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Dog’s Swollen Abdomen Could Be Serious

Anytime a dog’s stomach swells suddenly, it calls for a trip to the vet.

Jon Geller, DVM

Q. What would cause a dog’s belly to look a lot larger in just a short period of time. Our dog hasn’t had any contact with male dogs, so I was wondering what it could be other than pregnancy?

A. An unexplained enlargement or swelling of your dog’s abdomen may be a medical or surgical emergency, especially if it happens suddenly. If you called our emergency hospital, we would tell you to come right in.

It could be a uterine infection about to rupture, a spleen or liver bleeding into the abdomen, bleeding due to ingestion of mouse poison, fluid from liver or heart failure, or Cushing’s disease, a hormonal disease of the adrenal gland.
 
There is, in fact, no condition that would cause a harmless enlargement of the belly, except possibly excessive digestive gas or an episode of overeating.
 
At our emergency hospital, we are trained to “worry” about all of the bad things that can happen to pets. Since your female dog has not been spayed, I would be most concerned about a uterine infection. Untreated, these infections will result in sepsis, an infection of the bloodstream that is usually fatal. Please get in to see your veterinarian or go to a veterinary emergency hospital as soon as possible.

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Dog’s Swollen Abdomen Could Be Serious

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Reader Comments
We had a German Shepherd thathad Seizures and was put on Dilantin and the Vet never did Blood Tests on him for the 6 years he was on it. Then his Abdomen started swelling up and he told us it was just Fluid and he gave us Laxix.He started Vomiting Blood that looked like Coffee Grinds and couldn't keep nothing down.The Vet told us to feed him Chicken & Rice and to give him Yogurt.That was torture to him,he had no appetite and still couldn't keep nothing down. So I took him to a Larger Animal Hospital, they took Bloodtests and exrayed his Abdomen and drawed Blood from his swollen belly.His Stomach was pushed out of the way by something , they sent me to the Main Animal Hospital in our State which was as Large as a Huamn Hospital. They took exrays of his Lungs and told me he had full blown Lung Cancer that was caused by a Liver Tumer that was bleeding into the Stomach and outside of the Stomach , caused by our Vet not doing periodical Blood Tests due to being on the Dilantin. That happened in 2006 and I am still so angry today that I wish I could file a Lawsuit on our previous Verternarian like you can a Human Patient Doctor for Malparactice. Our Dog died a Painful death 3 days later. They wanted me to Euthanize him at that Hospital , but I was by myself over 60 Miles from home and the dog was my Husband's Dog and he wanted the Dog to die at home , but I don't think he knew how horrible of a death it would be.They said our dog's lungs were like Swiss Cheese.We had noticed a few months before this happened that he had been lying on his bavck alot and we just thought it was cute, not knowing he was hiding his pain.We didn't notice the swollen belly until about 2 months before he died.He died just before his 10th Birthday. This all started from our Veternarian giving him his Rabies Injection in his Hip near his Spine and when he sat down during the Injection , the needle hit his Spinal Nerve and thus that night started the Seizures when he was only a Year Old. I found out from other Verternarians that all Vacinations are supposed to be injected under the skin at the Shoulder blade area.
Debra L. Culp, Wapakoneta., OH
Posted: 12/30/2011 1:36:49 PM
MY DOG'S belly is swollen & ears and also his chest , he seems fine , but yet he's still eating and drinking what could be the problem?
denia, los angels, CA
Posted: 6/14/2011 7:40:30 PM
My dog's stomache swelled up over a period of a couple weeks. Several trips to the vet, test after test says she is perfectly healthy. The fluid was even sent out to several other labs and nothing was found.

I read an article on intestinal lymphanglasia, a rare disease prone to terriers. I sent the info to my vet and we began the typical treatment...steroids and antibiotics. At first, my dog had to go to the vet and have the fluid drained every two weeks. We are now up to 6 weeks. My dog is perfectly healthy other than the fluid on her stomach.
Donna, Pocahontas, IL
Posted: 1/24/2011 5:09:46 PM
I have a miniture pinscher and her belly is swollen she seems fine shes not pregnant she is still eating and drinking what could be the problem
Brittany johnson, chicago, IL
Posted: 1/18/2011 1:27:42 PM
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