When the dog has a swollen belly, it is quickly thought that the animal may have worms, which is not always the real reason. The dog may have ascites, which means that the dog has a swollen belly due to the presence of free fluid in the abdomen, popularly known as a water belly, and may have several causes.
Animal Expert has prepared some tips on home remedies for dogs with a swollen belly, but ascites is a symptom and not a disease in itself, so it is necessary to take your dog to the vet to find out what is causing it.
- In addition.
- There may be other reasons why the dog has a swollen stomach.
- Such as gas and even an expansion of the stomach.
- So beware of the other symptoms that the dog presents.
In the dog’s belly, this is where you can locate the stomach and upper intestine. A dog may have a swollen belly for one of these reasons:
Therefore, the guardian should be aware of the other symptoms, because if the case of the swollen belly is a tumor, it rarely develops quickly overnight. A tumor can take months or even years to reach large proportions, so if the dog’s belly starts to swell very quickly, in a few hours, your dog may have a gastric twist, that is, when the stomach expands and rotates. on its own axis, twisting and strangling nearby veins and organs. Food inside the stomach is trapped, which also causes a buildup of gas, causing the dog’s belly to swell within a few hours and, as blood vessels are strangled, organ and tissue necrosis can occur. The animal can die in a few hours, and treatment is done only by surgery, as the organ must be placed in its correct position and sutured so that it does not twist again, because once it occurs, the greater the chance that it will reappear. in the future.
Other symptoms of gastric torsion, in addition to swelling of the belly, are sialorrhea, vomiting reflex but no content to expel and flatulence. Animals suffer and feel uncomfortable, so if you think your dog has a gastric twist, take it to the vet immediately as it is an emergency.
For more information on gastric torsion in dogs: symptoms and treatment, see this other Animal Expert article.
In case of ascites, that is, when the dog has a swollen belly due to the free fluid in the abdominal cavity, the guardian must first take his dog to the veterinarian, since ascites, commonly called a belly of water in a dog, may have causes. , and it is not always easy to deal with home remedies.
Among the main causes of stomach pain in a dog that has a stomach of water, we have:
Some infectious diseases, caused by viruses and bacteria, also have ascites or water belly as one of the symptoms.
The treatment of the water belly in a dog depends on the disease that causes the liquid to leak into the abdominal cavity, therefore, it is not possible to treat it only with home remedies, since it is necessary for a veterinarian to evaluate the animal, and by examinations to obtain the diagnosis of the correct treatment.
The swollen, soft belly is the appearance of the dog when it has ascites or water stomach, as it is commonly called. The dog’s belly really looks like a balloon full of liquid and soft to the touch.
In addition to good palpation during a veterinary exam, additional tests, such as ultrasounds and x-rays, may be needed to check for rupture of urinary organs or tumors. And, in these cases, treatment is performed only by surgery, depending on the clinical condition of the animal.
Dogs with a very swollen stomach may still have difficulty breathing due to compression of adjacent organs, fatigue, lethargy, lack of appetite and difficulty walking. If the veterinarian suspects an infectious disease, fluid from the abdomen is drained using a technique called paracentesis and sent for a diagnostic test.
Another reason to notice the dog with a swollen and hard belly is constipation, and is not the most serious condition, but it is quite uncomfortable for the dog and can even hurt the lining of the anus, because the dog defecates more hardened stools, which damage the skin and make the area bleed.
The dog may have the appearance of a swollen belly due to the accumulation of gases and faecal cake, and the reasons may be a low-fiber diet and a low water intake. Other reasons can cause constipation such as ingesting foreign bodies (stones, grass, paper, tissues, etc.), a sedentary lifestyle and even kidney problems or an enlarged prostate in men.
Some homemade measures can help treatment, such as encouraging the dog to drink more water by using a source or changes in the dog’s food, such as changing the dog’s food, or changing dry food for the dog, however, first and for all. , talk to your veterinarian.
In less severe cases, you can use a home remedy to defecate the dog as follows:
If, even after testing some of these measures and not getting results, your puppy’s case may be more severe, take it to a veterinarian for a thorough evaluation. Learn more about the symptom in the article for dogs with swollen and hard belly.
Dogs may also have a swollen belly due to excess gas or constipation. In these cases, the problem is the lack of fiber in the dog’s diet or low water consumption. Constipation may still be related to the ingestion of a large amount of hair in long-haired dogs and a sedentary lifestyle.
Signs that your dog is constipated include
Talk to your veterinarian about a change in your dog’s diet, such as switching to a diet that contains more fiber or, if possible, replacing dry food with wet food, which will make your dog drink more water naturally. For more information on dog food types, see this other Animal Expert article.
If the veterinarian recommends treatment with laxatives, it is likely to be light use, as large amounts of laxative can cause diarrhea and dehydration, and should be used with caution. Pumpkin, wheat and oats are also good sources of fiber.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read articles similar to Home Remedies for dogs with swollen belly, we recommend that you visit our Home Remedies section.