There isn’t a denying that cats are curious creatures. We discover them getting themselves into all varieties of mischief, from fiddling with snakes to rummaging through garbage cans. Trash can often be viewed as an attractive toy or a tasty snack to a cat. So, what happens in case your cat has managed to get into the rubbish and consumes dental floss? Is that this dangerous?
The reply is, unfortunately, yes. The ingestion of dental floss may lead to a linear foreign body in your cat, one in all the more dire kinds of foreign body ingestions. Proceed reading to learn more in regards to the risks related to dental floss ingestion and linear foreign bodies.
Linear Foreign Bodies in Cats
Long, thin objects which can be inappropriately consumed are called linear foreign bodies. String, rope, dental floss, cloth, and ribbon are examples of potential linear foreign bodies. What typically occurs in linear foreign body ingestion, or on this case, floss ingestion, is that the foreign object becomes embedded or stuck throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The natural movements of the intestines through peristalsis will try and propel the foreign object through the digestive tract. Intestinal bunching finally ends up occurring, resulting in intense pain and intestinal damage. As damage occurs to the intestines and tension on the thing increases, there may be a risk of perforation of the gastrointestinal tract.
In some cases of linear foreign bodies, the thing could also be seen wrapped across the base of the tongue or seen exiting the rectum. It’s important to never try and remove the string without the assistance of a veterinarian.
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My Cat Just Ate Floss, What Should I Do?
The very first thing to do after your cat has ingested floss or one other style of linear foreign object is to call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will likely ask several inquiries to help develop a plan to your pet.
In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend close monitoring at home, whereas in other situations, your veterinarian may recommend you bring your cat to the clinic. Cats are notoriously harder to induce vomiting in, and because of this, your veterinarian may recommend endoscopy to retrieve the thing from the stomach, especially if ingestion just occurred.
Signs of a Linear Foreign Body
Signs can vary amongst patients, and owners sometimes aren’t aware that ingestion of a foreign object has occurred.
Signs that will be seen with linear foreign bodies include:
- Reduced appetite
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Discomfort
- Constipation
Diagnosing a Linear Foreign Body
In case your pet has experienced signs related to a foreign body, or if there may be a recent history of ingestion of a foreign body like floss, radiographs will probably be really useful. Unfortunately, things like dental floss will be difficult to discover on radiographs, because the foreign object itself is often not visible. The looks of the intestines will probably be closely evaluated by the veterinarian to raised determine if intestinal bunching has occurred, which is usually seen with linear foreign bodies.
If there may be a high suspicion of a linear foreign body but radiographs don’t provide a definitive diagnosis, an ultrasound or exploratory surgery could also be really useful to judge the gastrointestinal tract.
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Treatment of a Linear Foreign Body
In some cases, linear foreign bodies can go through the intestinal tract without causing havoc. The issue is that there isn’t a strategy to determine which patients will have the opportunity to pass the string or floss without complications.
Linear foreign bodies can occasionally be removed through the induction of vomiting and endoscopic retrieval if recent consumption of the string has occurred.
If problems arise from ingestion of floss or one other style of linear foreign object, surgery will likely be really useful. As with most foreign body surgeries, the earlier the surgery can occur after the patient has been stabilized, the higher. Following foreign body surgery, your cat will must be kept inactive and treated with appropriate medications. Moreover, a brief food regimen change could also be essential.
How Can I Prevent Ingestion of Floss or Other Linear Foreign Objects?
Unfortunately, the likelihood is high that your cat will ingest something they shouldn’t in some unspecified time in the future of their lives. Setting them up for fulfillment is imperative to their safety. What exactly does that mean?
Try making it very difficult to your cat to have access to potentially harmful items like floss by disposing of them properly in a trash can with a lid. Alternatively, it could be worthwhile to avoid linear floss altogether and take a look at using a floss pick as a substitute. Removing access to bathrooms is useful by keeping doors closed. Before leaving the home, performing a fast check of the home is useful in identifying potential hazards.
In Summary
In case your cat has ingested dental floss, there may be a risk of developing gastrointestinal complications. If possible, schedule an appointment along with your veterinarian to judge your cat and to examine for floss that could be wrapped across the base of the tongue. Unfortunately, some cats do require surgery after the consumption of a linear foreign object like dental floss. The prognosis relies on the duration of clinical signs and the damage endured to the intestinal tract. Try avoiding using potentially harmful things like dental floss in your own home to reduce the probabilities of ingestion by a curious cat.
Featured Image Credit: Anastassiya Bezhekeneva, Shutterstock