My dog's stomach is bloated. Sonogram shows fat. Is he overweight?

Fluid accumulation in the abdomen is often secondary to heart disease (valvular disease, heart worms, cardiomyopathy) ..or...some type of malignancy. Tumors in the abdominal cavity can sometimes be associated with fluid build up. It is important to do some additional diagnostic tests. Survey radiographs to start, then it may be advised to move on to an ultrasound....either of the heart or if the abdomen depending on radiograph findings. The ultrasound can be particularly helpful in cases like this where fluid accumulation reduces the ability to see vital structures on radiographs. This most likely had nothing to do with a case of overeating. There is likely some disease process that has been going on for some time. I hope you can get some answers soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for your question. From the photo of Joshie it does not appear that she is overweight. It can definitely be difficult to evaluate based on a photo though, especially in a furry dog like Joshie. Putting your hands onto her body can help you determine her body condition. You should feel a waist/area where he trunk slenders around her abdomen. You should be able to feel her ribs when you run your hands over her chest but they should have a small/thin layer of fat over them. When you run your hands under her, her belly should narrow/have a tuck. You can read this article for more information on proper body condition scoring: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-is-overweight/ If you are still concerned, a vet can examine Joshie and let you know for certain!

Hello. A dog should not put on weight just from one meal, but if it was a fatty one, she might show some distention from gas. Since she is an older girl, it might be a good idea to have her looked at by your veterinarian to see if she is indeed pregnant. An x-ray or ultrasound would show the appearance of any fetuses in her uterus & give a heads up if she were to run into any difficulties once she goes into labor. This is the best way to make sure all is OK, & if she is pregnant, that there are no complications that could result in her death. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Sadly, overweight pets are so common that those actually at a healthy body weight may appear too thin to many people. As a general rule of thumb, a dog or cat’s ribs should be easy to feel under a *thin* fat covering, but should not be visible or difficult to feel. Additionally, a dog or cat should have a visible “waistline” with a tuck up in their abdomen. Your veterinarian can assess the body condition scores of to provide a more objective measurement of your pet’s weight, but tools like the [PetCoach Healthy Pet Weight Calculator](https://www.petcoach.co/healthy-weight-calculator/) can also help to guide pet owners at home. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to a pet’s health, as obesity can lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and a number of other health conditions.

I'm sorry that Krispy is having this issue. Unfortunately, we cannot tell you what is wrong with him just by looking at the photos. It does look like he could have ascites. Did they do an abdominal tap to get fluid for analysis? If not, that would be the next step. Ascites can be from liver disease or heart disease. Did they check his heart? Do you have x-rays you could post? Blood testing can also help figure out what is going on. Do you have any blood test results? I'm sorry but we cannot really be of much help without more information. You could always take Krispy to another vet for a second opinion.

Bernie is very cute! From the photos he looks pretty normal but it is difficult to tell if a furry dog is a good weight or not without being able to put your hands on the pet. Run your fingers over Bernie’s rib cage. They should feel like the back of your own hand. If they feel more like the palm of your hand, he is probably carrying a little too much weight. If they feel more like running your fingers over your knuckles then he is likely too thin. Every pet has a different metabolism and all foods have different calorie content. When in doubt if his weight is good or not, have him checked out by his veterinarian. Congratulations on adding him to your family! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Being lean is not always a concern. A good body condition is based on muscle mass and palpation of the body, not a number on a scale. You should be able to feel her ribs while standing without pushing hard and she should have an hour glass waist from the sides and top of her body. She should also have good muscle definition in her chest and limbs. Make sure you are feeding what the bag of food says for her daily amount based on her weight. Make sure your vet tests for intestinal parasites so they are not consuming her calories. I hope this helps! Kisses to Soska!