Exploratory Surgery After a String issue

Good morning!

My Belle was throwing up over the weekend and I asumed she was having issues with the new food.

It was not until the next day I realized that there was something seriously wrong. She was not eating and continuing to throw up clear liquid.

I looked in her mouth for discolored gums etc. i saw nothing.

It was not until the next morning when my son took her to the vets that we figured out the issue . She had a white string wrapped around her toungue that was going doen her throat. I surely did not see it and actually never hear do of it.

The vet was able to pull it out and put it out,hydrated her and put her on antiobiotics. She is still not eating today but am thinking she had been through quite a trama yesterday.

The vet called this morning and asked if I wanted to go through with the exploritory surgery. I was like,"HUH WHAT?"

I need some guidance. Is this necessary?  Does it take time to show improvement after such an incisdent?

Help!  I am so upset.

Barbara

Did they do xrays to determine if the string is causing a blockage?  Do they know if they got all the string out by pulling it out of her throat?  If there is any possibility that there was string left in the stomach/intestines than yes the exploratory is the next step.  They will check for more string.  A lot of times in there is a foreign object in the intestines the intestines will bunch up around it and it can cause a blockage.  If she's not eating that can be a sign of a blockage as can continued vomiting and/or diarrhea.  Is she at home or is she still at the vet?   Any time that a cat eats a foreign object and it is not passed an exploratory is the logical step to remove the item.  I'm sorry you are going through this. 

Thanks you for your reply!

No there have not been any xrays done, and she was sent home yesterday. She is still not eating or drinking unless I rub it on her gums.

It was a thin white string that was removed by hand yesterday morning but the doctor was not 100 percent sure he got it all.  Her blood work showed Anemia, low sodium and something about the bilirubin.

She is only two years old . Guess not having the surgery is not a chance I should take.

Barbara

Did the vet think it was a blockage or something else causing the bloodwork elevations and lows?  Did they give her anything to help boost her blood/anemia?  I would recommend syringe feeding at this point, if she doesn't go in for surgery, cats can get critically ill if they don't consume their normal amount of calories in a matter of days.  Your vet should have a food called a/d or maximum calorie or something along those lines you can mix it with water and syringe feed.  Or you can get baby food, Beech Nut Chicken is good just make sure it doesn't have onion in it.    Also plain flavored pedialyte can give them more energy and can keep them hydrated better than plain water can.

X rays will only show if there is a blockage. You will not see the string. At this point I would do an ultrasound to see if everything is moving like it should.
The not eating is worrisome. She will not want to eat after surgery either. I would be taking her to the vet for IV hydration and electrolyte therapy to get her strength back so she might start to eat on her own before surgery is possibly required.

X-rays and ultrasound before deciding if surgery is needed. While there get IV therapy.

Since my post I spoke to the vet, and he discussed Ultra sound with me. He told me this surgery is very risky. I would like to rule out everything before I opt for surgery, but don't want to wait too long as this can become deadly quickly.

I agree that this is a good option.

I was going to try and give her pedialyte when i get home tonight, and see if she improves any. The vet suggested jello also to help move things along.

He is pretty sure the string broke inside her throat and that not all of it was recovered.  She was rehydrated at the office yesterday and given antibiotics.

She does not appear to be in any pain.

He did not discuss the anemia which was strange. The other levels d  were low due to throwing up.

My poor baby is only 2 years old and deserves to live much longer.

I am going to syringe feed as well as she has not had food since Saturday. I am sure that is not helping her situation any.

Thank-you everyone for the wonderful advice.

Barbara

I feel for you. Your cat is young and should recover nicely. The pain meds and antibiotics will make it hard when it comes to your cat eating. Be prepared to suringe feed....but wait two days after surgery due to the anesthesia and normal nausea. The cone will be a must so stitches aren't ripped out. It will be at least 5-6 inches long.
I wouldn't do the surgery until she has the ultrasound and you can see she is blocked. Do everything you can to get her to eat now....including daily electrolyte IV from the vet to make her feel better and stronger in case surgery is required or not.

UPDATE on Belle.

I took your suggestions and am at this time trying to feed her to regain some strength.

Visited Walmart last night and bought Pedialyte ,babyfood and a syringe.

I fed her evey ten mintues for an hour, and repeated the same process this morning.

