Enzymes
A latest answer investigated in a research is the feeding of protease enzymes that degrade the hair, thereby stopping the formation of hairballs. This may very well be efficient together with a high-fiber weight loss program. [11]
Egg yolk lecithin
Egg yolk incorporates lecithin, which is a supply of choline. Choline is a vitamin needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, a compound notably necessary for the contraction of gastrointestinal muscular tissues. As we now have seen, one of many hypotheses for the reason for hairballs is a scarcity of gastrointestinal motility, which makes the supplementation of choline an attention-grabbing possibility. [19]
One other means lecithin may assistance is that it acts as an emulsifier, binding fats and water collectively. By binding to the fats in hairballs, it may assist break them down.
As one of many richest sources of choline, frequently feeding rooster or quail egg yolk would possibly assist with hairballs. Nevertheless, for a cat vulnerable to hairballs, feeding egg yolk lecithin straight may be extra useful. There isn’t any research on the efficacy of egg yolk lecithin, however it’s value a attempt if different options aren’t working on your cat.
I might suggest beginning with lower than a capsule and progressively rising to 1 or two capsules a day.
My expertise with egg yolk lecithin has been fairly optimistic. After a number of months of exams with certainly one of my Norwegian Forest cats vulnerable to common hairballs, it lowered the frequency from weekly to about as soon as a month. I discovered that one capsule (300 mg) a day was an efficient dosage, and this selection labored greatest for her, whereas fiber was ineffective.
Lubricants
Often, when your cat is in discomfort, utilizing lubricants within the form of mineral oil resembling flavoured petroleum jelly may also help an present hairball move via the digestive tract.
Nevertheless, this method doesn’t forestall hairballs however solely assists once they have already fashioned. [2]
To conclude, it’s troublesome to confidently say whether or not common hairballs are a standard or regarding phenomenon. Nevertheless, it seems that very frequent hairballs, particularly when related to different signs resembling lack of urge for food, may very well be indicative of gastrointestinal illness.
Relating to hairball treatments, some choices exist, however remember the fact that research are missing, so take them with a grain of salt. Don’t hesitate to experiment to seek out what works on your particular cats.
Sources
[1] Kim, H. S. et al. (2019) “Effects of coat length and faecal hair removal on measured nutrient digestibility in cats.”, Journal of feline drugs and surgical procedure, 21(4), pp. 379–386.
[2] Cannon M. (2013) “Hair balls in cats: a normal nuisance or a sign that something is wrong?”, Journal of feline drugs and surgical procedure, 15(1), pp. 21–29.
[3] Beynen, A. C., Middelkoop, J. & Saris, D. H. (2011) “Clinical Signs of Hairballs in Cats Fed a Diet Enriched with Cellulose.”, American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 6(2), pp. 69-72.
[4] Haynes, Ok. J., Anderson, S. E., & Laszlo, M. P. (2010) “Nasopharyngeal trichobezoar foreign body in a cat.”, Journal of feline drugs and surgical procedure, 12(11), pp. 878–881.
[5] Kottwitz, J., & Munsterman, A. S. (2013) “Pyloric trichobezoar in a Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis).”, Journal of zoo and wildlife drugs : official publication of the American Affiliation of Zoo Veterinarians, 44(4), pp. 1111–1114.
[6] Weber, Mickaël et al. (2015) “Influence of the dietary fibre levels on faecal hair excretion after 14 days in short and long-haired domestic cats.”, Veterinary drugs and science, 1(1), pp. 30–37.
[7] Norsworthy, Gary D et al. (2013) “Diagnosis of chronic small bowel disease in cats: 100 cases (2008-2012).”, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, 243(10), pp. 1455–1461.
[8] Dann, J. R., Adler, M. A., Duffy, Ok. L., & Giffard, C. J. (2004) “A potential nutritional prophylactic for the reduction of feline hairball symptoms.”, The Journal of diet, 134(8 Suppl), pp. 2124S–2125S.
[9] Loureiro, B. A. et al. (2014) “Sugarcane fibre may prevents hairball formation in cats.”, Journal of dietary science, 3, e20.
[10] Donadelli, R. A., & Aldrich, C. G. (2020) “The effects of diets varying in fibre sources on nutrient utilization, stool quality and hairball management in cats.”, Journal of animal physiology and animal diet, 104(2), pp. 715–724.
[11] Miltenburg, T. Z. et al. (2021) “Effects of combined use of keratinolytic enzymes and sugarcane fibre on the hairball excretion in cats.”, Journal of animal physiology and animal diet, 105 Suppl 2, pp. 129–137.
[12] German, A. J., & German, A. C. (2013). Unhealthy hair day. Journal of feline drugs and surgical procedure, 15(1), 6–7.
[13] Loureiro, B. A., Monti, M., Pedreira, R. S., Vitta, A., Pacheco, P. D. G., Putarov, T. C., & Carciofi, A. C. (2017). Beet pulp consumption and hairball faecal excretion in mixed-breed shorthaired cats. Journal of animal physiology and animal diet, 101 Suppl 1, 31–36.
[14] Antunes Donadelli, Renan & Aldrich, Greg. (2017). 236 Impact of grass as a dietary technique to assist hairball management in cats.. Journal of Animal Science. 95. 116. 10.2527/asasann.2017.236.
[15] Woerde, D. J., Hoffmann, Ok. L., Kicinski, A., & Brown, N. L. (2019). Oesophageal obstruction because of trichobezoars in two cats. JFMS open reviews, 5(1), 2055116918823581.
[16] Dowgray, N., Pinchbeck, G., Eyre, Ok., Biourge, V., Comerford, E., & German, A. J. (2022). Growing old in Cats: Proprietor Observations and Medical Discovering in 206 Mature Cats at Enrolment to the Cat Potential Growing old and Welfare Examine. Frontiers in veterinary science, 9, 859041.
[17] Wilson, S., Dobbins, D., Kawalilak, L., & Parambeth, J. C. (2023). Endoscopic administration of Coca-Cola for medical administration of a wedged intestinal trichobezoar in a cat. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 64(8), 747–752.
[18] Pawenski, M., Smola, C. C., Dionne, T., & Larson, M. (2023). Histopathologic analysis and affected person traits in cats with small intestinal obstructions secondary to trichobezoars. Journal of feline drugs and surgical procedure, 25(9), 1098612X231196231.
[19] Zhao, F., Li, R., Liu, Y., & Chen, H. (2023). Views on lecithin from egg yolk: Extraction, physicochemical properties, modification, and purposes. Frontiers in diet, 9, 1082671.
