Hairball in my cats colon

[TraceyF]

Hello all, I just joined and this is my first person I am in need of advice for my kitty named Logan, 7 yrs old, male, neutered, Siamese, 10 lbs. He is on whole hearted grain free chicken dry food and fancy feast wet food 2x/ day breakfast and dinner. His only medication is "Revolution" on his neck fur 1x/ month, he will have his 3rd treatment tomorrow. He's up to date on all vaccines with most recent annual check up 8/2025. He is an indoor cat and sensitive and emotional. Last thursday (1 week ago) his change in behavior and symptoms began. I noticed he was apprehensive to eat his breakfast and again his dinner. He puked a couple hours after dinner- whole undigested food and again 2 hours later white foam. I took him to the vet the next morning. They took bloodwork and did x-ray. x-ray came back "clear" and the vet thought he had a hairball in his colon that is trying to work its way out. Blood work was great. Vet said she recommended ultrasound if symptoms persisted. She gave him b vitamin and fluids. He got better the next day and was back to himself 24 hours later- running, active and eating. This continued for 4-5 days and now we are 1 week later and exact symptoms have returned. Wednesday night (last night) he was apprehensive to eat dinner and eventually only ate his wet food- puked it up 3 hours later and then puked white foam at 4 am and again this morning 9:45 am. He did not eat breakfast or dinner. He has been sleepy all day (not hiding but sleeping on my bed and with little energy). I went to the local hollistic store and bought pumpkin puree cat wet food, hairball mouse wet food pouch and salmon treats (he does not usually eat treats). I put all of these out for him in addition to his normal fancy feast and he has approached his plate a few times but not eaten. His last stool was last night. I have not seen any hair in his stool. While he was lethargic all day, his energy and personality returned a few hours ago this afternoon, however he still is not eating. It will be 24 hours since his last meal (dinner last night he puked). How long does it take a hairball to pass through the colon? Is it normal for him to have symptoms, get better for 4 days and have symptoms again with a hairball in the colon? What signs and symptoms should I monitor for? Is this an emergency situation? HELP! @Dr.christina @Dr.Jeff

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hi!

Welcome to HA! and thanks for making your first post.

I'm sorry to hear about Logan's health challenges.

Good news that his BEAM improved yesterday afternoon. BEAM is a great way to monitor his overall health.

The first thing I'd do is to try offering him a meat-based human baby food, fresh food or even canned cat food.

Hairballs are not typically an issue for cats except when they're energetically imbalanced. Being internally imbalanced predisposes them to problems from hairballs, pancreatitis and many other dis-eases

There are many, many suggestions in your member area, and on the forum, that address your question.

A great place to start is to read through the HA! 101 course this weekend, and schedule a 15 minute call for Holistic Medical Decision Making next week.

Let's get him into tip TOP shape:

A Way To Connect Modern Veterinary Medicine And Ancient Wisdom: An Introduction To Terrain Theory - Holistic Actions!

www.holisticactions.com

 

[TraceyF]

What sorts of "things" can be imbalanced internally in Logan?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

What sorts of "things" can be imbalanced internally

Great question, and thanks for asking!

The fast answer is every physiologic function in his body can be imbalanced.

And why you wonder?

That's why I sent the article because it begins to describe the internal imbalance in cellular energy and how it relates to physical symptoms.

There's a lot more about this in Path to Pet Wellness which will be in stores 2/10.

The reason I'm mentioning this is that the ebook bonus will be available to everyone who preorders and fills out the preorder form:

Book - Holistic Actions!

Especially relevant to your question are the parts where I describe the importance of susceptibility and "energetic hygiene".

Here is an excerpt:

Chapter 28


From Spirit to Symptom: Bringing Spirituality into Veterinary Practices with Energetic Hygiene


What is essential is invisible to the eye.


— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince


(translated by Katherine Woods, 1943)


In veterinary medicine, the rise in chronic dis-eases among pets, coupled


with shorter health spans, has cast a spotlight on the limitations of


traditional approaches to animal health care. As pet professionals, animal


guardians, and veterinarians grapple with these challenges, it has become


clear that a paradigm shift is necessary for the welfare of the animals in our


care. This chapter explores these critical issues, focusing on the increasing


prevalence of chronic conditions that compromise pets’ quality of life.


