Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with retroperitoneal abscess from grass awn treated with surgery
By Mastora Dvm, Hariklia et al.·Published in Topics in companion animal medicine·2018·Companion Animal Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retroperitoneal Abscess Associated With a Migrating Grass Awn in a Cat: Treatment With Omentalization and Grass Awn Removal.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 18-month-old male domestic short hair cat was brought in with a fever that had lasted for a year. An ultrasound showed a mass in his abdomen, which turned out to be a retroperitoneal abscess (a pocket of infection). The cat had surgery to drain the abscess and was given antibiotics. Two months later, he developed a swelling in his side, and during another surgery, a small grass awn (a type of plant material) was found and removed. Six months after the second surgery, the cat was reported to be healthy and showing no signs of illness.
People also search for: cat fever unknown cause · cat abdominal abscess treatment · grass awn removal in cats
Abstract
An 18-month-old domestic short hair male castrated cat presented with a history of fever of unknown origin of 1-year duration. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a mixed echogenicity mass. Cytological examination of the fluid obtained through fine needle aspiration was consistent with a retroperitoneal abscess. The cat underwent a midline celiotomy and the abscess was opened, lavaged, and omentalized. Antibiotics were also administered. Two months after surgery, the cat represented with a fluctuant swelling in the right flank region at the lumbodorsal triangle. Abdominal and mass ultrasound showed a mixed echogenicity swelling in the right flank. Under gas anesthesia, the swelling was surgically explored and a 0.4 cm long grass awn was found and removed. Telephone communication with the owners 6 months after surgery found the cat to be free of clinical signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30502868/