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“Hairball! Major hairball!” - Snowbell, “Stuart Little 2” There are always a few cats that care more about their appearance than you do, namely those who excessively groom themselves throughout the day. Then there is that moment when you are thankful that you use a brush to groom yourself when you hear them hacking up a hairball in the other room. With Hairball Awareness Day approaching, here are a few tips on how to spot signs of hairballs and how to reduce the number of hairballs your pet leaves for you to clean up around the house. What causes hairballs? Hairballs are caused when a pet ingests hair into its digestive tract, usually when he or she grooms. While most hair particles are eliminated in the litter box, some sit on the stomach. As these hairs start to collect, they create a “ball” that can’t escape the body through the traditional route. That’s when your pet vomits. How do I know if my pet has a hairball? Hacking or vomiting large clumps of hair at a time, usually in a tube-shaped form, is the easiest way to tell if your pet has a hairball. There are some instances, however, when your pet will only produce bile when they vomit because their stomach was upset by the hair that is freely floating in the stomach. Even if you don’t see the hairball, your pet may still have one. And it will come up eventually! What pets get hairballs? Many people think that hairballs are found only in cats, and in many cases, they are, since cats are known for constantly grooming themselves. However, ferrets can get hairballs for the same reasons as cats, and they’re likely to show the same symptoms if they have one. How can I prevent or reduce the number of hairballs my pet gets? Groom your pet. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, grooming your pet to decrease their hair intake can prevent hairballs or keep them from occurring so often. Give your pet a new toy to divert their attention. Pets sometimes groom excessively when they’re bored. Providing new toys (or rotating existing toys to keep your pet interested) may keep them from grooming too much when you’re not home to entertain them. Try a lubricating gel, like Tomyln’s Laxatone hairball remedy. Gels or chews like Tomlyn’s Laxatone will help push the hairs down the intestinal tract to be eliminated in the litter box. Click here to learn more about hairball remedies or to purchase one. They come in a variety of forms and flavors, and Tomlyn’s Laxatone Gel is also available for ferrets. Don’t let a hairball slow your pet down. Use these tips to help prevent hairballs and spread the word about Hairball Awareness Day on April 25. 

The changing of seasons brings with it environmental allergens and irritants that can affect the eyes, nose, skin adn other body systems of both people and animals. Most companion canines and felines will be able to adapt to these seasonal changes. But, for those animals that are not quite able to self-adjust, pet owners must intervene with baths, conditioning rinses, eye/ear drops, or other medications and supplements to help our four-legged friends get through the season. A pet’s ability to adapt to environment allergens is based on a variety of factors and to help prevent these allergens from affecting your pet’s immune system, here are a few tips to keep in mind: Keep your home low in allergenic potential. Vaccum alll carpeting and upholstry and wash all pet and human bedding at least every seven days. Keep windows closed and run an air filteration system on a year-round basis. Change filters on both heating and cooling systems per manufacturer guidelines. Bathe your pet every seven to 30 days (once weekly or once monthly) or as your pet’s veterinarian suggests based on your pet’s skin and coat needs. Use an eye irrigating solution, like Tomlyn’s Sterile Eye Wash – Opticlear™. This will help clear any discomfort and itching. Schedule a physical examination with your veterinarian every 12 months or more frequently depending on your pet’s age and health. Provide a freshly prepared, whole food-based diet with human-grade protein, vegetables, fruits, fats and fiber. Avoid ingredients lacking in protein and grain “meals and by-products” with artificial colors or flavors or other feed-grade components. Commit to readily resolving or managing disease conditions, like inflammation associated with illness that can negatively impact immune system health. Maintain your pet’s weight (ideally three out of three on the Body Condition Score) for the lifetime of your pet. If your pet is obese or overweight, this could cause unnecessary stress on all body systems and contribute to inflammation, which can cause serious health problems.

We’re excited to announce our newest team member, Tabitha Cromer, who joins us as marketing and product manager at Tomlyn. Tabitha has been in the marketing profession for more than 15 years. She brings a passion for and wide-ranging knowledge of marketing to Tomlyn from her previous experience working for a dog health product company, as well as others in California, Georgia and Alabama. We’re thrilled to welcome Tabitha to her new Texas home and hope you will take a moment to get to know her! Q: Tell us more about your new role at Tomlyn. A: I will be involved with the team increasing sales and building awareness of the Tomlyn brand. I’ll work on new product development, product launches, national marketing and advertising, developing branding materials and probably more to come as I get settled into the Tomlyn family.     Q: What motivates you on a daily basis?   A: I like to think my motivation lies in making a positive difference professionally and personally.   Q: What do you like most about Tomlyn? A: I love the team, and the products are great quality for pet parents!     Q: What is your favorite animal and why?   A: My favorite animals are cats. They are independent, playful and mysterious. The best part is when cats purr. I have adopted all my animals from rescue groups and currently own two cats, Roxy and Zeta.   Q: What is something you’re excited most about Texas? What will you miss most from San Diego? A: I’m excited about the Texas culture! And, I’ll probably miss our church home at Rock Church, as well as the gorgeous beaches – but we’ll be visiting!   Q: What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? A: I love to experience new things; new hobbies, new places, meeting new people and trying new foods. Have other questions about our marketing or product departments? Contact us! We’re always available to offer insight into our products. Just send us a message at tomlyn@tomlyn.com

