Posted on 07/31/2012 1:39:48 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse
In my short time here I've noticed that a lot of people on this site give great advice concerning pets.
The cat is at the vets office and he's being kept overnight to determine if they need to operate. He's a large Himalayan mixed with Maine Coon.
He hasn't held down food or water since late yesterday afternoon. He had surgery back in early June for similar symptoms. The vet removed a mass of hair from his stomach. I think part of the problem is he's been cleaning the dog who has much courser fur.
The vet also determined he's a little constipated.
He's about four years old and hasn't had these problems until recently. We just moved into a house in East Texas. Until a year ago, we lived near the Canadian border. He's been treated for fleas and worms.
He doesn't like Hartz hair ball remedy. The vet already said both animals must have their coats kept shaved short for the rest of their lives.
Can anyone offer any home remedies that will help him? We recently lost our ancient 20 year old cat. We're not prepared to lose another pet.
Cats are pure carnivores; they can’t digest carbs. The dry, pasty, carb-heavy cat food most of them eat contributes to hairball formation, and IMO, is a big reason so many cats develop diabetes. If you feed your baby an all meat food, like Blue Buffalo wild, he shouldn’t be bothered with hairballs anymore.
Cowards! ;)
Yes. I forgot that I have to be very specific with freepers.
Yes!! That's the grain your kitty's stomach is rejecting. Mine did the same thing. The only time it happens now is if they eat and just happen to have a hairball (yes, I look through the barf).
You too should look at their website. They have both crunchies and mushy food.
My Mimi is a boy so I use the chicken crunchies (they are free form crunchie eaters) because it has less ash than then tuna and salmon. However, for mushy food, I give them the fish....cause they LOVE it!
Just try it for a week. It took less than that time for me to notice a difference.
The best part....they are digesting their food now. Fat Mimi was 15.5 pounds when I first took her to my most excellent vet before her surgery. She is now 12.6 pounds, after our last suture removal, check up and xray.
I mentioned the food change. Even though she's digesting all her food, she still lost weight.
Don’t just check out a vet. I’m only saying that because I allowed my cat to suffer for 3 years doing just so.
Ask your neighbors for references. See them 1st.
Ask your wife if she’d like more guns or save your kitty.
I’m a little confused. Did your cat have her surgery before you moved or after?
Laxatone definitely helps. Our vet also suggests mixing in small amounts of canned pumpkin into the cat food — provides a little more fiber so that the furballs pass easier.
Use these with a regular brushing regimen.
My one cat loved Laxatone. I used to keep it in one of the kitchen drawers, and every time he heard that drawer open, he’d come running. We used to get it from the vet.
My wife is a groomer and while she will groom cats, she charges a lot for it. Cats are generally more difficult to groom than dogs and since most of them don't get groomed very often, they're not used to the process. Their skin is also different, making it easier to get knicked. They are also more apt to bite once their patience runs out. Some of the worst bites my wife has received were from cats. To many groomers the risk just isn't worth the trouble.
The wife was just picking on me because I’m getting a new conceal carry piece.
The cat got sick one month after we moved into the house. He just had surgery then we had the flea problem that led to the old cat’s death.
He’s been alright for nearly two months, now he’s vomiting again. At first he would throw up and go straight back to the food bowl. Then he got lethargic (maybe dehydrated?). The vet is keeping him under observation.
A lot of coworkers swear by this vet. I also know some students who have interned there.
BTW....Mimi is a boy; however, when she and her brother Red (whom my mother took) showed up in my backyard I knew immediately Red was a boy and Mimi was a girl, hence her/his name.
So if I go back and forth w/ him/her, that’s why. I mostly refer to her as a girl, lol.
Although, she did respond to the name Mimi very quickly. as long as he/she doesn’t start marching in “pride parades”, I don’t care!!! LOL!!!
Years ago, we had a mixed Maine Coon kitty with similar issues (hair balls and constipation). She did eat the Laxatone but you need to do this on a regular basis. I only purchased tuna with oil and she loved it. You can also try canned pumpkin puree... sounds strange but many cats will eat it. It is high in fiber and helps eliminate the constipation. With the oil/laxatone/fiber... you have to adjust the amount. Too much and the poor kitty leaves a mess. Good luck, Red.
Just to be clear, you mean the cat’s butt, right?
^^^
OMW! You just made me LOL! Thanks.
Change your cats food.
merrickpetcare.com. I changed my cats food to the before grain. Cats cannot digest grains.
They also have mushy food (can) that is grain free.
Someone posted upthread that grains attribute (not exact wording) to hairballs. If your cat has a crap load of undigested grains in his belly, add some furballs and you have a problem.
I still feel guilty over the loss of my eldest, Kitty. I wish I knew then what I know now. We were together 19 years, 1 week and 2 days.
She died, with me, on 12/16/10.
Is your kitty a free form crunchie eater?
Put plain vegetable or wild salmon oil on the cat’s food if you feed dry.
You could also switch to moist food.
Runny poo is better than surgery.
Hope the cat gets well soon!
Same here. Gave me a belly laugh. It took me 3 tries to read it to my husband because I was laughing so much, and that rarely happens to me.
That's a good sign. But please, if you don't have your cats blood panels from your previous vet, ask him to do one. Blood panels tell MUCH about what is going on. That is what determined my Mimi's diagnosis. All her panels came out great...except for her liver.
With the biopsy and blood panel (liver should be highest 112, hers was 216). Because of all the testing, they were able to pin point the problem. Not a cancerous mass but a diaphragmatic hernia, caused by blunt force trauma. That wonderful vet fixed it.
Before we found that out, she was diagnosed w/ chronic asthma, which the 1st vet just dismissed her coughing because of her hair. Yes, it cost money;however, we took these furries in and therefore it is our responsibility to make sure they are cared for.
Very interesting. I will check this out for our catz, too.
Please do. You will find an amazing transformation. I still cannot believe what my eyes see! =)
Their website won’t tell me where I can buy it “live,” or connect me to online ordering. Attempting to find a retailer crashed my internet explorer.
A vet told me years ago neutered male cats are particularly prone to these kind of blockages. Much good advice here. I have 3 cats who won’t take any of the hairball meds so I use a multi-layered approach: (1) meds mixed into the small cans of wet food (I use 3 oz between 3 cats - that way I am sure everyone gets their med); (2) dry food that has furball control; (3) brushing; (4) the dog is clipped since the lot of them insist on grooming him as well as themselves and each other.
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