Foreign objects in the body of cats: symptoms and methods of treatment. Foreign bodies Types of novocaine blockades

Foreign body of the stomach and intestines - any object, both food and non-food origin, which is swallowed but cannot leave the body naturally (through vomiting or defecation). Examples of foreign bodies can be objects such as large pieces of bones that cannot be digested, various toys, Christmas decorations (usually tinsel), ropes and threads, lumps of glued hair, stones, various metal objects (usually coins) and some other objects.

Animals are more likely to eat objects as a result of curiosity, which is more common in young animals. Sometimes foreign bodies get into the body of an animal when eating food products intended for people and located in various types of wrappers. Also, eating foreign bodies can develop as a result of pathological appetite against the background of certain diseases.

Clinical signs

The main symptom of foreign bodies of the stomach and intestines is loss of appetite and vomiting. Due to the fact that the body is able to excrete fluid into the cavity of the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting can be observed even though the animal does not take food and water. Continued loss of fluid leads to dehydration of the animal, which manifests itself in dryness of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, a decrease in skin elasticity and retraction of the eyeballs. Due to the fact that electrolytes necessary for normal life (sodium, potassium, etc.) are lost with vomiting, the animal develops muscle weakness and depression. Other likely signs include fever (fever), diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Diagnostics

With a foreign body of the stomach and intestines, sometimes it can be felt (palpated) in the abdominal cavity, or changes in the shape of the intestine (seals, abnormal location, etc.) characteristic of a foreign body can be detected. In some cases, a foreign body does not cause any palpable changes, and therefore, a simple examination cannot completely exclude the presence of a foreign body.

The diagnostic test of choice for a suspected foreign body is a radiographic (X-ray) examination of the abdominal organs, while radiopaque objects (eg, metal objects, stones) are easily determined or changes in internal organs characteristic of a foreign body are determined. Also, if a foreign body is suspected, a radiographic examination can be performed using contrast, when a substance (usually barium) is given inside and its progress through the stomach and intestines is monitored. A foreign body in the stomach is best identified by endoscopic examination.

Other diagnostic tests used in the diagnosis of a foreign body may include examinations such as ultrasound of the internal organs and laboratory tests of blood and urine. Sometimes, a foreign body can only be detected during a diagnostic laparotomy - when an animal under anesthesia opens the abdominal cavity and examines the internal organs through examination and palpation.

Treatment and prognosis

The basis of treatment is the removal of foreign bodies from the stomach and intestines. In most cases, surgical removal of foreign bodies is performed, in rare cases, a foreign body from the stomach can be removed endoscopically. In case of severe dehydration of the animal, dehydration is corrected before the operation by intravenous administration of electrolyte solutions.

Prognosis depends on the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment. With early treatment for help, the prognosis is often favorable, and after surgical treatment, the animal recovers completely. With a long stay of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract, the likelihood of perforation (perforation) of the wall of the stomach and / or intestines and irreversible complications increases.

6-year-old cat Stepan was taken to the veterinary clinic on New Year's Eve because of vomiting. When probing the abdomen, characteristic changes in the intestines were found, and it was decided to perform a diagnostic laparotomy. During the operation, an accumulation of tinsel was discovered, which was safely removed (upper left corner). Christmas decorations are perhaps the most common cause of foreign body formation in cats.

X-ray of a cat delivered to the veterinary clinic due to vomiting, it shows changes in the intestines characteristic of a linear foreign body. A decision was made to operate (see below).

View of the intestines extracted during the operation, it is strung on a thread like a garland. The operation was carried out in a timely manner, in case of refusal of the operation, perforation of the intestine with a thread develops, which leads to irreversible consequences. (see below).

View of a propylene thread extracted from the intestines. After the operation, the cat recovered well.

Veterinary clinic of Dr. Shubin, Balakovo.

A foreign body in an animal's body is common, common problem in the world of veterinary medicine. Our clinic is often approached by owners who observe their pets symptoms such as:

Refusal of food, sometimes water.
Vomiting, loose stools (or the animal does not relieve itself at all)
Pain in the abdomen (the animal does not allow himself to be picked up, his back hunches)
Apathetic state, inactivity, the pet hides in a dark corner
Dehydration, anorexia (by lifting the skin at the withers, the owner can observe that the skin is in the same position, instead of immediately returning to its place).

How does a foreign body enter the body?

