Meet Handsome Casper!

This brave cat came to us with some concerning symptoms—gagging, retching, wheezing, and open-mouth breathing. His owner noticed these signs suddenly, and they were definitely not normal. 🐾

We quickly got to work and performed thoracic radiographs (X-rays) to investigate. The X-rays showed something unusual - a soft tissue opacity in his trachea, right at the level of the carina (where the windpipe splits). This led us to suspect a tracheal foreign body - a foreign object stuck in his airway.

To confirm, we performed a bronchoscopy, which is essentially a camera-guided exam inside the airway. Sure enough, we found the foreign body lodged in Casper's trachea. Fortunately, we were able to remove it endoscopically - a minimally invasive procedure - without the need for major surgery.

After the procedure, Casper went home to his family with medications to help him recover. 

Important Takeaway for Pet Owners:

If your pet is suddenly having difficulty breathing, gagging, or showing signs of distress like open-mouth breathing or coughing, don't wait! These could be signs of something stuck in their airway or another serious issue.

Early intervention can make all the difference.