Egg yolk powder for constipation

[gabicards]

Hello hello! So, my cat Topaz has had chronic constipation ever since a surgery for hip dysplasia back in January - vets haven't been able to find any structural problems that could have caused it, they've done clinical exams to try and assess whether he's in pain, and nothing has resulted in anything that could explain what's causing this. I've been working under the assumption that the meds he had to take following the procedure have made his dysbiosis (diagnosed as "moderate" through AnimalBiome testing last year) exponentially worse.

I'm still working on a diet change - I did do a trial with a home cooked recipe (supposed to be properly balanced, with supplements), which was ideal since he has presumptive IBD and needs novel protein anyway, but the stool remained the exact same (with a slight color change, likely due to the zucchini in the recipe). For now, though, he is back on his Royal Canin Kitten sachet, because I'm still chasing a nutritionist to help me with a new recipe that targets the constipation specifically.

A couple of weeks ago, I started giving him egg yolk powder. He was shedding a lot, so I wanted to use it to help prevent hairballs, too (it's been working, for all I know). I increased the amount slowly. After 10 days giving him just the tip of a teaspoon, I increased the amount a bit last Friday, and he has since been pooping everyday (for the first time since January). On Saturday and on Sunday it was very little of it and very hard, but today it looked almost completely normal - in terms of quantity and consistency. I say "almost", though, because I'm pretty sure I saw a little bit of blood on top of it, which threw me off - it was like a drop, but it has to have been blood. This brings me to my question - could the blood be an indicative that he doesn't tolerate egg yolk? Or could this be something he's getting used to, that could eventually go away?

I did order egg yolk lecithin too, but haven't given that to him.

His behavior is great. He plays, eats, pees and grooms normally. I've had an acupuncture/osteopathy session scheduled for him for a month now, with a specialist, and it will take place tomorrow, so I'm curious as to whether that would help with the constipation too. Ideally I wouldn't do both things that could happen simultaneously, but it seems the egg yolk might have beat the holistic vet by a few days... we'll see. I'm focusing on helping him with this issue while he's young, because I don't want him to be predisposed to megacolon or have to take medication for the rest of his life if I can avoid it. And since he was doing well up until the day of the surgery, I'm sure it caused it somehow, and want to offer him a good chance of treating it before it becomes irreversible. I hope that's still doable.

 

[daftcat75]

Blood in the stool is something to monitor and perhaps discuss with your vet if it’s not a one-off event.

Egg yolk powder can absolutely be used to treat constipation. As long as it doesn’t swing it in the other direction (it’s the one caution I have for egg yolk powder or egg yolk lecithin—it can work too well!), I think you’re doing great if that simple addition fixed up a long standing problem.

 

[gabicards]

He's still pooping everyday! Well, he didn't on Tuesday, but he did very early on Wednesday... after 5 months, I'm choosing to count that as everyday I haven't seen any blood since Monday. I hope I'm not just missing it.

I realized I forgot to mention he's also taking slippery elm bark syrup - but, as I didn't change the frequency or quantity in the past 3 weeks, I don't think it's directly affected the constipation issue. I'm going to reduce the frequency to once a day next week and then stop giving it to him for a while (so he would have been on it for a month total).

Also, he had an acupuncture/osteopathy/chiropractic session with an holistic vet (also a physical therapist vet) and she said he has tension on the pelvic muscle, which likely makes it uncomfortable for him to pass stool. She believes it to be a consequence of his hip dysplasia and the surgery to treat it. She also noticed two of his vertebrae were misaligned, and she aligned them during the session. Her sessions are monthly, but she isn't sure Topaz actually needs it, so I'm supposed to see whether this past session had a positive change and keep her informed.