Most animals, by nature, are very curious and, like little children, they want to try everything “by the tooth”. Some animals swallow something completely by accident during the game, and some, on the contrary, purposefully taste everything they find on their way - “vacuum cleaners”. Also, the animal can "dirty" intentionally, to attract the attention of the owner.
Ordinary bone can act as a foreign body. In the process of eating a bone, a small, sharp part can stick between the animal's teeth, or damage any part of the digestive tract.
Also, your sock, a small ball, a coin, and everything that can only pass through the barrier in the form of an animal’s larynx can become a foreign body. A foreign body, depending on its shape, size and structure, can stop in different places of the body.
Thus it follows that foreign body symptoms vary, and they depend on the location of the foreign body: in the oral cavity, in the throat, esophagus, stomach or intestines.

Symptoms of a foreign body in the oral cavity:

Frequent jaw movement
Profuse salivation
Possible slight bleeding from the mouth
The animal rubs its muzzle with its paws, trying to exclude a foreign body

Symptoms of a foreign body in the esophagus:

Vomiting after eating
Dehydration

Symptoms of a foreign body in the trachea and lungs:

Hard breath
General oppression of the animal, which has a growing character.

Symptoms of a foreign body in the stomach:
This type of foreign body is quite difficult to diagnose, based only on external symptoms. Some foreign bodies can stay in the pet's stomach for several years, while only occasionally causing vomiting. So, if your pet was seen eating any object, you should contact the veterinary clinic and undergo the necessary examinations that will allow you to exclude the ingress of a foreign body into the animal's body.

Symptoms of a foreign body in the small intestine:

indomitable vomiting
Dehydration
Severe abdominal pain

Symptoms of a foreign body in the large intestine:

The animal hunches
Possible constipation
Bloody stool

Diagnosis of a foreign body:

Prevention:

Eliminate bones from your pet's diet
If you have a dog, then do not allow your pet to chew on sticks while walking
If the animal frequently eats strange objects, consult a veterinary clinic, a general metabolic disorder is possible.

Foreign bodies- objects of organic and inorganic origin, introduced into the body of animals by accident or introduced into it deliberately for medical or experimental purposes, are called foreign bodies. They can be single, multiple and very diverse in shape, size, surface condition, chemical composition and localization. In animals, root crops, corn cobs, awns, stems and leaves of cereals and feather grass often turn out to be foreign bodies. Bullets, pellets, fragments of shells, sometimes whole unexploded shells and so-called secondary shells (pieces of wood, brick, horse equipment, etc.) are found in gunshot wounds.

Foreign bodies are introduced into the body through wounds, ingestion, and often by aspiration. The frequency of introduction of foreign bodies and their number in the body is greatly influenced by the conditions of feeding, care, maintenance and health of animals. For example, in the steppe area, there is often a mass defeat of animals by caryopsis and feather grass. The density of grains in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, nuchal ligament and some internal organs in sheep and goats can range from 22-50 to 675 pieces per 100-135 cm2 of the surface of the affected tissue. The disease causes great economic damage due to the high mortality of lambs and adult sheep, reaching 13-50%. The frequency of introducing foreign bodies into the body of animals increases sharply in farms where coarse and concentrated feed is prepared by faulty machines, incorrectly spread and not prepared for feeding.

With the so-called lizuha, which occurs on the basis of improper feeding and severe metabolic disorders, numerous trichobezoars accumulate in the net and scar.

The damaging effect of foreign bodies and functional disorders. They are caused by mechanical destruction of tissues and organs during the introduction, displacement and movement (migration) of a foreign body in the body; chemical effects on tissues of various harmful compounds contained in foreign bodies or arising from their oxidation; biological influence on the tissues of microorganisms that penetrate into the body along with a foreign body, and the physiological characteristics of damaged organs and tissues.

Mechanical damage to tissues depends on the size, mass, shape, direction of kinetic energy, the place of introduction of a foreign body and a number of other conditions. Penetration into the muscles of needles, pellets, small metal fragments usually does not cause significant tissue damage and functional disorders. The introduction of large objects into muscles with great force, especially with an uneven surface, is accompanied by extensive crushing of tissues. Primary mechanical damage to tissues is aggravated by pressure, displacement and movement of a foreign body, and often by the harmful effect on tissues of its chemical composition and oxides. For example, copper foreign bodies always cause a zone of infiltration and necrosis in the tissues adjacent to them, as well as a stronger inhibition of regenerative processes than iron fragments. In addition, foreign bodies represent a "depot" of microbes, and crushed tissues are a favorable environment for their vital activity, which creates conditions for the rapid development of infection and even more severe tissue damage.

