My dog was bitten. Why is he breathing hard and stomach lurching?

These signs might be compatible with stress and possibly pain/discomfort, but they are quite generic at this stage and only a physical examination/more clinical informations would help to determine the reason for it. I would monitor him for the next 8 hours and if signs do not improve or resolve I would recommend a check up (or write to us again!). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is unlikely due to him being in shock. This could be due to the pain control medications which usually have a sedative effect. Another possibility is that he could still be in pain or perhaps there was further injury that you are unable to see from the outside. If this continues, reevaluation by your veterinarian would be warranted. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The symptoms you are describing sound like an emergency. The description of heavy breathing, retching, and contracting abdomen sound like the symptoms of a gastric dilatation/volvulus, or bloat. This happens when the stomach is filled with air and can even twist on itself and is more common in large breed dogs. The condition is extremely uncomfortable, and requires immediate stabilization and possibly surgery. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary care, especially if there is torsion. I recommend getting your dog to the vet as soon as possible. There are 24-hour emergency clinics in most cities that are open overnight and will be able to stabilize your dog.

Hello, although he must have been very stressed during the episode, its unlikely that he continues to be stressed now. He could how ever be breathing like you are describing due to pain especially if Max was seriously injured during the encounter. I would recommend having him assessed to ensure he does not have any serious or painful injuries that would require medical management. Hope this helps and best of luck!!!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Alice isn’t feeling well. I do not suspect she is constipated as that doesn’t happen very often in pets. I suspect the breathing is a sign of pain probably from her abdomen. She could have an intestinal virus (like the flu) that could be causing her not to feel well. They are sometimes accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea. She could also be painful somewhere else, have an infection internally, or she could have gotten into something she shouldn’t have. You can take her temperature rectally- anything over 102.5 is concerning. But even if she doesn’t have a fever and is still acting painful, I would take her to see a vet. They will start with an exam to see if they locate the problem. They may need to run blood work and take X-rays of her abdomen to look for a problem (which would also show if she was constipated). If anything, they can get her medications to help relieve her discomfort. Good luck and kisses to Alice!

That is not the type of reaction I would expect from a bug bite. I would be concerned about pain first and foremost. If she's still pacing, panting, or acting erratic, I would recommend taking her to a vet right away for evaluation. They will likely do a physical exam and take some x-rays, maybe run some blood work. I hope she's feeling better soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Scooby got bit. I would recommend Scooby be seen by his veterinarian as soon as possible. It is possible that the bite wound may be deeper than it appears, it may need stitches, or it may need antibiotics to prevent it from becoming infected. I would have it seen by your regular veterinarian, have them assess the severity, and determine if further treatment is necessary. Good luck!