07/14/2026
🎈 It happens to the best of us.
One of our own veterinary assistants brought in her 1-year-old cat, Kevin, after he started repeatedly vomiting and quickly became so weak he could barely walk.
On exam, Dr. Japheth found significant abdominal pain. His X-rays didn’t show the foreign object itself - but they did show something just as important. Small pockets of gas and a “bunched up” appearance of the intestines raised a strong suspicion that Kevin had swallowed a string.
After talking it through, his owner realized part of a balloon ribbon had gone missing.
During surgery, Dr. Japheth found the balloon ribbon with knots on both ends, anchoring it in Kevin’s stomach and preventing it from passing. Multiple small incisions into the stomach and intestines were needed to cut the ribbon into smaller pieces before it could be safely removed.
Why is this so dangerous? When a string is anchored in the stomach, the intestines bunch together like an accordion. As the intestines continue trying to move normally, the string acts like a saw, potentially cutting through the intestinal wall—a life-threatening emergency.
Thankfully, Kevin made it to surgery before that happened and is now recovering well at home. ❤️
⚠️ Balloon ribbons, sewing thread, yarn, fishing line, and other strings can all be deadly if swallowed. If your pet is vomiting and you suspect they may have eaten string, don’t wait—early treatment can make all the difference.
Swipe to see Kevin, his X-rays, the balloon ribbon that caused all the trouble, and what the intestines looked like at surgery when they were pulled together like an accordion.
