Swollen Abdomen In Dogs, Signs of A Serious Disease?

One of the most commonly asked pet health questions is how serious is a swollen abdomen in dogs? The answer is simple, but not easy. Swollen abdomen in dogs is indicative of a serious disease and one of the most serious diseases is Bloat. Dog health can be severely affected due to Bloat in which the dog’s abdomen quickly gets filled with gas, usually in an unbalanced manner, and can become as tight as like a drum. A very serious dog health related disease, Bloat or gastric dilation can be life-threatening.

While there are many regular and normal reasons for a dog’s abdomen to swell including excess weight, pregnancy, or an enlarged stomach after a meal in puppies, if none of these reasons apply to your dog’s abdomen being swollen, then you must get your doggie checked by a vet. There can be many reasons why the dog heath is affected by a swollen abdomen and some of the causes can be age, liver disease, heart disease, uterine infection or pyometra, internal bleeding, and hormonal abnormalities.

Bloat (Gastric Dilation) – A Serious Dog Health Problem

In canines, however, Bloat or gastric dilation is a very serious dog health concern that tends to be life-threatening. Typically, Bloat is a condition when the air and other gases get trapped in the stomach causing the abdomen to swell like a balloon and become so tight that it can be played like a drum. Usually, if the dog gets gassy, his abdomen will get back to the regular size within a couple of hours of a meal. However, when affected by sudden bout of Bloat, the abdomen may swell to such a size that it can twist itself inside the abdominal cavity – a condition that is called torsion – and thus, cut off the blood supply leading to sudden death with 6-12 hours.

pet health questions such as which breeds are susceptible to Bloat and swollen abdomen and what can you do to protect dog health are as relevant as important. Bloat is very common in all large breeds as well as dogs with deep-chests including breeds such as: German Shepherds, Great Danes, Poodles, Rottweilers, Bloodhounds, Irish Setters, Boxers, Golden Retrievers, St. Bernards, Labrador Retrievers, Dobermans, Mastiffs and Bullmastiffs, who are especially vulnerable to this condition. 

While dog abdomen-swollen is a serious dog health concern, some veterinarians advise you remedies that are really simple and easy to implement. To prevent Bloat and ensure overall good dog health you can feed the pooch yogurt, digestive enzymes, feed small meals, give space to eat his meal,  feed pure and natural dog food and give him plenty of exercise.

You must treat Bloat as an emergency ALWAYS! Rush your pooch to the animal emergency hospital so that you can have more time to spend with him, instead of saying Good Bye!