Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline Emphysematous Gastritis in a Cat with Pancreatitis and Secondary Hepatic Lipidosis.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- Fulton, Emily et al.
- Affiliation:
- From the University of Glasgow · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female cat was brought to the vet because she had been very tired and eating less than usual for two months, eventually stopping her food intake altogether. Tests showed she had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and secondary hepatic lipidosis (fat buildup in the liver). The vet placed a feeding tube to help her eat, but the cat accidentally removed it, and when it was replaced, her condition worsened, leading to excessive drooling and confusion. Despite efforts to treat her, she suffered a cardiac arrest a week after being admitted to the hospital. A post-mortem exam revealed severe stomach inflammation with gas in the stomach wall, a rare condition in cats, along with other serious issues in her intestines and liver. Unfortunately, the treatment did not work, and she passed away.
Abstract
A 7 yr old female neutered domestic shorthair was presented with a 2 mo history of lethargy and hyporexia progressing to anorexia. Initial diagnostics indicated pancreatitis with secondary hepatic lipidosis. Supportive care, including the placement of an esophageal feeding tube, was initiated. The feeding tube was removed traumatically by the cat and thus replaced. The cat acutely deteriorated while hospitalized, developing marked hypersalivation and an obtunded mentation. Radiographs were taken to confirm placement of the feeding tube in case tube dislodgement was contributing to the hypersalivation; results confirmed appropriate positioning and gastric pneumatosis. Despite intensified medical management, the patient suffered cardiopulmonary arrest 7 days after hospital admission. Post-mortem examination confirmed necrotizing gastritis with emphysema alongside segmental mucosal necrosis in the jejunum, focal pancreatic necrosis, and diffuse hepatic lipidosis. Gas in the gastric wall is a rare finding in veterinary medicine and can arise due to gastric pneumatosis or emphysematous gastritis; there are scant reports of either in feline medicine. This report documents a case of emphysematous gastritis in a cat with concurrent pancreatitis and hepatic lipidosis. The cat developed emphysematous gastritis without undergoing gastrointestinal surgery which is currently the only reported feline predis-posing factor for development.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35793486/