Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Why is my senior dachshund's stomach swollen with a heart murmur?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Male | neutered | 12 years and 7 months old | 22 lbs

My husband & I have noticed our 12 y/o standard dachshund's stomach looks larger in the past few days. He's is overweight, so it's hard to be sure. He has bouts of lethargy. He vomited once yesterday, but his bowels & urine are normal (maybe slightly more frequent). He has back issues due to his weight. He was recently diagnosed w/ a stage 4 heart murmur, so we changed his food & amount given (from Taste of the Wild to Purina One, per vet). Should I be concerned about GDV or heart failure?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 15th, 2020

It does not sound like GDV to me. I'm concerned it has to do with Yezler's heart failure. Fluid back up from heart failure can lead to an enlarged stomach due to fluid collecting in that area. I would take him into a vet now to get this checked out. I recommend an echocardiogram and a discussion about medication for his heart disease. Please take him into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
His stomach is getting fatty May be problem of fluid bloating
If he is retching like he wants to vomit but cannot, take him to the vet IMMEDIATELY, as this could be a sign of a possible GDV (twisted stomach bloat) which is a surgical emergency. Likewise, if he is very weak, if his gums appear pale, or his cannot rise on his own, take him IMMEDIATELY, as this would concern me for a possible hemoabdomen (bleeding into the abdomen, often caused by a ruptured tumor on the spleen; this too is life threatening and time sensitive. Fluid buildup in the abdomen is possible as well and can occur for a number of reasons. The following are some possible causes: -liver failure -low proteins -cancer -heart failure -fluid around the heart -heartworm disease Other possible causes for a distended abdomen that occur more gradully can include: enlarged liver weight gain cancer Regardless of the cause of the appearance of his abdomen, you do need to have him seen by a vet very soon. Please refer back to the first 2 paragraphs and take him to a vet ER if he
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hey my dog has had a bloated stomach the last couple of weeks and I saw something about GDV and I got worried she is still moving around and everything eating normal drinking normal she poops a little more then usual but other than that she is ok Sho
If Duchess has GDV, she could have passed away by now. A GDV is a medical emergency, and it is fatal without immediate treatment. It is concerning that she has a bloated stomach that has been occurring for a couple of weeks now. I would take her into a vet this weekend to have it checked out. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is an 11 year old Chocolate Lab. She has arthritis and has trouble walking, but she's not in any pain. In the past few days I've noticed that her belly is very swollen and distended. She doesn't act like she's in pain, she still has her appeti
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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, my cocker spaniel is having trouble walking. Also her stomach feels very tough like a rock. Also she is very bloated looking and it's making it hard for her to walk to a point where she just sits and drags herself across the floor. It's clear
Poor pup! From your description, it sounds like something is seriously wrong. Trouble walking could be caused by arthritis, a neurologic problem like a stroke or herniated disc in the spine, or generalized weakness due to a severe illness of some kind. A bloated abdomen can be caused by GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus, or "bloat"), which is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with air and twists on itself; other possible causes would include congestive heart failure, an abdominal tumor, liver failure, or internal bleeding. These signs are indicative of a severe, possibly life-threatening problem that needs immediate veterinary care, so I would recommend taking your dog to an emergency vet right away. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to help her.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog overate back in December but his stomach never got smaller. He looks bloated for over 5 months now. He has regular bowl movements but has big appetite and breaths fast and tried to gag. He is 11. He is losing weight and breaths with difficulty
Fluid accumulation in the abdomen is often secondary to heart disease (valvular disease, heart worms, cardiomyopathy) ..or...some type of malignancy. Tumors in the abdominal cavity can sometimes be associated with fluid build up. It is important to do some additional diagnostic tests. Survey radiographs to start, then it may be advised to move on to an ultrasound....either of the heart or if the abdomen depending on radiograph findings. The ultrasound can be particularly helpful in cases like this where fluid accumulation reduces the ability to see vital structures on radiographs. This most likely had nothing to do with a case of overeating. There is likely some disease process that has been going on for some time. I hope you can get some answers soon. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I took my dog to the vet for a swollen stomach. It's not bloat or congestive heart failure. They drained his stomach. The fluid was clear with no infection. He's negative for parasites. So the vet gave him a diuretic and absorbine for toxins. The nex
Fluid in the abdomen is usually caused by either heart failure, low blood protein levels, or cancer. Blood work should be done to check protein levels. A follow up appointment with your veterinarian soon is important, and more work up should be done to identify the cause. Blood work, urinalysis, and ultrasound are the steps I would usually take is a case such as Major to find the problem and develop the best treatment options. Best of luck and I hope you find an answer soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my 9 year old Doberman Mastiff mix has an extended stomach, and seems to have lost some weight. Otherwise, she is happy and eating, doesnt appear to be in pain when her abdomen is pressed on, and is moving around as normal. She just finished a he
This is worrisome - a distended abdomen could be a sign that there is free fluid present in the abdomen secondary to something like liver disease or even cancer. An organ could be enlarged as well. There are some diseases that can cause weakness of the muscles of the abdomen that could lead it to appear enlarged as well. If you are almost but not 100% positive that she is not pregnant of course that could be another cause as well. I would recommend having Sadie examined by your veterinarian - they may be able to tell what is going on by palpating or feeling her abdomen or they may recommend other testing like x-rays or blood work.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My mini weiner dog is acting funny. She's 11 and about 9lbs. This morning she came upstairs to wake me, which I assumed was to go out, but she was walking really slow. When I opened the door she just sat down on the porch. When I went to pick her
Bella needs to see the veterinarian today. Signs like this are never normal and can indicate many things. Especially being a Dachshund, there is a concern she has injured her back, has a compressed disc or has a protruding disc. Other causes are also possible. Injuries to the back can become serious quickly and can lead to paralysis. A physical exam and radiographs needed to begin figuring out the cause and the best treatment. Other diagnostics may also be indicated. She needs strict activity restriction so no running, jumping, walks, playing or stairs. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello my dog his is around 8 year old hes a Shepard retriever mix and his stomach looks swollen or bloated but he is in no discomfort at all I've never seen it like this before but he was panting very hard due to fireworks I'm not sure if that has so
Poor Dixon. I am quite concerned about his stomach being bloated, and it could potentially be a growth of some sorts causing it. It could be he may have heart disease which also causes bloating and panting. I would take him into a vet asap to get checked out. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Our 11 year old daschund bitch has a hard swollen stomach for about 3 days now, appears to be constipated as she is passing the occasional small, dry looking stool (photo). It seems to be worse when the has eaten (until today her appetite was unaffec
Poor Betty! The constipation may b the cause of her discomfort or may be a symptom of another condition which is slowing down her bowel or causing dehydration. I recommend a full check p by your vet, they may wish to do an abdominal xray or ultrasound to identify any underlying factors and give an enema if appropriate alongside oral laxatives as long as no obstruction is identified
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Supplies Dog Food Dog Toys Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Dog Health & Wellness Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Diuretics for Dogs Dog Vitamins & Supplements Dog Probiotics & Digestive Aids PetAlive Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Yummers Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Viokase-V Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Advanced Health Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Metoclopramide Prescription Dog Digestive Medications MedalSeries Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Nutri-Vet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Wellness Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Lactulose Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Under the Weather Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored