How to Treat Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
An intestinal blockage is a veterinary emergency, not to be confused with the much less serious condition of mild to moderate constipation. Intestinal blockages are often caused by foreign objects consumed by dogs. If an obstruction of the intestine is suspected, your dog needs to see a veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment. Some obstructions can be removed with an endoscope; others will require emergency surgery.
Instructions
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Treating Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
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Observe your dog closely. Symptoms of an intestinal obstruction include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, weight loss and weakness. If you see any or all of these symptoms, record them. If possible, you should also check your dog's pulse, temperature and respiration rate.
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Call your veterinarian's office. Tell the veterinarian as much as possible about your dog's symptoms and vital signs. Depending upon how ill your dog is, your veterinarian will either ask you to bring him in immediately or recommend that you make an appointment at your earliest convenience. In most cases, if more than one intestinal blockage symptom is present, your dog will need to be transported to the veterinarian's office immediately as an emergency case.
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Take your dog to the veterinarian. A sick dog should ride lying down in the rear seat of a car, either in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness.
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Wait for a definitive diagnosis. Your veterinarian will use radiographs and possibly a white dye called barium to determine whether there is an obstruction in your dog's intestine. An abdominal ultrasound and/or endoscopy may be necessary for diagnosis in some cases.
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Discuss treatment options with your veterinarian. In most cases, surgery is recommended. Sometimes an endoscopy procedure can be used instead of surgery. If your dog is in shock or dehydrated, hospital care may be needed to stabilize her enough for surgery to succeed. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, mortality rates for intestinal surgery are approximately 12 percent.
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Provide post-operative care according to your veterinarian's instructions. Hospitalization may be necessary to rehydrate the dog and ensure that he is able to eat without vomiting before he is sent home.
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Tips & Warnings
Always keep the number of a 24-hour emergency veterinarian programmed into your cell phone or otherwise readily available.
To prevent intestinal blockages, take time to pet-proof your house, working under the assumption that anything that can be swallowed by a dog might be. Dogs have been known to eat socks, lingerie, washcloths, their own collars, tennis balls and many other objects that would certainly not be looked on as food by humans.
Don't delay if you suspect your dog has an intestinal blockage. It's better to pay an unnecessary vet bill than to lose your dog because she didn't get to the clinic soon enough.
If you see your dog eat something large that isn't digestible, call your veterinarian immediately. Don't wait for the intestine to become obstructed. In some cases, vomiting can be induced in time to remove the foreign object without harm.
