![]() In the event of an obstruction caused by a trichobezoar, further testing will be needed. Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostics to search for underlying causes of your dog’s hairballs, such as a thorough skin examination, blood tests, and possible gastrointestinal testing. If your dog is vomiting hairballs, the diagnosis is straightforward. If your dog is unable to keep down food or water, veterinary treatment is needed. Signs that may indicate an obstruction include vomiting, abdominal pain, and lack of bowel movements. In the event that a trichobezoar is causing an obstruction, you may not see hair in your pet’s vomit. "If your dog is unable to keep down food or water, veterinary treatment is needed." However, trichobezoars that cause an obstruction are not as easily identified. A dog’s trichobezoar typically has the same cylindrical shape that you may associate with a cat hairball, due to forces that compress the mass of hair as it travels up the esophagus. ![]() In many cases, the only sign that your pet has a trichobezoar is a vomited hairball. These dogs tend to lick their skin more often and ingest larger amounts of hair. Trichobezoars can occur in any dog, but they are more common in dogs with skin conditions. ![]() In some cases, however, this hairball may become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to an obstruction. Many dog simply vomit up the hairball, leaving you to discover it on your floor, and continue on with their normal lives. Once a hairball forms, there are two possible outcomes. This can result in the tangled mass of hair becoming too large to pass in the feces, resulting in a hairball, or trichobezoar. In some situations, however, hair may become tangled on itself or another object within the stomach or intestines. This hair cannot be digested, due to the presence of keratin (a fibrous, structural protein) therefore, it usually passes through the intestines and leaves the body in the feces. What causes trichobezoars?ĭogs can ingest hair when grooming themselves, as well as by eating hair that they find in their environment. Any dog or cat that grooms themselves, or eats the hair of others, is at risk of developing a trichobezoar. While hairballs are typically attributed to cats, they can also cause problems in dogs. Therefore, a trichobezoar is a gastrointestinal obstruction caused by hair. The word “trich” means hair, while a bezoar is any foreign material that obstructs the stomach or intestines. Trichobezoar is the medical or scientific term that is used to describe a hairball.
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