Laryngeal perforation in a cat due to a fish bone foreign body

A two‐year‐old domestic shorthair (DSH) cat was presented with a three‐day history of anorexia and cough after having a meal of raw fish. Clinical examination revealed stridorous breathing and excessive salivation. On external examination, the area surround the larynx appeared oedematous, palpation of this area seemed painful and elicited a dry cough. Laryngoscopy examination revealed laryngeal oedema, normal laryngeal function and an intralaryngeal foreign body. The foreign body was protruding from the ventral larynx, and 5 mm was visible. Lateral radiography of the cervical region depicted subcutaneous emphysema and a foreign body, which was bone opacity, in the larynx. Surgical exploration of the ventral larynx revealed perforation of the thyroid cartilage due to a fish bone that was removed, and the laryngeal wound was closed with sutures. After a follow‐up of 1.5 years, the cat was reported to be free of clinical signs.