After a cat swallowed a sewing needle and thread and her guardian had to rush the feline to hospital, the Okanagan Humane Society stepped in to help cover expenses through the charity’s pet assistance program.
The pet assistance program provides support for pets whose guardians may face financial barriers, to ensure animals receive the most basic medical procedures and veterinary care when necessary to relieve pain and suffering.
While the cat had to have surgery and is fine now, the incident gave way to the opportunity for OHS to talk about animals and obstructions in their intestines.
A foreign body obstruction is when a pet consumes an object that is not meant to be consumed. Once it passes through the stomach and becomes lodged in the digestive tract either partially or completely blocking passage of food and waste through the digestive system.
Some common objects that pets will consume are:
- toys
- socks
- pieces of clothing
- rocks
- corn cobs
- bones
- string
- ribbon
- dental floss
But, pets will consume pretty much anything.
If it’s within two hours of a pet consuming a foreign object a vet can induce vomiting to remove the object before it passes to the intestine. If the object enters the intestine it will often require a large invasive surgery to remove the blockage which is very risky for pets and can get very expensive.
This type of surgery can often range from $2,000-$5,000 depending on how severe the blockage is.
The longer the blockage stays in the intestine the higher the chances of infection, sepsis, or rupture risking a pet's health and lowering the chances of survival with the surgery - making this a medical emergency.
Common symptoms of an intestinal blockage are vomiting, diarrhea, not eating, lethargy, and abdominal pain. If your pet is displaying any of these symptoms do not wait to take them to a vet.
The best way to prevent a foreign body obstruction in an animal is to keep things locked away so that your pet can not get into them.
If you suspect your pet has eaten something - do not wait, take your pet to the vet to try and induce vomiting. The longer you wait the higher the risks are to your pet.
For more information please contact OkanaganHumaneSociety.com
