Intestinal Blockage in Dogs: Timeline, Treatment & Costs

Is your dog the type to eat things they shouldn't? If so, they may be at risk for an intestinal blockage—an emergency condition that occurs when a foreign material causes an obstruction in the intestinal tract. Read on to learn more about this important condition and how you can prevent an intestinal blockage, or bowel obstruction, in dogs.

What is an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs?

An intestinal blockage is a complete or partial obstruction of the small or large intestine, blocking the passage of food, fluid, and gas along the digestive tract. An intestinal blockage can be classified in three ways:¹

1. Intraluminal obstruction, caused by objects inside the intestine, such as a foreign material that was ingested.
2. Intramural obstruction, caused by lesions in the intestinal wall, such as tumors or abscesses.
3. Extramural obstruction, caused by problems occurring outside the wall of the intestine, such as adhesions or a hernia.

In this article, we will primarily focus on intraluminal obstructions and intestinal blockages caused by the ingestion of foreign bodies. This occurs when your dog ingests undigestible foreign materials such as rocks, cloth, plastic or other objects.

What Are the Symptoms of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs?

According to Dr. Ayeley Okine in a vodcast on dog diet and digestion, "If your pet is vomiting, doesn't want to eat or drink, seems lethargic and not able to settle down, then you will want to contact your vet and have them evaluated."² The symptoms of an intestinal blockage can vary depending on the severity of the obstruction and its location along the intestinal tract. Common symptoms of an intestinal blockage in a dog can include:¹

• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Bloat
• Weight loss
• Drooling
• Dehydration
• Fever

If you suspect your dog may have an intestinal blockage, see your veterinarian right away. An intestinal blockage is an emergency condition and prompt treatment is needed to ensure the best possible outcome for your dog.

What is the Timeline of an Intestinal Blockage in a Dog?

If you see your dog eating foreign material, you should see your veterinarian right away. Ingestion of foreign material is an emergency situation, and if addressed quickly, your veterinarian may be able to make your dog vomit up the material or take other steps to minimize the risk of obstruction.

Symptoms of an intestinal blockage begin

But what happens if you didn't see your dog eat the foreign object? Within hours, the foreign object can become lodged within your dog's intestinal tract, causing a complete or partial obstruction. Once the obstruction has occurred, clinical signs may develop such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite.³ As soon as you notice these clinical signs, it's time to see your veterinarian for an evaluation.

Diagnosis by a veterinarian

Your veterinarian will perform a full head-to-tail physical examination, and will likely recommend radiographs (x-rays) or an ultrasound of your dog's abdomen to evaluate the GI tract and identify any intestinal obstruction. Your veterinarian may also recommend blood work to rule out other possible causes of your dog's symptoms.³

In many cases, an obstruction can be diagnosed based on physical examination and x-rays alone. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend additional diagnostic testing such as using barium, a contrast material that is fed to your dog to help highlight abnormalities in the digestive tract.³

Your veterinarian may also recommend fasting your dog for 24 hours and then returning for recheck x-rays when your dog's GI tract is empty, to facilitate visualization of the foreign body.

Treatment options are discussed

If an obstruction is identified, your veterinarian will discuss your options for treatment. In most cases, treatment will involve surgical removal of the foreign object.¹ Depending on the severity of the obstruction, your dog may need to stay in the hospital for a few days following the procedure to recover, allowing the veterinary team to monitor your dog and administer medications and fluids if necessary.

Alternatively, if the foreign material identified is small and not causing significant obstruction, your veterinarian may recommend waiting 24 to 48 hours and then rechecking x-rays to see if the object has moved along the digestive tract. Some small foreign bodies can be passed through the digestive tract and will come out naturally in the feces.³ If the object has not passed within 36 hours, or if your dog's symptoms worsen, then your veterinarian will likely recommend removing the object surgically.¹

How to Help a Dog Pass an Obstruction

If your dog is diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction, you should never try to force the obstruction to pass. Doing so can cause the intestine to rupture, which can lead to life-threatening infection and inflammation inside the abdominal cavity. Always follow your veterinarian's instructions for care closely and do not attempt any over-the-counter treatments or home remedies unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian.

