How to remove hair from a cat's stomach

Trichobezoar is a foreign body in the cat's stomach, a dense lump of hair. Most often it forms in the stomach of long-haired cats, but short-haired cats are not immune to its appearance. As a rule, it is a normal phenomenon, and the animal can cope with it on their own, but sometimes you can't do without human help. Is it possible to get rid of the accumulation of hair at home, or do you need to go to the vet for treatment?

Hair in the stomach in a cat: symptoms, how to remove, what is dangerous

Of course, it is very good that cats are so hygienic. They go to the toilet on their own and also lick themselves, sometimes this procedure takes the cat even an hour. However, it is not always good, because the graceful pets, especially the long-haired breeds (Maine Coon, Persian, Bobtails, Siberian, Burmese, Somali, Norwegian, and many other breeds), often collect hair in the stomach of a catThe lumps accumulate. And in quite large quantities, and it is necessary to remove the hair from there using various methods.

Many owners, when they are faced with this problem, have a legitimate question: How to get the hair out of the cat's stomach. Also, what are the symptoms, How to know if there is an accumulation of hair lumps in the stomach, and what to get them out of there. All these questions, of course, are answered on the Internet. In this article? you will also find the answers, but we must remember that before you diagnose and treat them yourself, you must first consult a specialist.

Our veterinary center "Ya-VET" provides a service of making an experienced veterinarian call at home. It is not only convenient from the standpoint of time planning by the owner, but also useful for the pet. After all, not all cats like to go somewhere out of the way. This can lead to molting and hair loss, and if the pet starts licking the hair, there will be more lumps and the disease will get worse. Our vet arrives within an hour and after diagnosis will prescribe an individualized course of treatment. This will help the pet to shed the hair and get back to their normal lifestyle without any health hazards.

What dangers does hair in a cat's stomach provoke?

Of course, the main reason that your cat gets hairballsand vomiting is cleanliness. Already at the age of a month or two the kitten begins to take care of its own hair, thoroughly licking it. Scientists estimate that cats spend about 10 percent of their time lickingOf course when they are awake. In addition to keeping them clean, they also They also regulate their body temperature, especially when it is hot and humid or in apartments with dry air. For example, in winter with central heating. The cat also licks itself when it is stressed and needs to relax and calm down.

To get rid of the lumps naturallyto get rid of the lumps naturally, the cat vomits them up. However if something goes wrong and a complication arises, or there is just a lot of hair, the lump in the stomach can cause not the most pleasant consequences. Some owners think in vain that it is nature, which means that everything will get out on its own without complications. If the problem is not detected in time and the necessary measures are not taken, which will undoubtedly be prescribed by an experienced veterinarian, there is a risk that the treatment will become more complicated, as the problem itself will become more complicated.

Why is hair in a cat's stomach dangerous?

So let's take a look at why hair in the stomach and its accumulation is dangerous for a pet:

• Hair that enters the digestive tract gives the cat a feeling of fullness, because it fills the stomach there. Because of this, the cat is able to stop eating, the complete elimination of food and lack of appetite is common in such a case. The cat will simply stop coming to the bowl. This is the main danger, because if the animal does go to the bowl, it won't do so for very long and the treatment will only become more difficult if the problem is detected too late.
• The intestines become clogged and it is difficult for food to pass through the tract all the way. This causes pain in the stomach, there are problems with digestion, the cat is simply unable to go to the toilet on its own, which even causes the body to become intoxicated.
• Sometimes hair gets stuck between the pet's teeth, and this can lead to their ingrowth into the gums, which will only cause additional inflammation. This will lead to infections and severe toothache.
• Thus such problems lead to gastritis and pancreatitis, which, of course, can be treated, but they can be avoided. To that end, the following will present the symptoms that you need to be aware of so that no complications arise and the hairball in the cat's stomach does not cause injury.

How does hair get into the stomach?

Why do hairballs form in the stomach of cats, because animals do not eat hair on purpose? The reason lies in the cleanliness of animals. From about a month old kittens learn to look after themselves by watching their mother cat. They are carefully licked and washed. Adults devote about 10% of their waking time to hygienic procedures.

Why do cats need to be licked? First of all, they clean their coats, lick off dirt and coat their fur with disinfectant saliva. Secondly, licking is their natural way of regulating their body temperature. Cats have no sweat glands on their skin, and their saliva evaporates and cools the body. Third, monotonous licking helps with stress and calms the cat.