Functional disorders from foreign bodies often depend not so much on the nature and extent of tissue destruction, but on the physiological significance of damaged tissues and neighboring anatomical formations. Foreign bodies in massive muscle groups (for example, gluteal), even with significant destruction of them, often do not cause a large dysfunction of the limbs. While foreign bodies in the joints, tendon sheaths and subtendonous bursae are accompanied by severe locomotor disorders, and foreign bodies in the pharynx, esophagus and trachea can cause asphyxia and death of the animal.

Some foreign objects that have entered the stomach or intestines are often excreted with feces or vomit. In surgical practice, there are numerous cases of needles, billiard balls, screws, nails, teaspoons, and other, sometimes large, objects coming out. However, in most cases, foreign bodies that have penetrated the body are fixed in place or move (migrate) in the tissues, causing aseptic or purulent inflammation in them in both cases.

Foreign bodies move under the influence of blood flow, peristaltic movements, contraction of skeletal muscles, and also due to their severity when they enter the chest, abdominal and other anatomical cavities, when loose tissue melts and pus flows. From the digestive tract, foreign bodies penetrate into the chest cavity, cardiac shirt (traumatic pericarditis) and can go out through the abdominal and chest walls. Leaves and grains of feather grass under the influence of muscle contractions move from the oral cavity to the region of the submandibular and parotid glands, the back of the head, the jaw joint, massetor, and penetrated through the skin - into the abdominal muscles, into the abdominal and chest cavities and internal organs.

Foreign bodies of organic origin (catgut, preserved tissues, bone pins, etc.) are resorbed. This process is based on enzymatic-cellular autolysis of a foreign body by macro- and microphages and giant cells. The tissue reaction is often not detected clinically. Foreign bodies of organic and inorganic origin can be encapsulated. A prerequisite for encapsulation is asepticity or weak bacterial contamination of the foreign body, slight tissue damage and a fairly good reactivity of the body. At the beginning of encapsulation, the foreign body is enveloped in fibrin, and an infiltrate of leukocytes, lymphocytes, polyblasts, and giant cells forms in the surrounding tissues. Then scar connective tissue develops, from which a dense capsule is formed, which isolates the foreign body from surrounding tissues. In cattle and pigs, the capsule is more powerful than in horses and dogs.

Foreign bodies continuously support degenerative-inflammatory processes in the capsule, especially in its inner layer, and sometimes in neighboring tissues. They are most pronounced with foreign bodies that have an uneven surface or a copper shell.

Encapsulation of foreign bodies in the bones is accompanied by inflammatory osteoporosis, resorption of bone trabeculae, followed by the development of osteosclerosis. Together with foreign bodies, aerobic and anaerobic microbes that are in a latent state are often (in 70-75% of cases) encapsulated. In case of injury or weakening of the general reactivity of the body, they can give an outbreak of the infectious process.

With a large destruction of tissues by foreign bodies, heavily contaminated with microbes, suppuration usually develops. When a foreign body is located in the subcutaneous tissue and superficially lying muscles, the purulent process often ends in the development of a limited abscess. During surgical opening, its foreign body is removed along with pus, and further healing usually proceeds without complications, and with spontaneous opening of an abscess, as a rule, a fistula is formed.

The deep occurrence of foreign bodies in massive muscles causes subfascial and intermuscular phlegmon with the formation of multiple streaks. For example, injuries in the croup can be complicated in horses by streaks in eleven intermuscular connective tissue spaces (M. V. Plakhotin). Foreign bodies with extensive crushing of tissues and diffuse hemorrhages often cause the development of anaerobic infections.

After an acute period of inflammation and rejection of dead tissues, the foreign body is isolated to a certain extent by the cell barrier, but together with microbes it continues to act as a strong irritant, maintaining tissue necrosis and purulent exudation for a long time. Therefore, pathological granulations develop, which, reducing the lumen of the wound channel, almost never close it completely, and it turns into a purulent fistula. The latter can periodically close, but then, due to the retention of pus, tissue necrosis intensifies, and the fistula opens again or a new one appears until the foreign body is removed.

Removal of foreign bodies. They are removed taking into account the location, size, shape and properties of the foreign body, the degree of tissue damage, the development of infection and functional disorders. It should never cause more harm to the body than the foreign body itself. Before removal, it is necessary to know the exact location of the foreign body and to have a good understanding of the anatomical and topographic data. To determine the location of a foreign body, in addition to palpation and probing, radiography (in two projections) and fistulography are used, which are often crucial in making an accurate diagnosis.

Foreign bodies are not removed if they are encapsulated or located in an inoperable area. Foreign bodies that have caused severe tissue damage or have invaded vital organs (pharynx, esophagus, trachea, spinal cord, joints, etc.) and threaten the development of an infection or a major functional disorder (asphyxia, paresis, ankylosis) are subject to mandatory and urgent removal. etc.). It is also necessary to urgently remove foreign bodies containing phosphorus, military and radioactive substances.

