SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL RETRIEVAL OF STRAIGHT BARBED FISHING HOOK FROM THE CAVUM ORIS OF A CAT : A CASE REPORT

A one year old intact male domestic shorthair cat weighing 3kg was presented with a history of facial trauma following accidental entanglement with a barbed fishing hook. Clinical examination revealed pain, facial swelling and a small penetrating wound over the right zygomatic region. Radiography of the skull confirmed the presence of a radio- opaque broken barbed fishing hook embedded within the right facial soft tissues without evidence of skull fracture. Surgical exploration was performed under general anaesthesia and the hook was successfully retrieved. The wound was thoroughly lavaged and closed routinely. Postoperative treatment included broad spectrum antibiotics, analgesics and wound care. The cat recovered uneventfully and complete healing was observed within 10 days. This report highlights the importance of radiographic localization, meticulous surgical planning and a traumatic foreign body removal techniques in the successful management of penetrating barbed foreign bodies in cats.