Caring for working dogs

Linear Foreign Bodies Are A Danger To Your Pet

30 December 2016

Jose Reid

Linear foreign body is probably not a term you're familiar with or one that sounds particularly ominous. For a vet, this is one of the most ominous terms they can hear when it comes to animals like cats or dogs. Many people are unaware of the dangers that come from their cat or dog eating simple items around their home.

What is a linear foreign body?

A linear foreign body is a long, thin item like a piece of wool, carpet, pantyhose, rope or tinsel which an animal has eaten. Most linear foreign bodies are seemingly common household items which a pet has been playing with and eventually eaten.  The item moves into their digestive tract and can cause serious harm as it works its way through from mouth to anus.

What is the danger?

Cats and dogs' intestines are also long and thin. They have muscles within their intestines which try to move food through the gastrointestinal system in peristaltic waves. If a foreign object has been swallowed, then the muscles will try to move it along as far as possible.  A linear foreign body is uniquely able to cause a gastrointestinal obstruction during this process, leading to serious harm or even death.

How does this happen?

Linear foreign bodies often get caught around an animal's tongue or at the pylorus, which is part of the stomach that joins onto the start of the intestines. When this happens, the intestines try to move the object through the gastrointestinal tract with peristaltic waves. As they are unable to successfully move the object, instead the pet's intestines start to move towards the object, pulling tighter and tighter. The intestines themselves can be damaged by inflammation and contact with the object, eventually restricting blood supply to the damaged region.

Obstruction means that other items of food will be unable to move down and be digested normally. Most seriously, mechanical damage from the foreign body can tear a hole in the tightly pulled loops of intestines, leading to intestinal contents leaking into the animal's abdomen. Ultimately this can lead to a painful and extremely serious infection called peritonitis which all too often results in death.

What are the symptoms?

You may not be aware your cat or dog has eaten a foreign object. The most common signs are vomiting, reduced food and water intake, lethargy and diarrhoea. You may be able to see string or wool caught around your pet's tongue or coming out of their anus. If you can see this resist the temptation to pull on it or try to untangle it, as you may end up causing serious damage to loops of intestines. Instead take your pet to see their vet, letting the vet know it is an emergency.

What will your vet do?

Your vet will take a history from you and examine your pet for any signs of distress or illness.  If a foreign body is suspected, then imaging such as an x-ray or ultrasound will often be necessary. Surgery may be indicated to remove the foreign body and possibly part of your pet's bowel. With prompt treatment, many cats and dogs will survive.

How can you keep your cat or dog safe?

Get into the habit of checking your pet's environment for any possible linear foreign bodies. Keeping any objects they may eat out of their environment and educating yourself on the symptoms is the best way to help keep your vet safe from this serious threat.

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