Disorder - Pyloric stenosis

Organ Systems Involved
Gastrointestinal

Presenting Signs

Pyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the tract where material flows out of the stomach. In cats, reported symptoms include frequent daily vomiting, which is often severe and can lead to severe dehydration and a failure to put on weight. The vomiting can lead to aspiration (accidentally inhaling the vomited material), resulting in breathing problems. Clinical signs have only been reported in young cats. There is no definite proof that this disease is inherited; however, there are reports of litters from affected queens also developing pyloric stenosis.

Cats at Risk

The disease affects both sexes equally and develops in young cats.

Breeds Affected
Siamese


Treatment

Surgical: techniques described involve an incision through the muscular layers of the pyloric antrum (outflow area of the pylorus) in which the inner mucosal layer is left intact. This allows widening of the outflow tract. A number of other surgical approaches have been described in dogs but not cats.

PubMed References
Pyloric stenosis

Contributor
Neil Christensen