Need idea's for Giz....

Several months back I had to take her to the emergency vet because she was acting strange, running around howling, squatting, straining, and not producing anything. Finally she passed a long dry turd on the kitchen floor and I took that to the ER vet with us. It was decided that since she went back to normal, that was the problem..

Ok, she is doing the same thing again this evening and keeps going to the litter box and not producing anything. After that first incident, I started adding about 1/4 a teaspoon of Vaseline to her canned food treat at night about 3 to 4 times a week.. I was not sure how much to give her and for awhile that seemed to be working..

What can I give her on a regular basis and how much, to keep her stool soft that she will take willingly? This is of great concern to me just due to how I work and how long they are left here alone. ANY ideas? PLEASE....:confused:

I have looked online and didn't find much..

I wonder if vet hairball products work to soften the stool. I would think they would, as hair can get quite resistant. Phone your vet and ask.

Poor Giz! Hugs to her!:love::love:

my vet once recommended fish oil capsules.

I used to use petromalt to prevent hairballs. That includes the petroleum. And as I recall, it comes in a salmon flavor. Sounds like she has hairball issues:

Symptoms of hairballs include constipation, straining during a bowel movement, dry cough, and vomiting after meals. The use of Petromalt and regular brushing of cat's coat will generally eliminate these problems.
- http://www.petco.com/product/2700/Se...ll-Relief.aspx

It comes in a paste and as a treat:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod...=10#resultBody

You can also use melted butter:
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pet...r-cats-ga7.htm

Oh, I say "used to use" because since I switched to high quality food, (Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul kibble) and then to grain free, my cats no longer have hair ball issues.

Salmon oil is available at pet stores...they have a type that is less stinky - but just smelly enough that cats love it! I transferred it in to a pump bottle I had so it was easy to give a squirt over the food. Mixed in with the wet food, and then used that to top the dry food.

Once you Google hairball remedies, you find lots of "hits."

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-hairballs.htm

-- Read the side baron the above, there are some which are petroleum free.

http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanageme.../hairballs.htm

I found the baby food squash idea interesting! LOL

Psyllium fiber (Metamucil, or generic) has been proven safe in cats. Smudge gets it twice daily and is much more comfortable than he used to be.

Some cats also enjoy canned pumpkin, either mixed with canned food or just plain!

Vaseline (and treats like Temptations that contain petroleum jelly) aren't always indicated because they prevent cats from being able to absorb all the nutrients they need from their food.

Love, Columbine

THANK! I knew you all would come up with something for me to try! I even tried giving her some milk last nigh but she promptly threw that right back up. I tried fish oil but she wouldn't touch it. Didn't know they had salmon oil so I will look at the pet store and try that. I will try everything suggested until I find something that works for her. THANKS!!

Prayers for Giz! I don't have any other suggestions, but have heard pumpkin on a regular basis does well. Let us know how it goes! :love:

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Originally Posted by columbine

Vaseline (and treats like Temptations that contain petroleum jelly) aren't always indicated because they prevent cats from being able to absorb all the nutrients they need from their food.

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Exactly right! That is why there are so many options.

However, since she seems constipated NOW, you may want to use that for the first few days, just to help her and give her relief.

Which ever you use, be sure to follow the label instructions. Things like Petromalt, you use daily for 5 days or until she is clear, then once or twice per week.

Canned pumpkin works like a charm, but unfortunately the pumpkin crop failed last fall and there is almost none available in the local grocery stores :(:(

But as a substitute you can use a winter type squash (butternut, spagetti, etc), and even frozen peas.

I sure hope the crop is better this coming year because the frozen squash smells up the house when you heat it up :rolleyes:

Would adding water to her food help in the short term? Maybe she isn't drinking enough. Am no expert but seems to me that softer in means softer out ;) Hope you find a solution soon :love:

:) Very true = could be low water intake.. Yes I am with the idea of Pumpkin & or Liq Chicken Broth.. That broth most times will make them thirsty & then they go drink drink & that does the trick.. Good Luck & let us know about our Sweet Giz..

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Originally Posted by Pawsitive Thinking

Would adding water to her food help in the short term? Maybe she isn't drinking enough. Am no expert but seems to me that softer in means softer out ;) Hope you find a solution soon :love:

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I think I have chicken broth here...YES! I do!

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Originally Posted by emily_the_spoiled

Canned pumpkin works like a charm, but unfortunately the pumpkin crop failed last fall and there is almost none available in the local grocery stores :(:(

But as a substitute you can use a winter type squash (butternut, spagetti, etc), and even frozen peas.

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Well, I knew we didn't have any canned pumpkin in our stores, didn't realize why! I need it for Tasha daily, as well as Lacey. Hmm, need to get the butternut squash.

I wouldn't have thought peas work the same way at all! How odd!

Laura, Storm had the same problem as your Giz and he also scared me but he was able to pass a large stool even though he was in a lot of pain.:( I e-mailed my vet about it and she just said to give him hairball medicine,Petromalt, at least 2 times a week. So far this has done the trick. If she still ends up having a lot of problems then she may need to be put on lactulose daily. My RB Pepper had to take this and it sure helped him. Good luck.:)

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Originally Posted by Freedom

Well, I knew we didn't have any canned pumpkin in our stores, didn't realize why! I need it for Tasha daily, as well as Lacey. Hmm, need to get the butternut squash.

I wouldn't have thought peas work the same way at all! How odd!

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If it helps you can get frozen squash and use that (it is easier to prepare that real squash (which is off season right now and VERY expensive). I have had to do some research into this so I talked with a nutritionist and they suggested peas or squash as alternatives to the pumpkin...

KAK, I had to pass by my vets office today so I stopped and talked to him about it and he gave me some lactulose for her. I'll start her on it tonight. I did get some olive oil in her last night without a problem but working like I do, I want something I KNOW will work... all I have to do is figure out the right dose to give her and how often.. He said that is trial and error since each ones case is different.

She hasn't had anymore episodes of the howling and squatting since the other night but there is no stool in her box still... I wonder if she is going somewhere else that I haven't found... I AM watching her really close all day, every day.

Hopefully she'll be able to go soon and if not she might even need a kitty enema. My poor RB Pepper needed this:( but then he was put on I think 1-1 1/2ml of lactulose every day and he never had this problem again. I think it goes by weight and he was a fairly large cat. He never liked the taste of it so I just had to quickly squirt it down his throat. Good luck.:)

Laura, how is Giz doing?

Laura, I don't have any other ideas to add to the excellent suggestions you've been getting, but you have our prayers and good wishes that Giz is soon doing much better.

The Lactulose the vet gave me for her is doing the trick and she is even throwing up a LOT less furballs. I've also been giving a little to Amy and it is helping her also with softer stools. I got online and looked this stuff up and I can get a 16 ounce bottle of it for half of what the vet charged me for only 2 or 3 ounces.... however, it probably would take me years to use that much. Geez, the markup they charge at the vets these days!! I may just call around to different vets and see what they would charge for a refill when I need one...

Laura, I'm glad to hear that it's working. When I used it for my RB Pepper,I just had it filled at my local pharmacy. I'm sure that Walmart,Target,Costco if you have one, or Sam's would be a lot less expensive to have it filled there. Just go to your vet and have him fill out a prescription for Giz and then you should be able to go any where and save money too. Good luck.:)