Maybe hariball problems?

Ashdyre · 01-19-2005, 01:43 PM

SO i've posted before on how sometimes Pharoah dry heaves and coughs a little, like he's going to have a hariball, but i've never found any, and it never happened to often... well, the past 2-3 days he's been doing this alot more my bf says, and today i saw him doing the same thing, and it sounded REALLY bad, all rattly when he "coughed" i guess, and i found this brown mush on the flood i'm assuming he threw up. It looked like his cat food...

Anyhoo, so i called the vet, and they didn't seem too concerned (he is eating and drinking and using the litter ect) and they just said come get this hairball stuff we sell. So i'm on my way to do that later, but i don't know, something tells me it's more than hairballs... i feel so bad for the little guy! i get so scared! Do you think it's really hairballs, or could it be something else?

coaster · 01-19-2005, 02:34 PM

I don't think that's what my vet would say because I went through all this when Tommy had a cold. My vet said that if it was a hairball, the cat would NOT be coughing that much. I think the main thing, if it IS a hairball is to watch out for a obstruction. If he stops pooping, and his lower abdomen feels full & distended, I would go to the vet PRONTO.

Gudewife · 01-19-2005, 04:52 PM

I think it's pretty important to check the vomity substance and stool for signs of hairballs, as they have to go in one direction or the other...if you're consistently seeing a cough and no sign of hairballs in either vomit or stool, it's time to start asking other questions. Asthma can cause a cough almost identical to hairballs (have you changed litters recently?), and heartworm can cause a bad cough, too (though depending on where you live, that may not be as big a concern). Assumpta even had the vet fooled after more than 2 weeks of daily coughing, and was a whisker away from getting a chest x-ray to look for asthma when she yakked up a hairball that was over 3 inches long

The vet was very impressed when I brought it in for show and tell...and I'm usually right on the ball knowing when Assumpta has a hairball issue (she's prone to them), so cough-sounds can be deceiving sometimes, even if you're used to them.

Ashdyre · 01-19-2005, 05:17 PM

Yeah, i actually just changed the litter a few days ago... but ti's litter he's used to, and it's "99% dust free"...

i just feel so scared for the littly guy... I doubt it's heartworm though, cause he just got his heartworm pills not too long ago since he;s still just a kitten.

01-19-2005, 01:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ashdyre Cool Cat Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tecumseh, Ontario Posts: 1,026	Maybe hariball problems? SO i've posted before on how sometimes Pharoah dry heaves and coughs a little, like he's going to have a hariball, but i've never found any, and it never happened to often... well, the past 2-3 days he's been doing this alot more my bf says, and today i saw him doing the same thing, and it sounded REALLY bad, all rattly when he "coughed" i guess, and i found this brown mush on the flood i'm assuming he threw up. It looked like his cat food... Anyhoo, so i called the vet, and they didn't seem too concerned (he is eating and drinking and using the litter ect) and they just said come get this hairball stuff we sell. So i'm on my way to do that later, but i don't know, something tells me it's more than hairballs... i feel so bad for the little guy! i get so scared! Do you think it's really hairballs, or could it be something else?

01-19-2005, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
coaster Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 17,798	I don't think that's what my vet would say because I went through all this when Tommy had a cold. My vet said that if it was a hairball, the cat would NOT be coughing that much. I think the main thing, if it IS a hairball is to watch out for a obstruction. If he stops pooping, and his lower abdomen feels full & distended, I would go to the vet PRONTO.

01-19-2005, 04:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gudewife Cat Addict Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,159	I think it's pretty important to check the vomity substance and stool for signs of hairballs, as they have to go in one direction or the other...if you're consistently seeing a cough and no sign of hairballs in either vomit or stool, it's time to start asking other questions. Asthma can cause a cough almost identical to hairballs (have you changed litters recently?), and heartworm can cause a bad cough, too (though depending on where you live, that may not be as big a concern). Assumpta even had the vet fooled after more than 2 weeks of daily coughing, and was a whisker away from getting a chest x-ray to look for asthma when she yakked up a hairball that was over 3 inches long The vet was very impressed when I brought it in for show and tell...and I'm usually right on the ball knowing when Assumpta has a hairball issue (she's prone to them), so cough-sounds can be deceiving sometimes, even if you're used to them.

01-19-2005, 05:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ashdyre Cool Cat Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tecumseh, Ontario Posts: 1,026	Yeah, i actually just changed the litter a few days ago... but ti's litter he's used to, and it's "99% dust free"... i just feel so scared for the littly guy... I doubt it's heartworm though, cause he just got his heartworm pills not too long ago since he;s still just a kitten.

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