And the reasons behind your dogâs bloated belly.
Itâs common for dogsâ weight to fluctuate throughout their lives â but if you notice that your dogâs belly seems larger than usual and itâs tough for them to breathe, youâre right to wonder whatâs going on.Â
Thereâs a name for this type of belly swelling â its called ascites, Dr. Aliya McCullough, Fetch by The Dodoâs on-staff veterinarian, says. Ascites is a symptom of many diseases, and weâre here to give you a cheat sheet so you can get your pup the help they need as soon as possible.Â
âCauses of ascites in dogs
So, whatâs causing your pupâs stomach to bloat? Ascites is when theres an accumulation of fluid in a dogs belly, typically around a dogs organs, including the liver, intestines, spleen, kidneys and bladder, Dr. McCullough explains. The amount of fluid in a dogâs belly depends on the underlying cause, she adds.
And there are several causes of ascites in dogs â the most common being heart and liver disease, Dr. McCullough says. However, gastrointestinal tract disease, kidney disease, bleeding, cancer, wounds, ingesting poison, pancreatitis and bacterial, viral or parasitic infections can also cause ascites, she adds.Â
Ascites is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. The volume of the fluid can be quite subtle, or it may be significant, causing distention of the abdomen. In dogs, ascites has many causes, most of which can be very serious. Ascites is caused by the leakage of fluid into the abdomen from blood vessels, lymphatics, internal organs or abdominal masses.
Hypoalbuminemia is a decrease in serum albumin levels. Albumin is available through the diet, but it is also produced in the liver. The kidney functions to maintain albumin concentration in the plasma by preventing its excretion in the urine. Normal gastrointestinal function is needed for proper absorption. Albumin is responsible for much of the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood, and thus is an important factor in regulating the exchange of water between the plasma and the interstitial compartment (space between the cells). Decreases in the albumin level (usually under 1.5 gm/dl) lead to a pressure gradient that causes fluid to leak out of the blood vessels, producing ascites.
Ascites, itself, usually does not cause a problem, but the primary disease process causing the ascites can be a serious condition. Ascites is usually produced slowly and in small amounts; however, if a large amount of fluid is produced, or rapidly produced, an emergency situation may exist. Large amounts of free fluid in the abdomen may compress the diaphragm, leading to respiratory compromise and difficulty breathing. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence.
Another potential emergency situation is the rapid onset of ascites. If the ascites develops quickly, it is often associated with profound weakness or shock. The loss of intravascular (within the blood vessels) blood volume may lead to acute anemia and shock as fluid leaves the blood vessels and moves freely into the abdominal cavity. The most common cause of such an event is the rupture of a blood vessel within the abdominal cavity. Bleeding tumors within the abdomen or traumatic injury are likely causes.
One or more of the diagnostic tests described above may be recommended by your veterinarian. In the meantime, treatment of the symptoms might be needed, especially if the problem is severe. The following nonspecific (symptomatic) treatments may be applicable to some, but not all, pets with ascites. These treatments may reduce severity of symptoms or provide relief for your pet. However, nonspecific therapy is not a substitute for definite treatment of the underlying disease responsible for your pet’s condition.
Ascites in Dogs
Ascites, also known as abdominal effusion, is a common symptom seen in many diseases in veterinary medicine. When noticing any signs of ascites in your dog, it is essential that you bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about ascites in dogs: what it is, possible causes, diagnosis and treatment.
Ascites in dogs is the medical term to define abnormal fluid buildup within a canine’s abdomen. This fluid may be:
It is not a disease itself, but rather a result of an underlying condition, meaning that the cause must be identified to treat ascites.
There are many causes of ascites in dogs, and some of them are related to organ dysfunction and failure. Let’s look at some of the underlying causes of heart failure:
Other causes of ascites are abdominal tumors, kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, heartworm, bladder rupture, protein-losing enteropathy.
The most noticeable sign of ascites is a distended abdomen, which can be accompanied by abdominal pain. Even though ascites is a secondary sign of many conditions, it can cause other symptoms and discomfort in your dog, such as vomiting, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, panting, and anemia. This is due to the buildup of fluids and pressure in the surrounding organs, including the kidney, heart, lungs, liver.