What Is Intussusception in Dogs?

1 Overview

1. How it happens

Normally food leaves the stomach into the gut and out. With intussusception, the path is blocked; healthy gut strains to push through, causing vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, blood in stool, arched back, pain when the belly is touched, and more. The healthy gut can overwork and ‘die’ from the strain. The cause is simple: a blockage stops normal movement, and part of the gut telescopes into the blocked part.

2. Acute vs chronic

Acute signs hit hard and any vet can judge from symptoms and your info; chronic is the headache.

Chronic signs are irregular and come and go, lulling owners. E.g., a dog swallows a walnut or bone when you’re not looking, then shows blood in stool, low appetite, even vomiting – many assume gastritis, never suspect the walnut, never intussusception.

Of course, swallowed objects aren’t the only cause.

3. Other causes

1. Parasites can too – not just one kind; almost all gut parasites can, but only in large enough numbers.

2. Bacteria and viruses too, like distemper; little research, but managing what it eats greatly cuts bacterial risk.

3. Tumors are the nastiest cause.

4. Diet changes too, usually in puppies with weak, irregular digestions.

5. Some get it from abdominal trauma (car accident) or as a post-abdominal-surgery complication.

4. How it’s checked

X-ray is the only and most direct check – one shot usually tells; so, is it easy to cure?

Usually fixed by surgery to reduce it; if healthy gut has died, that part is removed so the gut works and infection is avoided.

Last, how to prevent it?

Simple: mind its mouth – no random eating, regular deworming, don’t leave things around. These three keep intussusception away.