Kiwi's Troublesome Twist Tie

Kiwi is a 6 year old neutered male Persian cat that was brought to the emergency clinic at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital on a rainy Sunday morning. Having a liking for plastic, Kiwi had been playing with a plastic twist tie on Saturday and then swallowed the twist tie. His owner, Rockney, noticed immediately when Kiwi gagged as he swallowed the twist tie. Rockney called Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and asked if the twist tie would pass on its own or whether it would need to be removed. After discussing the options with a technician, Rockney decided to feed Kiwi and give the twist tie a chance to pass while monitoring Kiwi closely for any problems. Kiwi vomited on Sunday morning so Rockney brought him in immediately.

Kiwi did not have any obvious problems on his examination. However, x-rays (radiographs) of Kiwi's abdomen were not normal. The twist tie that Kiwi swallowed from the day before was visible in Kiwi's stomach as the metal from the twist tie shows up well on x-rays. The twist tie appeared to be stuck in the stomach and was possibly blocking food from moving out of the stomach. Foreign objects, such as the twist tie, can be removed from the stomach either by endoscopy or by abdominal surgery. Endoscopy was chosen for Kiwi as it is much less invasive than surgery. Endoscopy is a procedure where a long tube with a camera on the end is passed into an animal or person. Small instruments can be passed through the tube which can then be used to grab objects and tissues and pull them out. With the endoscope the twist tie was eventually located and removed. Kiwi did very well during the procedure, but his stomach was irritated from the twist tie.

Kiwi spent the following twenty-four hours in intensive care (ICU) for monitoring to make sure he recovered well from his procedure and that he did not have any problems. Kiwi went home Monday afternoon. Kiwi will be back for a recheck appointment next week to make sure he is still doing well.

Cats and dogs have a tendency to chew and eat objects that are not good for them. These objects can include toys, erasers, socks, and almost anything they can get into their mouths. An ingested foreign object can cause serious problems such as a blockage or tear (perforation) in the stomach or intestine. If your pet eats something he or she should not have, watch for vomiting, not eating (anorexia) or drinking, or discomfort. Call or bring your pet to a veterinarian immediately if you notice any of these problems or if you have questions. When treated correctly and early, most animals can recover from these problems and go on to live normal lives.