When an intestinal obstruction occurs, dogs may show some symptoms both in their behavior and in the appearance of their waste. In more serious incidents, canine intestinal obstruction can result in perforated intestines, a case that requires more delicacy and care in treatment. But do you know the causes, symptoms and how to prevent your dog from having an obstruction?To help, we invited veterinarian Fábio Ramires to clarify the most common doubts. He also told us how to prevent this condition that hurts the furry ones. Check it out!

Intestinal obstruction: dog and the common symptoms

Before talking about the dog's perforated intestine, it is necessary to explain about a previous problem that can result in this condition: canine intestinal obstruction. Veterinarian Fábio Ramires explains that obstruction is like a barrier to the usual flow of canine digestion: "It is an impediment to the flow of the fecal bolus and / or the section of peristalsis", he details.

Several causes lead to this condition, from the food itself or some piece of the toy that the dog swallowed by accident. Fábio Ramires clarifies: "The causes can be diverse, among them, foreign body, congenital malformation, infectious, intussusception (a kind of intestinal folding) or neoplasms", he shows.

This is a very common condition and one that causes most dogs at some point in their lives to suffer this discomfort when proper care is not taken. So how to identify intestinal obstruction in dogs? Even though it is in the intestine, some external signs show that the furry one is not cool. The veterinarian points out that the most common symptoms are no different from a dog.human intestinal obstruction: "Generally, in cases of obstruction, the animal may have vomiting and diarrhea," he replies.

Dog with perforated intestine: symptoms and treatment

Symptoms of canine intestinal perforation usually occur during an intestinal obstruction. After all, this first condition can occur due to interference from some external agent that the dog ingested, be it parts of toys or any other object (piercing or not) that was around the house: then, in addition to the obstruction, the dog can have its intestine perforated by that object. Fábio Ramireshe confirms: "If the cause of the obstruction is a foreign body, there is a possibility of perforation of the intestine. The most serious symptoms are vomiting and bloody diarrhoea, as well as loss of appetite."

The treatment of an intestinal perforation is extremely delicate, and may require surgical intervention. Fábio Ramires says that it is necessary, both for the removal of the object and for the rehabilitation of the affected organ. In a milder occurrence, where there is only obstruction, in a month the dog is already recovered: "We have a cure in mild cases and in other cases. Each case takes different times.But the clinical healing time can vary from 15 to 30 days," the veterinarian points out.

Even after treatment, he also mentions that in some scenarios the dog may suffer the sequelae of perforation, and says that the furry will need a differentiated diet and use of medications to facilitate digestion: "We can observe in some cases sequelae such as decreased peristalsis (slower movement of the food bolus) and stenosis of the intestinal lumen (narrowing of the intestinal lumen).In cases of sequelae after intestinal trauma, lighter foods, such as natural food, and/or the use of medications that liquefy the stool, such as laxatives, are indicated," he says.

Intestinal obstruction vs canine constipation

The dog with stuck stools always worries the guardians and brings doubts if the case is of intestinal obstruction or canine constipation. The differences are in some details of the symptoms. Fábio Ramires explains that constipation may not have some classic symptoms of obstruction: "In cases of constipation, we do not always have vomiting or diarrhea," he says. More apathetic behavior, lack of appetite and delayHowever, to resolve any doubts and canine discomfort, it is essential to seek help from a professional: "The most indicated for differentiation is the imaging examination (Abdominal Ultrasound)", answers Fábio Ramires.

The treatment is also different in each case and the ideal is that the guardians do not look for homemade recipes or something like that to relieve the animal: "The evaluation by the guardian at home is not safe, the ideal is to look for a Veterinarian, who will request an imaging examination and prescribe medications, such as laxatives, when necessary ", he advises. If you have noticed a dog with a stuck intestine and are looking for a doctor, it is best to ask for one.When asking what is good for loosening the dog's intestines, remember that some foods bind the pet's intestines, especially those for human consumption, such as rice and chicken.

How to prevent intestinal obstruction in dogs

In addition to feeling pain, the dog with a perforated intestine may have sequelae that change the way it consumes food for life. So why not avoid and prevent such a situation at home? Fábio Ramires gives some tips, from food to toys and other diseases: "The prevention of intestinal changes can be done with proper nutrition, care with toys to preventVaccination to avoid infectious diseases that can lead to intestinal perforations and especially feeding without bones ", he informs. Regarding dog toys, the ideal is to avoid those that are too small or with too many props, which can come loose during play.

Know that the time it takes for food to be digested in the dog's body can be from 10 hours to 2 days, depending on the dog's diet. So, the delay in going to the bathroom is not always a cause for concern. But all dog care is important, especially with some breeds that are prone to having some digestive condition, such as the Golden Retriever dog. So keepup-to-date feeding and vaccinations, take good care of dog hygiene and pay attention to the animal's behavior. And besides all this, analyze the dog's poop and urine well, because it is in the waste that we can see if something internal is legal or not. Urine or poop with blood, secretions or different colors than usual indicate health problems.