Skip to content
Home▶ Journals▶ Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology▶Archive▶Vol. 22 No. 3 (2026)▶Surgical Management of Linear Foreign Body-Induced…
Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology
Short Communication

Surgical Management of Linear Foreign Body-Induced Intestinal Obstruction in Cats

, , ,
Shahid Hussain Dar — Associate Professor, Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Shuhama, Srinagar-190006, J&K, India.
Shazia Nissar — Division of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Shuhama, Srinagar-190006, J&K, India
Mursaleen Bhat — Division of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Shuhama, Srinagar-190006, J&K, India
Amatul Muhee — Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-K, Shuhama, Srinagar-190006, J&K, India
Published 15 Apr 2026 Vol. 22 No. 3 (2026), pp. 153-156 ● Open access
Download PDF

Abstract

Seven cats comprising four males and three females, aged between 6 months and 3 years, were presented with persistent vomiting  for three to four days, accompanied by discomfort, anorexia, and lethargy. All animals were vaccinated and dewormed; however, no  clinical improvement was observed despite medical management. Survey abdominal radiography revealed characteristic intestinal  plication suggestive of linear foreign body obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy was undertaken to relieve obstruction and prevent  further gastrointestinal compromise. Linear foreign bodies were identified in all cases, with thread extending from the stomach into the  intestine in six cats; notably, in four of these cats the thread was anchored at the base of the tongue. One cat had a shoelace causing  intestinal obstruction. Surgical management involved enterotomy with intestinal anastomosis where indicated. Postoperative recovery  was smooth and uneventful in all cats, with complete resolution of clinical signs and restoration of normal feeding behaviour. These  findings emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, careful oral & radiographic examination, and prompt, welfare-oriented surgical  intervention in cats with suspected linear foreign body obstruction. 

 

KeywordsCat, Case series, Enterotomy, Intestinal plication, Linear foreign body, Tongue anchorage, Vomiting.

The full text of this article is available as a PDF.

Download PDF
  1. Boag, A. K., & Hughes, D. (2005). Emergency management of gastrointestinal obstruction in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 7(2), 73–82.
  2. Burkitt, J. M., Huber, D. J., & Steiner, J. M. (2009). Linear foreign body obstruction in cats: Clinical findings and surgical outcome. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 11(5), 395–400.
  3. Fossum, T. W. (2019). Small animal surgery (5th ed.). Elsevier, St. Louis.
  4. Hayes, G. (2009). Gastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs and cats: A retrospective study of 208 cases. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 50(11), 576–583.
  5. Hedlund, C. S., & Fossum, T. W. (2007). Surgery of the digestive system. In T. W. Fossum (Ed.), Small animal surgery (3rd ed., pp. 378–425). Elsevier, St. Louis.
  6. MacPhail, C. M. (2014). Gastrointestinal surgery. In K. M. Tobias & S. A. Johnston (Eds.), Veterinary surgery: Small animal (2nd ed., pp. 1535–1605). Elsevier, St. Louis.
  7. Mathews, K. G. (2008). Intestinal foreign bodies in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 38(6), 1237–1253.
  8. Newton, A. L., & Tobias, K. M. (2008). Linear foreign bodies. In K. M. Tobias & S. A. Johnston (Eds.), Veterinary surgery: Small animal (pp. 1457–1463). Elsevier, St. Louis.
  9. Papazoglou, L. G., Patsikas, M. N., & Rallis, T. (2003). Gastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs and cats. Compendium of Continuing Education in Veterinary Practice, 25(11), 830–842.
  10. Riedesel, D. H. (2010). Radiographic diagnosis of gastrointestinal obstruction in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 40(2), 275–295.
  11. Tobias, K. M., & Johnston, S. A. (2012). Veterinary surgery: Small animal (Vol. 2). Elsevier, St. Louis.
  12. Willard, M. D. (2012). Diagnostic imaging of gastrointestinal disease in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 42(4), 777–798.

Looking up citing articles…

    Creative Commons License

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

    Copyright © 2026 Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology