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My dog ate food scraps, now his tummy is huge, hard, and he's panting.

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 1 day old | 25 lbs

We always dump our scraps outside because we have inside dogs that have a fenced in yard. Today one of them ran out the front door and went and ate all of the scraps. And now his tummy is huge and very hard and he just keeps sleeping and panting! What should I do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on February 23rd, 2017

The prudent thing to do would be to have Little Dan examined by your veterinarian. He is young for bloat but he may have an obstruction or could be developing pancreatitis. You may end up fasting him for 24 hours then feeding a bland diet until symptoms resolve, but your vet should rule out more serious issues first.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Mallori Kaminski, BVSc

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 23rd, 2017

    There are a few things that could be going on with your dog as a result of eating the scraps. He could be bloated, and possibly have GDV, where the stomach flips on itself. He could have pancreatitis, or a foreign body blocking his stomach or intestines. All of these conditions can quickly become medical emergencies, and he needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible for an exam and further diagnostics such as blood work and x-rays.

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