Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects-(Glucose Strip) *Update

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ToddyTiger

ToddyTiger

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Hopefully this doesn't make me come off as a bad kitty mom.

One of our youngest cats, Flapjack (2 years old now) ate a glucose test strip (for ReliOn mini) and cap for a lancet (just the plastic cap) the other day. I didn't see him do this, nor do I know how he got ahold of them. I know he ate them because he threw them both up a couple days ago. But he's been playing and eating fine, so I assumed it was a one time thing and he was probably ok. He's a long haired cat, so he throws up from time to time anyway. I gave him some Lax'aire and as I said, he's seemed fine. Last night he threw up clear liquid in the middle of the night, then ate and bounced around the house playing.. But about 20 minutes ago, he projectile vomited ALL over my bed (with me in it). It was canned food from very early this morning and smelled awful. Again, he's acting fine now.. cleaning himself and playing.

I have an appointment in an hour with the vet. I'm sure they will do an X-ray and feel his tummy.

But now I am very worried he may have swallowed more than one of the test strips or caps.. or GOD forbid a lancet! I assume he pulled them out of the sharps box or something. I just don't know. -PS Box has been moved to a cupboard

My biggest fear is a blockage and they might have to do surgery.

Would they even be able to see those things on an X-ray?

I feel like a terrible person. I should have rushed him to the vet the other day, but he was acting just fine afterwords. :/

Any thoughts?.. aside from me being a bad mom.

Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat May Have Swallowed Objects

Often, you can't tell by looking how ill an animal is, so please don't beat yourself up.

He may not be blocked per se, one might be stuck in the intestinal tract and irritating things enough to provoke vomiting. The test strips do have pointy edges and those just don't move through very well.

Yes, you may be looking at an endoscopy (if something found near the stomach) or a surgery if any foreign objects are detected on x-ray or palpated by the vet. If something like a test strip is not removed, the pointy corners can perforate the intestine, leaking contents into the abdomen, potentially resulting in infection.
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat May Have Swallowed Objects

So we're back from the vet...

They did some blood work, a X-Ray and they palpated his tummy.

He looks good. No sign of pain when they pushed on his belly, didn't feel anything off when pushing/feeling.

The X-ray (which they showed me) was pretty good. Nothing showed up on the X-ray. He had some gas in his stomach and some gas in his intestines, as well as some stool. Overall it looked good, but they sent it off to the radiologist just in case. We should hear back from them by the morning.

For now, since he looks good.. she said to hold off on food for at least 12 hours and then maybe try giving him some canned i/d or boiled chicken. She also said I could give him some Pepcid, so I might just do that as well.

If he continues to vomit, they can do a barium X-ray or call and have the mobile ultrasound check him. I took one of the test strips and a lancet with me for size comparison, in case something happened to show up on the X-ray. She said if he had swallowed more, they are small enough that they should pass through. But that was why we did the X-ray.. just to be safe.

She doesn't seem concerned that he has anything stuck in there, since he seems to be acting fine, aside from vomiting. However, she said he could have a hairball stuck in there or something else that is upsetting his tummy. So for the moment, we wait and see. The bloodwork will probably be back in the am as well.


One thing noticed, he has lost 1lb.. his last weight check in there was in late 2009 though. She said he looked great, so it was probably from a food switch or something.

So for now, we're just sitting at home.

Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

so glad nothing showed up. m wheezer (last week or so) ate about 25 test strips. had the used ones in an uncovered container. he has never done anything like that before. but he did throw them up. and is doing fine a week later
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

So my cat isn't the only one eating test strips! Not good, but also good to know we're not alone here! I just wish I knew if he ate more than what he threw up. The good thing is we know it was NOT a lancet, because that would have been on the X-ray for sure.

Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

That is what my vet says whenever I come in! haha It's always something, and it's always something weird or complicated! Like the time Todd's ear was bugging him.. we all thought it was wax or something. Nope!.. turns out he SOMEHOW got a kernel of kibble IN his ear. hahaha poor guy. We thought it was funny, I know he didn't.

Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

My daughter has a cat that eats plastic - loves plastic bags and if they unload groceries and leave one bag alone for just a few minutes, he's right on it chomping and tearing away.

They ALL keep us on their toes, don't they? Glad the x-rays showed nothing.

Emmy & Dude (& Mittsi too)
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

My Spot also ate one of his test strips....not sure exactly why, but he did. Threw it up the next day. Yep, cats....always something to keep us on our toes!

Glad your kitty is doing better
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

Deb & Spot said:
My Spot also ate one of his test strips....not sure exactly why, but he did. Threw it up the next day. Yep, cats....always something to keep us on our toes!

Glad your kitty is doing better
Click to expand...


Are these kitties who eat test strips attracted to other plastic as well ?

Strips are plastic, aren't they ?
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

FlapJack does try to eat plastic.. plastic grocery bags, the bags bread comes in, foam peanuts, plastic wrap from cd's and dvds. yep..

So, my vet just called.. the radiologist saw a couple of spots in his intestins that COULD be something stuck in there. She can't say for sure without doing an ultrasound. So I guess we're gonna go do that today. It could also be just slow mobility or something causing his intestines to be inflamed in a couple of spots.

Better safe than sorry, I suppose.. I had him fast for 24 hours and just gave him some canned i/d about an hour ago. he ate just fine and has been running around playing hard since then.

Wish us luck that it's nothing!!

Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects (Update)

Well, this is becoming quite the challenge.

The specialist clinic is booked until Monday, unless I bring Flappy in as an emergency, which is an extra $200 on top of the $400 for the ultrasound. I can't afford that... Especially if he ends up needing surgery.

Sooo.. I've been calling to all the vet clinics in the area. One only charges $249 for the ultrasound, but they can't do it until Monday. Another vet office can do it for $433 if I bring him before 3 today.

Everyone else either doesn't have an ultrasound machine or they use various mobile clinics that only come once a week.

Our regular vet called their mobile ultrasound doc to see if they could come today. She's waiting to hear back from them. She said she would call them back in a few minutes to check in. I guess if they can't come today or tomorrow, we'll go for the one that is $433 (if it's still before 3pm)


I don't know if I should be worried or not. He hasn't thrown up today and he played pretty hard with the kitten. Now they're all just sleeping.

Our vet said we could wait until Monday and just see how he does over the weekend. But of course I worry about that.

-Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects-(Glucose Strip) *Upda

Flaps over at our vet clinic. They got a hold of their mobile ultrasound doc and he is gonna be there within the hour. YAY!

Poor Flap, he was having such a good day.. he ate, played, snoozed and then I woke him by puting him into his kennel. :( And now he gets a shaved belly and ultrasound.


Keep your fingers crossed and send good thoughts our way that they don't find anything blocking him up!

-Sarah
 
Update!

No surgery needed! YAAY! They believe it was a large hairball or possibly something small that is now making it's way through and he should be fine. They said if he does vomit again, they can try giving him some meds to help, because his yummy and intestines are inflamed, but they said he should be fine.

And now I feel soooo much better!


Thanks everyone!
-Sarah
 
Re: Non-Diabetic Cat Swallowed Objects-(Glucose Strip) *Upda

Well good you got the ultrasound, cause now you can rest easy and not worry all weekend. Especially if something was in there that shouldn't be. He could go downhill and then you'd be looking at ER visit and possible surgery.

Yeah that's it's just poop and hair in there and nothing more.!
 
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