Foreign bodies located superficially are removed with tweezers or forceps bloodlessly or pre-dissected tissues; bodies that have penetrated the tissues are removed during the surgical treatment of the wound. In the presence of a foreign body at the bottom of a deep tortuous fistula, the latter is dissected under the control of the forceps with several longitudinal incisions, leaving jumpers. Through each new incision, the forceps are advanced along the fistula until its bottom is reached, and the foreign body is removed. If it is necessary to remove the encapsulated foreign body, it is extirpated together with the capsule. To remove foreign bodies from the internal and other organs resort to special operations. From the proventriculus of cattle, metal objects are removed with a magnetic probe by Meliksetyan, Telyatnikov, Korobov.

Prevention. It consists in eliminating the causes that contribute to the introduction of foreign bodies into the body of animals. In particular, in the mechanized production of feed, it is allowed to use only fully serviceable machines, units and equipment that exclude the possibility of contamination of the feed with metal and other objects; in feed shops and on mechanized feed supply lines, it is necessary to have magnetic installations to release feed from metal objects that have accidentally fallen into it. Meliksetyan's magnetic rings are introduced into the proventriculus of cattle, especially valuable ones.

In veterinary practice, sooner or later, every doctor is faced with a patient who has swallowed some inedible (and sometimes edible, but too large) object. Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract of animals are very diverse. These can be toys, threads, rags, wood chips, large cartilage, bones, stones, hair / wool, Christmas decorations, etc.

Why do our pets have such a love for inedible items?

Very often the swallowing of such objects occurs during the game. For example, cats love to play with threads/strings/tinsel, and because of the papillae on the tongue, which have the structure of hooks, they cannot spit out these items and swallow them. Another common reason is greed. Dogs swallow treats (cartilage, large treats, etc.) without chewing them, which often leads to a violation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Where can foreign bodies be located in the gastrointestinal tract?

Foreign bodies can be located in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It:

pharynx;
esophagus;
stomach;
small intestine;
large intestine.

The location depends on the size, shape and material of the item.

What are the most common symptoms that can be observed to suspect foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract?

The most common symptoms of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract:

vomiting (often vomiting immediately after taking food, water; often foam, gastric juice);
possibly diarrhea, which is replaced by constipation (violation of the act of defecation may indicate a violation of the patency of the gastrointestinal tract);
lack of appetite;
lethargy (due to the general condition of the pet).

But you also need to remember that this set of symptoms is also characteristic of many other diseases, so it is important to conduct a set of examinations, the results of which can be used to diagnose a "foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract."

Diagnostics

Collection of anamnesis.
Your pets are not always under close supervision, so it is possible that while you were not at home, the animal could play with something and inadvertently swallow it. Be sure to remember when the change in condition occurred so that the doctor can assess the duration of the disease and possible complications.
Inspection.
Examination includes thermometry, palpation of the abdominal wall to assess whether pain is present, examination of the oral cavity and larynx, especially the sublingual region (very important in cats, since linear foreign objects are often hooked under the tongue), examination of accessible lymph nodes, visible mucous membranes .
Clinical and biochemical blood tests.
These tests are needed to make sure that these symptoms are not associated with disorders in the functioning of internal organs, viral diseases, etc.
X-ray of the abdominal cavity in 2 projections.
This is a mandatory procedure in the presence of vomiting and / or constipation, diarrhea in animals. On the radiograph, the doctor can see radiopaque foreign objects (bones, toys with the addition of a radiopaque substance, wires, etc.), pneumatization of the intestine (the presence of gaseous contents in a particular section of the intestine), which may indirectly indicate the presence of a foreign object.

If no radiopaque foreign objects were found on the radiograph of the abdominal cavity, but there are indirect signs that indicate this, then an x-ray of the abdominal cavity is performed with the administration of a radiopaque substance (barium sulfate is most often used). Orally, a radiopaque substance is given and a series of images is taken after a certain time, during which the contrast passes or does not pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to this method, we can say about the patency of the gastrointestinal tract.
Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity.
It is carried out to assess the condition of the abdominal organs, the presence of free fluid. In order to detect a foreign body on ultrasound, special skills are needed, because it is quite difficult, one can judge its presence by indirect signs.

The main consequences of finding a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal

A foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal can lead to such consequences as:

diverticulum (pocket) in the wall of the esophagus;

traumatic gastritis, enteritis;

intestinal obstruction (partial or complete);

intestinal intussusception (one part of the intestine enters another);

necrosis of part of the intestine;

bowel perforation (rupture);

peritonitis (fluid in the abdominal cavity as a result of intestinal perforation);

fatal outcome.

