{"id":3117,"date":"2016-09-13T00:29:38","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T04:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dupontvet.com\/blog\/?p=3117"},"modified":"2016-09-13T00:29:38","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T04:29:38","slug":"intestinal-blockage-in-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dupontvet.com\/blog\/intestinal-blockage-in-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"My Dog Ate My Homework: Intestinal Blockage in Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bad\u201cThe dog ate my homework!\u201d <\/span><\/i>Is this age-old classroom excuse a reality in your home? If you have a pet who enjoys taking the occasional chomp out of objects around your home, he or she runs the risk of winding up with an intestinal blockage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Intestinal blockage in pets, also called gastrointestinal obstruction or bowel obstruction, is a fairly common condition. Although all pets are at risk for intestinal blockage, dogs tend to be at higher risk than cats because of their tendencies to eat everything.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides being extremely painful, an intestinal blockage puts your pet at risk for serious health consequences. Being aware of the causes and symptoms of intestinal blockage in pets is critical in protecting your pet from this potentially life-threatening condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes of Intestinal Blockage in Pets<\/b><\/h3>\n

Intestinal blockage occurs when an animal ingests something that is too large to pass through the intestinal tract. When this happens, the object stops the flow of nutrients ingested into the body and\/or secretions from the stomach into and through the intestines. Stuck objects can cause a pet considerable pain. Damage to the gastrointestinal tissues can result in toxins being released into the body, as well as cell death. <\/span><\/p>\n

Symptoms<\/b><\/h3>\n

Seek <\/span>veterinary<\/span><\/a> assistance if you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet:<\/span><\/p>\n