It happens that you and your dog on a nice walk, then all of a sudden, he swoops down on something and eats it. You may not even have a chance to see what it was he ate! What should you do in that situation?
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We’ve put together some information on this issue, as well as what you need to do. Let’s get started!
Foreign Body Ingestion
What is foreign body ingestion? This is a fancy term that means your dog has eaten a non-food item that was outside his body. This could be anything from clothing to rocks to clothespins and bones. Dogs will eat just about anything that happens to grab their fancy.
The problem with this, however, is that the thing your dog has eaten could cause some problems. For those things that are smooth and small, you can expect the object will eventually come out in your dog’s poop.
For objects that are large and have irregular shapes, the problem is they can become stuck in the digestive tract at any point. This means the object could become lodged in your dog’s throat, stomach, or somewhere in the intestines. This situation can lead to problems such as an intestinal blockage or rupture of the intestine. Both of these are life-threatening conditions.
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Symptoms of an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten a foreign object that’s created a blockage:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Dehydration
- Excessive drooling
- Increased respiratory rate
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, then you need to call the vet now. This is a medical emergency.
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Ask a Vet Live NowTreatment of an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
When you reach the vet’s, they will perform a physical examination of your dog, check his symptoms, and ask you for information on what’s happened. The vet will also do lab work and may take x-rays to determine where the blockage is located.
Depending on where the object is located, the vet may give your canine companion medication to make him vomit. However, if the foreign object is causing a blockage, then your fur baby will need to have surgery right away.
The good news is that most dogs who develop an intestinal blockage go on to a full recovery. The key is to get medical treatment for the dog as soon as possible.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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