Human’s favorite pets – dogs bring a lot of positive moments in our lives. However, there are many dangerous diseases, signs of which can cause panic for the dog-owner. Animals are curious and explore the environment even by tasting it. This is especially relevant for dogs, which eat almost everything they find in their way. Sometimes their curiosity leads to significant health problems and to the necessity of surgical treatment.
Description of Foreign Body Gastrointestinal Obstruction
Gastrointestinal obstruction is a disorder of intestinal motor function under the influence of certain factors. There are several reasons for the appearance of this severe pathology (Pratt). The main of them are next:
- Oncology reasons as a tumor.
- The intestines twist.
- Presence of foreign body.
The last of the mentioned causes is the most common in dogs. Foreign bodies can get into the animal’s esophagus, stomach or intestine with food, and in case of accidental ingestion – for example, during the game. The foreign body, which diameter is smaller than the minimum diameter of the small intestine, often leaves the gastrointestinal tract along with the potassium masses. The foreign body equal to or larger than the minimum diameter of the gastrointestinal tract causes partial or total obstruction (Pratt). Foreign bodies with sharp and traumatic edges can cause serious complications such as bleeding, perforation, and necrosis.
Healthy dog’s guts are always in motion: they push their contents in the direction from the stomach to the anal hole. While moving through the intestinal tube, digestive juices are absorbed through the abdominal wall back, along with nutrients. Thus, a large amount of vital fluid is continuously circulated in the gastrointestinal tract. In the case of gastrointestinal obstruction, no matter how it is caused, this circulation is interrupted: gastric and intestinal juice is produced in the same volume, but it cannot be moved and therefore absorbed (Pratt). The increasing amount of stagnant fluid accumulating in the stomach and small intestine causes nausea and vomiting.
At the same time, the body begins to lose water and a large number of minerals (mainly potassium and sodium) quickly. Water consumption during this period only increases vomiting and accelerates dehydration. The absolute majority of animals with intestinal obstruction die as a result of serious loss of water and potassium (Lindquist and Lobetti). It is crucial to see the sings of the decease.
Clinical Signs of Gastrointestinal Obstruction
According to Pratt, scientists identify the following typical clinical signs of gastrointestinal obstruction in dogs (513):
- Vomiting, after which the animal can be active and ask to eat.
- Forced pose – animal takes unnatural body position.
- The pain of the abdomen (abdominal wall) while slight pressure on it.
- Sometimes uncharacteristic groans.
- Reduction of fecal masses or complete absence of defecation act.
- There may be a large amount of mucus instead of feces.
- Reduced or total lack of appetite and water consumption.
- Drop in body temperature below 38 degrees.
- An increase in abdominal volume, even difficulty breathing may be observed.
If the foreign body is suspected to be in the animal’s gastrointestinal tract, the pet-owners cannot forcibly give food and water, use drugs without the recommendation of the doctor. Thus, in case the pet owners have noticed signs of obstruction, it is necessary to contact the veterinary clinic. Professionals make a diagnosis by conducting a general clinical examination and special diagnostic methods.
Special attention is paid to the inspection of the oral cavity and bimanual palpation of the abdomen. In patients, when examining the oral cavity, doctors can detect linear foreign objects, for example, textile and polymer threads, that loop around the root of the tongue (Pratt). During palpation of abdominal organs, thickened intestinal loops and dense foreign objects can be detected. In other cases, the vet conducts an X-ray examination of the abdominal area.
There are several ways to remove a foreign body from a dog’s gastrointestinal tract in medical practice. Firstly, if such a foreign body is small, and the dog does not have symptoms of obstruction, the treatment goes conservatively (Pratt). The foreign body, under the control and supervision of doctors, passes through the intestinal tract on its own. Secondly, endoscopy may be used in cases with small foreign bodies.
At first, esophagogastroduodenoscopy – examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum is conducted (Pratt). When a foreign body is detected, it is removed through the oral cavity using manipulators. It is not always possible to remove a foreign body using an endoscopic technique. In case the foreign body is big or smooth, the third type of treatment is carried out – standard surgical intervention.
Post Operational Complication to Pancreatitis
Any surgery is a stress to the dog’s body. In the postoperative period, the pet needs home care, and proper nutrition agreed with the attending physician. Complications, up to pancreatitis, can occur without appropriate observation. The appearance of pancreatitis in dogs may be favored by factors such as inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum, post-traumatic or postoperative pancreatic damage.
The most common postoperative complication of foreign body extraction is peritonitis. Researchers note that it is a peritoneum’s inflammatory process covering the inner side of the stomach wall and surrounding organs (Lindquist and Lobetti). As a result of infection expansion, exudate begins to enter the abdominal cavity. In the presence of edema, liquid circulates in large volumes, resulting in circulation disorder, and Gastrointestinal Tract dysfunction. Thus, complications and shock conditions of the dog after the operation can lead to the development of pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis in dogs is inflammation of the pancreas. During this decease, isolation of enzymes providing digestion in the intestine is stopped (Tinson). Food is not digested, and nutrient intake into the body does not happen. Since the enzyme systems in the organ continue their work, enzymes digest the tissues of the pancreas itself (Tinson). This leads not only to its destruction but also to the release of toxic decomposition products into the blood, poisoning of the body, development of numerous complications by other organs.
During pancreatitis, the overall condition of the pet is depressed, appetite is reduced, or completely absent. The dog has permanent or temporary attacks of anxiety or pain after feeding or when the veterinary specialist performs palpation and percussion of the abdominal organs. The animal often has vomiting, the stomach blisters, and the abdominal wall becomes tense, develops, and increases diarrhea (Tinson). Body temperature rises, especially a significant increase in temperature occurs in acute pancreatitis of infectious etiology. The dog develops progressive exhalation and occurs dry oral mucosa appears, frequent urination.
Conclusion
Gastrointestinal diseases in small pets are one of the leading reasons for dog owners to go to veterinary clinics. Very often, the owners’ complaints relate to the ingress of foreign bodies into the digestive tract of their pets. Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract cause severe disorders of digestive function, requiring emergency therapy and surgical treatment. The timely diagnosis, the correct measures, and the specially selected balanced nutrition will ensure a pet a full long life.
References
Pratt, Chap. “Gastrointestinal Obstruction.” Textbook of Small Animal Emergency Medicine, edited by Kenneth J. Drobatz, Kate Hopper, Elizabeth A. Rozanski, Deborah C. Silverstein, John Wiley & Sons, 2018, pp. 511-519.
Tinson, Erica. “Pancreatitis.” Textbook of Small Animal Emergency Medicine, edited by Kenneth J. Drobatz, Kate Hopper, Elizabeth A. Rozanski, Deborah C. Silverstein, John Wiley & Sons, 2018, pp. 541-555.
Lindquist, Eric, and Remo Lobetti. “Gastrointestinal disease in cats and dogs with gastrointestinal foreign bodies.” Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, vol. 30, no. 5, 2017, p. 1-2.