Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal for Cats A Case Study

Endoscope to the Rescue! Cat Swallows a Hair Tie

Nika's mom caught her secretly swallowing a hair tie, so she rushed her in to see the veterinarian right away. An X-ray revealed a foreign object in Nika's stomach -- a hair tie almost 5 centimeters in size. If dogs or cats accidentally swallow objects like this, they can't be digested. If it gets stuck in the stomach or causes an intestinal blockage, it could even require surgery.

• Luckily in this case, her mom noticed in time and rushed her to the vet. The veterinarian used an endoscope, inserting the camera through the mouth, and was able to remove the hair tie from the stomach right away without surgery. Nika only needed one night to recover, then went home safely, ready to get back to being her mischievous self again.

If you have a dog or cat at home, take good care of them and watch closely. If they show unusual behavior such as vomiting, loss of appetite, or lethargy, bring them to see a veterinarian right away. Don't take chances.