Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with heart infection caused by foxtail grass awn
By Doyle, Crystal G et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·California Animal Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Foxtail-associated endocarditis in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic shorthair cat developed serious heart problems one week after surgery to drain a neck abscess. The vet found a large mass on the heart valve during an ultrasound, which turned out to be caused by a grass awn (a type of foxtail) that had migrated into the heart, leading to inflammation and infection. Unfortunately, the cat did not survive due to these complications. This case highlights the rare but serious risks associated with foxtail ingestion or migration in pets.
People also search for: cat heart failure after surgery · foxtail grass problems in cats · signs of heart disease in cats
Abstract
An adult female neutered domestic shorthair cat developed right heart failure 1 week after having surgical drainage of a neck abscess of unknown etiology established at our hospital. Echocardiography revealed a large vegetative mass adhered to the tricuspid valve. Post-mortem examination revealed fibrinous endocarditis and myocarditis associated with the presence of a grass awn (Hordeum species) foreign body. Foxtail migration with subsequent thrombus and endocarditis formation on the tricuspid valve is considered a very unusual sequel to foxtail migration.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21115379/