My old dog has a hard, distended stomach and pale gums. What's wrong?

That is odd. I recommend to have Hersey examined again by the veterinarian. Without an exam, it's impossible to know if the bloated belly is related to the skin condition or is something else. Bloated tummies can indicate many things from mild constipation to endocrine disease to fluid in the abdomen (which is bad). He may need an x-ray to figure out what is going on. The skin lesions could also represent a few things. Allergies or autoimmune conditions typically respond to steroids. A minor ski irritation would also respond. I recommend to ask your veterinarian what they think is going on. An endocrine disease could cause skin lesions but they may or may not clear up with steroids. Lastly, a change in gum color could indicate a change in the blood pressure, a change in fluid status in the body or even blood loss (if they are pale). I recommend to have Hershey examined today. The veterinarian may need some diagnostics to figure out what is and is not happening. I hope they figure it out quickly. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Boomer! I'm afraid this sounds quite serious. It's hard to say what might be going on without being able to examine him in person and run some tests, but these are very concerning symptoms. Pale pink gums are generally a sign of shock or blood loss, which is a medical emergency. Abdominal pain, lethargy, and not eating or drinking could be caused by a number of different things including pancreatitis, an intestinal obstruction, a systemic illness like liver or kidney disease, a bleeding abdominal tumor, or ingestion of something toxic. This sounds like it may be a life-threatening problem, so I would recommend taking Boomer to the vet immediately for an exam. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment depending on what is found.

Hi. I am very sorry about Holly being so sick. I am very concerned about her pale gum color. She could have a true emergency going on right now - and she should be seen by a veterinarian right away. Pale gums are related to lack of perfusion or anemia (low red blood cell count). Any of the reasons that cause pale gums are a true emergency and she should be examined right away. Very best of luck to you and sweet Holly.

Absolutely, you are correct in thinking that there could be an internal bleed causing these episodes of pale discoloration to the gums. An abdominal ultrasound and chest x-rays would be helpful right now to see what is going on internally. There could be a catastrophic event at home if a major blood vessel bursts or a large vessel bursts / ruptures on a tumor in the abdomen causing severe hemorrhage in the abdomen. If you notice the belly getting larger, there may be a slow bleed inside the abdomen. I would have Kayah rechecked as soon as possible so that you can get more information. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

If she has pale gums then she needs to be examined by a vet immediately to determine the cause and treat, especially if she also has abnormal breathing. Please call your vet or go to an emergency clinic. She could have an infection, parasite, clotting/bleeding problem, hemolytic anemia, mass, etc. and may need immediate treatment.

This is worrisome - a distended abdomen could be a sign that there is free fluid present in the abdomen secondary to something like liver disease or even cancer. An organ could be enlarged as well. There are some diseases that can cause weakness of the muscles of the abdomen that could lead it to appear enlarged as well. If you are almost but not 100% positive that she is not pregnant of course that could be another cause as well. I would recommend having Sadie examined by your veterinarian - they may be able to tell what is going on by palpating or feeling her abdomen or they may recommend other testing like x-rays or blood work.

I hate to hear that about Kiwee. He is very sick and needs to see a veterinarian. The pale gums are very concerning for internal bleeding, very low blood pressure or a bone marrow suppression. All of these are serious and require immediate care that only a veterinarian at a clinic will be able to treat. He could have been poisoned, have liver disease, an autoimmune disease or have a severe blood parasite infection. Best of luck and I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to post any additional questions.