Injuries To The Alimentary Tract

Question 1

What are the most common foreign bodies found in the mouth?

Answer 1

Bones
Pieces of stick and needles

Question 2

Clinical signs of mouth foreign bodies?

Answer 2

Drooling/salivation
Dysphagia
Pawing at mouth
Difficulty closing mouth

Question 3

Signs of foreign body wounds to the cheeks or tongue?

Answer 3

Haemorrhage
Dysphagia
Halitosis

Question 4

What is the first aid treatment for a fish hook stuck foreign body?

Answer 4

Locate, restrain, remove if possible/safe to do so, treat for shock & observe.

Question 5

What does eating caustic substances (i.e., bleach) do to a dog/cat?

Answer 5

Can cause extensive burning to any part of the digestive system that the chemical touches.

Question 6

What is the first aid treatment for ingestion of caustic substances?

Answer 6

Wash out mouth with lots of water.
Milk can also be given to soothe & protect mucous membranes.

Question 7

What is an abdominal thrust?

Answer 7

A sharp punch applied just above the xiphisternum angled towards the diaphragm - causes the animals to cough the object out of its pharynx into its mouth.

Question 8

What is a rupture?

Answer 8

An injury in which a tear appears in the abdominal wall - which allows internal organs from the abdominal cavity to move into other areas of the body.

Question 9

What is a hernia?

Answer 9

When internal organs fall through natural openings in the body wall & come to lie under the skin.
Either congenital or develop later in life.

Question 10

When can injuries to the stomach occur?

Answer 10

An animal eats a caustic substance.
A sharp foreign body gets lodged in the stomach wall.
Infection/disease - i.e., parvo.
Stomach lining is bruised by external trauma.