Injuries to the abdomen can damage the internal organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys or intestinal tract. Bleeding can be profuse and life threatening. Injuries to the bowel may result in the spillage of intestinal contents into the abdomen resulting in a very nasty infection. Fortunately abdominal injury appears to be less common than in humans but is still of great concern.
SWALLOWED FOREIGN BODIES
Dogs particularly tend to swallow all sorts of things. These include:- balls, corn cobs, stones, toys, children's dummies, meat skewers, knives, fish hooks, rings, string, rope, cloth, blanket bits, plastic, bones etc. In fact some dogs make a hobby of it and anything they can chew they will swallow. Cats tend to be more selective and fur balls are their most common intestinal foreign body. Linear (string/thread) foreign bodies are more dangerous than discrete ones.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
- Vomiting especially if it is both food and water.
- Pain on touching the abdominal muscles.
- Lack of faeces.
- Depression and dehydration.
MANAGEMENT
- Seek prompt veterinary treatment. It is much easier to remove a foreign body in the stomach than from the intestinal tract.
- Give nothing to eat or drink.
FUR BALLS
Cats are supposed to vomit up the fur they groom from their coat. This is to prevent it from entering the intestinal tract where it may become stuck. Typically the cat vomits up a long cigar-shaped mass full of fur.
It is only necessary to treat your cat if the vomiting is often or if your cat is having other symptoms. These symptoms include coughing and gagging, passing hair in the faeces, or lack of appetite and weight loss. Fur balls have been known to block the intestinal tract and cause major problems, so if your cat seems to be unwell then see your veterinarian. Also these symptoms are vague and may be an indicator of a more serious problem.
MANAGEMENT
- Prevent the problem by grooming long-haired cats regularly.
- Give your cat Catlax, a teaspoon of petroleum jelly or paraffin oil. Paraffin oil can be added to the food. If given directly in the mouth give very slowly and do not place in the back of the mouth. Allow your cat to lick it up. Catlax or petroleum jelly can be smeared on the lips if your cat won't eat it on the food.
- Weekly dosing can help prevent fur balls.
- While your cat is in difficulty treat daily, however see your veterinarian if the problem does not resolve over a couple of days.
URINARY RETENTION
This is a life threatening condition where the urinary outflow is blocked. It occurs in both dogs and cats but is extremely common in the indoor, plump, long-haired, desexed male cat. The syndrome in cats is known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. Cause and prevention have been discussed in this article on the Lort Smith website.
Male pets are more likely to develop obstruction because their urinary tract is longer and narrower, however females do occasionally obstruct. Obstruction is life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary help so if in doubt take your pet to your veterinarian. Symptoms such as passing blood, frequent
urination, pain on urination and licking of the penis or vulva indicates a problem.
It may be cystitis but this may progress to full obstruction and does require urgent attention.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
- Frequent unsuccessful attempts to urinate.
- Swollen abdomen.
- Your pet may seem restless and in pain.
- Abnormal behaviour such as hiding.
- If your pet has been obstructed long enough to start to reabsorb toxins from the bladder then it may vomit and may go into shock or into a coma.
Seek urgent veterinary attention.
