An unusual foreign body in a cat

1. An Unusual Foreign Body in a Cat: A
Case Report
PIDO, JABEZ Q.

2. Introduction
• Drugs acting on the respiratory system
play a crucial role in the management of
various respiratory conditions
• Respiratory drugs are designed to
address different aspects of respiratory
function
• One significant class of drugs is
bronchodilators
Bronchodilators
• Work to relax the smooth muscles in
the airways, leading to increased
airflow
• Promotes bronchodilation in
respiratory conditions
• Considered to be beta-2-adrenergic
agonists
• Examples:
Albuterol, Aminophylline,
Fluticasone

3. Foreign Bodies
• Any materials of relatively small size, that enter the airways by
inhalation and cannot be eliminated by conventional methods
like sneezing, coughing, gagging, etc.
• Commonly found in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, larynx,
trachea and bronchi

4. Patient Background:
Age: 1.5 yr old
Sex: Female
Breed: Domestic shorthair
Weight: 2.5kg

5. Case Background
• The owner noticed increased salivation and shortness of
breath after their cat had returned from outside
• The patient was referred to the Small Animal Clinic at the
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno,
Czech Republic for evaluation of an acute episode of
dyspnea
• Three-week-old litter was being nursed by the patient at the
time
• Patient was receiving recommended vaccinations and
deworming

6. Physical Examination
• Ptyalism
• Dehydrated (approx. 6%)
• Tachypneic (80 rpm)
• Hypothermic (34.7 °C)
• Cyanotic mucous membrane
• Exhibited mild inspiratory effort
• Thoracic auscultation revealed bilateral pulmonary crackles
• No heart murmurs detected

7. Diagnostic Examination
• Results from CBC:
o Leukocytosis
o Neutrophilia with left shift
o Hyperglycemia
o Increased urea
o Hyperproteinemia
o Hyperalbuminemia
o Hypokalemia
• SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo Test
results:
o Negative for Feline
Leukemia Virus (FeLv)
o Negative for Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus
(FIV)

9. Treatment regimen
1. Lactated Ringer’s solution was used to treat the
patient for dehydration.
2. Butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg i.m.) was used for
sedation.
3. Aminophylline (8 mg/kg i.v.) three times a day
(TID)
4. Furosemide (2–4 mg/kg i.v. TID)
5. Famotidine (0.5 mg/kg i.v. once a day)

10. Mechanism of Action
Aminophylline

11. • The owner was informed about the presence of a possible mass or foreign body
in the airways but due to financial reasons could only agree to an emergency
laryngoscopy.
• Therapy continued unchanged but the clinical status worsened, and the
respiratory pattern was now characterized by clear inspiratory effort.
• As the lack of a complete bronchoscopic examination meant that the prognosis
was poor, the owner requested euthanasia and agreed to donate the body for
necropsy.

12. Necropsy findings
• Significant gross post-mortem findings included mild
liver congestion and right ventricular hypertrophy, and
the lungs exhibited small areas of atelectasis,
hyperemia, small petechial hemorrhages, and mild
edema.
• The foreign body appeared to be a European June
beetle of approximately 1 cm in diameter
• Found approximately 2 cm cranial to the tracheal
bifurcation.
• At the site of the foreign body, the tracheal mucosa was
hyperemic with small petechial hemorrhages and
erosions.

13. • Despite attempts, the use of bronchodilators proved unsuccessful in treating the
patient.
• The foreign body could not be detected using laryngoscopy, and financial
constraints prevented further diagnostic procedures like bronchoscopy.
• Where obstruction of the airways is present, bronchoscopy should be
recommended in all cases. The patient was ultimately euthanized to prevent
prolonged suffering.
• Diagnosing cases of acute airway disease can be a difficult challenge, and this
case demonstrates that aspiration of unusual foreign bodies should be considered
as a differential diagnosis in feline patients presenting with acute dyspnea.
Conclusion

14. SOURCES
• Agudelo, C.F., Filipejova, Z., Frgelecova, L., Sychra, O. An unusual foreign body in a cat: a case report. Vet
Med-Czech. 2018;63(4):198-202. doi: 10.17221/8/2018-VETMED.
• Hsu, W. H. (2008). Handbook of veterinary pharmacology. Wiley Blackwell.
• Levitt, L., Clark, G.R., & Adams, V. (1993, March). Tracheal foreign body in a cat. Canadian Veterinary
Journal 34, 172-173.
• Plumb, D. C. (2008). Plumb’s veterinary drug handbook (6th ed). PharmaVet ; Distributed by Blackwell Pub.