Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs is one of the common bowel blockages pets face. If you have a dog as a pet, you might know how much they love playing around with different objects. Sometimes you might notice them having fun with their dog toy and playtime, whereas other times, they might be playing with dirty toys or things around the house.
Though many owners pay little to no attention to this behavior, it is essential to know that it can cause trouble for your loyal furbabies. Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs is caused by eating, chewing, or playing with small infected particles around the house. These particles can include small dust balls, cotton pads, soil, unclean water, and so on. So if your pet also plays around recklessly without thinking, it's time you look for some signs and symptoms of Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs.
Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs every pet owner should know:
Drastic changes in energy level:
One of the early signs of Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs is the noticeable change in their energy. If they are usually full of enthusiasm and have a sudden drop in that, they are probably experiencing a blockage.
Kindly note that the changes in energy level can be due to weather fluctuations. However, if that is the case, they will be back to their character within few days.
Little to no consumption of food:
If your dog loves food and has suddenly stopped eating, it's an immediate sign of Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs. Though some dogs might refuse to eat because they don't like the taste, the continued denial of food is your go-to symptom.
Facing problems while excreting:
If you see the above two symptoms, look for the third one that is their excretion behavior. If your dogs have Gastrointestinal Obstruction, they will have difficulty in excreting. You can look for signs like they are putting too much effort into discharging. Or they are getting anxious because they are unable to do so.
Blood in your dog's stool:
Blood in the stool can be a sign of Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs. Though blood in the stool can also be due to other reasons such as infection or drinking dirty water, you should contact your veterinary doctor immediately.
Another thing to note is that you might not see this symptom in your dog, so kindly don't be dependent on this symptom to show up.
Not able to swallow:
You might notice your dog constantly bringing food up their mouth to chew it again. It is also known as regurgitating. If you experience this, it is a sign of Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs.
Vomiting and Diarrhea:
Almost similar to the previous point, vomiting and Diarrhea is a result of a blockage. However, vomits can also be caused by consuming too much food and is not always a sign of blockage. But, if you are noticing regular vomits, you should contact an expert.
Abdominal pain:
Lastly, kindly look for signs of abdominal pain in your dogs. Signs can include:
- The praying position where they stretch their front legs to look like they are bowing down for prayer.
- There is a sudden loss of weight
- They are howling or crying with pain
If you see any of these symptoms, it is a sign of Abdominal pain that can also lead to Gastrointestinal Obstruction in dogs.
It is not necessary that you experience all of these symptoms in your dog. If you notice anyone or two signs, you should consult a doctor.