During "washing" the cat swallows individual hairs. Especially a lot of hair ends up in the stomach during moulting in long-haired cats. There is no need to scold the cat for vomiting up hair or burping up individual lumps, it is normal.

Symptoms of hairballs in the cat's stomach

How do you know if a pet's stomach is full of hair? Characteristic symptoms are:

• decreased appetite or complete loss of appetite – trichobezoar stretches the walls of the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness;
• vomiting, belching;
• Difficulties with bowel emptying, mucus and remains of undigested food are visible in the feces;
• Changes in behavior: the animal becomes restless or, on the contrary, apathetic;
• Dry cough after a meal;
• bloated hard belly, touching which is painful for the animal.

Read also: Why does the cat's fur flakes on the tail and back at its base, form spats, what to do?

Symptoms

The first few days after the cat has eaten the hair, no external changes are usually observed in his behavior. But when large lumps are formed, the following symptoms may be noticed:

• Disruption of appetite, drowsiness. Some animals become aggressive, do not let themselves be picked up, petted, hiding in hiding places.
• Rejection of food and ill health are reflected in the appearance of the pet. The coat loses its shine, whiskers break, and claws begin to break. The cat begins to lose weight.
• Constipation is observed, and the pet's feces acquire a dense structure. The abdomen increases in size, and because of the increased formation of gases, purring may be present.
• The formation of trichobezoars is often accompanied by an increase in body temperature – but the pet becomes dry and hot.

How to help your cat and get the hair out of his stomach

As soon as you notice that something is wrong with your pet, be sure to see your veterinarian. A specialist will examine the pet and find a suitable remedy to remove the hairballs from the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, you can help the pet yourself. There are several methods to get rid of the problem.

The use of special diets

When forming trichobezoars, veterinarians recommend special lines of food for cats. Ready-made diets help to remove hair clumps from the stomach and intestines. Unlike regular food, they contain large amounts of fiber, which stimulates intestinal motility. This promotes the release of small clumps of hair together with the feces. Such diets can be given not only to correct the problem, but for the purpose of prevention.

• They improve intestinal peristalsis and increase appetite;
• They speed up regurgitation and tone the walls of the stomach;
• prevent blockages in the intestinal lumen;
• Clean the digestive tract, normalize acid-base balance;
• Reduce the intensity of seasonal molting.

Specialty foods include vitamin complexes, mineral supplements, biotin, fish oil, plant extracts, essential amino acids.

For some time, the therapeutic food should be given to the pet constantly, and it is best to introduce it to the usual diet gradually, in small portions. Add 10-15% of the therapeutic food to the old food, so it will be easier for the cat to adapt to the transition to the new food.

Specialty cat foods are available from many well-known brands:

• Monge – Cat Hairball line contains high and low fermentation fiber, which helps remove hair from the stomach and prevents the formation of dense hairballs.
• HILL'S – SCIENCE PLAN Hairball Indoor range with dietary fiber reduces the formation of hairballs in the stomach. Developed especially for cats living in apartments.
• NATURAL TRAINER – daily and preventive nutrition of the Hairboll series, restoring normal intestinal function, preventing the formation of bezoars.
• ROYAL CANIN – Hairball Care contains plantain seeds and insoluble fiber, which normalizes intestinal transit. These ingredients help to eliminate hair naturally during defecation, without triggering regurgitation.

How to flush hair out of the stomach

Before you start helping your cat get rid of hair in the GI tract, consult your veterinarian!

1. Special food . There are cat foods on the market that are designed to flush hair out of the stomach and contain special fibers. This is a good option for those whose cats eat dry food. Buy some and see if the hair will come out when they empty their bowels. If so, use that kind of food.

2. Cat grass. . You can buy pre-grown grass in a container at the pet store or plant your own. Such greens excrete hair by vomiting or through the intestines.

3. malt paste. . In drugstores, they sell treats in the form of a paste, which pets are happy to eat, after which the hair comes out with the feces quickly and painlessly.

4. Vaseline Oil. . Using a needleless syringe, inject 1-2 ml of Vaseline oil into the cat's mouth. The oil will envelop the digestive tract, making it easier for the cat to "relieve" itself.

Getting hair out of a cat's stomach is more difficult than preventing the problem. It is important to comb out the pet and occasionally give malt paste.

What causes trichobezoar formation

At this point, it is reliably known that long-haired cats produce hairballs more often than cats with short or medium-length coats. It is most likely that increased hair ingestion and decreased gastric motility can lead to difficulty in excretion of hair naturally and rapid formation of large hairballs in the stomach.

