Foreign body gastrotomy in an adult captive cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus

Abstract EN

A five year-old, 45kg female captive cheetah presented with inappetence, dehydration and a guarded abdominal stance after suspected ingestion of a rubber sandal 24 hours previously.

On examination, the animal had normal temperature, pulse and pressure.

Abdominal palpation revealed a flatulent stomach with a compacted mass movable within.

Upon admission, plain radiographs confirmed the presence of gaseous distention of the stomach around a radio-dense central mass.

Exploratory laparotomy was performed to reveal normal intestines but a distended stomach.

Gastrotomy was performed parallel to the greater curvature to expose pieces of a rubber sandal that were in a compacted mass within the stomach.

Another rubber piece was removed from the pylorus where it was firmly lodged and impeding flow of gastric contents.

Gastric and abdominal closure was successfully performed and two weeks later the animal had recovered and was in good health.

Individuals owning/handling captive wild felids or other wild animals need to make sure their habitat is free of foreign objects that can possibly be ingested out of boredom or sheer curiosity.

Adequate nutrition for these is also advocated to prevent pica which may also result in animals ingesting otherwise inedible or non-digestible materials.