My dog paces, drools, and has a bloated tummy. What's wrong?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Bruce is not feeling well. The clinical signs you describe are concerning when they occur in a puppy as they can be seen with serious gastrointestinal infections such as Parvovirus. However, the waxing and waning aspect is unusual for something like parvovirus making it less likely. Other possibilities include intestinal worms and dietary indiscretion, among other possibilities. The sooner these conditions are treated the better the outcome tends to be. You can start by changing his diet to see if it is possible that he has a sensitivity to his current diet perhaps. If no improvement, I recommend that you have Bruce evaluated by your veterinarian to check for these possibilities and to start therapy based on findings. At the very least they address dehydration if present and start him on anti-nausea medications. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for your boy!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear Brewster isn’t feeling well. The eggs from parasites are microscopic so it is unlikely to see with with a naked eye. Also, not all dewormer treat every parasite dogs can get. Because he has made no improvement with your treatment, I recommend taking him to a vet for an exam and further therapy. Although he is drinking water, he may not be taking in enough orally to replenish what is lost in the diarrhea, therefore causing dehydration. He will likely need radiography to find out why his stomach is distended. They can also check a stool sample for intestinal parasites. If anything they should be able to get him medications to stop the diarrhea and help him feel better. Good luck and kisses to Brewster!

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 contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sully. Poor boy! Drooling is a sign of nausea. Feed him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts. If he refuses to eat the bland diet, he vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away.

He may have ingested something he was not supposed to such as lizard or frog or sticks or getting into garbage. If they pant or drool excessively with their mouth open, they can ingest a lot of air to gas bloating. Drooling can also be a sign of nausea or pain. IF there is abdominal cramping from all the gas it can cause more drooling and nausea. The best thing to do is have them to continue to monitor him to make sure his pain in controlled and monitor for vomiting and make sure the gas dissolves and continues to be passed and does not cause pancreatitis or an ileus.

It sounds like Buster's tummy is upset. This could be due to many reasons including bacterial overgrowth, a medication reaction, stomach acid, dietary intolerance or perhaps an oncoming disease like kidney disease. I recommend to play it safe and have Buster examined. The doctor may recommend to check his blood levels to make sure everything is ok internally. The vet may also try a bland diet, probiotic, recommend parasite testing or medication to soothe his tummy. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear about Shadow! The stretching and pacing is a sign of abdominal pain. This could be something as simple as gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines) caused by eating something naughty. This may be especially true if he only vomited a few times and has since stopped. However, this could also be something very serious such as pancreatitis or an intestinal blockage (especially worrisome if he is known to eat toys, socks, rocks, or other non-food items). If he is not fully vaccinated, parvovirus is also a life-threatening possibility. Because of these possibilities, I strongly recommend you see your vet. This is especially true if the vomiting has lasted for more than a few hours or is very frequent. I hope this helps! Best of luck to you and Shadow!