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Cat ate string, how long to pass?



 
 
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  #11  
Old November 17th 03, 05:13 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
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"MAG" wrote in message
ganews.com...
Hi folks-

Saturday night at about 9 pm our cat, Mariposa, swallowed a piece of
cotton string. It was soft cotton string (not kite cord), about 18
inches long. We saw half of it sticking out of her mouth, went after
her to get it from her, and she bolted the rest down while we tried to
grab her.

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?

Marc


If I were you, I'd have an ultrasound study done ASAP to make sure the
string isn't pleating up the intestines. X-rays won't show the string, but
they might show pleated intestines. I'd repeat the ultrasounds until she
passes the string... I tend to err on the side of caution which some
people consider "overreacting"... but that's just me.

String and threads are particularly dangerous because they tend to pleat up
the intestine and also cut through the intestine wall leading to the very
serious condition of peritonitis.

Best of luck.

Phil





  #12  
Old November 17th 03, 05:13 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"MAG" wrote in message
ganews.com...
Hi folks-

Saturday night at about 9 pm our cat, Mariposa, swallowed a piece of
cotton string. It was soft cotton string (not kite cord), about 18
inches long. We saw half of it sticking out of her mouth, went after
her to get it from her, and she bolted the rest down while we tried to
grab her.

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?

Marc


If I were you, I'd have an ultrasound study done ASAP to make sure the
string isn't pleating up the intestines. X-rays won't show the string, but
they might show pleated intestines. I'd repeat the ultrasounds until she
passes the string... I tend to err on the side of caution which some
people consider "overreacting"... but that's just me.

String and threads are particularly dangerous because they tend to pleat up
the intestine and also cut through the intestine wall leading to the very
serious condition of peritonitis.

Best of luck.

Phil





  #13  
Old November 17th 03, 05:13 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"MAG" wrote in message
ganews.com...
Hi folks-

Saturday night at about 9 pm our cat, Mariposa, swallowed a piece of
cotton string. It was soft cotton string (not kite cord), about 18
inches long. We saw half of it sticking out of her mouth, went after
her to get it from her, and she bolted the rest down while we tried to
grab her.

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?

Marc


If I were you, I'd have an ultrasound study done ASAP to make sure the
string isn't pleating up the intestines. X-rays won't show the string, but
they might show pleated intestines. I'd repeat the ultrasounds until she
passes the string... I tend to err on the side of caution which some
people consider "overreacting"... but that's just me.

String and threads are particularly dangerous because they tend to pleat up
the intestine and also cut through the intestine wall leading to the very
serious condition of peritonitis.

Best of luck.

Phil





  #14  
Old November 17th 03, 06:14 PM
PawsForThought
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"MAG" wrote in message

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?


You might ask your vet about performing a barium contrast study to make sure
the string is not getting bound up in her intestines. Good luck and keep us
posted.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm
  #15  
Old November 17th 03, 06:14 PM
PawsForThought
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"MAG" wrote in message

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?


You might ask your vet about performing a barium contrast study to make sure
the string is not getting bound up in her intestines. Good luck and keep us
posted.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm
  #16  
Old November 17th 03, 06:14 PM
PawsForThought
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"MAG" wrote in message

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?


You might ask your vet about performing a barium contrast study to make sure
the string is not getting bound up in her intestines. Good luck and keep us
posted.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm
  #17  
Old November 17th 03, 06:46 PM
KellyH
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"MAG" wrote in message
Hi Kaeli-

Thanks for the feedback. Meanwhile, we spoke with her regular vet who
advised holding off on surgery for now (we're at 38 hours). They advised
increasing the laxative dosage. Surgery carries its own risks, and they
are advising us to wait and see for the next day or so. So far the cat
is giving no signs of distress, eating well, and pooping normally.

I just hate the idea of her intestines being chewed up! This is so
stressful.


