Treats can cause an obstruction

Treats can cause an obstruction if they are swallowed before being properly chewed so keep a close eye on your dog when he tackles his favourite chew.

Treats for Luka

Luka, an eight-year-old Weimaraner, came to see us because he was vomiting yet not eating and his owners were worried. “When a dog is vomiting but not eating we usually suspect a foreign body in the gut,” says Dr Carina. When a clinic examination revealed nothing untoward, Dr Carina ordered x-rays which, though they did not show an actual foreign body, did reveal symptoms of obstruction including gas. An ultra sound revealed a foreign body lodged in Luka’s intestine.

Dr Carina operated on Luka and discovered the tip of a hoof lodged in the intestine which had restricted bloody supply to the area. This bit of the intestine was dying off so Dr Carina performed an enterectomy, a procedure where a piece of intestine is removed and the two bits on either side then sewn back together again.

Luka stayed with us overnight so we could monitor his blood pressure, temperature, eating and overall condition but by the next morning he was well enough to go home and according to his parents, is his happy, energetic old self again.

Anything your dog chews, whether it be hooves, toys, sticks or bones, could become lodged in his oesophagus or gut so always keep on eye on him when he’s chewing and check for loose bits or bits that have disappeared. Ask your vet for advice on what to give your dog as a treat as dogs differ in the way they respond to food; some dogs will gulp rather than chew, small dogs need small treats, and so on.