She is still not 100% but certainly showing a marked inprovement from yesterday,

This morning she woke up next to me purring, and she growled at the younger cats so that is progress!

She has peed in the litter box but has not pooped as of yet.

There is no straining ,throwing up or sign of pain. Just no robust desire for food.

We have opted to see another vet as I feel that my current vets suggestion of immediate exploratory surgery was premature without an xray or

Ultrasound. I was also pretty upset that according to my son the vet cut the string under her tonque without any sedative or pain killer.

It was apparently rather tramatic. It took three people to holding her down and a pair of forcepts in her mouth to free her tongue.

Does anyone have any idea why blood work might have been ordered in this situation?

We will have the surgery if the utlrasound proves that it is necessary.

Barbara

I would call and ask if you can administer laxatone. My vet said to give 5 ml of laxatone to help pass hairball. Every day for five days.

If the string is caught she will get very sick immediately.

She could throw the string back up. I know one of my cats ate a piece of carpet. I only knew about it because he threw it up as part of a hairball.

Another of my cats ate a huge rubber band! I only knew because he passed it in his stool.

I really wish I had a few thousand dollars to replace the carpeting as I don't think it is safe for cats. I can make sure they can't eat rubber bands, but I can't prevent the carpet issue. Just try to vacuum often!

One of my cats has pica and she is the one I worry about. She even eats newspaper.

I just wanted to thank every one of you for your suggestions, and help during a distressing time.

Today she started eating her hard food again on her own, and she pooped,

That in itself  is not exciting to most people but  when you are worried about a blockage it is reason to celebrate.

She seems to be 90% recovered at this time, although I am keeping a watchful eye, and will followup with a vet.

Barbara

Good news, Barbara.  It sounds like all your TLC really paid off! 

Like you, I am really surprised the vet didn't administer a sedative when he removed the string and recommended exploratory surgery without X-Rays or Ultrasound.  I think I, too would consider a new vet.

Hope she keeps getting better!

babsyCat4 said:

 
UPDATE on Belle.

I took your suggestions and am at this time trying to feed her to regain some strength.

Visited Walmart last night and bought Pedialyte ,babyfood and a syringe.

I fed her evey ten mintues for an hour, and repeated the same process this morning.

She is still not 100% but certainly showing a marked inprovement from yesterday,

This morning she woke up next to me purring, and she growled at the younger cats so that is progress!

She has peed in the litter box but has not pooped as of yet.

There is no straining ,throwing up or sign of pain. Just no robust desire for food.

We have opted to see another vet as I feel that my current vets suggestion of immediate exploratory surgery was premature without an xray or

Ultrasound. I was also pretty upset that according to my son the vet cut the string under her tonque without any sedative or pain killer.

It was apparently rather tramatic. It took three people to holding her down and a pair of forcepts in her mouth to free her tongue.

Does anyone have any idea why blood work might have been ordered in this situation?

We will have the surgery if the utlrasound proves that it is necessary.

Barbara

Click to expand...

Laboratory findings associated with GI foreign  bodies include leukocytosis with a mild left shift. Marked leukocytosis or leukopenia with a degenerative left shift can be present in cases of GI perforation and secondary bacterial peritonitis or sepsis. A wide variety of electrolyte and acid-base changes have been described. Proximal GI obstruction has typically been associated with hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis, whereas more distal GI obstruction is associated with metabolic acidosis. In a study in dogs, hypochloremia and metabolic alkalosis were the two most common changes regardless of the site of GI obstruction. Hyperlactatemia and hemoconcentration (increased PCV and total solids) are also frequently identified.

Good for you for changing vets - you would think it'd be common sense to sedate the cat before yanking the string.

They really should have public service announcement posters about string and cats.  Or at least the vets should discuss it at every visit because it's such a common misconception.

Hope things continue to improve. 

So happy to hear that things are improving. I can really relate to your dilemma. I will explain my stories:

My last cat, Pumpkin, had a string fettish. One time she kept vomiting and it seemed as if she was throwing up some of her insides and it went back in after she finished vomiting. I was naive about this, but I called the Vet immediately. The Vet said to take her right in. All he did was open up her mouth and there it was: a sewing needle stuck in her soft palate (roof of mouth). All he did was get a pair of clamps and pull it out. It was attached to the thread. She kept vomiting to get it out. Turned out my mom was hand sewing something and must have dropped a needle and thread. Thank Goodness it got caught in the roof of her mouth...We really dodged a big one there. 

