Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with head tilt and balance loss had bullet fragments removed
By Job, Chloé et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2024·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Video-Assisted Ventral Bulla Osteotomy to Remove a Bullet Foreign Body in a Cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male domestic shorthair cat was brought in for a chronic head tilt, balance issues, and eye movement problems. A CT scan showed metal fragments in his ear, likely from a bullet. The vet used a minimally invasive technique to remove the foreign body, and the cat had no complications afterward. Five months later, the cat had fully recovered, with no signs of the previous neurological issues. This case highlights the importance of considering foreign bodies in the ear when diagnosing balance problems in cats.
People also search for: cat head tilt treatment · cat balance problems · cat ear foreign body removal · cat vestibular disease symptoms · cat surgery recovery time
Abstract
A 7 yr old castrated male domestic shorthair presented for assessment of a chronic left head tilt, losses of balance, and positional nystagmus. A computed tomographic scan of the head revealed several fragments of a metallic foreign body in the left tympanic cavity. The foreign material was removed under endoscopic assistance through a minimally invasive ventral bulla osteotomy. No complications were noted during the immediate postoperative period. Follow-up 5 mo after surgery revealed complete resolution of the neurological signs with no evidence of recurrence. Foreign bodies associated with middle ear infection have not been previously reported in the cat. They should now be included in the differential diagnosis of vestibular disease. Endoscopic-assisted foreign body removal in the middle ear seems to be a safe and efficient way to retrieve small foreign bodies in bullae in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39235777/