Hairball Prevention for Canines



Hairballs are not just a cat thing. True, a cat's meticulous grooming habit will contribute to the frequent disgusting thing on your carpet, but dogs can also get hairballs. Just not as frequently. And sometimes, these canine hairballs can become an obstruction which is life threatening. Dogs that are at a higher risk for hairballs are: long haired dogs, puppies nursing off of a mother that is shedding (or has long hair), dogs with skin irritations, skin parasites and/or an anxious dog.

Signs that your dog may have a hairball are:
  • coughing
  • retching
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • gastrointestinal distress
  • pain
The last three signs are also signs that your dog's hairball may be causing a blockage. As you can see, all of these signs can also be cues of other medical issues. All in all, if you are seeing a pattern of these symptoms, it's best to have your dog checked out by a veterinarian. For the last three signs, you should take your dog to the vet asap. A blockage is a pretty serious thing. In addition, these last three can also mean a myriad of other serious medical conditions.

So how do a prevent hairballs from forming? Below, is a list of the types of behaviors/ issues that contribute to hairballs with preventative tips along side:

  • Self Grooming: To help dogs with longer, thicker fur, an owner should regularly bush the dog's fur to remove as much of the loose hair as possible. This is especially important as the weather gets warmer and shedding starts to occur. In addition, clipping your dog's hair during the shedding season is a must. Plus, it makes your dog more comfortable.
  • Hair Loss: A dog that is going through hair loss, which is entirely different from shedding, is usually going through some sort of health issue. Sometimes it is diet related and switching to a better quality food and supplementing helps. Other times, it could be a serious medical issue. If you notice that your dog is losing it's hair, it's best to schedule a vet visit to assess the problem. 
  • Skin Irritation: If your dog is suffering from dry skin, washing your dog with a moisturizing shampoo and adding humidity can help. But, you need to be careful not to bath your dog too frequently as that can contribute to dry skin! Other skin irritations can be allergies, bacteria or fungal infections. All of these need to be identified by a veterinarian and treated accordingly. 
  • Eating Prey: Some dogs like to hunt! But, eating the prey and/or random carcasses laying on the ground, can contribute to hairballs, blockages and parasites. If you have a hunter, please supervise your pet when outside to eliminate the possibility of eating random dead animals.
  • Nursing Pups: shaving the mother's belly around the teats greatly reduces the risk of puppies getting hairballs. 
  • Behavioral Issues: a dog that is anxious or bored will sometimes over groom. Providing adequate mental and physical exercise will often remedy this problem. For more serious mental disorders, it's best to work with your veterinarian for a whole game plan. 
As you can see, there is a whole myriad of things that can contribute to canine hairballs. It's not just for the cats! The key to canine hairball prevention is adequate grooming from the owner, a healthy diet, regular mental and physical exercise as well as yearly veterinarian visits. Keeping on top of all of this helps your pet live a happy, healthy life. 💓

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