Can hairballs really hurt my poor kitty this badly? I don't trust my vet's diagnosis.

kittenhoarder

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Starting a little over a day ago my 1 year old girl *shorthair* started cowering in the corners, sitting there in obvious pain. She made hacking noises about every 2 to 10 minutes but nothing would come up. Her eyes were half open because she hadn't slept a wink, probably from the pain. NO bowel movements or urination. She still takes small bites of wet food when placed in front of her. I mixed extra water into her food before I gave it to her.

I brought her to the vet immediately this morning. He took her temp, checked her throat, and felt around her abdomen (and double checked again). They gave her an ultrasound and said they didn't see anything. Injected her with a fluid for her dehydration and sent me home with Laxatone (an oral gel for hairballs).

It's been 12 hours now since that vet visit and have been giving her the gel as he directed, constantly watching her. She sticks around near me, with slow, weak movements and continues to cough. She is still in obvious pain/discomfort and has NOT defecated or urinated at all.

She's a shorthair cat. I've never seen her throw up any hair, not before and not now. The hairball idea the vet gave I just can't trust right now. I don't see how it would cause all these problems, how sudden they occurred, how severe they are and absolute lack of history of hairball problems.

Ideas what else this could be? I live in the "sticks" and there is no emergency/overnight way of getting her an off-hours visit around here. I don't know what to do for her in the mean time and I'm scared... I don't want to lose my baby girl.

12 more hours til the vet opens and I'm crossing my fingers tight.
 

stephanietx

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Is there an emergency vet in a neighboring town?  You could possibly call.  Has there been any litter box production?  Did the vet feel her intestines and say she was constipated?  Did he give her an enema or just meds for a hairball?  Is she throwing up?  Did she have a fever?  She could have a urinary blockage or some other kind of blockage.  I'd find a vet for a second opinion ASAP.  You could also call your vet.  They should have some information on what to do in an emergency on their answering machine.
 

sarah ann

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You could have a hairball obstructing the gut. The gel should help if she is blocked anywhere in her GI tract. It is also possible this is something like feline asthma which will produce the coughing you describe.

I would also look for a different vet. Too many things this could be.
 
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