Are you wondering about your cat’s hairballs?
When your kitty isn’t sleeping, eating, or playing, they’re possibly grooming themselves. Indeed, they won’t tolerate any debris, dirt, tangles, or loose hair. As a result of this, they swallow a significant amount of hair. Alexander Animal Hospital has got you covered if you’ve wondered about the meaning behind your cat’s hairballs!
Cat Hairballs May Indicate Health Issues
Most of the time, the sound and the mess of your cat’s hairballs are off-putting. In addition, the vomiting sound after the gagging and coughing noises is usually upsetting. But your cat’s hairballs might indicate potential health problems.
So, you discovered that your kitty’s tongue is scratchy. The tongue assists with lifting dead or loose hair. Plus, the hook-life shapes impact how much hair your cat swallows since they point back toward the throat. Sometimes, their litter box reveals that some of the hair passes fine out the other end. Otherwise, regurgitating your cat’s hair is the only choice if they swallow too much indigestible hair.
Allergies Can Trigger Cat Hairballs
Moreover, your cat’s hairballs might lead to signs of a decreased appetite, litter box troubles, and lethargy. Call us if this is the case at home. Despite their name, hairballs are not round. They are typically elongated, tube-like shapes covered with food particles and other stomach contents.
Furthermore, we recommend you take them to us right away if your cat’s constant hairballs indicate something wrong. Sometimes, your cat’s hairballs can become tummy problems that require surgery. Or they can be triggered by allergies or skin disorders.
Preparation and Prevention of Hairballs
The best way to minimize how much hair your kitty consumes is to continue their weekly brushing and combing routine. Also, grooming them is an excellent bonding exercise. In addition, we can discuss what types of food ingredients might minimize or prevent your cat’s hairballs before you switch their food. Specially-formulated foods can enhance your kitty’s skin and coat qualities, reduce shedding, and add fiber for great digestion.
We Would Love the Opportunity to Care for Your Furry Friends!
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment.
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