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Gastrointestinal Obstruction

It’s no surprise that pets chew on and swallow things that they shouldn’t, and we can’t always watch their every move. While some foreign objects are small enough to naturally pass, others can get stuck and cause problems. Toxic items, such as lead, can also pose a serious threat. Gastrointestinal obstruction is the most common surgical emergency in veterinary medicine, and is seen primarily in younger dogs.

Several items are particularly known for getting tangled and blocking a pet’s intestinal tract, including string, ribbon, socks, underwear, and rocks. Keeping these items out of a pet’s reach, combined with close monitoring, can prevent your pet from suffering an obstruction.

Symptoms of a foreign body impeding gastrointestinal tract: 

  • Abdominal pain. 
  • Abdominal swelling. 
  • Bloating. 
  • Dehydration. 
  • Diarrhea. 
  • Excessive drooling. 
  • Lethargy. 
  • Loss of appetite. 
  • Weight loss. 
  • Vomiting.

Identifying foreign bodies

Our veterinarian can typically detect most foreign bodies with an X-ray. If the item swallowed was translucent, a contrast esophagoscopy (test utilizing biocompatible dye to show transparent articles) will need to be performed in order to determine where the item is located.

How do you remove obstructions from the stomach and intestines?

If foreign bodies are present in the stomach or intestine and cannot pass naturally, they need to be removed.  For larger articles, surgery via gastrotomy or enterotomy is necessary. During gastrotomy, a pet is sedated under general anesthesia so they remain completely unaware of the procedure. A small incision is then made in the stomach, which allows the veterinarian to locate the object within and remove it. Gastrotomy is a very safe surgery and does not disrupt surrounding organs.  Enterotomy involves making an incision into the intestine to aid in retrieval of the foreign material.  Occasionally a piece of bowel may be devitalized and need to be removed  in this instance the doctor performs an intestinal resection and anastomoses where the affected piece of bowel is removed and the 2 segments are surgically placed back together.

If your pet is exhibiting symptoms of having a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract, or you have witnessed them swallow an object, please contact our office immediately. Removing the article is very important.

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