Sphynx diet, I need HELP.

[bumbino]

I need help with my sphynx. I feel like I have nowhere to go to get GOOD medical/professional advice. My vets only care about money and I live in a small town where sphynx’s are “rare” so I can’t even seek advice from them.

I want to know the best diet i can have him on. Nutrition wise, digestive health wise, skin health wise, etc. supplements, oils, anything. I know what I have him on now is not the best but I am at a total loss trying to find something on my own. He is now eating purina one “sensitive skin and stomach” dry kibble, and sometimes he will have half of a purina one urinary health wet food can (prescribed from the vet to his big brother but I allow them to share since he has no other wet food.)
The breeder I received him from told me their stomachs are so sensitive that they can’t handle any store bought canned food from the shelves without getting diarrhea so I have been afraid to try anything in fear of making him feel ill. But I know I need more than just dry kibble in his diet, hence why I am here seeking help.

On to the second issue…his tail is dry, rough, scaly, and riddled with blackheads, too many to even sit here and pop if I wanted to. I would love to attach a photo of this, but I do not know how to add one. This is my first time posting on this site. I know it most likely has to do with his diet because as far as I am aware, he has a clean bill of health (visited the vet only hours ago for a neuter so he got all of his tests done) and he is as happy, playful, and energetic as ever. I just really want to help him. I love him and I am trying my best to give him a happy and long life, I am just simply at a loss on figuring out a proper diet so that his skin can return to normal.

Additional info:
-8 months old
-male
-neutered (1/3/23)
-dry tail since I’ve gotten him, but it has noticeably gotten worse recently.
-activity, weight, hydration, appetite, etc. all normal.
-bathed once every 1-2 weeks using a dime sized amount of dawn soap. (VERY open to better recommendations for bath soaps. I am only going off of what the breeder told me to do, is there a better soap for his skin? Something sphynx specific that would be more beneficial?)

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Welcome to SL. Food is a hot button topic for many. Best rule of thumb is find the highest quality food that you can afford and that they can tolerate and enjoy. I tried a couple of canned food and they were too rich and one had very runny poop. We feed Wellness grain free which is canned food. If you change foods, I would recommend starting with a wet food that is the same s the primary protein in the one you are feeding now…so if you are feeding chicken, stick with chicken etc. Very slowly start adding to the current food you are feeding and hopefully after 2 weeks you will be fully transitioned over. Just know often tummy’s get upset from a change, so that is why it can take a couple of weeks to fully adjust.

As far as the tail goes…is your baby neutered? If not the blackheads on the tail could be due to this…it is called stud tail. A few weeks after neutering it should improve. If not neutered be sure to tell your vet NOT to use Ketamine as the anesthesia. If there are any u known underlying heart issues (which we have seen an increase in the breed) it can be lethal.

I would definitely stay away from Dawn as the shampoo. It is not Ph balanced for their skin. Here is a link of some suggestions Shampoo ? **since hylyt shampoo temporarily discontinued** @bumbino

 

[bumbino]

Welcome to SL. Food is a hot button topic for many. Best rule of thumb is find the highest quality food that you can afford and that they can tolerate and enjoy. I tried a couple of canned food and they were too rich and one had very runny poop. We feed Wellness grain free which is canned food. If you change foods, I would recommend starting with a wet food that is the same s the primary protein in the one you are feeding now…so if you are feeding chicken, stick with chicken etc. Very slowly start adding to the current food you are feeding and hopefully after 2 weeks you will be fully transitioned over. Just know often tummy’s get upset from a change, so that is why it can take a couple of weeks to fully adjust.

As far as the tail goes…is your baby neutered? If not the blackheads on the tail could be due to this…it is called stud tail. A few weeks after neutering it should improve. If not neutered be sure to tell your vet NOT to use Ketamine as the anesthesia. If there are any u known underlying heart issues (which we have seen an increase in the breed) it can be lethal.

I would definitely stay away from Dawn as the shampoo. It is not Ph balanced for their skin. Here is a link of some suggestions Shampoo ? **since hylyt shampoo temporarily discontinued** @bumbino

Thank you for all of the information! My boy very recently got neutered on the 3rd of this month. I believe his anti inflammatory medication used for the swelling is also partially helping all of the redness on his tail too, not completely, but I have seen a small difference over the past day. It is still dry, of course. Hoping to see a change when I can get him on a healthy wet food, better moisturized, and when he is all healed up from his neuter.

 

[Natalie Murphy]

Welcome to this amazing group for Sphynx moms and dads. Their are so many ladies with fantastic insight and advice.
With regards to blackheads I have read it was suggested to use witch Hazel which I did try and it worked like a bomb on my little ones chin. No more blackheads.
I am sorry I can not suggest food as I’m on the other side of the pond.
But you appear to be hands on and have more insight than most of us when we joined.
I hope to see many photos soon ( click on the little rectangle in between the three dots and the chain links on the upper tool bar, To load pictures)

 

[Yoda mom]

@bumbino , welcoming you and your baby to the lair family! what is his name?
we can help you with adding pictures.
agree with catzzzmeows comment above

glad the neuter went well. once hormones settled after my boys neuter his "stud tail" cleared up.
Food... I am mind set, feed what works.. example , I have tried foods like acana and orijen that were too rich for them.
each kitty is different.

what brand cat food do you use?

Please give us your choice of cat food. If you have a specific reason for a particular brand, please explain.

sphynxlair.com

I have 4 adopted nakids in the past 12 yrs . all without skin or poo issues . I just feed n go.

