Tracheal foreign body in the cat: how to remove it
2-year-old cat with sudden-onset paroxysmal cough and dyspnoea while playing with decorative gravel. Radiographs show a round mineral object in the intrathoracic trachea, near the carina.
What is the most appropriate approach?
chevron_right Show answer and explanation
A. Treat with corticosteroids and bronchodilators and wait for it to be coughed up
An object that has already reached the carina is rarely coughed up and may move into a bronchus or completely obstruct the trachea. It must be removed.
B. Direct thoracotomy as the first option, because endoscopy is too risky in cats
Thoracotomy with intrathoracic tracheotomy carries much greater morbidity. Endoscopic or catheter-assisted removal is attempted first.
C. Induce vomiting so that abdominal pressure expels the object
Inducing vomiting does not act on the airway and adds aspiration risk in an already dyspnoeic cat. It is contraindicated.
D. Removal with a bronchoscope and forceps/basket, or with a balloon catheter passed distal to the object, under anaesthesia with good oxygenation; tracheotomy if it fails
Correct. In cats the trachea is narrow and the procedure competes with ventilation: pre-oxygenate, use jet ventilation or oxygen insufflation and work quickly. Smooth objects (stones) are usually best removed with a basket or a balloon catheter inflated distal to the object.
lightbulb Key takeaway
After removal, monitor for non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, pneumothorax and mucosal injury. Cats mainly aspirate small stones, and dogs grass awns and plant fragments, which usually reach the bronchi.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.