My dog has a firm, swollen belly but no other symptoms. Should I worry?

Question

My dog is 8 yes old. Her stomach feels firm and looks a little swollen but she is eating, drinking, going to the bathroom and otherwise acting normally. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 7 years and 1 month old | 80 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Good for you for noticing that her stomach looks different! Lots of times, owners don't see things like this if their dog is still acting normal. There are a number of different things that could cause an enlarged, firm abdomen even if she doesn't have any other symptoms of a problem - in a 7-year-old Lab, some common possibilities would include an abdominal tumor of some kind, liver disease, heart disease, Cushing's disease, or internal bleeding. In many cases, dogs with these issues may not show any other symptoms at first - so the earlier you can determine the problem, the better chance there is that it can be treated successfully. I would recommend taking Yogi to the vet for an exam tomorrow. He/she can palpate her abdomen, and may recommend blood work, x-rays, and/or an abdominal ultrasound to help determine why her stomach looks enlarged and see what can be done to treat the problem.

My dog has a firm, swollen belly but no other symptoms. Should I worry?

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