Cat and Dog Intestinal Blockage Surgery Costs and Financing

Intestinal blockage is a common emergency condition in dogs and cats, and it can be scary to get this diagnosis for your pet. Surgery is often recommended — and can be costly. To help you prepare for this, we've outlined the common types of intestinal blockage surgery and estimated the costs below.

How Does an Intestinal Blockage Occur in Dogs and Cats?

An intestinal blockage is a complete or partial obstruction of the small or large intestine, blocking the passage of food, fluid and gas along the digestive tract.¹ An intestinal blockage can be classified in three ways:²

1. Intraluminal obstruction - caused by objects inside the intestine, such as a foreign material that was ingested.
2. Intramural obstruction - caused by lesions in the intestinal wall, such as tumors or abscesses.
3. Extramural obstruction - caused by problems occurring outside the wall of the intestine, such as adhesions or a hernia.

For simplicity, we will primarily focus on intraluminal obstructions and intestinal blockages caused by the ingestion of foreign bodies such as cloth, plastic, rocks or other objects.

How Is an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs and Cats Treated?

In most cases of intraluminal obstruction, surgery is required to remove the foreign material from the digestive tract and relieve the blockage. There are two types of surgery used to identify and remove foreign material blocking the digestive tract:

Endoscopy

An endoscope is a long flexible tube with a light and a camera on one end. In this procedure, your dog or cat is placed under general anesthesia and the endoscope is passed through your pet's mouth and down their digestive tract. Endoscopy can be used to identify and retrieve objects in the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. It is the preferred procedure in these cases because it is less invasive than exploratory surgery. However, it cannot be used to retrieve larger objects or those lodged further down the digestive tract.

Exploratory laparotomy (ex lap)

In this procedure, your pet is placed under general anesthesia and the abdomen is opened, allowing the entire digestive tract to be examined. When the site of blockage is identified, your veterinarian will carefully open this area of the digestive tract to remove the source of the blockage. He or she may also remove any damaged areas of the digestive tract. This procedure is more invasive and has a longer recovery time, but is more commonly performed, as it does not require any special equipment and it allows the whole digestive tract to be evaluated.

How Much Does Intestinal Blockage Surgery for Dogs and Cats Cost?

The cost of dog or cat intestinal blockage surgery varies widely depending on:

• The type of surgery performed
• The size of the pet
• The severity of the blockage and whether surrounding tissues have been damaged
• The time your pet needs to be hospitalized before and after the surgery

On average, pet owners should expect to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 on intestinal blockage surgery. To help you plan for this expense, ask your veterinary team for a cost estimate prior to the procedure.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Intestinal Blockage Surgery?

Depending on your plan, pet insurance will likely cover some of the cost of intestinal blockage surgery for your cat or dog. Be sure to check your policy or contact your insurance provider to find out if this type of emergency surgery is covered. Most insurance companies will require you to pay for the surgery out-of-pocket first and will reimburse you at a later date.

CareCredit Financing for Intestinal Blockage Surgery in Dogs and Cats

You can use the CareCredit credit card to manage the cost of pet care emergencies, including intestinal blockage surgery for your dog or cat.* The CareCredit credit card can be used to pay for all of your pet's care, including surgery, hospitalization, medications and even prescription pet food. To find a veterinary provider near you who accepts the CareCredit credit card, use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App.

Author Bio

Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice veterinarian and freelance writer. She covers both human and veterinary medicine with a special interest in nutrition, internal medicine, and veterinary behavior.