Enterolithiasis in Two Cats: Clinical, Radiographic, and Surgical Findings

Enterolithiasis is a rare gastrointestinal disorder characterized by mechanical obstruction caused by enteroliths formed within the intestinal lumen. Dietary composition, environmental factors, and breed predisposition have been reported to contribute to enterolith formation, with these structures typically developing through mineral accumulation around foreign materials. Although enterolithiasis is relatively common in horses, it has been rarely reported in cats and dogs. Surgical intervention is considered the most effective treatment option in clinically symptomatic cases. In this case report, two cats presented to our faculty clinic with complaints of lethargy and weight loss were evaluated. Hematological examinations revealed anemia in both cases. Abdominal radiographs demonstrated multiple similarly sized radiopaque structures within the small intestinal lumen. Surgical exploration revealed jejunoileal dilatation and ileocecal stenosis. In one case, removal of the enteroliths alone was sufficient, whereas the other case required enterotomy followed by segmental intestinal resection and anastomosis. These cases indicate that enterolithiasis should be considered among the differential diagnoses in patients presenting with chronic gastrointestinal signs and multiple radiopaque intestinal structures. The aim of this case report was to describe the clinical, radiographic, and surgical findings of enterolithiasis in two cats and to contribute to the limited literature regarding this rare condition in small animal practice.