Causes of Dog Intestinal Obstruction

There are mainly two types of dog intestinal obstruction: mechanical intestinal obstruction and functional intestinal obstruction. The main cause of mechanical intestinal obstruction is related to foreign objects, while the main cause of functional intestinal obstruction is disorders of the muscular movement of the intestinal wall. Clinical symptoms mainly include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased or even stopped defecation, and severe cases may cause gastric and duodenal ulcers, perforation, and even death. It is recommended to first confirm the type of intestinal obstruction, and then treat it according to the confirmed type.

1. Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction

If a dog accidentally eats some difficult-to-digest items, these items cannot be digested and absorbed, causing blockage and obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, surgery is necessary to remove the foreign objects, along with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatments and protection of the gastric mucosa.

1. Functional Intestinal Obstruction

Functional intestinal obstruction usually occurs with the intestinal peristaltic function and is mainly caused by disorders of the muscular movement of the intestinal wall. It can lead to intussusception or intestinal spasms, affecting the elimination of intestinal contents and causing intestinal obstruction. In this case, drugs to enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis can be used to accelerate intestinal peristalsis and restore gastrointestinal function.

Note: Intestinal obstruction is difficult to detect solely by palpation, and the best way to check for it is through endoscopy or artificial contrast imaging.