My dog's bloated, painful, can't lie down. Is it an emergency?

Poor pup! From your description, it sounds like something is seriously wrong. Trouble walking could be caused by arthritis, a neurologic problem like a stroke or herniated disc in the spine, or generalized weakness due to a severe illness of some kind. A bloated abdomen can be caused by GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus, or "bloat"), which is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with air and twists on itself; other possible causes would include congestive heart failure, an abdominal tumor, liver failure, or internal bleeding. These signs are indicative of a severe, possibly life-threatening problem that needs immediate veterinary care, so I would recommend taking your dog to an emergency vet right away. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to help her.

Hello, sorry to hear about Ferris. In dogs that develop and bloat, they will show signs of open mouth breathing, non-productive retching as if trying to vomit, severe abdominal pain, and bloated/distended abdomen. These signs don't generally subside without emergency intervention that requires surgery. If Ferris is now comfortable and sleeping then its likely she does not have a bloat especially after drinking water and keeping it down. However, it cannot be determined without getting her evaluated, so if Ferris continues to have the signs you saw initially, then I would indeed get her evaluated soon. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I'm concerned about Beth based on your description. Being restless and in pain can be a sign of bloat, which is fatal without treatment. Because I can't see her in person to rule out bloat and also due to the fact that time is of the essence when treating bloat, I think it's best she sees a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

If she is resting quietly, not vomiting, and having no breathing issues then she is probably fine for you to just monitor her now. I strongly suggest you don't feed her anything for 24 hours but make sure she has plenty of water available to drink. If she is having any troubles then she needs to go to the emergency vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Labored breathing and vomiting are very concerning signs. In an older, large-breed dog like your girl, I would be worried about bloat as a possible cause of her symptoms - this can be a life-threatening emergency, so needs to be treated right away. Many other things can also cause vomiting, including pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, exposure to something toxic, or an intestinal obstruction. Based on your description, I would recommend taking her to the emergency vet tonight - she may have a serious problem that can't wait until morning.

If Abbey is bloated, that is a medical emergency because it will kill her without treatment. She has to see a vet immediately. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

If Ariel is bloated, this is a medical emergency as bloat is fatal without treatment. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Check out these resources to see if one can help you, and please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.