Sometimes dogs swallow many toys that are used for entertainment only when they can play hard. What should the owner do if the dog eats something similar to what shouldn’t be eaten? After swallowing foreign objects, the dog develops symptoms of vomiting and loss of appetite. Vomiting is caused by pyloric obstruction, stomach dilation and foreign objects irritating the stomach. If there is a foreign body in the stomach, the appetite will change greatly. Some sick dogs have normal appetite, some don’t like eating, and some are anorexia.
Once the dog eats, the owner should send the dog to the pet hospital as soon as possible. Generally speaking, the veterinarian will ask for a medical history in detail, but many owners often don’t know what the dog has eaten. Most dogs that swallow foreign objects usually have no obvious abnormalities during abdominal palpation, but occasionally they can contact objects, such as ribs in the stomach. Radiological examinations can detect tumors or non-infectious objects in the stomach, but more often there is no abnormality on the X-ray. The veterinarian will then recommend that the host consider gastrointestinal barium meal angiography or endoscopy.
If foreign objects can be excreted with dog vomiting, you don't have to worry too much about other issues. However, the vast majority of foreign bodies need to be cleared by endoscopy or surgery (opening and gastrotomy). Both methods require general anesthesia of the dog, and before the surgery, the dog must maintain a normal plasma electrolyte concentration. Long-term vomiting in dogs can cause dehydration, but hypovolemia shock rarely occurs unless gastric perforation occurs. Therefore, in order to keep the dog healthy, the owner must always pay attention to the dog's behavior.
1. Symptoms:
The most important clinical symptoms of foreign objects in the dog's stomach are vomiting and loss of appetite. Vomiting occurs due to pyloric obstruction, stomach dilation and foreign body irritation on the stomach. When there are foreign bodies in the stomach, the appetite varies greatly in different cases. Some sick dogs have normal appetite, while others do not like to eat, and others show anorexia.
2. Diagnosis:
If you see something the animal eats, asking for a detailed medical history may be helpful for the diagnosis. However, in most cases, the owner often does not know what the animal eats, but just keeps complaining about the animal's loss of appetite and vomiting. At this time, foreign objects should be listed as one of the distinction diagnosis. Most animals usually have no obvious abnormalities in the abdominal palpation, but occasionally objects can be touched, such as a dog's stomach with a rib or a cat's stomach with a large hairball.
Radical examination can detect tumors or non-infectious objects in the stomach, but in most cases, abnormalities are not seen on ordinary X-rays. The veterinarian may then consider radiography (gastrointestinal barium meal radiograph) or endoscopy.
3. Treatment:
The vast majority of foreign bodies can be removed by endoscopy or surgery (opening and gasttomy). Both methods require general anesthesia of the animal. Before performing the operation, it is necessary to ensure that the animal is not dehydrated and the plasma electrolyte concentration is normal. Long-term vomiting in dogs can cause dehydration, but hypovolemia shock rarely occurs unless gastric perforation occurs.