My senior dog has a swollen stomach and is in pain. Should I put her down?

Question

My dog is about 10-11 years old. Has severe arthritis that is controlled with meds. Since about 3 months ago we noticed swelling in her stomach. Her abdomen is full distended and is firm. It is not pulsating. If she was a human I would say it could be anything from perionitis to an infection to a blockage. She is obviously in extreme pain, not eating, not walking, and ears and tails are down. Should we have her put to sleep at home? Or make her go through the vet and the car ride torture? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 91 lbs

Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS · Accepted Answer

Ideally more investigations would be needed to determine the underlying cause. The best one, considering what you described in your post, is definitively an abdominal ultrasound. Given the extreme pain and the persistent inappetence, euthanasia may be a reasonable option, that must be discussed in terms of quality of life anyway. An house visit would be definitively best, but your vet will have a limited possibility to perform tests and investigations. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

My senior dog has a swollen stomach and is in pain. Should I put her down?

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