Rooster came to us due to vomiting and not wanting to eat. The culprit? A cotton reel with thread that he had stolen and swallowed a week previously!
Ultrasound confirmed a foreign object in his stomach, so we proceeded with minimally invasive gastroscopy under anaesthetic to assess and (hopefully) retrieve it. During the procedure, the reel was located, but the cotton had unravelled and extended into the small intestine, anchoring it in place.
In many cases like this, the next step would be open abdominal surgery to remove the object. This is an invasive procedure with associated pain and risks, including life-threatening peritonitis.
Instead, our vets were able to take a different approach.
Using advanced laser endoscopy, a specialised technique available at HNVG, we carefully passed a laser fibre through the scope into the stomach and cut the thread under careful visualisation. Once freed, the reel was safely grasped, using graspers passed through the endoscope, and removed via Rooster’s mouth.
Rooster was closely monitored afterwards to ensure the remaining thread passed naturally without issue. Just one day later, he was back to his normal self!
This case highlights how minimally invasive techniques can:
– Avoid major surgery
– Reduce pain and recovery time
– Lower the risk of complications
Laser endoscopy is not commonly available and is rarely used in this way. HNVG are proud to have been able to think creatively and achieve such a great outcome for Rooster.
His owner was, understandably, incredibly relieved!
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