Cat Hairball Impaction Symptoms

Loss of appetite following repeated hairball episodes;

Cat hairball impaction symptoms. There are no natural or home remedies which can remove an obstruction in the bowel and you will be putting your cat's life at risk. And in extreme situations, if the colon’s nerves have been damaged by prolonged impaction, surgery may be recommended to remove the damaged section of colon. Impacted bowel and feline constipation.

This will soften the fur mass and make it easier to excrete. Discomfort in the stomach or abdomen area. The symptoms of intestinal blockage vary according to whether the blockage is complete or partial, and the treatment for the blockage depends on the cause.

Otherwise termed an impaction—impactions require veterinary care and treatment. Severe cases can require a procedure to remove the impacted feces. Q are furballs a cause for concern in older cats?

Other indications of a hairball problem in your cat can include a dry cough, gagging or retching after meals, lethargy, fatigue and a general loss of interest in daily activities. To help resolve your cat’s constipation problem, you can offer her a teaspoon of fish oil mixed into her canned food ration once a week. If the impaction goes on for too long, your cat may require emergency surgery.

He might be visiting the litter box a lot, hunched over and trying to eliminate. All three of these symptoms could mean that your cat’s throat, stomach or intestines are blocked by a hairball obstruction. There may be perfectly innocent explanations for the cat’s concerning hairballs, but it’s better to talk to a vet than risk harm through ignoring the issue.

Special commercial cat foods and treats that claim to prevent and / or control trichobezoars; If a hairball is the result of your cat regurgitating and expelling the hair he ingests, then hairball impaction is the result of your cat being unable to cough the hairball up. In addition, a blockage can cause the tissues in the digestive tracts to become necrotic.

Some cats may be fatigued, depressed or uninterested in food. The ejected matter will typically have an unpleasant but tolerable odor. Symptoms of fecal impaction are similar to symptoms of constipation.

Your cat will also need a checkup in the rare case that he has a feline hairball impaction. Fecal impaction can be among the causes of chronic constipation. When hair accumulates in the stomach or small intestine, it is either expelled in the stool or vomited.

As your cat grooms herself, she swallows a lot of. The color is mainly that of the cat’s coat, darkened by the color of the animal’s food and various gastric secretions, such as green bile. Your cat may display some symptoms that can clue you in:

A hairball obstruction would eventually produce similar symptoms but not some of the damaging effects of 'foreign objects'. While hairballs are usually not a cause for concern, in large numbers they can be dangerous. A mild case of constipation can be treated by adding fiber to the cat’s diet or by giving him a laxative.

Usually, your cat will then vomit the hairball in relatively short order. If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, schedule a visit to your veterinarian’s office as soon as possible. If the litter box is suspiciously low on feces for a day or two, this may be the cause.

Persistent vomiting, retching or coughing without a hairball coming up. Constipation occurs when stool moves too slowly through the intestines. Ongoing vomiting, gagging, retching, or hacking without producing a hairball;

As we stated above, it is essential to take a cat to the vet if they show the symptoms of intestinal blockage as described here. Cats groom themselves regularly and swallow hair in the process. Some of the main signs and symptoms of a potentially problematic hairball in your cat include:

If your cat suffers a hairball impaction, one of the primary symptoms is constipation. In the severest of situations a hairball can cause a blockage of the intestine. It may be helpful to keep a log of their hairball regurgitation and the other symptoms they are displaying.

Sometimes, however, hairballs become stuck inside a cat. The popular choice for extra cat fiber is the halloween favorite—pumpkin. He might also try to vomit with no result and stop eating.

Other hairball symptoms can include your cat nibbling on grass, as well as constipation and lethargy. Expect to answer questions about the cat’s medical history and how often they cough up hairballs. Often, you'll only know that your cat has had a hairball after it vomits up the plaque of fur.

If your cat struggles to produce a hairball, you should get them to a veterinarian. The symptoms could be signs of another condition, so your veterinarian will perform a physical exam to confirm the hairball. If you google intestinal blockage in cats you'll get several reputable site hits (petmd, pets.vetmd, vpi insurance and the merck vet manual) which describe the symptoms and the effects of a 'foreign body' obstruction.

If your cat shows any of these signs repeatedly for more than 24 hours please see your veterinarian. He can even howl in pain. Feline impacted bowel and constipation are not the same thing.

The cat might exhibit a repeated dry cough, or may retch after eating. Shedding is the underlying cause of hairball formation, so removing loose hair from your cat is critical in eliminating hairballs. Feed your cat a dry catfood that provides hairball control.

Your cat will learn to love these grooming sessions, and you may find it relaxing as well. Symptoms may then include repeated vomiting, abdominal pain and discomfort and will require urgent veterinary attention. The longer you wait to take the cat for treatment, the worse the prognosis will be.

Asparagus, oat grass, and cat. These are high in fibre, which is assumed to help bind the hair and stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to move the trichobezoar along. Try cat treats that are made for fur ball control, too.

These usually indicate hairball control clearly on the label, and they contain fibre to help the cat pass any swallowed hair. Lethargy and unwillingness to move about much. Silver cat image by t.tulic from fotolia.com.

Essentially hairball impaction is when the hair that collects in your cat’s stomach becomes too thick to pass in either direction.