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My dog has unexplained fluid in his abdomen. What's the cause?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Rottweiler | Male | 110 lbs

My dog has fluid in his abdomen he's has had x rays ultra sound and ct the vet has no idea what could be causing it. His blood work was good too

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By David Darvishian

Veterinarian

Published on December 23rd, 2017

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Kane. Fluid in a body cavity could be blood, body fluid, pus from an infection, lymphatic fluid (chyle). Probably not blood since you said the bloodwork was normal. If bleeding occurred Kane would most likely have a lower than normal red blood cell count. Possible causes include liver disease, heart failure, heart base tumor, low protein levels in the blood secondary to liver disease or protein loss into the intestinal tract or through the kidneys (kidney disease), tumor, pancreatitis, leaking of urine from the urinary system, bile leakage, intestinal perforation (hole in the intestinal tract), foreign body, among a few other causes. Your vet can perform an abdominocentesis (stick a needle into the abdomen) and collect some of the fluid and have it analyzed and cultured if needed. Once a diagnosis is made a treatment plan can be put into place. An echocardiogram of the heart may be needed to evaluate the heart for a problem or tumor. I wish you the best of luck with Kane.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I am sorry to hear that Kane is having this problem and you have no answers. There are many causes of fluid in the abdomen (ascites). The most common cause is portal hypertension, which includes hepatic cirrhosis, portosystemic shunts or vascular anomalies. I would recommend testing Kane's bile acids to rule out a portosystemic shunt. There may be an underlying vascular anomaly as well that could be causing the fluid accumulation. Protein losing nephropathy or enteropathy can both cause ascites as well due to the imbalance of proteins in the body from the severe loss with these diseases. Congestive heart failure, neoplasia, liver disease, urinary leakage or leakage of gastric contents can also cause this. If Kane has not been to a specialist (internal medicine specialist) then I would strongly recommend doing this so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps and I hope Kane gets better. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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