intestinal-obstruction-in-dogs

Intestinal obstruction in dogs

Intestinal obstruction in dogs is a true life-threatening emergency, which means that prompt veterinary care of your pet is crucial to its survival.

However, there is no need to panic as soon as your dog is a little constipated: intestinal obstruction most often manifests itself by severe health symptoms, and by knowing how to recognize it, you can easily avoid confusing it with a benign disorder. Today, I'm going to tell you everything you need to know about intestinal obstruction in dogs, its causes, its symptoms and the best way to react if you suspect that your dog is suffering from it.

 

What is intestinal obstruction in dogs?

Bowel obstruction, also known as intestinal obstruction, is a condition that occurs when a dog's digestive tract is blocked, preventing nutrients from flowing normally from one end of the intestine to the other. There are two types of bowel obstruction: partial obstruction, in which the intestine is not completely blocked, and complete obstruction.

Contrary to what one might think, both types of obstructions are equally serious, and a partial obstruction requires emergency veterinary care, as does a complete obstruction. Bowel obstruction is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying disorder. Most often, this condition occurs when the dog has swallowed a foreign body, so small gluttons are particularly at risk.

In most cases, intestinal obstruction occurs in the small intestine, which is smaller in diameter than the large intestine - foreign objects that have passed through the small intestine can logically pass through the colon. However, the large intestine can also be affected by this disorder, in which case a fecal impaction (a mass of dry fecal matter) is more likely to be involved than a foreign body that has passed through the small intestine.

It should be noted that intestinal obstruction can quickly become complicated if it is not properly treated as soon as possible. The intestinal mucous membranes are often very irritated by the foreign body and can perforate and/or degenerate into peritonitis (infection of the peritoneum, the tissue surrounding the intestines) and then into sepsis (generalized infection).

 

Symptoms of a bowel obstruction in dogs

Not all dogs react the same way to a bowel obstruction, but the condition is often extremely painful, which helps distinguish it from mild constipation. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common, with vomiting and nausea indicating that food is blocked in the dog's digestive tract, forcing the dog to reject it where it entered, as it cannot be expelled through the proper outlet.

The dog will then often vomit its food and water, but also, sometimes, fecal matter when the occlusion is "low", i.e. located towards the end of the digestive tract. Constipation is often observed, but also, although this may be surprising, diarrhea, typically liquid, mucusy and small in volume, and sometimes bloody.

The dog can no longer eat properly and will generally stop eating, showing anorexia characteristic of this disorder and, consequently, dehydration due to a lack of water intake and/or poor assimilation of the water that he could drink despite his pain. The abdomen is usually swollen, distended and painful, and the dog often shows signs of distress and discomfort.

In the more secretive dogs, pain may be suspected in the face of increased shyness, hiding and cowering. In the more expressive dogs, we can observe complaints and an increased search for contact with the master. The animal is often downcast, reluctant to play or go for walks, and may adopt unusual postures (called antalgic) to alleviate pain. In some cases, the dog may go limp, with each step causing pain.

 

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Causes of intestinal obstruction in dogs

Although many things can cause an intestinal obstruction, one cause is much more frequent than the others: the ingestion of foreign bodies. It will probably have escaped no one's notice that dogs are very often voracious animals, who are not afraid to taste a little of everything they come across, regardless of whether the thing in question is edible or not.

In fact, it is not uncommon to find pieces of toys in the intestines of dogs, or even entire toys, as well as various objects that belonged to its owner, bones, stones, pieces of wood, fabric ... Or any other material impossible to digest. Some breeds of dogs are known for their habit of swallowing anything, so it is particularly important to watch for symptoms of intestinal obstruction in them. I'm talking about small Beagles, but also Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs...

More rarely, intestinal obstructions can be caused by food clumping in the digestive tract of the dog. This phenomenon can occur when the dog eats kibble combined with raw meat, a mixture particularly conducive to the formation of amalgams that are difficult to digest.