This month’s Q&A; is with Dr. Brian McLaughlin, one of Tomlyn’s veterinarians who specializes in the know-how of our products and how they’re beneficial to your furry friends. This Q&A; focuses on puppy and kitten health and how Tomlyn’s products, Nutri-Cal® Puppy, Nutri-Cal® Kitten, Puppy Drops and Milk Replacer for Puppies and Kittens can help provide your pet with needed nutrients in the early stages of their lives. Q: How long have you worked with Tomlyn? Tell us more about your role at Tomlyn. A: I’ve been with Tomlyn for a little over two years now. My role as a veterinarian is to provide technical support to our representatives in the field and product managers in the office. On a daily basis, I work mostly with our representatives and clients in the Western and Central regions of the U.S., thoroughly answering questions submitted by our customers or providing support to our representatives. Q: How important is it for pet owners to include vitamins/high-calorie supplements in their pet’s daily routines?   A: First and foremost, it’s important to feed your pets a complete, balanced diet for growth and/or maintenance. The goal is to feed your pet food that is rated at least either four or five stars by the Association of American Fed Control Officials (AAFCO) during growth and adulthood. Supplementing with vitamins and high-calorie nutrients is important, specifically if there are signs of deficiency. Puppies and kittens have lots of energy and also use that energy quickly. If you notice your pet going into lull moments frequently, it is likely there is a drop in blood sugar, and they may need high-calorie supplements after consulting with your veterinarian. Q: Thinking about puppy and kitten health, why is a product like High Calorie Nutritional Gel for Puppies/Kittens (Nutri_Cal) beneficial? What does it offer for pet growth and development? A: These products provide a quality source of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and calories.  Your pet may need more energy or help with growth and development, and the vitamins in these products will help your pet develop properly. Across the board, it depends on the specific situation of the puppy or kitten or the weaning time period. For example, small-breed puppies tend to get low blood sugar and may need additional supplements to get through their first few months until they can become dependent on their own. This would be a great time for Milk Replacer for Puppies. At any age group, depending on what your using it for, Tomlyn has the product to supplement your pet during low-nutrient times. Q: Why do you suggest the use of a product like Puppy Drops? Aren’t there enough vitamins in the food I feed my pet? A: Our Puppy Drops offer several important vitamins, including iron to help support red blood cells, immune systems and development. The majority of foods made for pets contain adequate amounts of vitamins for optimum development. However, the use of Puppy Drops is necessary for situations where perhaps your pet is not eating enough, like after weaning or if overcoming an injury. If your puppy is sick, this could be another time where pet owners could use this product to assist in providing important vitamins and minerals. Q: What are the main differences in Nutri-Cal Puppies and Puppy Drops? Do they complement on another or should pet owners only use one or the other? A: The main difference is delivery of both products – one is a gel formulation and the drops are liquid based. It’s important to know that each product has subtle differences that both provide vitamins and minerals to support growth and development. One of the primary differences is that Puppy Drops contain more iron. Because there is some crossover with the ingredients, I would suggest only to use one at a time and not combine. Your veterinarian also will be able to let you know which product is best to use for your puppy. Q: What are the key things pet owners should consider when it comes to puppy and kitten health? A: First, provide adequate nutrition through a balanced, growth diet. It’s also important to focus on their behavioral health, providing exposure to other kittens, puppies, adult cats and/or dogs and people to help socialize them. Next, make sure you’re getting your pet on a schedule for proper feeding, vaccines, deworming, parasites, etc. If you’re noticing lull in energy, consider using supplements that provide your pet with quality nutrients and consult your veterinarian. Q: Tell us more about the Milk Replacer. Is it to supplement nursing puppies and kittens or to be used in the absence of a nursing mother? A: The Milk Replacer is a nutritionally complete milk replacer to be fed as a nutritional supplement when the supply of mother’s milk is inadequate or as a sole ration in the absence of the mother’s milk.  Tomlyn’s Milk Replacer contains colostrum, optimized levels of protein and fat, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from cod liver oil, and arginine. The product is also formulated with probiotics, which establish a normal bacterial population in the digestive tract.  When indicated, Milk Replacer may be used to supplement the mother’s ration in late gestation or early lactation to meet increased nutritional requirements. Q: What are the drawbacks of not using a supplement for my pet, if any? A: The uses of supplements for a pet are based on situational need. A lot of foods on the market provide adequate nutrients. But, if your puppy or kitten is in need of more nutritional support (again, correlating to weaning, energy reduction, illness, etc.), that’s when a product like Nutri-Cal Puppies or Nutri-Cal Kittens and Puppy Drops could be used. If a puppy is hypoglycemic or has low blood sugar a supplement may be needed to assist with these conditions. Q: Finally, tell us the most important thing to remember about owning a new puppy or kitten? A: When getting a new puppy or kitten, preventive health care is certainly important. Establishing your pet with a veterinarian and having a set schedule or health care plan to make sure your puppy and kitten is covered from diseases they may be exposed to over the first year and after is vital for their health. Nutrition for developmental growth and correcting behavioral issues are also important to consider when your puppy or kitten is still young.   Have other questions about puppy and kitten health or the products mentioned above? Contact us! We’re always available to offer insight into our products. Just send us a message at tomlyn@tomlyn.com.