How to tell if dog has intestinal blockage?

Dogs are lively and active, and they are full of curiosity about everything around them. This also makes them face some health risks, among which intestinal obstruction is a rather troublesome one. As dog owners, it is of vital importance to learn how to determine whether a dog has an intestinal obstruction, because it is related to whether we can provide timely treatment for the dog and safeguard its life safety.

Intestinal obstruction in dogs, simply speaking, means that the normal passage of the intestine is blocked, and food and digestive juices cannot pass through smoothly. It's just like the sewer in our house being blocked by foreign objects, and the water cannot flow smoothly. There are various causes of intestinal obstruction, which are like a "health trap" hidden in the corners of our lives. Due to their curiosity, dogs may accidentally ingest all kinds of strange things.

Some dogs like to bite toys, and once the small parts fall off, they may be swallowed by the dogs. There are also dogs that will swallow small stones, socks, plastic bags and other items on the ground without hesitation. After these foreign objects enter the intestine, they are likely to get stuck in a certain part of the intestine, leading to obstruction. Once, an owner found that his dog suddenly lost its energy. After careful recollection, he remembered that the dog had played with a plush toy the day before, and one of its eyes was missing. It was very likely that the dog had swallowed it, causing an intestinal obstruction. In addition, a large number of parasites in the intestine may sometimes entangle with each other to form clumps, which will also hinder the normal peristalsis of the intestine and cause obstruction. There are also some diseases, such as intestinal tumors. As the tumor grows, it will occupy the space of the intestine and cause blockage.

When a dog has an intestinal obstruction, its body will send out a series of "distress signals". One of the most obvious symptoms is vomiting. At first, the dog may only vomit occasionally, spitting out some undigested food. But as the obstruction worsens, the vomiting will become more and more frequent, and the nature of the vomit will also change. There may be yellow-green liquid with bile. Just imagine how anxious and heartbroken the owner will feel when watching the dog that is usually full of energy vomiting painfully again and again, but being unable to do anything about it. The dog's appetite will also be seriously affected.

Dogs that were originally enthusiastic about food will suddenly lose interest in dog food and snacks, and they may even be indifferent when they see their favorite food. It's just like when we are sick, we also lose our appetite for food. The dog may also experience constipation, not defecating for several days. Even if it does defecate, it may only excrete a small amount of mucus. Some dogs will also be extremely restless, walking around constantly. The abdomen may become sensitive due to pain. When the owner touches it gently, the dog will cry out in pain or try to avoid it. Their mental state will also be very poor. They will no longer be as lively as before but appear listless, always lying in the corner with a look of helplessness in their eyes.

If we find that the dog has these abnormal manifestations, we must not take it lightly and need to take the dog to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian will use professional methods to determine whether the dog has an intestinal obstruction. First, the veterinarian will ask in detail about the dog's medical history, including its recent diet, whether it has come into contact with items that may cause accidental ingestion, the time and manifestations of the symptoms, etc. This information is very important for the veterinarian's diagnosis, just like the pieces of a puzzle, helping the veterinarian piece together the whole picture of the dog's health problem.

Then, the veterinarian will conduct a comprehensive physical examination of the dog. Through palpation, the veterinarian can feel the condition of the dog's abdomen to see if any abnormal hard lumps or masses can be felt. At the same time, the veterinarian will also auscultate the dog's abdomen. Under normal circumstances, the intestine will have regular peristaltic sounds. However, if there is an intestinal obstruction, these peristaltic sounds may be weakened or disappear. In order to make a more accurate judgment, the veterinarian may also recommend taking X-rays or conducting an ultrasound examination of the dog. X-rays can clearly show whether there are foreign objects in the intestine, as well as the location and approximate shape of the foreign objects. The ultrasound examination can help the veterinarian observe the structure and peristalsis of the intestine and determine whether there are other lesions such as intestinal tumors.

When we learn that our dog may have an intestinal obstruction, our hearts must be filled with fear and worry. But we should know that timely detection and correct treatment are the keys to the dog's recovery. As the dog's closest companions, we should take better care of them in daily life. Keep the items that may cause the dog to accidentally ingest them properly, and deworm the dog regularly to prevent intestinal problems caused by parasites. When the dog shows abnormalities, don't panic. Observe the symptoms calmly and seek the help of a professional veterinarian as soon as possible. Because every dog is an indispensable member of our family. They give us endless love and companionship, and we also have the responsibility to do our best to safeguard their health.