I had been looking for a good probiotic for him, too... I had him tested by Animal Biome last year and he had a moderate dysbiosis, and then the surgery happened, with all the medication that came with it, so I want to support his gut health better. I settled on Sivomixx, which arrived yesterday, and I will start giving it to him slowly tomorrow, until I reach the recommended dose of a full sachet daily. Their website says a treatment of 3 months should help a cat with constipation - it's supposed to have a high enough bacterial count that it actually populates the gut. We'll see. I'll be curious to do another microbiome testing afterwards to see whether there was an actual change.

 

[Maozer]

Where can I get egg yolk powder?

 

[daftcat75]

Where can I get egg yolk powder?

You can make it:
Make Homemade Dried Egg Yolk Powder

Or buy it premade:
Nope. It looks like they have stopped producing and selling the egg yolk powder due to the uptick in Avian flu and the crazy egg prices.

It’s not that hard to make it. There might be an egg yolk powder on Amazon. Just make sure egg yolk is the only ingredient.

This one looks alright. Just egg yolks. No flow agents or preservatives.
AAA Grade Egg Yolk Powder Gluten-Free OU Kosher Certified (Pasteurized, Made in USA, Produced from the Freshest of Eggs) - 50g/2oz Amazon.com

 

[moxiewild]

Where can I get egg yolk powder?

You can get it on Amazon. This is the one we use. We use their egg white powder for kidney cats too.

 

[moxiewild]

Hello hello! So, my cat Topaz has had chronic constipation ever since a surgery for hip dysplasia back in January - vets haven't been able to find any structural problems that could have caused it, they've done clinical exams to try and assess whether he's in pain, and nothing has resulted in anything that could explain what's causing this. I've been working under the assumption that the meds he had to take following the procedure have made his dysbiosis (diagnosed as "moderate" through AnimalBiome testing last year) exponentially worse.

I'm still working on a diet change - I did do a trial with a home cooked recipe (supposed to be properly balanced, with supplements), which was ideal since he has presumptive IBD and needs novel protein anyway, but the stool remained the exact same (with a slight color change, likely due to the zucchini in the recipe). For now, though, he is back on his Royal Canin Kitten sachet, because I'm still chasing a nutritionist to help me with a new recipe that targets the constipation specifically.

A couple of weeks ago, I started giving him egg yolk powder. He was shedding a lot, so I wanted to use it to help prevent hairballs, too (it's been working, for all I know). I increased the amount slowly. After 10 days giving him just the tip of a teaspoon, I increased the amount a bit last Friday, and he has since been pooping everyday (for the first time since January). On Saturday and on Sunday it was very little of it and very hard, but today it looked almost completely normal - in terms of quantity and consistency. I say "almost", though, because I'm pretty sure I saw a little bit of blood on top of it, which threw me off - it was like a drop, but it has to have been blood. This brings me to my question - could the blood be an indicative that he doesn't tolerate egg yolk? Or could this be something he's getting used to, that could eventually go away?

I did order egg yolk lecithin too, but haven't given that to him.

His behavior is great. He plays, eats, pees and grooms normally. I've had an acupuncture/osteopathy session scheduled for him for a month now, with a specialist, and it will take place tomorrow, so I'm curious as to whether that would help with the constipation too. Ideally I wouldn't do both things that could happen simultaneously, but it seems the egg yolk might have beat the holistic vet by a few days... we'll see. I'm focusing on helping him with this issue while he's young, because I don't want him to be predisposed to megacolon or have to take medication for the rest of his life if I can avoid it. And since he was doing well up until the day of the surgery, I'm sure it caused it somehow, and want to offer him a good chance of treating it before it becomes irreversible. I hope that's still doable.

Just wanted to say, that if you haven’t already, you might consider joining the following Facebook groups:

IBDKitties

Cats With IBD

Raw Feeding for IBD Cats

That last group is actually run by two former TCS members who were extremely active on here for over a decade. They also have their own company, and if I call correctly, they sell their own egg yolk powder, so they may be quite helpful in answering your questions.

As with anything strangers say online, do your own homework. Suggestions people give are starting points to help you research reliable, veterinary sources and/or to ask your own vet about - they’re not gospel, so do your due diligence.

