along with daily brushing) while you treat internally with homeopathy.

As her balance improves, you'll need less of the hairball stuff.

 

[AliceR]

Thank you Dr. Jeff.

I just want to add that she gets fish oil daily and a sardine once a week.

I gave her butter for awhile and she liked that.

I recently bought Pet Naturals bite sized chews for hairballs. Need to give 8 a day for hairballs- I was able to get her to eat 8 yesterday, today, she will not eat.

Is there a particular remedy to try for hairballs? Wouldn't they be considered (hopefully) an acute condition?

I will try the daily brushing. She is the cat I mentioned before who sometimes pulls her hair out as I'm preparing her meal. She may be ingesting then, though I find some on the floor.

Alice

 

[Dr. Jean]

Hi Alice, I like just plain Vaseline, rather than a flavored product. It's usually pretty easy to "smush" a finger-full into the corner of the mouth. My cats have made it clear that Vaseline brand is far tastier (well, perhaps "less objectionable" would be more accurate!) than generic, but it may be an individual preference.

The reason I like Vaseline is because it is such a large molecule it can't be broken down, and therefore "escorts" the hair all the way to the back door. It remains completely inert in the body. Edible oils are broken down in the small intestine, so while they will help the hair move out of the stomach, if there are any hang-ups further down they will not work for that. Nevertheless, healthy edible oils have other benefits, like skin and coat health.

I see that the Pet Naturals product is to be given at the high dose only for a few days, then only 2 per day. The operative ingredient is psyllium fiber. There are some carbs and calories in the product, as well as inflammatory Omega-6 fats, so let's definitely not overdo it; otherwise you risk her gaining weight, which is never a good thing.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

 

[AliceR]

Hi Alice, I like just plain Vaseline, rather than a flavored product. It's usually pretty easy to "smush" a finger-full into the corner of the mouth. My cats have made it clear that Vaseline brand is far tastier (well, perhaps "less objectionable" would be more accurate!) than generic, but it may be an individual preference.

The reason I like Vaseline is because it is such a large molecule it can't be broken down, and therefore "escorts" the hair all the way to the back door. It remains completely inert in the body. Edible oils are broken down in the small intestine, so while they will help the hair move out of the stomach, if there are any hang-ups further down they will not work for that. Nevertheless, healthy edible oils have other benefits, like skin and coat health.

I see that the Pet Naturals product is to be given at the high dose only for a few days, then only 2 per day. The operative ingredient is psyllium fiber. There are some carbs and calories in the product, as well as inflammatory Omega-6 fats, so let's definitely not overdo it; otherwise you risk her gaining weight, which is never a good thing.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

 

[AliceR]

Thanks, Dr. Jean. I have given plain vaseline as well, but only the generic kind.
As far as the Pet Naturals, after the first day, she refused to eat anymore, so gave to my other cats. I did notice it was mostly psyllium, which I sprinkle daily on her food with water and sometimes pumpkin.

Alice

 

[AliceR]

I took Gritzi in to the vet for a wellness exam/bloodwork. She seems to think the coughing may be due to asthma. Any thoughts on this? She said I can try giving her herbs such as astragalus...I told her I had Immune Balance with Larch, Moringa, colostrum, but not sure it would work for asthma. She suggested possibly getting a chest X-ray, and mentioned corticosteroids or an inhaler- any thoughts?
Thank you,
Alice

 

[AliceR]

Hello Dr. Jeff and Dr. Christina,

I haven't heard any responses about my question about asthma in cats vs hairballs, if you can give me any information, I would appreciate it.
Alice

 

[AliceR]

@Dr. Jeff and @Dr. Christina,
I also got Gritzi's lab results back and ALT was elevated 189 and AST was 114. Vet said it could be inflammation elsewhere...was going to try liver support herbs, but appetite is a little down, so is the coughing.
Thanks,
Alice

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Asthma coughing vs. "hairball" coughing is difficult to differentiate.

The latter is often associated with increased shedding or increased grooming whereas the former is more frequently associated with a decreased BEAM.

Regardless, both are great symptoms to use to better understand her internal imbalance as well as to monitor responses to homeopathic medicines.

The elevated liver tests are more indicative of an internal inflammatory condition and are related to the cough (test abnormalities are internal symptoms whereas coughing is an external one).

Are you working with a vet homeopath in addition to your local vet?

 

[AliceR]

Thanks, Dr. Jeff. Gritzi's BEAM seems good, except appetite has always been off and on. She tends to cough a couple hours before dawn. I am going to get an air purifier for the room.

She won't eat the food with a liver support supplement in it.

Have not started to work with a vet homeopath yet, still working with my other cat, Sunshine ( blood in urine)- this last remedy for her may be working. I have also scheduled an ultrasound for March as well as a consult with an internist. I have a hard time when more than one animal is sick at the same time.

