Cats swallow different things from dogs. Rather than bones and rocks, they more often swallow thread, yarn, string or dental floss while playing, and these linear foreign bodies can saw through the bowel wall. Recognising the string under the tongue and knowing what to do about it are the key points for the NAVLE.
Key facts
Gastrointestinal (including oral) foreign body at a glance- Species and system: cat; digestive system (mouth, oesophagus, stomach and intestines).
- Cause: ingestion of string, yarn, thread or dental floss during play (linear foreign body), other indigestible objects, or trichobezoars.
- Signalment: young cats are more likely to develop a foreign body obstruction; pica and anything causing polyphagia are risk factors.
- Classic presentation: vomiting and anorexia; the string may be seen wrapped around the base of the tongue.
- Key rule: never pull on a string visible in the mouth; cut it at the anchor point.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
11 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Don't confuse a foreign body with
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 5 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.