Tiger with tummy trouble: 4 lbs of furballs surgically removed

CLEARWATER, Fla. (FOX 13) - A 400-pound tiger had a basketball-sized hairball surgically removed Wednesday.

These two furballs removed from Ty the tiger weighed 4 pounds. (Photo: FOX13/Tampa)

"Ty" is 17 years old and had not eaten in about two weeks, according to his caretakers at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.

They brought him to the Blue Pearl Vet Clinic in Clearwater on Monday, where they examined him and discovered the hairball.

The vets determined surgery was the best way to remove it.

All the hair they removed weighed about four pounds.

The surgery took about two hours; "Ty" is expected to be okay.