An uncommon case of gastrointestinal foreign body in cat

Abstract

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are commonly encountered in veterinary pathology. The patient may present a variety of clinical signs, depending on the shape of the swallowed object, as well as the site and extent of obstruction. The aim of this study is to describe an unusual case of linear gastrointestinal foreign body, in a 3-year-old cat, referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Iasi, Surgery Department. The anamnesis and clinical examination suggested a gastrointestinal foreign body, subsequently confirmed by ultrasonography, therefore surgical intervention was the treatment of choice. After anesthesia, oral examination revealed an anchored thread around the base of the tongue which couldn’t be extracted by conservative methods, due to the traction resistance. Exploratory celiotomy and enterotomy were performed, the thread being entirely removed after it was freed from the tongue. The patient recovered uneventfully without postoperative complications.