My cat Tim has occasional problems with excess stomach acid. He's seen our holistic veterinarian for this, who prescribed Pepcid AC but warned us that we don't want him on this long-term if we can avoid it. We completed a short course of the Pepcid AC earlier this week and it appears the stomach acid is back. I have some suspicions that it may be temporary, so plan to watch Tim over the weekend and contact the vet Monday or Tuesday if it doesn't seem any better.
Meanwhile, because I want him to feel as good as possible, I am considering increasing his normal dose of slippery elm. Would this work with excess stomach acid? I know it won't stop the acid production, but will it make his tummy feel better? In addition to affecting his tummy, it seems to show up in excess drool, which occasionally causes his lower lip to swell. I think his lower lip is beginning to swell now, and wonder if giving him slippery elm will help coat and protect?
My final question is the form of slippery elm. I have terrible luck making the syrup. Out of four attempts, I've been successful once. The other times, I've ended up with poofy slippery elm powder at the bottom of my jar with discolored water on top. So can I just mix slippery elm powder with water and give it to him, or does it need to be a syrup to have the coating effect? If I can give him powder, how much? I should note that I've never seen the slippery elm "gel" when mixing with water; it remains fairly thin (it is NOW brand loose powder with nothing added!)
Thank you!!
Meanwhile, because I want him to feel as good as possible, I am considering increasing his normal dose of slippery elm. Would this work with excess stomach acid? I know it won't stop the acid production, but will it make his tummy feel better? In addition to affecting his tummy, it seems to show up in excess drool, which occasionally causes his lower lip to swell. I think his lower lip is beginning to swell now, and wonder if giving him slippery elm will help coat and protect?
My final question is the form of slippery elm. I have terrible luck making the syrup. Out of four attempts, I've been successful once. The other times, I've ended up with poofy slippery elm powder at the bottom of my jar with discolored water on top. So can I just mix slippery elm powder with water and give it to him, or does it need to be a syrup to have the coating effect? If I can give him powder, how much? I should note that I've never seen the slippery elm "gel" when mixing with water; it remains fairly thin (it is NOW brand loose powder with nothing added!)
Thank you!!