Should diabetic cats be taking a pre/probiotic?

[Angie & Celia (Cruz)]

As mentioned in previous thread, Celia has been constipated since yesterday for the first time (and has chronic hairball hacking) and have been reading up on this here and will be getting her Miralax and Psyllium Husk today (& Vet's Best Hairball Relief) after giving her pumpkin yesterday, but came across that: pre- & or probiotic supplements may help in this in the long run. Any experience w/this and if so, is there any kind to avoid for sugar kitties? Her multivitamin has Bacillus Coagulans 5 mill CFU in it already, but didn't know if maybe I should buy her an extra (pre/probiotic) supplement in case that wasn't sufficient. Thanks!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Most of the members here only use a probiotic if there's a particular reason. Diarrhea is a big reason to grab a probiotic (specifically, S. boulardii). Cats with IBD will often benefit from taking a probiotic (e.g., Visbiome).

I'm going to tab @Wendy&Neko who has more experience with probiotics than I do.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Chronic hairball hacking is not normal. It's an indication of something else happening in the gut and should be discussed with the vet.

Besides IBD as Sienne mentioned or other GI issue, kitties taking antibiotics can benefit from probiotics.

More on constipation at this site: https://www.felineconstipation.org/