Hairballs…possible IBD?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Beth and Toby

Beth and Toby

Member Since 2022
Ever since my cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, his hairball episodes have grown exponentially. We are up to a hairball/vomiting episode twice a week now. Before diabetes, he had maybe one every 6 months. And when he has a hairball, it upsets his tummy so much that he pukes 2-3 more times after hairball. I have to feed him baby food for the next 12-24 hours to get his tummy back on track. I’ve tried a digestive aid for hairballs, pumpkin and egg yolk powder and nothing helps. I also brush him daily. I’m wondering if this is a sign of IBD.. anyone have any ideas on what it could be or what I should do? Thanks!
 
I’m not an expert on hairballs, although I am an expert at cleaning rugs ;)

I would say that if you are seeing a marked increase in vomiting that the best thing to do is to go to the vet for a Texas A&M GI panel, the results of which can help diagnose intestinal disease. You could also schedule an abdominal ultrasound -or both. IBD can present so differently in each cat, but it’s suspicious how he won’t eat well after one of these episodes and you have to go with the baby food.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I’m not an expert on hairballs, although I am an expert at cleaning rugs ;)

I would say that if you are seeing a marked increase in vomiting that the best thing to do is to go to the vet for a Texas A&M GI panel, the results of which can help diagnose intestinal disease. You could also schedule an abdominal ultrasound -or both. IBD can present so differently in each cat, but it’s suspicious how he won’t eat well after one of these episodes and you have to go with the baby food.
Click to expand...
I actually have an appointment next Friday with a specialist about his diabetes being hard to regulate. Guess I’ll ask about all of the GI stuff too. Looks like it’s gonna be an expensive trip!
 
The Texas A&M GI panel can tell you if something is wrong with the GI system, but will not diagnose what it is. The next step would be an ultrasound. There are other GI conditions besides IBD that can cause multiple hairballs. I am so happy I have mostly hardwood floor throughout the house.

Is there any chance you changed food or type of protein when your cat became diabetic? Chicken is a common allergen. What does the vomit look like? Food, foamy?

Since Toby is on a low carb diet and up to 6.0 units of Lantus, I would ask the vet to run two tests for you. One is the IGF-1 test (tests for acromegaly) and the IAA test (insulin auto antibodies). Both of those tests are blood work that go to Michigan State University. Both of those conditions can mean the need for a higher dose of insulin than most cats. My cat had both of those conditions, Suzanne's cat had acromegaly. About 1 in 4 diabetic cats has it.
 
Before diabetes, he was on Halo Sensitive Stomach Holistic Seafood medley. He would have a hairball/vomiting episode like once every 6 months. That’s why this is so crazy to me. I have tried so many different proteins. The problem also is that he is sooooo picky. I know anything with beef in it is immediate puking, but everything else really seems associated with hairball puking. He will sometimes vomit just a hairball, sometimes a hairball mixed with food. The problem is that he doesn’t just stop at puking hairball..he’ll keep vomiting every ten minutes after first hairball vomit until he’s just puking liquid. I guess I could try no chicken for a week and see what happens. Finding him something he’ll eat is the challenge.

I had planned to get both those tests done on him and now I’ll ask about the GI test. Thanks!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top