My dog's swollen, hard belly is shaking, but she seems fine. Is it serious?

Hi and thanks for posting on Boop by Petco. This is very concerning and may be due to something more serious than just simple constipation. Abdominal fluid due to liver disease, heart failure, kidney failure, or cancers can be a cause as well as endocrine disease such as Cushing's disease or parasitic infections such as a heavy roundworm infection can be potential causes. I recommend Garlic see her veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet will do a hands on exam and may recommend x-rays to check for free fluid in the abdomen and may run blood work as well to help pinpoint a cause.

Hello, There are a few different things that can cause stomach swelling. Bloat is generally a critical emergency and pets need emergency surgery to survive it, so I am doubtful that is what is going on with Ruby. Swelling of any organ in the abdomen can cause the swelled stomach appearance. Organs like the liver and spleen are prone to growing tumors, while the uterus is very prone to infection. I see that she is intact- if her last heat cycle was irregular or she has any vaginal discharge, those may be suggestive of a uterine infection, called pyometra, which requires a hysterectomy for treatment. Fluid accumulations in the abdomen can also create a swollen stomach. Fluid accumulation can happen from an abdominal infection or organ failure, such as liver or heart failure. I would recommend having Ruby seen to find out what exactly is causing her tummy to swell because the treatments are very different depending on the cause and waiting may make a problem much worse. I hope this is h

I'm glad that Bailey seems to be feeling okay despite her new abdominal distension. The abdomen can become distended from either a mass or fluid accumulation from right sided congestive heart failure, liver failure, or cancer. Any of these conditions can progress and worsen rapidly, so I recommend taking Bailey to her vet fairly urgently for evaluation to get to the bottom of this issue. She may need to have chest and abdominal x-rays and/or ultrasound, or have a sample of fluid drained from her abdomen for analysis. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Bailey!

These symptoms are very concerning for a possible organ enlargement in the abdomen or even heart disease (causes fluid build up in the belly). I would highly recommend taking Buttons in to your vet for some testing (bloodwork and radiographs) to determine the exact cause of her illness. Once we know what is going on internally then we will know what type of treatment she needs to hopefully get better. I hope Buttons is able to turn around. Best wishes and take care.

It sounds like Bella may have some gas. I recommend keeping a close eye on her, as she may have eaten something she shouldn't have. Bella should be seen by a vet if she has vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

It is difficult to determine if a lump is cause for concern by just an image alone anyway. Ideally, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian. If necessary, fine needle aspirates can be done to collect samples for pathology. This may provide a diagnosis. Treatment options can be discussed once results are returned. If the lumps are not bothering Maddie, you can choose to monitor for rapid change or growth, sensitivity, discharge or restriction of motion. IN these cases, she would need to see her vet.

You are honestly too kind to me! Bloat is fatal without treatment, but if she is acting normally now, then she doesn't have it. You would see unproductive vomiting, restlessness, pacing, a swollen abdomen, and looking at the abdomen. It's good that she stopped the previous behavior, and it could be that she had something stuck in her throat but has now passed it. I would monitor her for now, and if she does show any concerning signs again, have her seen by a vet. As for the swelling of her stomach, it could be possible that Bella is pregnant if she's been around intact male dogs. She could have be going into heat, as the mammary glands can swell when a dog is in heat.

Hi there. This does look a bit odd. Have your veterinarians done any x rays or bloodwork? If Sophie is not spayed and has been sick for a while I would be very concerned with a pyometra (uterine infection) with how distended that abdomen looks. If that's the case-this is an emergency and needs to be looked at right away. I hope this helps!

Sheena should be evaluated by a veterinarian right away! If her belly is swollen she could be suffering from bloat (stomach full of air), a GDV (where the stomach bloats and turns on itself) or she could have fluid in her belly or uterus (pyometra). All of these conditions are very serious and require immediate veterinary care. I hope Sheena is doing ok! Please let us know if you have more questions.

I"m sorry Maisey isn't feeling well! More likely with a very hard stomach, she is groaning because she is in pain. Stomach swelling in dogs can also result from the dog eating too much all at once, internal bleeding due to trauma or a ruptured mass, intestinal obstruction, or tumors. Peritonitis and ascites (fluid in the abdomen) can also cause a swollen stomach, as well as Cushing's disease. I recommend you get Maisey into your vet as soon as possible. This has been going on for a few days, and it's clearly not going to resolve on it's own. She needs medical attention from a vet, who can diagnose and treat the problem.