For Emergencies:
Beautiful Su! 🐾
Su is a beautiful cat who recently presented to us as an emergency after getting herself into a rather unusual bit of trouble.
Like many cats, Su has a curious and playful nature. However, on this occasion her curiosity led her to take an interest in something a little unexpected – a piece of expensive jewellery. Her owner noticed that Su had managed to get hold of a ring, and before they could intervene, Su swallowed it!
Cats are not always the first animals people think of when it comes to swallowing foreign objects, but Su proved that it can certainly happen. Recognising that this could potentially cause a serious problem, Su’s owner acted quickly and she was referred to our Internal Medicine team for an immediate assessment with Darren.
Once Su arrived, our team performed radiography to determine exactly where the ring was located. The X-ray clearly showed the ring sitting in Su’s stomach (see image below), confirming that it had been swallowed whole.
Radiograph showing the ring in Su’s stomach!
Because the ring had not yet moved further along the digestive tract, we were able to proceed with a minimally invasive procedure to retrieve it. Darren performed an endoscopy, which uses a flexible camera and specialised instruments to look inside the gastrointestinal tract. This allowed us to carefully locate the ring and remove it without the need for surgery.
We are pleased to say that the ring was successfully removed intact. As you can see in the photo below, the jewellery was recovered safely and returned to Su’s very relieved owner, who was extremely grateful that both their treasured ring and their beloved cat came through the ordeal unharmed.
The ring in question!
Su recovered very well from the procedure and was able to return home to her family shortly afterwards. She is doing wonderfully and has quickly gone back to enjoying life in the comfort of her home.
While this case had a happy ending, it also serves as a reminder that pets can sometimes surprise us with the things they choose to investigate. Keeping small objects such as jewellery and other swallowable items out of reach can help prevent similar incidents.
Su recovering at home following her procedure! 🩷
Su may be a bit of a princess with an eye for luxury, but we’re hopeful she’ll steer clear of any more jewellery in the future!
