Dogs are curious by nature. They love to investigate new sights, smells, and tastes. Unfortunately, this curiosity can lead them into trouble. Dogs are notorious for swallowing paper, tissues, articles of clothing, sticks, wicker, bones, food wrappers, rocks, and other foreign objects. Some of these objects will pass through the intestinal tract without problem. It is common for dog owners to find all sorts of objects in their dog's stool or vomit.
However, while some foreign bodies pass uneventfully through the intestinal tract, not all of them do. If an obstruction occurs for some reason, surgical removal of the blocked object is the only treatment. Foreign body obstruction is one of the more common and potentially life-threatening conditions seen in veterinary practice.
How do I know if my dog has eaten a foreign body?
Most pets that have ingested a foreign body will exhibit some of these clinical signs:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal tenderness or pain
- decreased appetite (know as anorexia)
- straining to defecate or producing small amounts of feces
- lethargy
- changes in behavior such as biting or growling when picked up or handled around the abdomen
How is it diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will obtain a thorough medical history and perform a careful physical examination. If a foreign body is suspected, abdominal X-rays will be performed. Several views may be necessary, or a series of specialized X-rays using contrast material (barium or other dye). In addition, your veterinarian may recommend blood and urine tests to assess whether the patient's health has been compromised by the obstruction, or to rule-out other causes of vomiting such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, infections, or hormonal diseases such as Addison's disease (low steroid hormone levels).
How is an intestinal foreign body treated?
Exploratory surgery is generally recommended if a foreign body obstruction is diagnosed or suspected. Time is critical, since an intestinal or stomach obstruction often compromises the blood supply to these vital tissues. If the blood supply is interrupted for more than a few hours, these tissues may become necrotic (die), resulting in irreparable damage or shock.
In some instances, the foreign body may be able to pass on its own. In this event, your veterinarian may recommend hospitalization of your dog for close observation and probably intravenous (IV) fluids, and will perform follow-up Xrays to track the progress of the foreign object.
If any clinical signs are related to an underlying condition, or if diagnostic testing indicates compromised organ systems, these abnormalities will also require treatment.
What is the prognosis?
The prognosis is based on:
- the location of the foreign body
- the duration of the obstruction
- the size, shape, and characteristics of the foreign body
- your dog's health status before foreign body ingestion
Your veterinarian will provide detailed diagnostic and treatment plans as well an accurate prognosis based on your pet's condition.