At the very least, these groups can offer you support when you’re feeling frustrated and down. Dealing with chronic illness in a pet can be stressful and even isolating sometimes. These people understand what you’re going through, they really love their cats, and they’re just as vigilant about their catshealth as you are.

Offering support is one of the best functions these groups serve. I literally only have a Facebook account to join groups like these, no friends on the account or anything. They’re just very immensely helpful.

Good luck!

 

[daftcat75]

You can get it on Amazon. This is the one we use. We use their egg white powder for kidney cats too.

That one has sodium aluminosilicate, presumably a flow agent. It’s probably safe. But I’d rather choose one without any additives.

 

[gabicards]

I got mine from a French bakery store, the only ingredient is egg yolk. I just noticed that on the website they say that 7g of powder + 10g of water equals 1 egg yolk. That's so interesting, I've been wondering how some of the recommendations of "1 or 2 egg yolks per week" would translate when using the powder.

Just wanted to say, that if you haven’t already, you might consider joining the following Facebook groups:

IBDKitties

Cats With IBD

Raw Feeding for IBD Cats

That last group is actually run by two former TCS members who were extremely active on here for over a decade. They also have their own company, and if I call correctly, they sell their own egg yolk powder, so they may be quite helpful in answering your questions.

As with anything strangers say online, do your own homework. Suggestions people give are starting points to help you research reliable, veterinary sources and/or to ask your own vet about - they’re not gospel, so do your due diligence.

At the very least, these groups can offer you support when you’re feeling frustrated and down. Dealing with chronic illness in a pet can be stressful and even isolating sometimes. These people understand what you’re going through, they really love their cats, and they’re just as vigilant about their catshealth as you are.

Offering support is one of the best functions these groups serve. I literally only have a Facebook account to join groups like these, no friends on the account or anything. They’re just very immensely helpful.

Good luck!

I'm in all of those, thank you! The egg yolk powder recommendation came from there. I did make a post about the blood in the stool in one of them, but received no response.

 

[cejhome]

Thank you so much for this thread! Our Buddy has constipation issues. He eats wet food and I add a bit of water to his food each meal. I added 1 tablespoon of try food to his diet per day (vet's suggestion) to see if that would help. He is also on miralax as well (3/8 tspn a day). That keeps him pretty regular, but his stool still isn't perfect. He will have very good stool for maybe 5 days or more, then have a couple days of constipation.

He is only 2.5 yrs old and I want to try my best to get him in better shape and not depend on miralax the rest of his life. He was found as a stray at approx 1 yr old (trapped with ferals in a trailer park), so it could be the result of scrounging whatever he could eat at a young age. He is not shy about wanting to explore the kitchen counters or our plates (when we are done eating). I caught him trying to pick up a baked bean on my plate with his claws! Cupcake crumbs on a plate are fair game if left on a plate (husband). I am very careful now with any leftovers or dirty plates - leftovers are put up before we eat and dishes are rinsed as soon as we are done. He's definitely not feral and thinks all humans are great. A knock on the door, or doorbell ringing makes him run to the door to great anyone that comes in. We've had big tattooed shaggy bearded plumbers coo over Buddy. Had one instantly know Buddy was a rescue due to his clipped ear and started talking about his two rescue kitties.

I have a friend that found one of her kitties on a long bike trek close to the everglades (I think) - it was way, way out in the middle of nowhere - lots of alligators and wildlife. Poor Lilly was emaciated and in rough shape. They got her back to their car (try riding a bike and holding a kitten for miles) and to the first vet they could find. She was an older kitten. You can see how bad her situation was - her body growth was stunted. She has always had constipation issues. She's an odd looking little cat, but so sweet and healthy as a whole, other than the digestive issues and pollen allergies. She is now 10 and has to have miralax daily. Thankfully, Buddy's body condition is very good - very muscular boy.

