Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with intestinal hairball treated using Coca-Cola and endoscopy
By Wilson, Savanah et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2023·VCA Canada Alta Vista Animal Hospital, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Endoscopic administration of Coca-Cola for medical management of a wedged intestinal trichobezoar in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 16-year-old male domestic longhair cat was brought in for vomiting and suspected intestinal blockage caused by a hairball (trichobezoar). The veterinarian used an endoscope to locate the blockage but couldn't remove it directly. Instead, they injected 55 mL of Coca-Cola to help break up the hairball, which worked without any complications. The cat recovered well after the procedure, showing that this method can be a safe alternative when surgery isn't possible.
People also search for: cat vomiting hairball treatment · cat intestinal blockage Coca-Cola · how to treat trichobezoar in cats
Abstract
A 16-year-old, neutered male domestic longhair feline with gastroduodenal and jejunal trichobezoars was treated with administration of Coca-Cola through endoscopic injection catheter. Examination with a Karl Storz endoscope identified a trichobezoar causing suspected partial or early complete obstruction of the jejunum; however, the length of the scope was inadequate to retrieve the trichobezoar. Consequently, 55 mL of Coca-Cola and 5 mL of iohexol were instilled into an injection catheter to disrupt the trichobezoar. No peri- or postoperative complications were reported, and the cat recovered uneventfully. Key clinical message: This case report demonstrates a minimally invasive approach to treatment of a small intestinal trichobezoar in a cat with no intra- or postoperative complications. Coca-Cola infusion through an endoscopic injection catheter may be a viable treatment in cats when a surgical approach is not an option, although further cases are needed to determine whether these results can be generalized to the larger patient population.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37529386/