Artie vs Hairball-Round 2

[cabenson]

Our little guy, Artie got sick again this weekend. We took him to MedVet Sat night and early indications showed a possible case of pancreatitis. He was in so much pain. His Xrays were suspect, but they thought it may be a result of his surgery 3 months ago. Uh, no.

Sun morning they called to tell us it was yet another intestinal blockage and he needed surgery. Luckily this time they didn't have to make a GI incision-they were able to manually manipulate it into the colon. He did develop some pulmonary edema, and with his heart condition thy really watched him post-op.

This morning they say he is resting comfortably and they were gonna try offering him food. He is also being very affectionate-damn whore. I am just waiting for the call that says I can come get him. He may have to stay another night. Either way, Mrs. CB is taking a day off to be with him tomorrow. We are really lucky to have a very modern, high-tech emergency care place to take our babies, but that care is costly. These boys are melting the credit cards.

So now we have to deal with these hairballs. We have added hairball control food, we give him kittymalt several times a week. Kitty grass is an option, it would help all the cats. I think we may need to start having him groomed.I know a few of you get "Lion Cuts" for your longer-haired cats? Does this help?

BTW, who got snow and how much? 4-5" here and it is freaking freeing.

Comments

[ariestess]

If he likes kitty treats, there are a couple brands out there that have hairball remedy treats specifically. I don't remember the names atm, particularly because we put our kitty treats in snap-lock containers on our desks for when ours are being good. But they seem to help some...

[ralst.livejournal.com]

Poor little boy. I hope he's feeling better soon and in the meantime milking you for all the treats and tummy rubs he can manage.

[theholyinnocent.livejournal.com]

My crazy calico was a longhair, but she was so bad about going to either the vet or the groomer she had to be sedated to be groomed. It ended up being too traumatic to deal with for all parties. Brushing her with a wire brush helped keep her snags and whatnot to a minimum. Artie sounds pretty well tempered though, so maybe if you get him a Lion Cut on a regular basis that will minimize the hairball incidents.

We didn't get any snow. :( It's supposed to get damn cold here tomorrow.

[dianeb-047.livejournal.com]

God, I think hairballs are the worst thing a cat can suffer! I feel bad for both your cats and your credit cards. I brush my cat every day no matter the season, I feed her hairball food and give her that greasy hairball treatment (tuna flavored, which she hates, go figure), and *still* she hacks. So far, thankfully, she HAS hacked them up, rather than getting a blockage, but still. Haven't tried kitty grass yet. But she's made it to 14, so maybe I'm doing all I need to already.

I don't know about the "Lion cut," but perhaps you should try it. I suspect it'll make Artie look a little odd, but if it keeps him from swallowing too much hair, then maybe that's the way to go. Certainly that's going to be cheaper and safer than additional surgeries! And, really, vets nowadays can offer any treatment to pets that doctors can offer humans, so you know they're GONNA offer.

We have, so far, escaped anything but flurries here lately, but the last few days have been, as you say, freaking freezing, with the wind constantly blowing. Thank God we got all our windows replaced a few years ago! Geez. What's January and February gonna be like it it's this cold now? Let's not answer that.

Keep us posted on puss.

[reefermadniss.livejournal.com]

Hadn't heard of a "lion cut" but I had though of doing about the same thing to our shop cat with a set of clippers. He's furred up like a Newfoundland, got dense underfur and then long hair. That cat is built for the cold!

We used to feed our elder-kitty hairball formula, but she can't eat it anymore. She barfs on a regular schedule anyway due to her hyper-thyroid condition.