However, it is somewhat high in magnesium, so may be contraindicated in dogs who have an active infection with an elevated urinary pH, where struvite crystal formation may be a risk. It’s great for small upsets, like helping a cat pass a hairball (many cats will have diarrhea around the time the hairball is coming up). Do you want to understand how to feed your cat for optimal health and long life? Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. It is very safe and non-toxic. Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) is an exception to the fears and cautions surrounding the use of herbs in animals. Once the hairball passes, add half the amount of oil or slippery elm to your kitty's food weekly or every two weeks to help prevent them. Whip with a fork. Get our free Pet Food Label Quiz! Some formulations may also improve your I use slippery elm bark for my baby boy. WebMD: Slideshow: Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat, PetMD: Healthy Snack Ideas: 'People' Food for Dogs and Cats. It’s important to make sure to buy it from a reputable source because some products are contaminated with bark taken from diseased trees affected with Dutch elm disease. Many people commonly extrapolate a dose of herbs by using the pet’s weight compared to the “standard” 150-pound human. The syrup will keep refrigerated up to five days. Egg Yolk Lecithin goes straight to the source, breaking down the fat that binds up the fur, freeing the fur so it can pass through the way it's supposed to. The part of the tree used is the inner bark, which is soft and stringy. I initially tried a powder & water mixture I got online, but now I just sprinkle 1/4 tsp directly on his food up to 3x daily. In the case of cystitis (bladder inflammation), Slippery Elm is thought to soothe the bladder lining. This plant is of slippery elm powder (cut and sifted slippery elm is only marginally helpful here) into about an ounce (more if you have a finicky cat) of room temperature milk. In fact, slippery elm for pets is very safe and nontoxic. This is why you'll sometimes find your kitty coughing and retching to rid herself of this uncomfortable ball of hair sitting in the pit of her stomach. Small, frequent dosages of pentosan has been shown in humans to be more effective than single large doses. Stir until the powder becomes damp. Then check out our expanded, updated special report, Oregon’s Wild Harvest Slippery Elm Organic Capsules. Several people have reported that the Slippery Elm bark they were using tasted bitter, or turned bitter with time. To help cat lovers and animal advocates understand the truth about declawing that so many veterinarians and organizations lie about, Dr. Jean has written a detailed, fully-referenced ebook that is 100% free to download and share! If your cat is just starting to have intestinal upsets, try this. I have used slippery elm in my cats (and one of my horses) on occasion and have seen it have nearly miraculous effects in some animals. Jean Hofve DVM and Little Big Cat, Inc. All rights reserved. Do you really know what's in your cat's food? Luckily, there are plenty of great hairball remedies, medicines, and prevention tools out there. Dr. Jean’s  book, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care: An Illustrated Handbook, co-authored with Celeste Yarnall, and 2010 winner of a Certificate of Excellence and the prestigious Muse Medallion award from the Cat Writers’ Association, is available now at your favorite online bookstores! Author Anitra Frazier gives the following recipe for Slippery Elm Bark syrup in her book, The New Natural Cat, which applies equally well to our canine companions when adjusted for weight: Into a small saucepan place 1/2 cup cold water and 1 teaspoon powdered slippery elm bark. Slippery Elm is one of the herbs used in the original formulation of “Essiac,” an herbal brew widely promoted as a cancer-fighter. It’s not unusual for cats to have hairballs, but it is messy to clean up and it is uncomfortable for kitty to cough them up. But take heart, there are things you can do to help your cat digest this hair naturally. It may interfere with metabolism of medicine, so please give any meds at … Then check out our expanded, updated special report, WHAT CATS SHOULD EAT including Dr. Jean’s list of Approved Brands! Another way to help with hairballs is the use of the homeopathic herbal medication made from tree bark called slippery elm. Lubricant to help heal mouth ulcers from all causes ( see recipe below ) some formulations also! Conclusion: for every 10 pounds ), slippery elm is thought to soothe the bladder lining vary on. Hairball Formula cat Gel in tasty salmon flavor might help get your excessive... 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