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The Alternative and Complementary Veterinary Centers of New York.
Riverside Animal Hospital
250 West 108th St.
New York, N. Y. 10025
212 - 865 2224 Riverside Veterinary Group
219 West 79th St.
New York, N. Y. 10025
212 - 787 1993 Yorktown Animal Hospital
271 Veterans Road
Yorktown Heights, N. Y. 10598
914 - 962-3111 Ansonia Animal Hospital
219 W 79 St
New York, NY 10025
(212) 787 1993
250 West 108th St.
New York, N. Y. 10025
212 - 865 2224 Riverside Veterinary Group
219 West 79th St.
New York, N. Y. 10025
212 - 787 1993 Yorktown Animal Hospital
271 Veterans Road
Yorktown Heights, N. Y. 10598
914 - 962-3111 Ansonia Animal Hospital
219 W 79 St
New York, NY 10025
(212) 787 1993
Case of the Month - September 2010
Case of the Month: Short Haired Cats CAN Get Hairballs...Benton almost died from his.
Forty-eight hours later, Benton had still not eaten and his owner brought him to the overnight emergency facility concerned about his troubled breathing. After being treated there, he vomited a large amount of fluid so she brought him back to us the next day. The change in his exam findings was drastic. His abdomen was painful, he was lethargic and dehydrated and clearly had taken a turn for the worse. X-rays were repeated which showed concerning signs of an intestinal obstruction with a severely dilated stomach. Dr. East hospitalized him, started him on intravenous fluids and injectable antibiotics and a surgical exploratory planned for the next day when his vitals were more stable. The next day, Benton was anesthetized for the exploratory. As soon as his eyes closed, before there was even time to intubate, he refluxed huge amounts of bilious fluid through his mouth and nose and became cyanotic (blue-ish). Within a heart-stopping few seconds, he had a respiratory arrest and came close to a cardiac arrest. The fluid was immediately cleared from his mouth and throat, quickly he was intubated, CPR performed and heart stimulants injected. He was resuscitated! The surgery proceeded and on exploratory an obstruction was identified in the duodenum (the first section of intestines leaving the stomach). The obstruction was so large and involved that it had already compromised the health of the intestines and a section was starting to die. Dr. East had to remove 4-5 inches of intestines (including the section with the foreign body). On recovery, anisocoria was noted (one dilated pupil and one pinpoint pupil) and there was a concern for brain damage and aspiration pneumonia. He was hospitalized for 4 days after his surgery. In that time, the anisocoria resolved and he responded well to aggressive treatment for aspiration pneumonia and the obstruction. Today he is back to being the happy, healthy kitty he was before. The obstruction? The foreign body that almost killed Benton was a large hairball. Hairballs are formed when a cat grooms itself and swallows hairs that can clump together with undigested food in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Just based on how Benton presented, there was likely a hairball in his stomach causing irritation at first which then passed into his proximal small intestines where it became lodged. These impactions are serious and can affect cats anywhere in the gastro-intestinal tract. In lesser cases they can cause painful constipation or nausea from the vomiting. The key is prevention. Regular grooming/brushing reduces hair ingestion and, especially for kitties prone towards hairballs (longer haired cats, overweight cats), there are products that lubricate the ingested fur and make it easier for them to pass. There are also dietary options that are higher in fiber and helps to bulk up the ingestia, also helping it to pass. If your cat is an avid groomer, feel free to ask us about products and/or diets to help keep your kitty safe from hairballs. |
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