Excessive hair ingestion does not impair the stomach's ability to transfer hair to the small intestine, but it does make it more difficult for it to eliminate all the hair from the body. Long-haired cats are affected more often, but other factors that contribute to increased hair intake include:

• Flea infestation (infestation) – causes cats to itch and, as a result, increased licking. Severe flea infestation or allergic reactions to flea bites often causes hair loss;
• Primary skin diseases – causing itching and provoking increased grooming;
• Excessive grooming due to pain or anxiety, such as internal diseases, trauma or stress. For example, with kidney stones, kidney stones can cause gnawing on one particular side.

Gastrointestinal motility can be impaired by chronic diseases or increased sympathetic nervous system stimulation secondary to other factors such as chronic pain and/or stress. Thus, regular excretion of hair from the cat's body through vomiting may not only be a cause of complications, but also an indicator of primary gastrointestinal tract diseases, skin abnormalities, and a sign of chronic pain and stress.

Symptoms of the presence of trichobezoars

If the cat for a long time can not burp hair in small portions, the magnitude of trichobezoars reaches a significant size. Often the situation gets out of control, and in order to get rid of hair clumps, it will be necessary to resort to medical care.

The pet's appearance and behavior will tell you that there is something wrong with his stomach. The following signs of trichobezoars are worth looking out for:

1. A cat's coat loses its shine and groomed appearance. This is due to a lack of essential nutrients.
2. Unusual eating behavior. The animal is often perplexed when approaching the food bowl, but does not eat. The reason for this is the following: the glucose level in the cat's blood drops, which causes a feeling of hunger. But she can't eat because her stomach is full of hair.
3. The cat coughs and has frequent, fruitless gagging. This is because the lump of hair in the stomach has become so large that it cannot pass down the esophagus.
4. The animal does not have stools for several days. Food is unable to move through the clogged digestive tract.
5. Examination of the oral cavity reveals hairs and fur stuck or ingrown in the gums. These signs indicate an advanced stage of the disease. It is necessary to clean the teeth immediately.
6. The cat often vomits, there is blood, mucus, hairballs in the vomit.
7. Increased salivation.
8. The abdomen is tense, swollen, painful on palpation.
9. There may be an increase in temperature. This is a very alarming sign – probably an inflammatory process has started.
10. The cat is in a bad mood, lethargic, sleeps a lot, refuses to play.

These symptoms also occur with other diseases, such as worm infestation. In order not to cause unnecessary suffering to the pet and not to treat it randomly, you must urgently show it to a veterinarian. The clinic will make the correct diagnosis and advise on further action.

Effective methods of removing hair from the stomach

In order to prevent trichobezoars in the cat's stomach, which it will not be able to regurgitate and which will become life-threatening, the owner should take care of preventive measures:

1. Regularly comb out the pet's hair. This is especially true for long-haired cat breeds.
2. During periods of active shedding the cat should be transferred to a special food with additives which make it easier to remove the hair lumps from the gastrointestinal tract. Food brand Royal Kanin has proven itself well.
3. From the age of eight months introduce phytomines into the cat's diet. Phytovitamin complex promotes the health of the animal and helps to remove hair from the stomach and intestines.

Preventive and therapeutic foods and preparations contain non-digestible fibers that, as they move through the digestive tract, capture any excess.

The oils in these products facilitate the passage of the coat lump. With these recommendations, a caring owner will ensure a calm and problem-free life for himself and his cat.

If, however, the cat is unable to burp the hair and needs "emergency aid," here's what to do:

1. Cerucal, Metoclopramide or Ranitidine can be given to stimulate the cat to empty the stomach naturally. Only a specialist will determine the dosage. It must be remembered that the cat dosage is very different from the human dosage.
2. Vaseline oil is not digested and is not absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract. It promotes the emptying of the intestines. Caution should be exercised when using this remedy: it is contraindicated in pregnancy, inflammation of the intestines and intestinal obstruction.
3. Special pads, tablets and treats are sold in pharmacies to help flush out the hair through the intestines;
4. Young grass shoots help burp trichobezoars. They are sold in veterinary stores. Keep in mind that indoor ornamental plants are not suitable for this purpose, as they can be poisonous.
5. Malt-paste can help not only with an acute condition. It has proven itself as a prophylactic for trichobezoars.