Gretel Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Tatum is licking beds again this morning With 6 coated dogs in the house they do get hairy. I wash them regularly. I really don't know why she does it but I wish she wouldn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 Nova just chucked up a huge vomit, no warning. No hair this time. Might be something else going on. Vet in the morning I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dididog Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Poor Nova, fingers crossed everything's alright Lisa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Oh dear poor thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 He's acting perfectly normal. Stomach feels fine, not dehydrated, mucous membranes fine. But I just get so worried when it comes to stomachs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Vet sounds a good plan :) Hope it's something simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 (edited) Lili has a sensitive tummy too Lisa, she hasn't vomited a hairball but she does often retch as if there is hair or something in her throat. Last time she vomited a few times for no reason she had a case of colitis. Hope Nova is ok Edited June 1, 2014 by Dame Aussie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Good luck at the vet. Hopefully it's just a little stomach upset and he'll be all better by tomorrow :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 (edited) Thought I would give an update. We went to the vet to check for a blockage. Nothing there, vet thinks the hair is triggering the vomiting as well as he is possibly becoming intolerant to something in his food. So he's been on a limited diet of sweet potato and turkey mince (he gets the runs from chicken) for a few days as they would normally fast dogs, but Nova also hungry vomits bile! But since I've limited his food to tiny meals 3 times a day, no vomits, increasing the mixture today and will start adding his normal food back into it on Sunday if no more vomits. For others with hairball issues we were recommended to use flavourless Psyllium husk or Metamucil, 2 teaspoons a day (one in morning meal, one evening). As he was vomiting as well the vet didn't want him on paraffin incase he got diarrhoea. Apparently this also helps get the hair passing though. Guess we'll know if it's working properly if we don't get any hairballs this week. Although it has increased the size of his poops they are nice and firm logged shaped, and you can see the hair in them. Edited June 6, 2014 by LisaCC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 :) psyllium is wonderful stuff - glad things are looking better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Thanks I shall try Tatum on the psyllium. Though maybe not just now? She 6 weeks pregnant so not sure I should change her diet much at this stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 (edited) psyllium is just the husks from the plant .They absorb HEAPS of moisture ..and swell into a gel. I was told to always soak it well before adding to food - and start of at about a 1/2 teaspoon of dry psyllium husk first . ( this all Hamlet ever had after his obstruction surgery ..and it worked very well.) if it is fed dry ..then it MAY - may- absorb too much liquid from the gut, and actually CAUSE constipation ;) it is not really a diet change as such ... merely a glob of soluble fibre to help stuff pass easily thru the intestine :) I have used it in humans/dogs/cats/horse - for digestion/furballs/sand colic. Edited June 6, 2014 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Thanks. I'm obviously most concerned she doesn't get another obstruction while she's pregnant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Oh I wasn't told about the soaking it first bit. Doesn't say it on the bottle I bought either. I am mixing it very well into his sloppy food mixture though. And the teaspoon I'm using isn't heaped and probably smaller than a normal teaspoon actually. No constipation so far… might add a bit more water into it just to make sure, thanks Perse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 (edited) just so you can see how much it absorbs - put a teaspoon in some water in a glass, and leave it for 20 mins or so. - it's amazing! :) Edited June 6, 2014 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 I've always added a teaspoon of Psyllium husks to each of my Cavaliers food. I've never soaked it first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 I've always added a teaspoon of Psyllium husks to each of my Cavaliers food. I've never soaked it first. fair enough - I am just going on what my vet explained to me :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 (edited) Back on his normal food now, so Earthborn Holistic grain free (fish one) with a turkey neck as one meal. No vomits and no hairballs! Very happy it's not an intolerance to his food. I am adding 1tsp of the psyllium husk in to his breakfast each day and that seems to be working with the hair balls. If he keeps it all down the next week I'll start slowly adding some extras back that I normally like to give him too such as eggs, sardines and more meaty bones He's going through some minor shedding now, which is probably why the hairballs started (even with daily brushing), so hopefully when he has his first big coat drop come spring/summer the psyllium husk continues to work. I prefer not to wash my dogs too often but as so much more hair comes out with a wash I might give weekly or fortnightly rinses to him during the shedding seasons to help prevent it the hairballs. Might need to invest in some of that candula tea rinse to stop his skin from drying out! Never thought it would be a bad thing to have a dog that likes to keep himself clean! Edited June 12, 2014 by LisaCC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Glad he's doing well :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 That's so good it's not an intolerance could you just wash him with water as it will still remove a lot of fur, but shouldn't dry the skin like using shampoo would? I don't know as I'm not at all familiar with having dog with a big fur coat, maybe it would result in him having a very bad hair day or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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