Intestinal Blockages are possibly one of the most common problems people have with Bull Terrier's.
Simply put it is when a dog ingests something indigestible and it becomes lodged in the intestines and causes serious issues when other food or water cannot pass. and if it is not fixed, the dog dies.
This is a serious condition that should NEVER be left untreated or ignored as it does NOT get better and only causes death.
Many times owners have no clue there dog has even eaten anything until they begin exhibiting obvious symptoms, so never ever rule out a blockage in a Bull Terrier if you notice any of the below symptoms.
The most common symptoms of a blockage are
Lethargy-
Diarrhea-
Vomiting-
Licking-
Loss of appetite and stops eating-
Stomach bloating/distention-
Whining/ Wimpering, obvious signs of pain and discomfort-
Some times a blockage is not so cut and dry, sometimes the blockage gets trapped for a little while then moves again then gets trapped then moves again so sometimes dogs will have symptoms for a few days then go back to normal giving owners a sense of relief when the dog begins acting normal again only to swing back into having symptoms again.
Often times owners do not even see the dog eat something, like a sock or a toy or apart of a dog bed and it goes unnoticed until it is too late. Because of that, many owners never even consider the possibility of a blockage.
There are some steps you can take to prevent blockages.
-Teach your dog commands such as "Leave it" and "Drop It" to prevent them from scarfing down things!
-Throw toys away once they begin to get worn and ONLY buy durable tough toys that can not be chewed up right away.
-NEVER leave your dog alone with a toy or bone, no matter how tough or strong or solid you believe it to be, if your dog chews a chunk off they can choke or it can become lodged in the stomach. Dogs are AMAZING and I have heard of indestructible toys getting eaten by dogs who are persistent enough
-DO NOT GIVE COOKED BONES TO DOGS!!! no matter what! cooked bones are dangerous!
-make sure to keep things picked up around your house and away from your Bull Terrier's reach, house plants, shoes, clothing, your kids toys, cords,etc.
-check bedding for chew marks regularly, that means taking out all blankets and pillows and giving them a once over to spot any holes.
-Keep dogs crated and safe when you are not home.
-Always supervise your dog in the yard to make sure they are not eating sticks, rocks or pebbles (which is fairly common)
Simply put it is when a dog ingests something indigestible and it becomes lodged in the intestines and causes serious issues when other food or water cannot pass. and if it is not fixed, the dog dies.
This is a serious condition that should NEVER be left untreated or ignored as it does NOT get better and only causes death.
Many times owners have no clue there dog has even eaten anything until they begin exhibiting obvious symptoms, so never ever rule out a blockage in a Bull Terrier if you notice any of the below symptoms.
The most common symptoms of a blockage are
Lethargy-
Diarrhea-
Vomiting-
Licking-
Loss of appetite and stops eating-
Stomach bloating/distention-
Whining/ Wimpering, obvious signs of pain and discomfort-
Some times a blockage is not so cut and dry, sometimes the blockage gets trapped for a little while then moves again then gets trapped then moves again so sometimes dogs will have symptoms for a few days then go back to normal giving owners a sense of relief when the dog begins acting normal again only to swing back into having symptoms again.
Often times owners do not even see the dog eat something, like a sock or a toy or apart of a dog bed and it goes unnoticed until it is too late. Because of that, many owners never even consider the possibility of a blockage.
There are some steps you can take to prevent blockages.
-Teach your dog commands such as "Leave it" and "Drop It" to prevent them from scarfing down things!
-Throw toys away once they begin to get worn and ONLY buy durable tough toys that can not be chewed up right away.
-NEVER leave your dog alone with a toy or bone, no matter how tough or strong or solid you believe it to be, if your dog chews a chunk off they can choke or it can become lodged in the stomach. Dogs are AMAZING and I have heard of indestructible toys getting eaten by dogs who are persistent enough
-DO NOT GIVE COOKED BONES TO DOGS!!! no matter what! cooked bones are dangerous!
-make sure to keep things picked up around your house and away from your Bull Terrier's reach, house plants, shoes, clothing, your kids toys, cords,etc.
-check bedding for chew marks regularly, that means taking out all blankets and pillows and giving them a once over to spot any holes.
-Keep dogs crated and safe when you are not home.
-Always supervise your dog in the yard to make sure they are not eating sticks, rocks or pebbles (which is fairly common)
So, what if you actually catch your dog swallowing something you know could cause a blockage?
Well, if you catch them within 45 minutes, you can induce vomiting using Hydrogen Peroxide (the stuff used for cuts and scraps or mouth rinse)
contact your veterinarian to have them teach you how to properly use it.
But, I can tell you, Peroxide is always kept on hand here and has been a life saver (literally!) more times then I can remember.
HOWEVER, Peroxide cannot be used in every situation.
If your dog has ingested chemicals it may cause a serious internal reaction and a emergency vet should be contacted As Soon As Possible
If your dog ingests a sharp object such as a needle, fish hook, sharp plastic or bone as the vomiting could cause the object to pierce the throat coming back up causing a much more serious problem.
Well, if you catch them within 45 minutes, you can induce vomiting using Hydrogen Peroxide (the stuff used for cuts and scraps or mouth rinse)
contact your veterinarian to have them teach you how to properly use it.
But, I can tell you, Peroxide is always kept on hand here and has been a life saver (literally!) more times then I can remember.
HOWEVER, Peroxide cannot be used in every situation.
If your dog has ingested chemicals it may cause a serious internal reaction and a emergency vet should be contacted As Soon As Possible
If your dog ingests a sharp object such as a needle, fish hook, sharp plastic or bone as the vomiting could cause the object to pierce the throat coming back up causing a much more serious problem.
IF YOUR DOG HAS SHOWN ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS OR YOU HAPPEN TO CATCH YOUR DOG SWALLOWING SOMETHING, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN RIGHT AWAY TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER DAMAGE AND/OR DEATH.