Diagnosis and management of intestinal obstruction in domestic cats : 22 cases

Abstract EN

The present study was carried out on 22 domestic cats to investigate the intestinal obstruction based on the history, clinical signs and radiographic examination and to identify available medical and surgical managements.

History, Signalment, and lifestyle of the animals were recorded.

Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed to find out the problem.

Medical management was performed in 15 cases.

Treatment was performed by rectal enema and laxative in (12/15) cases and by manual emptying of impacted anal sacs in (3/15) cases.

Surgical intervention was applied in 7 cases that did not respond to medical therapy.

Surgery was done to remove intraluminal obstruction in 5 cases, intestinal linear foreign body in one case and abdominal tumor compressing on the intestine in one case.

The results clarified a detailed signalment, life style, disease occurrence season, clinical signs of each affected cat.

Radiography was helpful for definite diagnosis and determination of location and severity of the obstruction.

Medical management was successful to solve the problem in (13/15) cases.

However, two cases that suffered from complete intestinal obstruction from several days could not be recovered and died within two days from intervention.

Surgical intervention was successful to solve the problem in (4/7) cases.

Two cases that suffered from prolonged intestinal obstruction and the case with linear foreign body deteriorated after surgery and died within two days.

In conclusion the study provided a clinical presentation for diagnosis and treatment of intestinal obstruction in cats and emphasized that early diagnosis is important to resolve the problem and rescue the cat.