Feline Hairballs
Hairballs, which are present in your cat's vomitus, are a common problem seen in cats. Accumulation of hair in the stomach of your cat is a direct result of the significant portion of your cat’s life that is spent grooming.
It has been estimated that cats groom themselves for up to 1/3 of their waking hours.
The problem begins as your cat swallows the hair he/she has licked off during the cleaning process. The barb-like projections on your cat’s tongue pull the hair loose from the skin and hair-coat. These barbs point inward on the tongue, which causes the hair to remain lodged on the tongue until it is swallowed.
Hair is mostly undigestible and therefore begins to knot up in the stomach.
As the hairball enlarges, it is unable to pass out of the stomach down into the small intestine. It then becomes an irritant to the stomach lining, eventually being vomited up in most cases.
Should the hairball get so large that it cannot pass back up through the opening into the esophagus, it becomes a surgical procedure to get it out.
Symptoms Of Hairballs:
Signs of “hairballs” include:
- vomiting,
- constipation,
- listlessness,
- and coughing.
It frequently causes a loss of appetite and even depression. The regurgitated “hairball” is often not actually round in shape, but rather “tubular".
Finding regurgitated hairballs is a definite sign that your cat has a problem and needs help. Although rarely fatal, hairballs are an inconvenience to cleanup, very uncomfortable for your cat, and can lead to serious complications.
Diagnosis Of Hairballs:
Often, finding the characteristic tubular regurgitations is all that is necessary to diagnose hairballs.
In some cases, however, radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound studies of your cat's abdomen may be necessary to diagnose hairballs and also to rule out other conditions which cause similar symptoms.
A routine blood screen may also be recommended to evaluate your cat's over-all health and rule out other causes of vomiting, constipation, and coughing.
Treatment Of Hairballs:
There are a number of preparations available, such as Laxatone, CatLax and others, which can be fed to your cat to help lubricate the hairballs and make them easier for your cat to pass.
Recently, there have also been foods introduced which help to keep your cat's intestinal tract free of hairballs.
In severe situations where the hairball is large and incapable of passing through the intestinal tract, surgical removal of the hairball may be necessary.
Prevention Of Hairballs:
Daily brushing of your cat to remove loose hair is the best prevention.
Longhaired breeds especially need special attention. During the spring when all cats shed, daily brushing is most important.
After brushing, wipe the hair coat with a damp towel to remove loose hair.
Medications are available to eliminate hairballs and help prevent reoccurrence. Laxatives in the form of pastes, or even catroleum jelly, have been recommended for many years. There are many different brands available that will be readily accepted by your cat. It is usually recommended the gel be rubbed on the cat’s mouth, nose, or even on the feet. It will then be swallowed during your cat’s normal grooming process.