That cat was even after the wire twist thingies that are around bread bags!

Recently, Artie ate a streamer from a toy he got at Christmas. I never knew it. I think I was playing with him, got a phone call and put the toy down. He must have started crunching on the streamer (it was pretty and shiny). I was wondering why he lost his appetite and quieted down a lot. That lasted 3 days. Then, when scooping his poop, I saw something green. I closely looked at it and saw it was a piece of streamer! I had to take it apart to see how long it was. It was in pieces. The total length was about 5 inches!!!

I was so scared!! This was around New Years. I quickly went over to him and felt his belly. He was not tender at all. Believe me, I was scared. I almost took him to the E-Vet. but he was acting more normal after he passed this. He was eating a bit better (not normal) and he seemed perkier. I called the Vet as soon as I could, and she said to watch him very closely. If needed she would take him in and do an ultrasound and an x-ray and take it from there.I also loaded him up with laxatone (fur ball laxative). I wanted to make sure if he ate anything else he would pass it.. I was a nervous wreck!

Long story short, Artie was ok!! I had to deal with diarrhea for a few days, but he was ok!! Needless to say, I threw that toy away! 

My cousin's dog ate part of the living room curtains. The Vet did x-rays, saw it in a spot where he could possibly pass it. Gave her high fiber food to eat  in order to try not to have surgery...turned out he pooped some out, but some was still left inside. He had the surgery and he was fine. 

My boss's dog ate a sock! He had the type of surgery where they could push a scope down his throat or up his bum and pulled it out...

If the string was wrapped around your kitties tongue, I am sure it must have been cutting into her tongue. It must have been sore even after removal. Maybe that is why she did not eat much and was not herself. Think about how your tongue would feel if a string was wrapped around it.

sorry about the long post. 

I am just very happy that this has a happy ending!!

Good for you for switching Vets!

I appreciate the long post and thatnk-you for sharing your stories. It make me feel better about my situation.

Belle was doing much better for several days, but today I am sorry to report we are returning to the vets. She is sluggish, not eating and vomiting on occasion.

I have been trying to make sure she is pooping but am not home with her all day andwe have a multicat household. Leaving her in a seperate room does not seem to work.

She is set in her ways.

Yesterday she started with going in the litter box and scratching but not doing anything. Not straining or in pain just scratching . It was strange. Also she started hiding again .

She is on her way to a new vets right now, and I am hoping all will work out ok, and I did not wait too long.

The new vet asked me the right questions and already I see difference in the level of care. Asked if she had had an xray by the other vet etc.

Pray for my baby please.   

Belle had surgery today . A wad is thin string was removed from her large intestine .
It was low in the intestines and was trying to push it's way out but stopped.
Fortunately the intestines did not need removal .

Learned a valuable lesson here.
A) string is a very serious thing for cats
B) it's important to have a vet you can trust .

Pray for Belle please she still is not out if the woods but made it through surgery .

Oh that's great news - I mean she's not out of the woods yet, but they found the string and removed it.  After your last post I was very worried.  

I think it's very helpful for people to post these stories.  We all learn something and anecdotal evidence is a great form of trial and error.  Case in point, your cat may get sick right away from eating string and it may take awhile.  

At any rate, sending good vibes your way.  

Poor Belle.  I am glad that you found a vet you could trust and sorry that little Belle had to go through surgery, I hope her recovery is quick and easy for you.

I just read the recent posts. Poor Belle! But so happy you found a really good Vet. They are hard to find. 

Good to hear your baby is out of surgery and is mending. She should be fine now.. It must have been a horrible ordeal for you. I can just imagine how I would feel. 

Healing thoughts to Belle...

I find that if Artie does not like his food, and is hungry, then he will start searching out non edible things to eat! For example, plastic bags, pull thread from towels--anywhere he can find thread....But if he is full and satisfied, he does not touch them... something to keep in mind....

Due to past experiences, the house is pretty cat proof, but there is always something...I even hung my bathroom towels up high so he could not reach them!! 

Post a few pictures when Belle is feeling better....

and most important:

Take care of yourself....do not feel guilty....this was not your fault....((hugs))