I am adding a tiny tiny bit of egg yolk power a day to Buddy's food to see if he is okay with it, and will increase the dosage gradually. He is allergic to chicken, but I have read that the protein in the egg yolk is not the same as in egg whites or the meat. Hopefully it will not trigger his chicken allergies. We have had him just shy of 1 year so we are still learning how to manage his constipation issue. He is very energetic, doesn't vomit, or anything else. His coat is beautiful. He has had x-rays that didn't show anything abnormal (shortly after we adopted him and he hadn't pooped for days). Praying this will help and he will not have a food allergy reaction (itchy ears on the back of the ears).

 

[Frankie_nova]

Hello hello! So, my cat Topaz has had chronic constipation ever since a surgery for hip dysplasia back in January - vets haven't been able to find any structural problems that could have caused it, they've done clinical exams to try and assess whether he's in pain, and nothing has resulted in anything that could explain what's causing this. I've been working under the assumption that the meds he had to take following the procedure have made his dysbiosis (diagnosed as "moderate" through AnimalBiome testing last year) exponentially worse.

I'm still working on a diet change - I did do a trial with a home cooked recipe (supposed to be properly balanced, with supplements), which was ideal since he has presumptive IBD and needs novel protein anyway, but the stool remained the exact same (with a slight color change, likely due to the zucchini in the recipe). For now, though, he is back on his Royal Canin Kitten sachet, because I'm still chasing a nutritionist to help me with a new recipe that targets the constipation specifically.

A couple of weeks ago, I started giving him egg yolk powder. He was shedding a lot, so I wanted to use it to help prevent hairballs, too (it's been working, for all I know). I increased the amount slowly. After 10 days giving him just the tip of a teaspoon, I increased the amount a bit last Friday, and he has since been pooping everyday (for the first time since January). On Saturday and on Sunday it was very little of it and very hard, but today it looked almost completely normal - in terms of quantity and consistency. I say "almost", though, because I'm pretty sure I saw a little bit of blood on top of it, which threw me off - it was like a drop, but it has to have been blood. This brings me to my question - could the blood be an indicative that he doesn't tolerate egg yolk? Or could this be something he's getting used to, that could eventually go away?

I did order egg yolk lecithin too, but haven't given that to him.

His behavior is great. He plays, eats, pees and grooms normally. I've had an acupuncture/osteopathy session scheduled for him for a month now, with a specialist, and it will take place tomorrow, so I'm curious as to whether that would help with the constipation too. Ideally I wouldn't do both things that could happen simultaneously, but it seems the egg yolk might have beat the holistic vet by a few days... we'll see. I'm focusing on helping him with this issue while he's young, because I don't want him to be predisposed to megacolon or have to take medication for the rest of his life if I can avoid it. And since he was doing well up until the day of the surgery, I'm sure it caused it somehow, and want to offer him a good chance of treating it before it becomes irreversible. I hope that's still doable.

I understand your concern for Topaz and his chronic constipation issues. It seems like you have been actively trying to find a solution and explore different approaches to manage his condition. I'm not a veterinarian, but I can provide some general insights that might be helpful.

Blood in the stool can be a concerning symptom, and it's important to monitor it closely. While it's difficult to determine the exact cause without a veterinary examination, there are a few possibilities to consider. It's possible that the blood you noticed could be related to the constipation itself, such as from straining during bowel movements. Hard stools can sometimes cause minor tears or irritations in the rectum or anus, leading to bleeding.

Regarding the introduction of egg yolk powder, it's conceivable that Topaz may have some sensitivity or intolerance to it, which could potentially result in digestive upset or even contribute to the blood in the stool. It might be worth discussing this with your veterinarian to get their opinion and possibly consider alternative options or eliminate the egg yolk powder to see if the symptoms improve.

Your planned acupuncture/osteopathy session with a specialist is an interesting approach. While its effectiveness may vary depending on the individual cat, some pet owners have reported positive outcomes in managing gastrointestinal issues, including constipation, with complementary therapies like acupuncture and osteopathy. It's great that you're exploring different options to improve Topaz's condition.