A fecal impaction, a mass of more or less dry fecal matter that accumulates in the colon, often as a result of constipation, can also be involved. This is a relatively common disorder in constipated puppies. Note that fecal impaction is just as serious as the ingestion of a foreign body and fatally results in the death of the animal if left untreated.

More rarely, an intestinal obstruction can be caused by an infestation of internal parasites (intestinal worms) or a tumor, cancerous or benign.

 

My dog has a bowel obstruction, what should I do?

Knowing the main causes of intestinal obstruction is the best way to prevent this disorder and to keep a close eye on dogs that are exposed to it, especially if they start showing gastrointestinal or general symptoms. However, this does not affect the way in which the disorder should be treated. Regardless of its origin and location in the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal obstruction is always serious and will fatally result in the death of the dog if not treated urgently.

The only way to help your dog is to take him to a veterinarian if he shows symptoms of intestinal obstruction. If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to call your veterinarian for advice and to make an informed decision about what to do.

Also consider your situation: if you live near a veterinary hospital that can quickly take care of your pet 24 hours a day, you may be able to wait a few hours and keep a close eye on your pet - but only if the pet does not have severe symptoms. If, on the other hand, you are likely to be far from any veterinary facility that is open in the evening, take the initiative by consulting as soon as possible to avoid finding yourself in a complex situation if your dog's health condition deteriorates during the closing hours of the nearest veterinarian.

The location of the blockage, which can only be detected by a veterinarian with the help of medical imaging, can affect the treatment. Very low fecal impaction can sometimes be treated with enemas, and blockages in the stomach or upper small intestine (proximal intestine) by endoscopy, without surgery.

However, in most cases, emergency abdominal surgery is unavoidable. The sooner you act, the lower the risk of major bowel damage (perforation, peritonitis, etc.) and the better the prognosis for your dog.

 

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FAQ

What should I do if my dog has a bowel obstruction?
It is essential to take your dog to a veterinarian if he shows symptoms that suggest he may have a bowel obstruction. This condition is a life-threatening veterinary emergency, and the longer a dog's intestine remains blocked, the more likely it is to perforate or become infected, thus darkening the animal's prognosis.

How do I know if my dog has a bowel obstruction?
Not all dogs react the same way to a bowel obstruction depending on their pain tolerance and personality. Gastrointestinal symptoms are almost inevitable (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and/or constipation), as well as more or less visible signs of distress and dejection (anorexia, sadness, complaints, unusual postures, shyness or, on the contrary, increased solicitation, etc.).

My dog is constipated, does it have a bowel obstruction?
In puppies, constipation is often caused by a fecal impaction, which can be complicated by a fatal intestinal obstruction. It is therefore necessary to take a young constipated dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible. In adult dogs, constipation is not necessarily a sign of intestinal obstruction, especially in the absence of other symptoms (vomiting, mucusy diarrhea, depression, pain, etc.). However, it is important to be vigilant when faced with a constipated dog, because the cause of the problem, even if it is not an intestinal obstruction, can be serious: a phone call to your veterinarian is highly recommended.

Can a dog's intestinal obstruction be treated?
It is impossible to treat a dog's intestinal obstruction at home, and any attempt to "unblock" your dog yourself with grandmotherly remedies (kerosene oil, laxative, etc.) would be futile and even dangerous. This could delay his treatment by a veterinarian, which could have a negative impact on his prognosis.

Once in the hands of a veterinarian, your dog can be treated, most often with abdominal surgery. If treated in time, the prognosis for a bowel obstruction is quite positive. Bowel obstruction in dogs is a serious condition that many owners tend to fear as soon as their dog is constipated.

It should be noted, however, that constipation is not the most typical symptom of this condition, even though its occurrence seems logical since the animal's digestive tract is blocked. Instead, vomiting associated with a swollen abdomen and discrete or obvious signs of pain and discomfort are more likely to be signs of intestinal obstruction.

Constipation in dogs is still a concern, so it's important to keep a close eye on a dog with constipation, even though a bowel obstruction is rarely the cause if there are no other symptoms.