Methods of treatment of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract

The method of choice of treatment depends on the location of the object, its size and material.

There are foreign objects that can come out on their own when symptomatic therapy is prescribed, if the bodies are small in size, and intestinal motility is normal.

As one of the methods of treatment, endoscopic extraction of a foreign object from the esophagus, stomach is used. If the object is small or made of soft material, it can be removed using endoscopic equipment.

Surgical treatment consists of an enterotomy or gastrotomy. This is the removal of a foreign body from the stomach or intestines by cutting their walls, followed by removal of the object and suturing the walls. Sometimes, due to complications, it is necessary to remove part of the intestine due to its necrosis.

You, dear owners, are of great importance for us, doctors, in the further recovery of patients, because it is you who must notice the change in the condition of the pets in time, contact us and provide postoperative care associated with taking certain drugs, certain food.

Keep a close eye on your pets. If you know that he has an unhealthy love for all sorts of inedible things, try to remove them from the reach. If you find one of the above symptoms, contact the clinic immediately.

Health to you and your pets.

Examples of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract of animals from our practice

And in conclusion, I want to present you a selection of items that my colleagues and I extracted from our patients:

Foreign bodies of the gastrointestinal tract in cats and dogs

Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract of pets are unfortunately a common and very serious problem. An error in diagnosis has extremely unfavorable consequences. In such cases, it is extremely important to immediately contact a specialist in a well-equipped veterinary clinic.

Vetus Clinic performs successful operations to remove foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract of cats and dogs:

We use the best informative methods of clinical and instrumental diagnostics, which allow us to quickly and accurately identify pathology and begin treatment;

The combination of ultrasound and endoscopic examination methods, as well as plain radiography, makes it possible to accurately differentiate this diagnosis from pathologies with similar symptoms;

During the operation to remove a foreign body from the gastrointestinal tract, the animal receives modern high-quality anesthesia, which makes it easier and softer to get out of sleep;

After the operation, you will receive advice from the leading specialists of the clinic about the measures of postoperative care for the animal;

Don't start the situation! At the first signs of pathology, immediately contact the Vetus clinic!

24/7 phone:

A typical picture of the disease is:

vomiting and violation of the evacuation of the contents of the stomach into the small intestine;
refusal to eat for a long time, or prolonged vomiting immediately after eating.

As a result, there is a need for differential diagnosis with a number of conditions, primarily with infectious processes, food poisoning, etc.

The complex of diagnostic measures includes:

survey radiography of the abdominal organs of a dog or cat;
ultrasound examination of the gastrointestinal tract for pendulum movements;
some objects can be identified by palpation, but it must be carried out very carefully, as they can have sharp edges (needles, stones, fishhooks, glasses) and can easily injure the mucosa of the organ.

The task of radiography of the digestive organs is to detect the foreign body itself, as well as to identify signs of the consequences of its presence in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, which pose a direct threat to the life and health of the patient.

Plain radiography of the abdominal cavity is correctly performed in the lateral projection - on the right side and direct projection - on the back.

The variety of objects that become the contents of the gastrointestinal tract is striking in its diversity. These are Christmas toys, balls, rubber and plastic toys, needles, fish hooks, glasses, wool, wires, metal objects and, of course, bones. All of them can be divided into radio-opaque and radio-opaque or radio-negative. The vast majority of such items belong to the first category, i.e. visible on radiographs, however, the mass of soft tissue surrounding the foreign body and the chemical processes that it undergoes in the stomach under the influence of "food juices" can lead to a significant deterioration in visualization.

Main consequences:

A diverticulum (pocket) in the wall of the esophagus.
Traumatic gastritis.
Intestinal obstruction (partial or complete).
Necrosis of the intestinal wall, in the place where the foreign body is located.
Intestinal perforation (rupture).
Peritonitis.
Fatal outcome.

After the diagnosis is made, there are several options for solving this problem.

The first and less traumatic operation for an animal is the endoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the esophagus and stomach, using a fiber-optic gastroscope with additional manipulators. A foreign body is captured and carefully removed from the cavity of the esophagus or stomach, depending on the location.

If the objects are in the lumen of the small intestine or they cannot be reached with a gastroscope, an abdominal operation is performed, during which the foreign object is localized, followed by its removal.

The main and most important task for the owner is in no case to leave small toys, threads, needles and many other items that animals can swallow in places accessible to them. During the walk, carefully monitor your animal and do not let it pick up any objects on the street.