If you own cats, you’ve probably dealt with a hairball or two. If you plan to have cats, I encourage you to read on and educate yourself because hairballs are in your future.

Some people may think I’m joking when I say ‘$600 Hairball’. Some of you may think we’re crazy or ripping clients off. Others have been there, done that and know what I’m about to preach.

This blog topic has been heavy on my mind for a few weeks. After treating many of these cases, I have come to the realization that it is beyond time to make this a hot topic.

The truth is, I’m not joking. We’re not crazy. And above all, we’re not just trying to take your money. Let’s discuss!

The Science of Hairballs

Trichobezoar. Yes, there is a scientific medical term for it. I can’t tell you how many times the doctor purposely tripped me up on that word when I first got out of tech school. Needless to say, I know and recognize the term now. Pronunciation is still for the birds though.

There’s really not that much science behind it. It’s a compacted ball of hair stuck in the stomach that is unable to successfully pass through a cat’s GI system.

Healthy cats groom, so, small amounts of hair are most always present in a their stool. Hairballs result from either excessive hair ingestion (due to excessive hair loss) or problems with the GI tract moving things along properly.

The tricky part is diagnosing them.

You can’t.

Diagnosing…It Gets a Little ‘Hairy’

Symptoms of trichobezoar are very typical of many other diseases cats can aquire. Loss of appetite, hiding, lethargy, nosing breathing and vomiting are some of the most common ones we see. Cats can have one or many of these symptoms.

Still, there are no tests to positively diagnose hairballs, leaving veterinarians with no other option than to rule out other possibilities. After consideration of the physical exam and the patient’s medical history, blood work and/or x-rays are generally the next ordered tests. (And no, you cannot see hairballs on an x-ray.)

At this point, many of you are probably thinking this is overkill. “Why not just treat for hairballs? What’s the harm in trial and error?”

Sometimes there is no harm. In fact, most of the time we DO treat on suspicion. However, thyroid disease, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, ingestion of a foreign object and many more diseases also fits one or more of the symptoms listed above. Moreover, a handful of these issues can result in death if medical intervention is not done promptly.

Hairball Treatment

After other possible causes have been eliminated, treatment for hairballs is fairly simple. And partially a wait and see game.

Most of the time, treatment can be done at home with mineral oil or a commercially available hairball supplement (our favorite is Laxatone by Vetoquinol®). The goal here is to lube the gastrointestinal tract so the hairball can slide out…either end of the cat. Most of the time, with persistence and time, this method works. Surgical intervention is rarely necessary.

CAUTION: ONLY USE MINERAL OIL AS INSTRUCTED BY YOUR VETERINARIAN. NEVER SQUIRT MINERAL OIL DIRECTLY IN A CAT’S MOUTH AS IT CAN RESULT IN DEATH.

Occasionally, we have patients that have developed other medical problems in addition. These secondary illnesses typically result from the ongoing symptoms prior to diagnosis (i.e. excessive coughing can lead to pneumonia). Antibiotic therapy may be required in these cases.

Most owners think hairballs are just a standard cat problem. After all, a cat is going to groom itself. While it is a common problem, it is definitely not a normal one.

Hairballs are usually a sign of an underlying medical problem. For instance, excessive hair loss can lead to hairballs, but excessive hair loss isn’t normal!  Sometimes it can be as simple as improving their diet or ensuring they have no parasites. Other times it may be a little more serious. However, with a good physical exam and possibly some testing, your veterinarian should be able to get your kitty back on the road to health.

Prevention

NOTHING in life is 100% preventable. If you don’t believe me, ask Murphy…and kindly tell him to stop following me around. But, a little prevention can go a long way.

All cat owners should be giving their feline friends a form of hairball prevention on a routine basis. Gel supplements are our favorite here at White Oak. Most over-the-counter gel supplements are flavored to appease cats’ taste buds, so you may even find it to be an enjoyable practice for your cat. My co-worker’s cat literally chases her down for it.

Other methods of prevention include specially formulated food/treats, frequent brushing to remove excess hair and applying flea/tick prevention on a regular basis. Ensuring your cat is on a balanced diet is also very important to skin health. Above all, pick the method that is most agreeable for you and your cat. Or as most cat owners already know, it’s whatever is agreeable with the cat.

In the long run, maybe you can dodge the $600 hairball!

Questions? Comments? We’d love to hear your thoughts so leave them below!