I would take her to get an ultrasound ASAP, as others suggested. If you
haven't seen any string come out of her yet, then I would worry.
My cat Argyle died from swallowing fishing line when he was only 3 years
old. We had no idea that he ate it until it was too late. He was hiding in
my closet and very ill. Part of his intestine had to be removed, but he had
developed a bad infection and died post-op. Granted, fishing line is a lot
more likely to cut through something than a cotton string, but I would
definitely err on the side of caution in this case. You are lucky that you
saw your cat eat the string and can monitor her. We had no idea when Argyle
ate the fishing line.
--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com


  #18  
Old November 17th 03, 06:46 PM
KellyH
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"MAG" wrote in message
Hi Kaeli-

Thanks for the feedback. Meanwhile, we spoke with her regular vet who
advised holding off on surgery for now (we're at 38 hours). They advised
increasing the laxative dosage. Surgery carries its own risks, and they
are advising us to wait and see for the next day or so. So far the cat
is giving no signs of distress, eating well, and pooping normally.

I just hate the idea of her intestines being chewed up! This is so
stressful.


I would take her to get an ultrasound ASAP, as others suggested. If you
haven't seen any string come out of her yet, then I would worry.
My cat Argyle died from swallowing fishing line when he was only 3 years
old. We had no idea that he ate it until it was too late. He was hiding in
my closet and very ill. Part of his intestine had to be removed, but he had
developed a bad infection and died post-op. Granted, fishing line is a lot
more likely to cut through something than a cotton string, but I would
definitely err on the side of caution in this case. You are lucky that you
saw your cat eat the string and can monitor her. We had no idea when Argyle
ate the fishing line.
--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com


  #19  
Old November 17th 03, 06:46 PM
KellyH
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"MAG" wrote in message
Hi Kaeli-

Thanks for the feedback. Meanwhile, we spoke with her regular vet who
advised holding off on surgery for now (we're at 38 hours). They advised
increasing the laxative dosage. Surgery carries its own risks, and they
are advising us to wait and see for the next day or so. So far the cat
is giving no signs of distress, eating well, and pooping normally.

I just hate the idea of her intestines being chewed up! This is so
stressful.


I would take her to get an ultrasound ASAP, as others suggested. If you
haven't seen any string come out of her yet, then I would worry.
My cat Argyle died from swallowing fishing line when he was only 3 years
old. We had no idea that he ate it until it was too late. He was hiding in
my closet and very ill. Part of his intestine had to be removed, but he had
developed a bad infection and died post-op. Granted, fishing line is a lot
more likely to cut through something than a cotton string, but I would
definitely err on the side of caution in this case. You are lucky that you
saw your cat eat the string and can monitor her. We had no idea when Argyle
ate the fishing line.
--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com


  #20  
Old November 17th 03, 07:34 PM
MAG
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article ,
says...

"MAG" wrote in message
ganews.com...
Hi folks-

Saturday night at about 9 pm our cat, Mariposa, swallowed a piece of
cotton string. It was soft cotton string (not kite cord), about 18
inches long. We saw half of it sticking out of her mouth, went after
her to get it from her, and she bolted the rest down while we tried to
grab her.

Called emergency vet; they said to keep feeding her, NOT PULL on it if
it starts to come out, and monitor for any signs of discomfort.

OK it is 36 hours later. She's pooped a couple times (no string), is
eating normally, and is acting in her usual fashion (sleeping, watching
us with an air of superiority). No signs of discomfort.

Yesterday afternoon we started giving her Laxatone, to make sure she's
properly lubricated to hopefully ease the passing.

How long should it take something to work it's way through in the normal
fashion? I'm worried about the posts I've seen of things "sawing through
the intestines." YUK!

Her normal vet is open today and we will call them, but I thought I'd
post for experiences here. Basically, how long do these things take,
presuming the string passes through her without serious problems?

Marc


If I were you, I'd have an ultrasound study done ASAP to make sure the
string isn't pleating up the intestines. X-rays won't show the string, but
they might show pleated intestines. I'd repeat the ultrasounds until she
passes the string... I tend to err on the side of caution which some
people consider "overreacting"... but that's just me.

String and threads are particularly dangerous because they tend to pleat up
the intestine and also cut through the intestine wall leading to the very
serious condition of peritonitis.

Best of luck.

Phil


Hi guys-

Still waiting. Thanks for the followups. We've talked to our vet, and
she says that as long as the cat is eating and pooping normally, and
acting otherwise normally, that she will probably pass the string OK.
So, we've been advised to sit tight for the moment. I'll keep you all
posted.

Marc

 




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