My dog's stomach is bigger on one side, but he seems fine. Why?

Good for you for noticing that her stomach looks different! Lots of times, owners don't see things like this if their dog is still acting normal. There are a number of different things that could cause an enlarged, firm abdomen even if she doesn't have any other symptoms of a problem - in a 7-year-old Lab, some common possibilities would include an abdominal tumor of some kind, liver disease, heart disease, Cushing's disease, or internal bleeding. In many cases, dogs with these issues may not show any other symptoms at first - so the earlier you can determine the problem, the better chance there is that it can be treated successfully. I would recommend taking Yogi to the vet for an exam tomorrow. He/she can palpate her abdomen, and may recommend blood work, x-rays, and/or an abdominal ultrasound to help determine why her stomach looks enlarged and see what can be done to treat the problem.

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.

Poor Coco! That much distension in the stomach can indicate fluid (ascites) in the abdomen or an enlarged abdominal organ like the liver. These problems can develop secondary to heart disease, liver failure, low protein levels, severe GI parasites, and cancer. I'd recommend taking Coco to see a veterinarian right away as he needs blood work and X-rays to know why this is happening. This is a true medical emergency as many of the causes of a distended stomach can be life threatening. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I am hoping Coco has an easy recovery!

Oh goodness. I am also very worried about Scoby. I am concerned that he could have fluid in his abdomen. This could happen for many reasons including kidney disease, heart disease, intestinal problems, and will need lab work and possibly an abdominal ultrasound to help make the diagnosis. He needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. This could be life threatening, so please don’t delay having him seen. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

It’s impossible to know without a physical exam but some reasons for an enlarged abdomen include weight gain, pregnancy, hypothyroidism and ascites. Some of these conditions are serious and require treatment. Since there is no obvious cause, I recommend to have Emma examined by her veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

It is difficult to determine the cause without an examination but abdominal enlargement can be caused by a variety of medical conditions including an accumulation of fluid, organ enlargement, Cushings disease, etc. You should schedule an examination with a vet to determine if there is a medical problem that needs to be treated. Your vet can run blood-work and take x-rays to help determine the cause.