Alice

 

[Dr. Jeff]

I'm so glad to hear that Sunshine is better!

Yes, it's very difficult when more than one of our loved ones have health challenges at the same time.?

Further non-invasive diagnostics for Gritzi can definitely give you valuable info about other internal symptoms and help reach a diagnosis (which is just a collection of symptoms).

Big yes to an air purifier and you may also want to consider pillow and mattress dust mite covers for the bed she sleeps on.

Your immune stimulant sounds fine to try as long as there are no other potentially harmful ingredients.

One in liquid form that works well for cats is Liquid Immuno from Rx Vitamins:

Liquid Immuno- 4 oz. - HomeVet

Provides Support For The Immune System

www.homevet.com

 

[AliceR]

Hello Dr. Jeff and Dr.Christina,

I am continuing on this thread to remind you of the background of my cat, Gritzi.

Since her elevated liver values, I have been giving her a liver supplement (milk thistle for almost 4 weeks)

She had been doing great, eating well, taking her supplement in a little Fancy Feast, BEAM was good. She was playing, eating well, going outside in her enclosure, barely coughing (once a day maybe for 3 sec)

On the 6th, she somehow caught a bird in the enclosure and brought it inside. Unfortunately, it was dead. I took it away. That evening, since she had been eating so well, I put her supplement in a higher quality food. She wouldn't eat it, so I put in Fancy Feast and she ate it. So, in retrospect, I would say her appetite was a little down. She didn't sleep in bed with me as she usually does, she remained on her bed.

On April 7th, she came out for breakfast, but wouldn't eat. Her energy was down a little, but she was moving around, out in the enclosure, etc. She wouldn't eat last night either. I finger fed maybe a tsp of baby food.That night she slept on her own bed. I gave a dose of Aconite.

Today, the 8th, she didn't come out to eat. I gave her probiotic. I finger fed some food, she did sniff my finger, but only ate about a tsp- some she spit out.

I called my homeopathic vet and she thinks there is not enough information. I called Gritzi's regular vet and they are on minimal hours because of Stay at home order. She'll be in at 1pm and let me know if she needs to see her or not.

Any thoughts are appreciated. I will continue to finger feed, but do you think that is a good idea? With slightly elevated liver values, I don't want to tax the liver further. I could try and call my local vet...he is a traditional vet, the other does use herbs.

Thank you,
Alice

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hi Alice-

You mentioned a homeopath so I wonder what the last prescribed remedy was?

Did it seem to work?

If so, perhaps try redosing it if you haven't already.

An exam by your local vet is always a good idea.

 

[AliceR]

I hadn't started working with her, so haven't tried any remedies except the aconite- I was waiting until her liver was retested.

One curious thing- I didn't actually see her catch the Pine Siskin yesterday, but somehow she has brought in birds from the enclosure before- usually they are still alive- and I send them back out. Yesterday I found another dead pine siskin under a window on the other side of the house- I assumed it had hit the screen, and today I found another dead pine siskin near the cat enclosure.

Gritzi seems to be a little more alert- she lay in the sun in the enclosure and I finger fed her again, now with finding the other dead birds, I may try a dose of Arsenicum- it is just so strange with the birds. Though, she didn't eat the bird, she was carrying him in her mouth.

I may try the local vet- not sure what their protocols are.

Thank you,
Alice

 

[Dr. Jean]

As I understand it, it's only been a day. Let's see how she is in tomorrow.

 

[AliceR]

Thanks Dr. Jean. Today is the 3rd day, and still not eating, but she is better overall.

My homeopathic vet recommended Nux last night. She slept on her own bed, and also had a long coughing episode during the night, which she hasn't had in a month.

But, at dawn she got up and had a formed stool and totally runny, like syrup in the box, also she may have vomited up small pieces of hair and she came and sat on me, which she hasn't done since she stopped eating.

I finger fed her a little, gave more Nux, per instructions, and also Probiocin. She came out to eat, but was not interested in eating.

The holistic vet ( she uses herbs)- said I may be able to bring her in (without me present)- I may hold off on that-

Could cats contract salmonella from birds and show immediate symptoms?

Thank you,
Alice

 

[Dr. Jean]

Hi, if she's still not eating and hasn't seen the vet, that's probably your next step. Yes, salmonella can show up pretty quickly, and there are other parasites and nasty critters to be found in wildlife. At least have a stool sample analyzed, probably best sent to a lab and not a simple float like they do in clinics.

 

[AliceR]

Thanks Dr. Jean.

She is doing better- ate a couple bites of food on her own today- finger fed the rest. BEAM is definitely better.

Gave another dose of Nux and continued the Probiocin.

I did not see diarrhea today- she usually goes on one end of the box. So, I will keep monitoring and bring in a stool sample if no improvement.

Thank you,
Alice