Home - Pet Health

What are the Symptoms of Intestinal Obstruction in Dogs?

Intestinal obstruction in dogs is like a steep barrier on the path of a dog's health, severely threatening their lives. As dog lovers, being familiar with the symptoms of intestinal obstruction in dogs is the key to detecting problems in a timely manner.

Intestinal obstruction in dogs is like a steep barrier on the path of a dog's health, severely threatening their lives. As dog lovers, being familiar with the symptoms of intestinal obstruction in dogs is the key to detecting problems in a timely manner. Mastering practical response and treatment methods is a powerful weapon to help dogs overcome this difficulty. Below, let's comprehensively and thoroughly understand the key points related to intestinal obstruction in dogs and build a solid defense line for their health.

What are the Symptoms of Intestinal Obstruction in Dogs?

Vomiting: In the initial stage, vomiting may occur shortly after eating. The vomit may contain food residues or yellow - green bile. In the later stage, it may turn into frequent vomiting, and even have blood streaks.

Abdominal Pain: Dogs may show restlessness, curl up, and be sensitive or resistant when their abdomen is touched.

Abdominal Distension: As the intestine accumulates gas and fluid, the abdomen gradually swells. It feels firm to the touch, and there may be a weakening or disappearance of bowel sounds.

Cessation of Defecation and Flatulence: When intestinal obstruction is severe, dogs may stop defecating. Also, due to the tension of the anal sphincter, they are unable to expel the gas produced in the intestine.

Loss of Appetite: In the initial stage, it may only show a decrease in appetite, and in the later stage, the dog may completely refuse to eat.

Dehydration: Prolonged intestinal obstruction leads to the loss of water and electrolytes. Dogs may experience symptoms such as thirst, decreased urine output, poor skin elasticity, and listlessness.

What to Do When a Dog Has Intestinal Obstruction?

Induce Vomiting: If the intestinal obstruction has been present for a short time and the situation is not severe, you can induce the dog to vomit the food in its intestine to make the intestine unobstructed.

Hot Compress: When the symptoms are not severe and the obstructing object is small, you can apply a warm - water hot compress to the dog's abdomen and massage it. This is beneficial for causing the obstructed part to disperse, allowing the dog to defecate smoothly.

Administer Oil: In the initial stage of intestinal obstruction, you can give the dog paraffin oil or cooking oil orally to unclog the intestine. Administer it once a day, 100 - 150 milliliters each time. After continuous administration for half a week, as long as the dog can defecate smoothly, it will basically recover.

Enema: Use a glycerin enema. Insert it into the dog's anus and squeeze all the liquid in the bottle into the dog's anus. Then hold the dog upside - down. After about 1 hour, the dog may expel the contents in the intestine.

If the intestinal obstruction has been present for a long time and the situation is serious, surgical treatment is required to avoid threatening the dog's life.

Two Treatment Methods for Intestinal Obstruction in Dogs

Medication - Promoted Defecation Method: Most dogs with this kind of disease have a single - variety diet. Or they may have swallowed unwashed silk stockings with foot - sweat smell or women's sanitary belts and other foreign objects, resulting in pica and causing intestinal obstruction. The aim is to restore intestinal function. For cases where the obstructed segment is short, there are a relatively large number of obstructing objects, and the mass is soft on palpation. During treatment, drugs that promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and mild laxatives can be used.

Surgical Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction: This is suitable for cases where the obstructing object is large but thin, has a certain shape, plasticity, and elasticity. When a large number of objects are swallowed and intussusception - type obstruction occurs in a certain part of the intestine. The prognosis of this type of intestinal obstruction is mostly poor. Moreover, most dogs with this kind of disease have pica. The laparotomy method is adopted.

In conclusion, the symptoms of intestinal obstruction in dogs are diverse and quite typical. From vomiting, abdominal pain to abdominal distension, cessation of defecation and flatulence, as well as loss of appetite and dehydration, each symptom warns of the dog's physical crisis. When facing intestinal obstruction in dogs, the treatment method needs to be precisely selected according to the specific situation. For mild cases with short - term obstruction, methods such as inducing vomiting, hot compress, administering oil, enema, and medication - promoted defecation may be effective. However, when the obstruction is severe, such as when the obstructing objects are large and numerous, or intussusception occurs, surgical treatment often becomes a necessary means to save the dog's life. As guardians of dogs, we should always pay attention to the dog's physical condition. Once signs of intestinal obstruction are detected, we should take decisive and correct measures to do our best to help the dog recover and let them continue to accompany us carefree.

Related Articles