I hope everyone has been having a lovely holiday season! This time of year with new gifts and bags all around and decorations everywhere, we commonly see an increase in intestinal obstructions in both dogs and cats.
Sometimes these can pass with supportive care alone, but sometimes they require surgery. Now, because it's the holidays, I thought I’d try my hand at a Weird Al parody.
For your holiday pleasure, here is my “Foreign Body Rap” to the beat of Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Foreign Body Rap
Now this a story all about how
The bowels were plugged by something foul,
And I’d like to take a minute,
Just sit right there,
I’ll tell you all about foreign body repair.
It happens so quickly, in a flash,
Our pets eat knickknacks, earplugs and grass,
Waitin’ to see if it’ll be in their stool.
Or maybe in the vomit and that will be cool!
But when it doesn’t come out and they vomit their food,
What do you do? Why is there so much drool?
So let’s get an exam. What’s the history?
Ate a nerf dart? A toy? Maybe a sock or three?
“We will have to take an x-ray to see what can be seen.”
Rads are awesome we use them every day,
But not every object will show in shades of gray.
Ultrasound can catch the rest,
so your will vet know if it's time for surgery prep.
Corn cob, piece of a toy,
Section of string or some corduroy,
What is so tasty about worn socks?
We have even seen foam blocks.
No matter the item the outcome won’t vary,
It must be removed, this tale is cautionary.
Beware the foreign body, watch out for your pets
But if you have any problems, talk to your vet.
Dr. Courtney Andrews is a veterinarian in Sudbury, a graduate of the Royal School of Veterinary Studies and dog mom to Argyll and Einstein. Animals & Pets is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
