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Intestinal Obstruction with a Hair Bobble
Blockage of the intestines is a common surgical emergency. The early signs can look just like gastroeneteritis but delay in treatment can be fatal. An observant owner will certainly know their pet has a problem and if they get to the vet soon enough the outlook is generally very good.
Taco is a 1 year old male chihuahua with a lovely nature. In May 2003 he was brought to us looking miserable and vomiting. We discovered a lump in his abdomen that felt like an intestinal obstruction. Taco was admitted, anesthetised and a laparotomy was performed. We found a soft mass 7cm x 2cm diam. lodged in the mid small intestine. This was removed by enterotomy and found to be a hair bobble. The surgery went well and Taco made a good recovery. Within just a few days he was back to normal. Two or three days delay could have been fatal.

Taco under general anaesthetic with Pulse Oximeter on tongue
measuring blood oxygen and pulse rate.

Removal of the hair bobble from the small intestine. The dark red (congested) area of intestine is damaged but recoverable so no bowel had to be removed. Delay in diagnosis or surgery would have resulted in bowel perforation and peritonitis.

Routine closure of the abdominal wall


The hair bobble that caused the obstruction


Taco recovering on a warm bed in a sleeping bag made out of bubble wrap

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