In some cases, medical treatments may be used to help a non-obstructive foreign body to pass. A non-obstructive foreign body would be a small object that is able to pass through the digestive tract without causing blockage and that is not causing any undue distress to the dog. Your veterinarian may recommend a special diet to help the object pass and you will need to monitor your dog's feces closely to see if and when the object completes its journey through the digestive tract. This approach should only be taken under your veterinarian's guidance, and only for certain types of foreign bodies.

How to Prevent Intestinal Blockages in Dogs

Unfortunately, many intestinal blockages occur because a dog ingests something while the owners aren't looking, leading to a dangerous situation and an expensive surgery to boot! One big tip Dr. Ayeley Okine mentions in her vodcast: "I recommend not giving any bones. Bones can get stuck on teeth, stuck in the back of the throat, esophagus or gastrointestinal track."² To help prevent your dog from ingesting other foreign materials, consider these additional tips:

• Take away damaged toys, including any broken pieces or loose stuffing.
• Supervise your dog outside.
• Limit access to areas with potentially tempting objects, like rocks or compost piles.
• Keep household trash cans covered and out of reach.
• Be careful with items used around food, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, silverware, etc.
• Keep laundry contained and out of the reach of your dog.
• Do not allow your dog to play with objects small enough to swallow whole.
• Consider using a basket muzzle on walks if your dog is the type to grab things off the side of the road.

What Does Intestinal Blockage Surgery Entail

Endoscopy surgery for dogs

If the object causing the blockage is small and located in the stomach or the part of the small intestine closest to the stomach, your veterinarian may be able to use a procedure called endoscopy to retrieve the object.¹ An endoscope is a long flexible piece of tubing with a camera and a light on one end that is passed through your dog's mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach and small intestine. Your veterinarian can see what is happening inside your dog's digestive tract on a separate monitor, thanks to the camera, and may be able to grab and remove the foreign object depending on its size and location.

Endoscopy surgery cost for dogs

The is the preferred procedure because it is less invasive and requires less recovery time for your dog. However, most general practice veterinarians do not have an endoscope in their hospital, so you and your dog may need to be referred to a specialist for this procedure. Costs for this procedure vary depending on the hospital where it is performed and your geographic location, but on average expect to pay at least $1,500 to $2,500 for an endoscopy for your dog.

Exploratory laparotomy procedure for dogs

More commonly, to remove a foreign body your veterinarian will perform an exploratory laparotomy, also called an ex lap or an abdominal exploratory surgery. During this procedure, your veterinarian will open up your dog's abdomen and examine the entire digestive tract including "running the bowel," or handling the entire intestinal tract to check for abnormalities.¹

When the foreign body is found, your vet will carefully open the intestine and remove it. In some cases, part of the intestine will have been damaged by the foreign body and will need to be removed as well.³ Your vet will carefully remove to damaged tissue and then suture the healthy portions of the intestine back together, checking thoroughly for any leaks. The abdominal cavity is then flushed thoroughly with warm saline before closing the abdomen, subcutaneous tissue, and skin with a series of sutures.

Following the procedure, your dog will recover from the anesthesia in a quiet area under the supervision of the veterinary team. Depending on the severity of the obstruction, your dog may need to be hospitalized for a few days following the procedure so that the veterinary team can continue to monitor his or her recovery and administer fluids and medications.

Exploratory laparotomy for dogs cost

An exploratory laparotomy surgery to remove a foreign body is an emergency procedure and can be very costly. The intestinal blockage surgery cost varies depending on the severity of the blockage, the amount of time spent in the hospital before and after the procedure, and your geographic location. Pet owners should expect to spend a minimum of $2,000 on this procedure and up to $8,000 or more for severe cases.

CareCredit and Intestinal Blockage

Intestinal blockage surgery can be expensive, but CareCredit is here to help. Whether your dog needs routine veterinary care or emergency surgery, the CareCredit credit card can help you manage the cost of all your veterinary visits.* Use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a qualified veterinary care provider near you who accepts the CareCredit credit card.

Author Bio

Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice veterinarian and freelance writer. She covers both human and veterinary medicine with a special interest in nutrition, internal medicine, and veterinary behavior.