Gastrointestinal Obstruction

During the holiday season, there are a number of new and potentially dangerous objects around the house that if eaten by your dog or cat could cause an obstruction within the gastrointestinal tract (mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and colon).

Our Canine friends will naturally be curious about the different smells that abound during the holidays. Please remember that bones from turkey, chicken, steak etc are not appropriate for your dog, no matter his/her size, to chew on. Not only can they cause pancreatitis (a painful abdominal condition resulting in inflammation of the pancreas most commonly associated with intake of rich fatty foods) but obstruction from bones is a commonly seen emergency. Bones from your holiday dinner can splinter, which can result in irritation of your dog’s entire gastrointestinal tract, or more seriously perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. Larger pieces of bone can become lodges in the esophagus, in the stomach as it empties into the intestines, or anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of obstruction in our canine friends include lethargy, lack of appetite, repeated vomiting, diarrhea, distended and painful belly, and a change in overall mentation. If you notice any of these symptoms a call to your veterinarian is warranted.

If your dog or cat does show signs of intestinal obstruction, please contact a veterinarian or the emergency hospital as soon as possible. When your pet is evaluated, a number of different questions will be asked to obtain a thorough history. A full examination will need to be performed, which should include a thorough inspection of the oral cavity. If your dog or cat is too fractious or a doctor is unable to examine the patient fully, sedation may be required. Depending on the results of the full physical examination and history- further diagnostics may be advised such as radiographs (x-rays) of the throat and gastrointestinal tract in addition to blood work. Blood work can provide important clues about the presence of an inflammatory response to a foreign body, the possibility of perforation of the intestinal tract, and if the patient is potentially stable enough if surgery is needed. Keep in mind that dogs an cats cannot let us know what they ate, and where they hurt. We need your help as responsible pet owners to work through a history, physical exam, and diagnostics to provide the best care possible for your pet.

If your dog or cat is diagnosed with a gastrointestinal obstruction, or has a high likelihood of obstruction due to the evidence found on history, physical exam, and diagnostics there are a number of conservative vs. proactive approaches to treatment. If a dog or cat has a severely painful abdomen and evidence of an obstruction- surgery may be the recommended course of action to physically remove the obstruction and return the animal back to health. Dogs and cats showing much milder symptoms could benefit from conservative care, such as no food for 24 hours, anti-nausea medication, fluid therapy and a gentle diet. As there are other disease processes that can show similar symptoms, such as pancreatitis and dietary indiscretion, working with your veterinarian to come up with the best plan possible for both you and your pet is always a part of the discussion.

Left untreated, a gastrointestinal obstruction that does not pass through the gastrointestinal tract can lead to lack of blood supply and possible necrosis (death) of that area of intestine, possible perforation or ulceration of the intestinal tract, and ultimately possible death. Even if an obstruction does pass, it can cause significant trauma to the gastrointestinal tract that may cause residual symptoms. If you are concerned, please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian or closest emergency hospital.

Dr. Santspree