Download March/April 2006

VETRI-HEALTH NEWS
Volume 2, Issue 2
March/April 2006
Innovative Ways to Battle Hairballs.
Hairballs
Is your cat suffering from hairball
problems? If you have a cat, then
it is very likely that you have seen
it try to expel a hairball at one
time or another. It is a very
messy, unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling for cat and owner,
but there is a natural and healthy
way to battle hairballs. Hairballs
are the number one condition reported by cat owners. In fact,
50% to 80% of cats produce hairballs as frequently as once a
month.
What is a Hairball?
A hairball is a small mass of hair
that collects in the stomach or intestine caused by licking and
swallowing of hair while grooming. The cat’s body rids itself of
hairballs by vomiting them, but
occasionally they can cause obstructions in the intestinal tract.
Cats continually groom themselves throughout the day so it is
imperative that their skin and
hair coat are healthy and properly
nourished to prevent abnormal or
detrimental conditions such as
hairballs from developing.
A quality hairball
product should
prevent formation of
hairballs, promote
passage of
hairballs, as well
as focuses on
factors that
predispose cats to
hairballs. These
factors include skin,
G.I. tract, and
urinary tract health
all of which can
result in excessive
grooming.
Natural Hairball Solutions
There are many hairball remedies on the
market. Make sure that the hairball
product you use not only reduces hairballs from forming, but also eases the
passage of hairballs and supports skin
and coat health.
There are numerous nutrients in nature
that can help your cat battle hairballs
effectively and support a healthy skin
and coat.
Hairballs are the number one condition
reported by cat owners. In fact, 50% to
80% of cats produce hairballs as
frequently as once a month.
VETRI-HEALTH NEWS
Page 2
Lecithin
Lecithin is a phospholipid (type of fat)
found in all cell membranes. It helps
protect cells from oxidation, which
promotes skin flexibility and resiliency.
Lecithin supports nail, hair, and skin
health as well as skin hydration.
Healthy skin cells directly influence
how well the hair will grow, function
and shed. Deficiencies can lead to loss
of skin elasticity, dryness, scaliness,
increased fur matting, discoloration of
hair, lack of hair re-growth and increased shedding.
Omega 3 & 6 Essential Fatty Acids
Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids support skin
hydration, resiliency, and hair health
to reduce excessive shedding. These
Fatty Acids not only provide essential
fats for skin and coat condition, but
they also protect the G.I. tract and
help in the removal of hairballs that
may have formed.
They also promote the production of
beneficial prostaglandins that support
skin health.
Zinc
Zinc is an important mineral involved
in keratin and collagen production,
which is important for hair and skin
health. Zinc also helps the body use
fatty acids resulting in healthy skin tissue and hair follicles as well as reduced shedding. It supports connective tissue elasticity and skin tone.
Biotin
Biotin reduces shedding and supports
skin tone, elasticity, hair follicle health
and strengthens hair.
Biotin is a member of the B vitamin
family and is needed for healthy hair
and skin. Deficiencies of biotin have
been linked to skin disorders and
shedding.
Biotin is difficult for cats to obtain
through processed foods because it is
so sensitive to commercial processing.
A quality hairball product should
focus on factors that predispose cats
to hairballs, such as skin, G.I. tract,
and urinary tract health, all of which
can result in excessive grooming.
VETRI-HEALTH NEWS
Page 3
Some causes of excessive grooming
include:
Urinary tract irritation, allergies, flea
infestation, and skin conditions,
which lead to excessive grooming,
licking or chewing of the affected area
causing an increase in hair ingestion
and hairball formation.
By the time a cat consumes a prepared
dry or wet food, the biotin level has
been significantly reduced.
Methionine supports hair quality. It
helps aid in the repair of damaged hair
as well as strengthens it. It also supports skin tone and pliability.
and antioxidant compounds called
proanthocyanidins (PCO’s), which
help to prevent disease-causing organisms from attaching to cells that
line the G.I. and urinary tracts.
This allows the bacteria to be
flushed from the body before they
can cause infection.
Methionine is an essential amino acid
commonly lacking in feline diets. It
supplies sulfur, which improves the
tone and pliability of the skin, conditions the hair and strengthens the
claws. The sulfur also helps protect
cells from free radical damage and is
involved in the production of protein.
Psyllium is a soluble fiber that supports G.I. tract health and function.
It helps pass ingested hair through
the G.I. Tract. However, Psyllium
should be provided in levels adequate to deal with hairballs, but not
in excessive levels.
Methionine
Psyllium
Cranberry Powder
Cranberry Powder supports the urinary
tract function and the G.I. Tract common areas of irritation in cats that can
cause excessive grooming and shedding.
Cranberries naturally contain phenols
Looking Ahead In the next issue of Vetri-News
look for: Urinary Tract Infections and Incontinence in Pets– Natural Solutions.
Things to watch for on the label of
generic hairball products:
•
Mineral oil disrupts normal digestion and blocks nutrient absorption in the G.I. tract of cats and
should be used with caution.
•
Diuretic herbs added to some hairball remedies actually dehydrate
your pet, reducing skin moisture
and causing skin and coat dysfunction and increasing hairball
formation.
VETRI-HEALTH NEWS
Page 4
Vetri-Science Laboratories of Vermont
Vetri-Science® Laboratories of Vermont
is committed to helping pets live
healthier lives. Vetri-Science® supplies
a broad range of high quality animal
supplements that are designed to provide the perfect balance between science and nature. We are dedicated to
providing safe and efficacious products
and furthering education of consumer
and professionals alike.
As a fiber, Psyllium acts like a sponge
removing toxins, bacteria, and undigested material as it travels through
the digestive tract. It helps maintain
movement through the colon.
People who want the best for their pets
can rest assured that the purity and
potency of every Vetri-Science® supplement is guaranteed. After all, we are a
brand trusted by veterinarians for over
20 years and we’re proud members of
the National Animal Supplement Council. For additional information, visit
our website.
Hairball Solutions
Using the nutrients discussed, can
prevent hairball formation, help the
passage of already formed hairballs
and support the hair and skin health
of your cat.
20 New England Drive
Essex Junction, Vermont 05453
1-800-882-9993 or 802-878-5508
Visit us at www.vetriscience.com