Page 2 - Small Talk - Spring 2014

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When a dog or cat eats an object
other than regular food which obstructs the
flow of material in the intestines, we refer to it
as a 'foreign body'. We also refer to items that
get stuck in ears, eyes or penetrate into the
body in the same way.
Foreign bodies can be a frustrating challenge for the
vet and the pet owner alike because we often don't
know about them until they're causing trouble. Dogs,
cats and rabbits are all candidates.
Foreign bodies will most commonly be swallowed and
remain in the stomach or lodge in the intestine. This
is particularly true of puppies or young dogs, with
children's toys, stones, dummies, peach stones, corn
on the cob and items of clothing being common
offenders. Chicken bones or chop bones with sharp
edges are also commonly found. When these objects
get stuck we will see patients vomiting intermittently
whilst continuing to eat and drink, or if the object
completely blocks the intestines, they will vomit
persistently and get quite sick. We can even see
the object causing the bowel to rupture, and that is
a life threatening situation.
Cats, especially young cats will sometimes play
with thread or wool and then swallow it, sometimes
with needles still attached. This can be extremely
damaging because it can catch in one area and
then cheese
wire through the
intestine, effectively rupturing the bowel.
We mustn't forget that house rabbits can also turn their
attentions to household objects so do take care if your
rabbit is free to roam around the house.
When dealing with the ears and the skin, grass
seeds are one of the most common foreign bodies,
especially in dogs. They can be remarkably sharp and
puncture the skin between the toes where they then
cause significant discomfort, as an abscess generally
forms. They can also be found in the ear canal, and
under the eyelids, and can even be inhaled and be
found in the upper airways or right down in the lungs.
Cats tend not to be troubled as often by grass
seeds but they do often get blades of grass stuck
at the back of their nose which causes gagging
and retching. This material is often rough and
causes an awful lot of irritation, as well as being
very difficult to locate and retrieve.
The best advice is naturally to avoid these troublesome
items, and if you ever suspect a foreign body to be
involved, alert your vet as soon as possible.
Charlotte Matthews BVetMed MRCVS
Belmont Veterinary Centre
Foreign bodies can be a frustrating challenge for the vet and
the pet owner alike because we often don't know about
them until they're causing trouble; we have an article on
the common offenders to watch out for.
We have a new case study feature for 2014 where
our XLVet member practices tell us about interesting
patients they have seen in their practices. This issue
we meet Henry the crazy Cocker Spaniel!
In this
edition
of Small Talk...