I did a slow transition to Nutrisource cat and kitten dry food ( no recalls, excellent customer service and answering my questions). It is touted for gut health. works amazing with my IBD kitty for years. I get online hollywood feed, amazon etc. and some other retail sites on the manufacturer's website. its not sold in big box stores.

they share a can of proplan urinary focus chicken or whitefish.
well, except for Batman the dry food addict for 12 yrs.
I put a small bowl of hills urinary hairball dry (read somewhere the fiber in hairball formulas good for solid stool).
I wasnt crazy about the l hills or proplan as their secondary little bowl but... no poo or skin issues all 4 nakids ever and an adopted bengal with IBD. so I just stuck with this routine. The oldest 12 and ClaireBare turning 12 next month.

my first nakid I was told Dawn... I learned here otherwise its not right PH for our kitties as mentioned . be sure to check out the shampoo link catzzmeow shared.

we are here for you and your sweet baby. hugs n head smooches!
here is a great link of sphynx life.

btw, many of us keep on hand vetericyn spray works wonders on skin nicks scrapes, etc. . I like it is non toxic.

I dont use any oils or coconut oil as it can clog pores.

 

[Yoda mom]

@Catzzzmeow , can you share how to post pics? not sure if @bumbino using tapatalk app? thanks!

 

[Sheldon13]

I’ve come to believe the best food you can feed is simply what works well for your individual cat. I’d compare it to humans even. You know how for some Humans a vegetarian diet works well? Others do Keto or carnivore? There is still a basic rule of thumb of course. You don’t want to feed the equivalent of junk food/fast food (cheap kibble with lots of filler).

I am still partial to raw diet, for those it works for. That being said, one of mine is currently on a high quality kibble (instinct brand) and the other is on a single protein canned food. It’s what works for them.

I would definitely suggest (because of the skin issues) that you add in some wet food, regardless. Higher fat might help with the skin as well, though you have to watch the weight of your kitty if you do that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bumbino]

@bumbino , welcoming you and your baby to the lair family! what is his name?
we can help you with adding pictures.
agree with catzzzmeows comment above

glad the neuter went well. once hormones settled after my boys neuter his "stud tail" cleared up.
Food... I am mind set, feed what works.. example , I have tried foods like acana and orijen that were too rich for them.
each kitty is different.

what brand cat food do you use?

Please give us your choice of cat food. If you have a specific reason for a particular brand, please explain.

sphynxlair.com

I have 4 adopted nakids in the past 12 yrs . all without skin or poo issues . I just feed n go.

I did a slow transition to Nutrisource cat and kitten dry food ( no recalls, excellent customer service and answering my questions). It is touted for gut health. works amazing with my IBD kitty for years. I get online hollywood feed, amazon etc. and some other retail sites on the manufacturer's website. its not sold in big box stores.

they share a can of proplan urinary focus chicken or whitefish.
well, except for Batman the dry food addict for 12 yrs.
I put a small bowl of hills urinary hairball dry (read somewhere the fiber in hairball formulas good for solid stool).
I wasnt crazy about the l hills or proplan as their secondary little bowl but... no poo or skin issues all 4 nakids ever and an adopted bengal with IBD. so I just stuck with this routine. The oldest 12 and ClaireBare turning 12 next month.

my first nakid I was told Dawn... I learned here otherwise its not right PH for our kitties as mentioned . be sure to check out the shampoo link catzzmeow shared.

we are here for you and your sweet baby. hugs n head smooches!
here is a great link of sphynx life.

btw, many of us keep on hand vetericyn spray works wonders on skin nicks scrapes, etc. . I like it is non toxic.

I dont use any oils or coconut oil as it can clog pores.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and recommend! I’ve been driving myself up the wall scrambling for help with his issues and I’m inability to know what the right fix is. His name is bambi! (Short for bambino) he’s the sweetest little boy. I’m making note of ALL products (food, bath, etc.) that everyone and anyone is recommending to me. ❤️

 

[bumbino]

I’ve come to believe the best food you can feed is simply what works well for your individual cat. I’d compare it to humans even. You know how for some Humans a vegetarian diet works well? Others do Keto or carnivore? There is still a basic rule of thumb of course. You don’t want to feed the equivalent of junk food/fast food (cheap kibble with lots of filler).

I am still partial to raw diet, for those it works for. That being said, one of mine is currently on a high quality kibble (instinct brand) and the other is on a single protein canned food. It’s what works for them.

I would definitely suggest (because of the skin issues) that you add in some wet food, regardless. Higher fat might help with the skin as well, though you have to watch the weight of your kitty if you do that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I have recently begun letting him and his brother share a full can of the prescribed urinary wet food I get from the vet due to him only otherwise having kibble. His big brother would normally get this daily to himself, but I definitely do not want bambi on a kibble only diet. And with him being a male (prone more to urinary issues than females), I know there is no harm in a urinary food diet for the time being until I can find something more suited for his breed specifically since he is not currently dealing with urinary issues. ❤️ His big brother blocked over a year ago which is why he is now on the urinary diet. Both kibble and wet food.

 

[bumbino]

Welcome to this amazing group for Sphynx moms and dads. Their are so many ladies with fantastic insight and advice.
With regards to blackheads I have read it was suggested to use witch Hazel which I did try and it worked like a bomb on my little ones chin. No more blackheads.
I am sorry I can not suggest food as I’m on the other side of the pond.
But you appear to be hands on and have more insight than most of us when we joined.
I hope to see many photos soon ( click on the little rectangle in between the three dots and the chain links on the upper tool bar, To load pictures)

Thank you for telling me how to add photos! I don’t know if I can add any to the original post since it is already posted, but here is a photo of his tail in its current condition and a photo of the sleepy boy himself!