Given that Topaz has been diagnosed with moderate dysbiosis in the past, it's possible that addressing his gut health through dietary changes, such as working with a nutritionist for a new recipe, could potentially help alleviate his constipation. Consulting with a veterinary nutritionist is an excellent step to ensure that any dietary changes are nutritionally balanced and tailored to his specific needs.

Remember to keep your veterinarian informed about any changes you make in Topaz's diet, supplements, or treatments. They can provide valuable guidance and monitor his progress closely. Every cat is unique, so it may take time and experimentation to find the most suitable approach for managing Topaz's constipation.

Wishing you and Topaz all the best in finding a solution that works for him and improves his overall well-being.

 

[msserena]

Hello hello! So, my cat Topaz has had chronic constipation ever since a surgery for hip dysplasia back in January - vets haven't been able to find any structural problems that could have caused it, they've done clinical exams to try and assess whether he's in pain, and nothing has resulted in anything that could explain what's causing this. I've been working under the assumption that the meds he had to take following the procedure have made his dysbiosis (diagnosed as "moderate" through AnimalBiome testing last year) exponentially worse.

I'm still working on a diet change - I did do a trial with a home cooked recipe (supposed to be properly balanced, with supplements), which was ideal since he has presumptive IBD and needs novel protein anyway, but the stool remained the exact same (with a slight color change, likely due to the zucchini in the recipe). For now, though, he is back on his Royal Canin Kitten sachet, because I'm still chasing a nutritionist to help me with a new recipe that targets the constipation specifically.

A couple of weeks ago, I started giving him egg yolk powder. He was shedding a lot, so I wanted to use it to help prevent hairballs, too (it's been working, for all I know). I increased the amount slowly. After 10 days giving him just the tip of a teaspoon, I increased the amount a bit last Friday, and he has since been pooping everyday (for the first time since January). On Saturday and on Sunday it was very little of it and very hard, but today it looked almost completely normal - in terms of quantity and consistency. I say "almost", though, because I'm pretty sure I saw a little bit of blood on top of it, which threw me off - it was like a drop, but it has to have been blood. This brings me to my question - could the blood be an indicative that he doesn't tolerate egg yolk? Or could this be something he's getting used to, that could eventually go away?

I did order egg yolk lecithin too, but haven't given that to him.

His behavior is great. He plays, eats, pees and grooms normally. I've had an acupuncture/osteopathy session scheduled for him for a month now, with a specialist, and it will take place tomorrow, so I'm curious as to whether that would help with the constipation too. Ideally I wouldn't do both things that could happen simultaneously, but it seems the egg yolk might have beat the holistic vet by a few days... we'll see. I'm focusing on helping him with this issue while he's young, because I don't want him to be predisposed to megacolon or have to take medication for the rest of his life if I can avoid it. And since he was doing well up until the day of the surgery, I'm sure it caused it somehow, and want to offer him a good chance of treating it before it becomes irreversible. I hope that's still doable.

Good luck with the egg yolk powder & lecithin. I have a plugged up kitty & she won't eat any of the things I bought, I have almost a whole bag of the Fur for Life dried egg yolk powder & none of my 3 kitties will eat food with it on it. That's why I tried the capsules of lecithin, nope. Same thing!

 

[gabicards]

Good luck with the egg yolk powder & lecithin. I have a plugged up kitty & she won't eat any of the things I bought, I have almost a whole bag of the Fur for Life dried egg yolk powder & none of my 3 kitties will eat food with it on it. That's why I tried the capsules of lecithin, nope. Same thing!

Hi! Have you tried mixing a little bit of the egg yolk powder to malt paste? My cat wouldn't eat the powder if I mixed it with his food, but mixed with the paste it was fine. It was like a treat to him. I stopped giving it for months and now we're back at it, and he's finally letting me add it to his food!