Gastrointestinal Obstructions

This is a complete or partial obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract at any point between the oesophagus and the large bowel. As it’s the narrowest part of the gastrointestinal tract, obstructions are most commonly seen in the small intestine. Dogs of all ages are known to ingest foreign objects that can cause obstructions, however, it can be a sign of cancer in older dogs. Dogs between the ages of one and three are most likely to experience an obstruction.

Generally, the only way to remove an obstruction is surgery. This normally involves making an incision in the stomach or small intestine, removing the foreign object, and closing the incision site. In cases where the obstruction has been present for an extended period of time, severe bowel trauma or even bowel death may have occurred. This would require the affected section of bowel being removed and the healthy areas re-joined. A longer hospital stay would also be required.