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Pet Pig - Does Your Cat Have Hairballs?

The scientific name for a hairball is a Trichobezoar. Hairballs are common in both cats and rabbits as their hair is completely resistant to degradation. This means that the stomach is unable to break the hair down into smaller particles. A hair ball is the accumulation of hair, plant material or non- digestible factor that gathers in the stomach and grows until it is unable to pass through to the small intestine and exit the body. Hair balls become problematic when they become too large and block the emptying of the stomach causing digestive upsets and can lead to death if not resolved quickly. There are many hair ball products available in commercial stores to prevent severe hairballs. A good hairball treatment includes a fiber source and a lubricant. The fiber acts to entangle the hair and allows it to form a ball so that it can be excreted and the lubricant like petroleum jelly acts to help the ball smoothly pass through the sphincter from the stomach into the small intestine. If this fails to work it is recommended to go to your local veterinary clinic as you pet will most likely need surgery to remove the hairball.

Some symptoms of a severe hairball include:

- coughing
- reduced or lack of appetite
- tenderness in the abdomen
- reduced activity

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