Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies and Obstruction

What happens when your pet swallows something that isn't digestible? Most of the time, it will pass all the way through the gastrointestinal tract with little consequence. Occasionally things like paper, small pieces of plastic or wood can cause irritation that results in vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Sometimes a pet will swallow something that can't pass down the tract or be vomited back up. This creates an obstruction that can become life threatening if not treated. Signs of obstruction include loss of appetite (although some dogs will continue to try to eat for a couple days), repeated vomiting (especially shortly after eating or drinking), abdominal pain or tenderness and depression. These can certainly be signs of other diseases as well and should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.

Physical examination usually reveals a patient who feels poorly, is variably dehydrated and may have a painful abdomen. Radiographs will sometimes show the offending object, especially if it is large or has metal, dense plastic or rubber, bone or other dense material. Other things like socks, light plastic (shopping bag), paper, etc. won't show on radiographs but their effects on the stomach or intestines may be visible.

The first radiograph is from a dog that swallowed some Gorilla Glue. The glue swelled and hardened incorporating all stomach contents. Surgery was required to remove the mass. Other objects commonly lodged in dogs include corn cobs, socks, underwear, pieces of plastic and occasionally stones.

Another type of foreign body that is especially dangerous is a string or linear foreign body. Items such as a length of string, thread, carpet fiber, or rubber band can be swallowed. Some of it may ball up in the stomach and can't pass. But a bit may find it's way into the intestine and start down until it is brought up short at the end that is still balled up in the stomach. The intestine will keep trying to push the thread down and becomes bunched up in the process. As the intestine continues to work, the thread begins to saw through the wall of the intestine. If perforation occurs the abdomen becomes infected and a life threatening peritonitis is established.

The second radiograph is from a cat that swallowed a string. The intestines are all bunched up in one area of the abdomen leaving the liver, stomach, kidneys and colon unusually unobstructed to viewing. Fortunately there were no perforations at surgery but several small incisions throughout the length of the intestine were required to remove the string.

Surgery is the only way to treat intestinal obstruction. Occasionally a soft foreign body, such as a sock, can be retrieved from the stomach with an endoscope. Potential complications from surgery include infection in the abdomen or body wall incision and adhesions that stick the intestines together which leads to digestive problems. The majority of patients do very well as long as peritonitis has not been established before surgery.