My dog's ribs look bloated, but he's acting normal. Should I worry?

Tony is a good looking pup! Most dogs with this breed will have a large, deep chest and a more narrow waist. You should also be able to see the last rib when they turn. Some dogs do naturally run more thin. If you are seeing more than the last rib, try increasing the food intake or changing to food to a higher calorie diet (you can find information about the calories on the side of the package). I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Opie looks pretty normal in the pictures. It may be that he's just getting a bit overweight. If he's breathing normally, not panting while resting and calm, has good energy and appetite, then it's probably ok to watch it and just keep an eye on his weight. If he's doing anything funny, or you just have a bad feeling about it, it's worthwhile to have a quick exam to make sure it's normal. Good luck!

This is unusual and possibly concernng. It may just be air that entered the tissue around the ribs, which would eventually subside, but it could also be abnormal swelling. I suggest you take her back to your veterinarian today for a recheck.

That is completely normal and sometimes could be more prominent. Nothing to be worried about. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It could be that he is accumulating some fluid in his abdomen. This could be from low protein, cancer, liver disease or heart disease. It could also be that his liver or another internal organ such as his spleen is markedly enlarged. Or, it could be nothing, and he's just changed the way he carries some of his weight over time and there is not an issue. The only way to find out is to take him to the vet. Since he's acting normal and otherwise doing well, and you can't afford it right now, I don't think you need to stress too much over it. When its possible financially , get him to the vet. If he starts to show any symptoms of illness, make it a priority to get him in as soon as you can. thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I don't really appreciate any abdominal distention from those photos. Taking photos of him from both sides while he is in a standing position would be best. With him sitting down I can't see much. If you can post again with some better photos I may be able to advise you. Thank you.

I am pretty concerned about what you describe. The bloating and edema of the legs would most commonly be due to a low protein level in the blood or right heart failure which causes fluid to leak out of vessels. This can happen for several reasons : heart disease, heartworm disease, liver failure, kidney disease, intestinal disease, and even cancer. This is life threatening and he should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.