Obstipation following ovariohysterectomy in a cat

Calcium chloride diluted in ethanol 95% as female sterilizing agent: effect of transcutaneous delivery in rats

Background

Different fertility control methods are investigated as a tool for population control of free-roaming animals. Chemical castration using calcium chloride has been widely studied over the years in males, but there are few studies related to its use in females. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the local effects, as a potential chemosterilant, of two concentrations of calcium chloride diluted in 95% ethanol when administered by transcutaneous ultrasound-guided intraovarian injection in rats. In this study, 30 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three treatment groups, which consisted of transcutaneous ultrasound-guided intraovarian injection of: 0.9% sodium chloride solution (GC); 10% calcium chloride diluted in 95% ethanol (G10); 20% calcium chloride diluted in 95% ethanol (G20). The animals were subdivided into two evaluation times, 15 days (n = 5 of each group) and 30 days (n = 5 of each group) after the intraovarian injection. The ovarian diameter was measured using ultrasound image prior and immediately after the injection and after the treatment period. Furthermore, animals’ clinical evaluation, estrous cycles assessment, macroscopic examination of the abdominal cavity and histological evaluation of the ovaries were performed.

Results

Ovarian ultrasound measurement revealed changes (p < 0.05) between ovarian diameters before and immediately after the injection in all treatments. Three animals in G20 had a small focal skin lesion at the injection site that evolved to total healing. Extended and abnormal estrous cycles were observed in G10 and G20. At gross examination, adhesions and ovarian cysts were noticed in both groups, G10 and G20. Also, the histopathology analysis revealed changes in ovarian architecture and vessel congestion in G10 and G20, but ovarian tissue damage was greater in the ovaries treated with the highest concentration (G20).

Conclusions

The results indicate that 20% calcium chloride diluted in 95% ethanol may be a potential agent for inducing sterilization in females and was possible to be minimally invasively delivered.

Intestinal strangulation after elective ovariohysterectomy

A 6-month-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented with an acute onset of vomiting and marked lethargy. The cat had undergone elective ovariohysterectomy via a small midline incision 2 weeks prior to presentation. Intestinal strangulation through a mesenteric rent was diagnosed via abdominal ultrasound and exploratory laparotomy. Intestinal resection and anastamosis resulted in a good clinical outcome despite excision of 60% of the small intestine.

Enterolithiasis in a cat

An 8-year-old female Persian cat was brought in for evaluation of chronic vomiting. The presence of opaque enteric foreign bodies and intestinal obstruction along with azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia, moderate anaemia and peritoneal fluid were revealed following appropriate diagnostic work-up. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed jejunoileal dilation, ileocaecal stenosis, and numerous foreign objects in the jejunoileum. These foreign objects and ileocaecal stenosis were surgically removed, and intestinal resection and anastomosis was performed. The patient recovered favourably. Analysis revealed that the foreign objects were composed of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Intestinal inflammation and stenosis secondary to enterolithiasis may have developed following ingestion of cat litter or a previous unrelated surgical intervention. We were unable to delineate the inciting pathogenesis in this particular case.

Surgical management of constipation

There are many recognised causes of constipation in the cat and the management of the condition depends on the clinician's ability to recognise the appropriate aetiology in each case. Most surgery therapies for constipation in the cat are related to the management of idiopathic megacolon, although causes such as pelvic outlet obstruction, complications of neutering surgery, perineal herniation, and malunion pelvic fractures may also require surgical intervention. Currently, the surgical management of megacolon consists of subtotal colectomy with the recommendation that the ileocolic junction be preserved. The procedure, in general, is associated with few life-threatening complications although the majority of individuals will experience a transient period of loose stool formation in the immediate post-operative period. In the majority of cases, the long-term outcome following subtotal colectomy is considered excellent.