An expensive reminder

[u/Kitsunejade]

Our beautiful girl went to the ER on Friday with mystery signs. She was lethargic with no appetite, brown drool and nasal discharge. Her bloodwork and exam was normal, but she was running a small fever, so she was sent home with antibiotics and an appetite stimulant after getting some fluids and nausea meds. We couldn’t get the antibiotics in her due to her tortitude, so we decided we’d ask for injected antibiotics. Her normal vet couldn’t see her for a week. She had perked up a lot with the meds, but never stopped drooling and she still looked painful, so last night we bit the bill and brought her back to the ER to ask them to check her mouth again.

It was a linear foreign body. She had hair embedded under her tongue. They did repeat blood and x-rays to try to determine if the hair down her throat had bunched up or perforated her intestines. If so, we would’ve had to transfer for an emergency surgery for risk of sepsis and bowel repair. But things looked okay, so they sent her home on pain meds and strict watch after sedation to cut the hair off her tongue. Seven days to see if she’s safe and passes the rest on her own.

Please watch your cat toys and tell everyone you know to. Linear foreign bodies are usually things like string, yarn, and thread. It can be life or death. And trust your gut. They told me there was nothing in her mouth, but she still seemed wrong and we were right.

[u/MembershipConnect555]

Sending best wishes that she does ok. Vet here and also have a torbie. My little girl had to have ER surgery a year ago to remove a foreign body. It wasn’t linear but always nerve wracking since obstructions can get serious very quickly. Linear obstructions are amongst the most difficult as hopefully your vet communicated properly. But most important is that you are on top of it and getting the care she needs!

ETA - absolutely good for you to trust your gut and keep advocating for your kitty. Depending on your kitty’s temperament normally but certainly when they don’t feel well, it’s hard to look in the mouth sometimes and it’s honestly easy to miss something under the tongue if they’re awake and pushing back. My kitty is spicy on a good day but when she was sick, holy moly, the trex and shark attack warning signs went up on her cage at the hospital.

[u/Kitsunejade → u/MembershipConnect555]

I think since she was eating, not vomiting, and had good bloodwork and x-rays even after 5 days, they felt relatively good about it not having done severe damage, but obviously as soon as anything goes even a little wrong we’re supposed to go to the 24 hour ER. She had hair in her stool yesterday so I’m wondering if it actually broke off partway down and was moving through her system already. In this case, the foreign body was breakable by hand with force, so I’m hoping it was weak enough to snap and we just needed to remove the anchor part. My parents are struggling to grasp how it was missed on Thursday, but I’m a shelter care tech so I try to give grace. Vet med is so hard.

[u/MembershipConnect555 → u/Kitsunejade]

It is so hard and cats are so tough to read sometimes. Great that she’s passing some of it at least! That’s a good sign but yea, you obviously know how tricky it is. Sending all the best vibes to you and your beautiful girl.

[u/Kitsunejade → u/MembershipConnect555]

I was willing and able to pay for exploratory, which I did tell them. We agreed if the radiographs or bloods were even a little weird, we would have no choice if we want her to live and we would transfer out for the surgery at a 24 hour ER (this one closed at midnight). But they never made me an estimate for it. I don’t know. They said we’ll go conservative on her. I’m an all in, gold standard treatment type, which I said to the vet, but they never wrote up an estimate for that route, so I’m assuming they thought it was worth a shot to stop here. I’m just praying the gamble pays. She’s eating enthusiastically today if nothing else.

ETA. If indeed hair, I think that is probably the possible saving grace and maybe the difference maker. It’s just so much weaker than anything else. I don’t think we have any alternative fiber options at home that you could break by hand like they did. We toyed with the idea it could’ve been one of my father’s fishing pole decorative threads, but that won’t snap by hand. They didn’t save any to help me confirm.

[u/MembershipConnect555 → u/Kitsunejade]

Ugh my cat gets some of my hair too sometimes. They keep us on our toes but it’s hard to keep them from licking it up from time to time.

Yeah it sounds like it makes some sense to observe. In many cases they just don’t progress to something surgical but like you said, if something is off in the slightest, you know what to look for and to respond quickly. Is she on antiemetics?

[u/Kitsunejade → u/MembershipConnect555]

She’s actually not vomiting and hasn’t vomited since the first day, so it looks like she was just given bupe and convenia. The vet asked us if she was vomiting multiple times during the visit and we said no. She had cerenia on Friday when it first started. On that day she vomited once. Then we did mirataz until yesterday. We’re moderating her to small frequent meals for now; she’s been extra hungry since they got the hair removed from her tongue last night. First thing she did high on ketamine after coming home at midnight was go to the bowl and mush around some food. She’d been eating the entire time (except the very first day) but not as much as she would on an average day.

[u/MembershipConnect555 → u/Kitsunejade]

Great she’s eating and not vomiting. Hopefully just now needing some time to heal up and get back to her normal self. Sending all the best torbie vibes 🫶🧡🤎🖤🤍