A small discovery leads to a big revelation

This week the Cornell University Feline Health Center posted a report on their Facebook page about the negative consequences of using spring-loaded mouth gags in cats. The story soon went viral, popping up in the newsfeeds of hundreds of veterinary professionals around the world.

The story that went viral is indeed deserved of such noteworthy attention. It involves the use of common spring-loaded mouth gags which are utilised to keep an animal's mouth open during general anaesthetics. Ordinarily these are used during dental procedures or oral surgery in small animals but sometimes they are used to prevent an animal from biting down on the endotracheal tube and thus theoretically helping to maintain a clear airway.

This story immediately caught my attention as I have always been very reluctant to use these gags in cats. Not only does the continual force of the spring cause the cat's fragile jaw to be extended to an abnormal angle, but the metal framework of the gags often are traumatic to the delicate gingivae and tiny teeth. It turns out that my concerns were valid. The excessive opposition of the mandible as the mouth is forced open by the gag appears to result in a blockage of blood flow through the maxillary artery which could have serious consequences.