The signs of a full or partial intestinal obstruction are fairly non-specific. The condition can resemble many other problems, and for this reason the onset of vomiting, reduced or absent appetite, abdominal pain, lethargy, and diarrhea must be investigated by your veterinarian and differentiated from other diseases. The symptoms of intestinal blockage in pets usually include vomiting, however in some individuals the early signs of this problem may be limited to loss of appetite. As time passes, lethargy, vomiting, and occasionally diarrhea may occur. With prolonged obstruction of more than 2 days, most pets become exceptionally lethargic, and in some cases intestinal rupture may occur, resulting in exceptional abdominal pain and risk of death due to septicemia.
While a veterinarian may suspect an intestinal blockage based on the history provided by the owner, other information, including physical exam findings, x-rays, and ultrasound results must be correlated and evaluated together in order to make the diagnosis of a suspected intestinal blockage. X-rays of the abdomen often show a dilated segment of bowel, suggesting blockage. Veterinarians are trained to recognize this dilation, and this is critical, since many objects - soft fabric or rubber toys, tumors, thin plastic - may not be discernable from normal anatomy on x-rays. Blood work and urinalysis results are usually non-specific and typically show only dehydration secondary to lack or drinking or fluid loss through vomiting and/or diarrhea in cases of a foreign body obstruction. Examination of the abdomen with ultrasound may provide more information, but many times the diagnosis is elusive. Sometimes the veterinarian must act and provide appropriate treatment based on suspicion, or the patient will rapidly deteriorate.
Cost associated with veterinary treatment can vary substantially for a variety of reasons, however, the average cost to treat intestinal obstruction is around $3,000, with prices typically ranging between $800 and $7,000.
Hospitalization for 2- 4 days after surgery is routine. Exact time to recover from surgery depends on several factors, including the condition of the patient prior to surgery and how removal was accomplished. Patients that undergo endoscopy for foreign body removal typically recover quickly. Surgical patients may need several days of careful feeding in order not to stress recovering intestinal surgical sites. Vomiting and gastric acid production should be controlled during recovery with appropriate medications as recommended by your veterinarian. If surgery was needed, exercise restriction and a surgical cone will likely be recommended until sutures are removed to prevent your dog from further stressing the surgical site.
The patient should be rechecked at 10 – 14 days past treatment as recommended by your veterinarian, or sooner if any additional concerns are noticed. In the cases of surgical resolution, stitches may be removed or dissolvable. If the blockage was due to a tumor, follow-on treatment will likely be necessary to address any metastatic disease.
In order to reduce the risk of intestinal blockage, keep your dog or cat from chewing on objects that can become fragmented and swallowed, such as tennis balls, bones, plastic toys, or stuffed toys with squeaking devices inside. Dogs should always be monitored with chews and toys, and any bedding, chews or toys that start to show signs of wear should be discarded. Strings are especially attractive to cats, and items like dental floss, sewing thread, and ribbon should be kept in secured locations and effectively disposed of. Young pets should be taught to play with appropriate toys and should never be encouraged to chew on less appropriate items.
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