Will Olive Oil Fix A Bowel Obstruction In My Dog?

The Short Answer is:

A veterinarian should handle intestinal blockages professionally since a complete blockage can be very dangerous and it is not easy to determine the extent of the blockage.

The purpose of this article is to explain the “Will Olive Oil Fix A Bowel Obstruction In My Dog?“.

Do you have trouble getting your dog to poop? Has he been vomiting and retching constantly? Does he refuse food and appear miserable? His digestive system may be infected.

They sniff and eat almost anything they find interesting. Dogs are notorious for always sniffing things they find around the house. 

Dogs who swallow a hard object that cannot be digested and is too large to pass through the digestive system may experience constipation and enormous discomfort as a result. 

Dogs especially young ones are prone to having bowel obstructions. Discover if your pup is having a painful episode of bowel obstruction and what you can do to help him. 

1. What is a bowel obstruction in a dog?

Bowel obstructions are partial or complete obstructions of the gastrointestinal tract that prevent liquids and solid food from passing through. Blockages can occur either in the stomach or intestines or the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach the esophagus. 

The condition of bowel obstruction localized in the stomach is known as gastric outlet obstruction which is caused by both solids and liquids piling up in the stomach preventing them from naturally moving into the intestines.

In contrast obstructions of the small intestines lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and are caused by an accumulation of food and other ingested substances. 

A dogs intestines can become obstructed by ingesting almost anything that can fit in its mouth especially if it is a young dog. Most often gastrointestinal obstruction in dogs is caused by ingesting objects they should not but in rare cases it can be caused by a tumor particularly in senior dogs. 

2. What are the symptoms of blockage in a dog?

Bowel obstruction in dogs is not associated with any particular symptom. The symptoms exhibited by a dog with a blocked gastrointestinal tract are very similar to those of many other diseases in dogs making it very difficult to diagnose bowel obstruction just by looking at the dog. 

Usually bowel obstruction in dogs is diagnosed by imaging but the first sign of this is usually loss of appetite and vomiting. As a result of a blocked esophagus stomach or intestines a dog will become completely uninterested in eating.

Its common to see dogs pacing or drooling when they have a blocked stomach or intestines. Also watch for any attempts to retch. A dog with a blockage will retch to try to vomit whatever is stuck in its gastrointestinal tract especially if it swallowed something that caused the blockage. 

Over time the dog may start to show other symptoms such as lethargy abdominal pain diarrhea and depression. A dogs intestinal blockage can be severe and in rare cases a prolonged obstruction can lead to intestinal rupture septicemia and even death. 

3. Mineral oils vs olive oil; do either of them fix an obstruction?

A veterinarian should handle intestinal blockages professionally since a complete blockage can be very dangerous and it is not easy to determine the extent of the blockage. 

However if you wish to administer first aid to ease pain and possibly get the object to move gradually through the gastrointestinal tract and out of the dogs system you can use a few drops of mineral oil. 

Using your dogs weight as a guide determine the safe and appropriate amount of mineral oil to administer. Do not pour mineral oil directly into your dogs mouth since this will cause aspiration. For every 10 pounds use 1 tablespoon of mineral oil. Rather than feeding it directly to your dog mix it with his food. 

In about 6 to 8 hours constipation should start to subside but if it does not you should take your dog to the vet right away. Adding more mineral oil to your dogs food can make matters worse as an overdose of mineral oil can cause constipation and worsen the situation. 

Do not try to force mineral oil to work because it does not always work. Try to help your dog through the painful condition of bowel obstruction but also be alert enough to recognize when a vets expertise is needed. 

Check your dogs breathing rate heartbeat and behavior to make sure he is physically stable. Please take him to the vet as soon as possible if he is not eating is lethargic vomiting and is depressed.

4. Can a dog poop with an obstruction?

It is possible for a dog to swallow something that it should not and it may pass through the gastrointestinal tract without causing any problems. Even very small stones and crayons may pass through the GI tract of a dog without causing an obstruction but this will also depend on the dogs breed and size. 

In many cases though objects that are too rough or too big such as toys and sticks can be dangerous and cause serious blockages in a dogs digestive system. The severity of obstruction will vary according to the cause. If the gastrointestinal tract is completely blocked by a foreign object or a growing tumor neither food nor fluid can pass which means the dog will not be able to poop. 

Objects that cause an obstruction in the GI tract can puncture it leading to something more serious that if not handled immediately by a vet can deteriorate and become gangrenous. 

Moreover the intestinal blockage causes a lot of discomfort for a dog so its important to put the poor thing out of its misery as soon as possible. In most cases a bowel obstruction will require an examination and surgery to remove whatever is causing the obstruction be it an object or a tumor. 

When you suspect that your dog may have something stuck in his system you should take him to the vet as soon as possible because the longer it remains the more damage it may cause. 

5. How long can a dog live with an intestinal blockage?

A blockage of the intestine can become very serious and even life-threatening if not treated promptly and appropriately. Sticks bones certain toys rocks sticks with protruding ends etc. can puncture the stomach or intestines of dogs resulting in extremely painful and potentially fatal conditions. A dog will die within 3 to 4 days if an intestinal blockage is left untreated. 

Partially blocked intestines however will take more time to heal. Partially blocked intestines in dogs can cause serious pain discomfort and other symptoms like vomiting diarrhea lethargy appetite loss and weight loss. 

6. How much does dog intestinal blockage surgery cost?

An intestinal blockage surgery may cost anywhere from $900 to more than $2000 depending on which part of the GI tract the object is lodged in what kind of object it is and how severe or complicated the situation is. 

Veterinarians treat intestinal blockages by conducting physical examinations using ultrasound endoscopic examinations or X-rays to determine what object is stuck and wherein the digestive system is located. 

It can cost between $900 and $1500 to remove an object stuck in the esophagus stomach small intestine or colon while removing a tumor causing a blockage is more difficult and can cost more. 

7. How long does it take a dog to recover from intestinal blockage surgery?

Within a few days of undergoing intestinal blockage surgery a dog will start to feel better and become more active. However at this point the dog will still be too weak to move. 

The dog just had intestinal blockage surgery they need to be carefully watched afterward and protected from themselves. It is natural that they would like to start playing around almost as soon as they can but you should not let them. 

In the first two weeks after surgery the dog needs rest care and pampering before they are ready to become active and play. In a crate you can restrict your dogs movements so he gets the rest he needs while also making sure the medication is given accurately.

Conclusion

If a foreign object can not pass through the intestines or stomach of a dog smoothly it will cause a blockage. Dogs with bowel obstructions are obviously in pain but you should not expect them to learn from one mistake. It is your job as a pet parent to keep your little cutie safe because dogs just can not help themselves. Keep your dogs house and yard free of objects that can cause bowel obstructions.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.