Grantline Veterinary Hospital has been honored to serve our community, providing compassionate care for your pets. It is with a heavy heart that we must announce that our practice must temporarily close, effective December 22nd. The nationwide labor shortage has hit the veterinary industry hard, and we are unable to keep our hospital open without a doctor on site.

While we are actively recruiting for a new veterinarian, we cannot provide medical treatment or authorize prescription refills without a provider onsite. However, our phone lines will remain open to help you. If you need medical care in our absence, we can assist in referring you to another hospital and transferring your pet’s medical records there.

While we cannot provide a timeline for reopening at this time, we want to thank you for the trust you have placed in Grantline Veterinary Hospital over the years, and we hope to see you again soon!

​Our team at Grantline Veterinary Hospital knows being a cat parent is not always glamourous. Part of cat ownership involves coming across furry, slimy tubes, otherwise known as hairballs. Depending on your cat’s hair coat length, you may encounter hairballs with such regular frequency that you become worried about your feline friend’s health. Let’s take a closer look at how hairballs are formed, how they’re eliminated, and how many are considered normal for your cat.

How are hairballs formed?

As cats groom themselves, the tiny hooks on their tongues trap dead or loose fur that they ingest. Whether your cat is long- or short-haired, they will still ingest enough fur to create hairballs. Most of the hair passes easily through the gastrointestinal tract, but some can become clumped in the stomach and, in rare cases, become too bulky to be passed. These uncommon instances require surgical removal. 

How does my cat get rid of their hairballs?

In most cases, your cat will vomit up the hairball, which will pass from their stomach to the esophagus, and then flatten out into a thin tube, rather than an actual ball, as it goes through the esophagus. So, no, cats do not cough up hairballs—they vomit them. 

How many hairballs should my cat normally produce?

The general consensus is that cats should produce no more than one hairball per week, no matter their coat length. So, if your cat is vomiting hairballs more frequently, retching without any production, or not eating, schedule an appointment with our veterinarian. 

How can I reduce hairball development in my cat?

If you’re not a fan of cleaning up slimy fur clumps, you can take steps to reduce the number of hairballs your cat produces. Try the following methods:

  • Brushing your cat daily
  • Switching to a hairball-control diet
  • Using Laxatone, an oral gel that binds hair in the stomach and allows easier passage

If your feline friend is vomiting too many hairballs, not eating, or vomiting in general, schedule an appointment with our team.