Sharp Shock for Pixie

A thankful cat owner from Guildford has spoken of her relief as a vet operated to successfully remove an inch long sewing needle and a length of thread which was lodged deep in her pet‘s intestine, close to her liver.

Eva Burdova, who lives in Guildford, owns a young tortoiseshell, tabby and white cat called Pixie.  One evening in late September, she’d been sewing up a jumper and left the thread and needle out overnight.  The next morning, to her horror, she noticed that the needle and some of the thread was missing.  While Pixie appeared perfectly normal, Eva could find no trace of the needle so took her to Pet Doctors in Guildford to have her checked over.

Vet Charlotte Dawson, who examined her, said:  “When we X-rayed Pixie we found the needle lodged in her small intestine, close to her stomach.  This was potentially very serious as when the intestines contracted as they do during food digestion, the needle could have perforated the intestine wall causing infection in her abdomen or injury to other vital organs, particularly her liver.
“We had to open up her abdomen and intestine which is a difficult procedure as, again, it risks causing infection and stitching up also can cause strictures in the intestines.  We were very careful and managed to remove the needle safely.  Pixie is now recovering well but it will be some time before she’s back to her normal self.

“Cats are known to get pleasure from sucking on wool or thread and, with this, can come the danger of accidently swallowing pins and needles or other sharp objects.  Cat owners who are keen sewers beware!”

Eva Burdova commented:   “It’s been a very worrying time.  I was so upset when I realised she’d swallowed the needle and waiting for her to come round from the anaesthetic seemed to take forever.  It’s wonderful that she’s getting better though and gradually getting back to normal.  We’ll be keeping all the needles in this house well away from her in future!”

« Back to News