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Dealing with dog intestinal blockages can be distressing. Acting quickly is key to helping avoid the situation from becoming fatal. Many dogs with this condition need costly surgery to remove the blockage.
“A general price range would vary in the range of $2,000 to $8,000,” says Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM, with the American Kennel Club (AKC®1) Canine Health Foundation.2
MetLife Pet’s dog insurance can help you manage the cost of dog surgery for intestinal blockages by providing reimbursement options for up to 90% of covered costs.3 Learning about the condition — including causes and symptoms — can help you prepare if your dog needs care.
A bowel obstruction in dogs — aka intestinal blockage or gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction — is a condition that can occur when a dog swallows something that gets stuck in their GI tract.4
“Gastrointestinal obstruction in dogs is a condition where there is a partial or complete blockage of the stomach or intestines preventing the normal flow of GI contents through the tract,” explains Dr. Klein.
“Intestinal blockage is fairly common in dogs,” adds Dr. William Culp, DVM, DACVS (SA), a professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “It usually occurs after eating something that should not be eaten, like socks, grass, carpets, toys, etc.”5
Incidents of GI obstruction in dogs can quickly become life-threatening, rarely go away without veterinary intervention, and should be treated as an emergency.4
“This can be a very serious situation, and dogs should be evaluated by an emergency service immediately,” says Dr. Culp.
“There are many ways that a dog’s bowels could become blocked, but eating foreign objects is by far the most common offender,” says Dr. Culp. “We also see intestinal blockage from intestinal cancers, but this is much less common.”
“Obstruction due to intestinal intussusception, where a part of the intestine ‘telescopes’ in on itself, is more commonly seen in younger dogs secondary to parasitic infection, parvoviral infection, or foreign body ingestion,” says Dr. Klein.
“Many cases of dog intestinal blockage, however, can be idiopathic (unknown) in cause,” Dr. Klein adds. That’s why it’s so important to know what symptoms to watch out for.
Recognizing the early signs of a GI blockage in dogs can play a big role in getting prompt veterinary attention, which can be crucial to a successful recovery.
Dog intestinal blockage symptoms vary depending on your dog’s size, the foreign object they ingested, where it’s located in their GI tract, and how long the GI tract has been blocked. Some signs that your dog may be dealing with an obstruction include:4
“GI obstructions cause repetitive vomiting, pain, and loss of appetite,” says Dr. Klein. “Obstructions lead to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, possible tissue perforation, endotoxemia, and hypovolemic shock. So they should be considered and treated as an emergency.”
It may be tempting to wait and see if your dog’s blockage will clear itself up. However, Dr. Culp urges pet parents not to wait before contacting their veterinarian about a potential blockage. “If there is any concern for intestinal blockage, we generally recommend evaluation by a veterinarian immediately and would not recommend home remedies,” he says.
Trying to remove an object yourself or putting off vet care could cause more harm.4 “If clinical signs progress to severe lethargy or collapse, or an increase in abdominal size is noted, then this would suggest a significant worsening of the disease and requires immediate evaluation,” Dr. Culp warns.
“A veterinarian should always be consulted with any dog that has repetitive vomiting and is unable to hold down fluids,” says Dr. Klein. “Depending on the veterinarian’s response, withholding food for 6 to 12 hours and water for 3 to 4 hours may be considered. Under no conditions should an owner delay evaluation of a dog that has prolonged vomiting lasting longer than 12 to 24 hours.”
There are two main types of surgical procedures your dog may undergo for an intestinal blockage:4
The prognosis for dogs who received prompt veterinary care is generally good, while dogs who experienced secondary infections or other health issues due to the obstruction are at a higher risk of prolonged healing.4
While dog intestinal blockages often require surgery, diagnostic tests are typically done first.4 “Generally, when an intestinal obstruction is suspected, diagnostics would include bloodwork, radiographs, and abdominal ultrasound — although other advanced imaging may also be recommended to help guide further therapy,” says Dr. Kulp.
From there, your vet will diagnose your dog. If they have an obstruction, they’ll likely need surgery.4 According to Dr. Klein, dog intestinal blockage surgery costs between $2,000 and $8,000. But you might find procedure costs as low as $800.6
Dr. Klein adds that the cost of surgery for intestinal obstruction can vary depending on the following factors:
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of post-operative care. “Aftercare will depend on the condition of the patient and the extent of the surgery. Dogs that presented in hypovolemic shock … or required intestinal resection and anastomosis (removing injured part of the intestine and re-building) will require additional time and cost, as their prognosis would be more guarded,” says Dr. Klein.
A great way to avoid expensive intestinal blockage surgery for dogs is to try to prevent the blockage from happening in the first place.
Dr. Klein recommends closely supervising your dog, especially if they’re known to eat things they shouldn’t. You’ll also want to secure garbage bins, pick up objects your dog could eat, and examine toys for wear and tear, then remove those that present a hazard.
“String, thread, and rope fibers are especially concerning because they can cause severe damage to the lining of the intestines that could lead to perforation,” Dr. Klein adds.
Even the most diligent dog owner may not be able to prevent an intestinal blockage from happening. A young dog, Greta, was brought to the vet after eating something she shouldn’t have. Her diagnostic tests and the surgery to remove the object cost about $4,000. Greta’s family was reimbursed over $3,500 through their MetLife Pet Insurance policy.7
GI obstruction in dogs can become life-threatening.4 Worrying about the cost of care is the last thing pet parents should have to deal with in situations like that. If you’re concerned about the risk of bowel obstruction — and the emergency surgery bills that often accompany it — dog insurance may be worth it for you. Get a free quote today and customize a plan that works best for you and your pet.
