Gut blockage in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. It means something is blocking a dog’s gut.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet immediately.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not pull any string hanging from your dog’s mouth.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

A gut blockage is very serious and painful and can kill.^[1] Dogs may develop a gut blockage after swallowing items they should not have.^[1]

Signs

Vomiting
Diarrhoea
A painful tummy
Constipation, meaning not being able to poo
Low energy
Weight loss
Pain, including growling, hiding away or not wanting to be handled
Pooing less
Little or no interest in food or drink
Drooling, lip smacking or swallowing; or a string hanging from the mouth

Causes and risk factors

Swallowing items they should not have
Exploring the world with their mouths

How vets treat it

Surgery
Antibiotics
Pain relief
Fluids or a drip
Hospitalisation
Medication

What the experts say

“Overview. Dogs are curious creatures that explore the world with their mouths – unfortunately, this means that they sometimes swallow items that they shouldn’t. Having a gut blockage is a very serious and painful condition that can kill.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs can a dog with a gut blockage have?

Signs can include vomiting, diarrhoea, a painful tummy, constipation, low energy, less or no interest in food, and weight loss.^[1]

How serious is a gut blockage?

A gut blockage is very serious and painful and can kill.^[1]

What might a vet do if my dog swallowed something?

If you get your dog to a vet very quickly after they swallowed something they should not have, the vet may be able to give an injection to make them sick; this depends on what was swallowed, and the vet will not do this if it is unsafe.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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