My approach to pet care is based on the understanding that physi-


ological approaches alone often cannot address the root causes of these


ailments.


The conventional treatment model prioritizes symptom management


over whole-istic healing of the mind-body and spirit. A different approach,


one that is rooted in nature and ancient wisdom and that transcends the


physical and delves into the energetic and spiritual underpinnings of


health, is needed. Emerging research links mitochondrial dysfunction,


147148 | PATH TO PET WELLNESS


energy imbalances, and obstructions to subtle energy flow as fundamen-


tal contributors to chronic dis-ease. This perspective invites us to rethink


health and wellness, emphasizing the importance of restoring balance and


flow within the body’s systems.


I propose an approach to veterinary care that extends beyond the typ-


ical holistic focus on diet, supplements, and herbs. While these physi-


ological factors are essential, the energetic model we are discussing has


the potential to facilitate deeper healing. Strictly physical interventions


primarily support the healing process, much like traditional veterinary sci-


ence. However, by both soothing symptoms and restoring the natural flow


of energy and information within the body, we can create a more sustain-


able and profound path to health and vitality for our animal companions.


Mitochondrial Health and Energy Balance


Purely physiological approaches can overlook the broader context


of an animal’s health, including environmental, nutritional, emotional,


and energetic factors. The proposed energetic approach draws from both


ancient healing traditions, which were based in spirit and life force energy,From Spirit to Symptom | 149


as well as modern scientific research. This perspective recognizes health as


a dynamic state of balance and suggests that dis-eases manifest when this


balance is disrupted by stressors like poor diet, toxins, lifestyle limitations,


emotional upset, infectious agents, etc. Focusing on restoring this equi-


librium may also offer a more sustainable path to wellness that considers


both the animal’s physical and energetic health.


A crucial aspect of this whole-istic approach is its foundation in the


conservation of cellular energy. Every cell and organ requires energy to


function optimally. Tiny organs (“organelles”) called mitochondria gen-


erate this power in almost every cell (except red blood cells) of our pet’s


bodies. Emerging evidence links most chronic dis-eases to mitochondrial


dysfunction, highlighting the importance of mitochondrial health and


energy in overall well-being.


This perspective on veterinary care emphasizes molecular individuality


and aligns with the practice of scientific wellness, as described by immu-


nologist Dr. Lee Hood of the Institute of Systems Biology. It represents


a move towards P4 medicine—personalized, predictive, preventive, and


participatory, offering a more tailored and proactive approach to animal


health.


The implementation of this holistic model may necessitate a new class


of pet professionals, “Energetic Hygienists,” trained in a comprehensive


program that blends conventional veterinary knowledge with whole-is-


tic physiological and energetic practices. However, even with professional


guidance, pet parents still know their furry family the best, so can help


bridge the gap between their pet and the pet professional.


The Core Issue: Imbalance and Obstruction in Energy and Information Flow


As we discussed, emerging evidence suggests that the fundamental


issue underlying many chronic dis-eases is an imbalance and obstruction


in the flow of energy and information within the body. This perspective


draws from both ancient healing traditions and cutting-edge scientific


research, which recognize health as a state of balance and flow. According150 | PATH TO PET WELLNESS


to this view, dis-eases arise when there is a disruption in the body’s ener-


getic equilibrium, from some triggering stressor.


The concept of energy and information flow encompasses not only


the physical aspects of health, such as the circulation of blood and lymph


but also the more subtle dimensions of Qi in Traditional Chinese Veteri-


nary Medicine, Prana in ayurveda, or vital force in homeopathy. In both


ancient and modern medical systems worldwide, these are understood to


be the guide for informational signals that govern cellular processes and


systemic functions. This whole-istic understanding of health posits that


restoring balance and ensuring unobstructed flow within these systems


can lead to profound healing and the prevention of dis-ease.