Poor Beau! Our wonderful vet told me that if you don't have any hairball treatment handy, use vaseline. Put about a quarter teaspoon on his upper lip. As he licks it off, it will get his plumbing moving right along. I tried it on Groucho and it worked. Doctor said hairball treatments are basically flavored vaseline. She told me to put some on Groucho twice a day. So sorry to hear about your surgery, my thoughts and prayers are with you!