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Expert: - 12/17/2009


Question
What over-the-counter or home solutions can you suggest for a six year old female cat who regurgitates at least twice a day after eating.  This is an ongoing 2 to 3 year old issue.  Maggie was seen by a vet a year ago who check stool sample and found no infestations.  It is definitely regurgitation, not vomiting.  Wet or dry food comes back up in whole chunks.  Maggie is alert, very active and bright.  She is a mouser who loves the field outside at night, and sleeps in the house all day. I live very close to a metro park system and there are many deer and other small wild life around (field mice, rabbits, garden snakes, etc.).  Maggie gets her rabies and other necessary shots as needed.  I feed her Purina One or Kibbles and Bits dry food as well as once a day wet Friskies.  Even with the chronic and daily regurgitation, Maggie shows no signs of being underweight and no signs of lethargy or any other illness.  Any suggestions?  Thank you.

Answer
Regurgitation is when the animal eats food and then brings it right back up within about 5 mins. Vomiting whole food is not unusual but is usually caused by an intolerance to the food. It isn't an allergy, but the food is irritating her stomach and so she brings it back up.

You should get some tapeworm medicine for Maggie and change her food to Science Diet Sensitive stomach formula. This food is made especially for cats like her that vomit up their food.

You should probably change her hunting patterns also if you want to keep her a long time. Most cats disappear at night from coyotes, dog packs, raccoon fights,etc. My cat hunts too, but only in the day and she sleeps in at night where it is safe. That is how my cats live to be 16, 15, 19 years old. That and feeding only Science Diet to them.

The food she is eating is full of dyes, garbage grade by products, sugars and fats. I would make the switch slowly over 7 days and you will be amazed at the difference in her coat after three weeks.

She will be so soft it is unreal!!
So take the three bag challenge and see what it will do for Maggie.

http://www.feedingisbelieving.com/believe/3BagChallengeForm.jsp  

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

Expertise

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience

I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

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Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

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Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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