Animal Care Center & Pet Resort

800 Pulaski Highway

Joppa, MD  21085

Phone 410-676-2525         Fax 410-676-5151

Intestinal Blockage

It has been said all too many times, "My pet doesn't get into anything".  Unfortunately, Never say NEVER!  It is hard to keep an eye on our 4 legged companions 24/7.  So the possibility an accident can happen is there.  Here are a couple x-rays of pets that "didn't get into anything".

Yes, that is a kitchen knife in a dog's stomach.

Even a fork makes an appearance in another dog's lunch.

How about some bolts?

Going fishing?  I have a fish hook right here

! 

 Golf ball! 

Can you find the sewing needle in this cats throat?

The truth of the matter is, pets will try to taste or eat anything they can.  Their mouths are their hands.  It enables them to pick something up and further inspect it.  Hopefully in the process they decide to spit it out.   

Eating rocks or sewing needles are not the only causes of intestinal blockages.  Sometimes a mass or tumor can cause the problem.  Even the twisting of the intestines can cause a blockage.  "Intestinal Obstruction is the complete or partial blockage of normal passage of food through the intestine.  Obstruction can be caused by ingesting a foreign body, tumors, impaction of fecal material, or paralysis of a portion of the bowel".

Untreated intestinal obstructions are usually fatal!  In many cases surgical removal of the cause is necessary. 

Every blockage is an emergency!

Signs of possible intestinal blockage include:

• Vomiting +/- coughing and gagging
• Diarrhea (in some cases) +/- dark color to stool
• Loss of energy
• Lack of appetite
• Abdominal Pain
• No bowel movements

A few things around the house that can cause blockage in dogs and cats:

• Corn on the cob
• Rocks
• Underwear
• Small metal objects such as coins, tacks, nuts, bolts, sewing materials, etc.,
• Poorly chewed rawhides and Greenies
• Thread
• Tinsel
• Yarn
• Chicken Bones (cooked or baked..even fried)
• Electrical wires such as speaker wire
• Christmas lights
• Pens/Pencils
• Rubber Bands
• And pretty much anything the size of a finger that can be put in the mouth!

(the size of your finger is just a suggestion.  Never put it past a Lab to eat the kitchen sink)