Foreign Body Surgery

Foreign Body Surgery

Accidents happen. It’s not at all uncommon for a pet to swallow an object that can’t pass through its gastrointestinal tract. So, if you notice your pet has problems with nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting or any other type of similar discomfort, you need to contact a medical professional right away as foreign body surgery may be needed. In such situations, we take the following steps:

●        Determining how long the foreign body has been inside the pet;

●        Locating the exact position of that foreign body;

●        Estimating the amount of damage the foreign body has caused so far.

It’s also very important to know the particular material the foreign body is made of, because something like old pennies or rough strings can cause more damage than a small plastic part from a child’s toy.

However, as scary as this situation may seem, you need to stay calm throughout and listen to what your vet has to say. First of all, not all situations like this require surgery. If that foreign body is smooth and small, it can probably be extracted from your pet’s body the natural way. On the other hand, if the object is in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, it may need to be extracted using a flexible endoscope.

Removing the foreign body often isn’t the end, because it will probably be necessary for you and your pet may need to return to the clinic up to five days after the treatment is done, so that your vet can determine whether or not the foreign body had done any damage to the animal’s internal organs. It’s very important to be assertive when you notice any of the previously mentioned symptoms – we’ll be more than happy to provide your pet with good low cost vet services – and to be gentle and nurturing after the treatment is over.