Some dogs are picky eaters, and turning down one meal won’t get you reaching for the car keys. On the other hand, some dogs might have a chronic condition, such as Jasmine, and refusing a meal now and then meant that her inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was acting up.
However, walking away from a full bowl is a big red flag with most dogs.
Jade’s story
Jade was a young, vibrant Doberman. Active and always hungry. It was a big red flag when she refused her breakfast one morning. Jade was three years old, and this has never happened before.
You could still assume that something didn’t agree with her and that she’d bounce right back once she got it out of her system. However, one turned-down meal may or may not send you to a veterinarian.
Then, however, Jade didn’t want to go for her regular walk either.
Any one of these things would have had Jade’s dad concerned but two? Something was seriously wrong. Jade’s dad did not hesitate and brought her to a vet right at that moment.
At the veterinarian
During an examination, Jade did look dull and dejected, but there were no apparent clues as to why. Her abdomen seemed uncomfortable, but several different problems could cause that.
Blood work didn’t show much out of the ordinary, except for generic inflammation clues.
Getting the true diagnosis
How likely, at this point, would your vet be to send you back home with “some stomach medication” to see what happens?
How likely would you be to follow that recommendation? In how many cases, say out of a hundred, do you think that would be a good thing to do?
Jade’s veterinarian, fortunately, continued to look for a definite explanation.
He took Jade for x-rays. Jade’s intestine was much fuller of gas than normal, and in the middle of all that, there was a suspicious shadow, measuring about 3 x 5 cm.
Intestinal obstruction
Jade’s intestine was fully obstructed by something she had eaten but shouldn’t have.
Jade needed immediate surgery. The offending object was wedged in place so firmly that her intestine had to be cut just to get it out.
Naturally, it’s imperative to suture everything water-tight to avoid any leakage of the intestinal content; otherwise, you’d be looking at the danger of life-threatening peritonitis. This could happen days following the surgery. Jade’s veterinarian did a meticulous job, though.
What was the object blocking Jade’s intestine?
Corn on the cob. Believe it or not, corn on the cob is one of the most common causes of obstruction in dogs. This stuff does not digest, and the shape and rough surface seem ideal for plugging things completely.
Jade has recovered fully.
But she also might have died. Her dad’s only clue was one skipped meal, and one skipped walk.
Know your dog. Seek answers. And keep corn cobs away from your dog.
Read Jade’s original story here.
Related articles:
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: Loss of Appetite