The Dog Owner Club

Objects which become lodged in various parts of an animal’s digestive tract are referred to collectively as foreign bodies. The subject is complex as the object may become arrested at any one of a number of sites. Not only will the symptoms vary but also the seriousness of the situation, therefore the subject will be discussed from beginning to end, dividing the various types of foreign body cases into geographical or anatomical areas.

1. Mouth.
2. Throat.
3. Gullet (oesophagus).
4. Stomach.
5. Intestines.
6. Rectum.

1. Mouth
A common form of this mishap is a bit of bone or wood becoming firmly lodged across the roof of the mouth, between the back molars on each side of the upper jaw. Such an object may become tightly fixed. In most instances these can be successfully dislodged by opening the dog’s mouth and levering the wedged object out with a finger or the handle end of a spoon.

Care should be taken not to allow the dog to close his mouth until the object is well outside the mouth, otherwise he may swallow it. In some cases, however, the object becomes so firmly fixed that dental forceps may be required to dislodge it.

The signs of a foreign body in the mouth are usually obvious. The animal claws and paws frantically at his mouth, salivates profusely, and is, of course, unable to eat food. Whilst such cases are not really dangerous to the animal’s life, the sooner the offending object is removed, the better. Needles are a different matter; they may break in the mouth, leaving the point firmly embedded in the palate or tongue.

Anaesthesia and an X-ray examination are essential in most of these cases, firstly in order to facilitate the removal of the embedded portion, and secondly to find out whether the broken-off portion has been expelled, or swallowed to cause further trouble lower down.

2. Throat.

3. Gullet (oesophagus)
It is usually medium-sized portions of bone that become lodged in the oesophagus, the channel which connects the mouth with the stomach. A simple way to identify this condition is to give the animal one or two small pieces of meat. If the foreign body is present in the oesophagus the dog will vomit the meat, almost at once. The oesophagus is divided into two main regions the head or front end situated in the neck region, and the stomach or lower end situated within the chest cavity or thorax. The latter position is a more serious site of obstruction as injury to the gullet in this region endangers many vital organs and nerves. In any case, or suspected case, of oesophageal obstruction X-ray or surgical measures are essential as rapidly as possible, in order to locate and remove the object. Objects in the oesophagus are often spiky or pointed, or have sharp protrusions, and massage of the dog’s neck in an endeavor to move the obstruction should be avoided; it might result in laceration of the lining of the gullet.

4. Stomach
Large, smooth foreign bodies such as golf balls, stones, marbles and bones are the commonest foreign bodies to become arrested in the stomach. The dog may show various signs of distress, according to the amount of inflammation or obstruction. In the stomach, these foreign bodies produce a mechanical gastritis, even actual ulceration, if they are present for some time. Vomiting is a constant symptom, varying in frequency with the degree of gastritis present. Inappetance, or disinclination to feed, is also seen, to a greater or lesser extent, and the temperature will be 102-103.5F. Some dogs may have stones in their stomachs for quite a time, large dogs, such as Alsatians and Airedales, being the worst offenders. Surgery is the only method of removing the foreign bodies.

5. Intestines
In the first part of the intestines small stones and bits of bone become lodged. A foreign body in the intestines is serious. In this position a complete obstruction is caused and food cannot pass through the tube-like intestine. By pressure of the muscles of the gut, and owing to the small size of the gut cavity, a spasm of the muscle results, and very soon a congestion of local blood vessels ends in necrosis or gangrene of the intestinal wall. There is always a local peritonitis present, and this, if rupture or puncture of the intestinal wall occurs, rapidly results in a generalised peritonitis. Surgical measures are required as soon as possible. Symptoms of such a case are: vomiting (within half to one hour of being fed), temperature is 102.5F. or more, the back is arched, the dog has a tucked-up appearance, a tight skin, and signs of abdominal pain.

Whenever a foreign body is suspected NEVER give castor oil or any other purgative. Such dosing will generally ensure that your dog dies an agonising death within twenty-four hours.

Intestinal intussusception, a condition seen particularly in young dogs or puppies of the long-backed breeds (e.g., dachshunds), has symptoms similar to those of an intestinal foreign body. In this condition a portion of intestine passes into a lower part of the adjoining intestine. In other words, the animal tries to pass a bit of its own intestine. This is often predisposed to by an enteritis. It is seen mainly in puppies or young dogs. The blood supply of the inverted part becomes obstructed, and the intestinal cavity is eliminated completely. Local peritonitis, vomiting and straining, together with abdominal discomfort and a temperature rise of one or more degrees, are signs of this condition, and prompt surgery is indicated. Speed is all the more essential because of the extreme youth of the patient.

6. Rectum
Small fragments of bone may become lodged in the rectum. These can often be felt by gently inserting a carefully greased finger. Restraint such as a muzzle tape may be required to perform this examination. They are also evidenced by the animal’s behavior. Intense pain during the passing of a motion, or inability to perform this task; straining, or probably a little blood-stained faeces; all are symptoms.

The veterinary surgeon usually employs a general anaesthetic to ensure easy removal of the object; this not only frees the animal from pain but also stops the spasm of the anal sphincter, the very strong muscle surrounding the end of the rectum. Do not give a purgative, or an enema, in such cases. If you are certain of the cause of the trouble, and can feel the bone via rectum, a sedative may be given before the veterinary surgeon arrives, but if this is done he must be informed.

Filed under: Dog Care, Dog Health