You may have heard or seen hairballs from movies or television, but what are hairballs? Are they normal or are they signs that something could be wrong with your pet?
A hairball is a gross-looking, tubular-shaped clump of fur that your pet could expel. It gets shaped like that when the fur clumps in the animal’s throat. Should the fur get in the stomach but does not leave it, then the expelled material’s shape could be rounder. If there are some hair strands in yellow, frothy, or clear liquid, then that is not a hairball, rather it is “hair in vomit.”
Should your cat have too much fur buildup and it is not being expelled as a hairball or out through fecal matter, then it could obstruct your pet’s upper gastrointestinal tract. This could cause abdominal pain, a marked appetite decrease, and vomiting. If this is not treated promptly, it can eventually result in electrolyte and fluid imbalance.
If the hairball gets lodged in your pet’s stomach or intestines for quite a while, it could harden and mineralize. There could be instances where your cat is trying to expel a hairball but it gets stuck and then damages her throat, perhaps a stricture or megaesophagus.
Persistent bouts with hairballs should warrant a visit to your veterinary clinic Marietta, GA. Click here.
Comments