Why is my dog's stomach hard and groaning for days? Is she in pain?

Severe abdominal pain in a six year old Shih Tzu warrants veterinary attention some time soon. With this type of pain, I imagine Marble is probably not wanting to move around much, eat, or drink either. I would recommend that she is taken in for x-rays and probably some blood work at minimum to see if there is any underlying condition causing this type of discomfort. It is a little hard to tell from the picture, but it sort of looks like the abdomen is a little bit distended and puffed out. Since this has been going on for a few days already, I don't think I would necessarily call this an emergency. I would however recommend getting in sometime tomorrow.

Poor Maddie! She looks like such a sweet girl! Abdominal distension or swelling can be very concerning, especially in female dogs that are not spayed as it can be a sign of a pyometra, an infection in the uterus which can be life threatening. It can also be caused by enlargement of one of her organs or a mass, or even bleeding somewhere in the abdomen. These are all critical cases and require being seen as soon as possible by a vet. Maddie may have eaten something bad for her which has made her gassy and bloated, which can be ruled out as well. I hope this helps and would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have!

These symptoms are very concerning for a possible organ enlargement in the abdomen or even heart disease (causes fluid build up in the belly). I would highly recommend taking Buttons in to your vet for some testing (bloodwork and radiographs) to determine the exact cause of her illness. Once we know what is going on internally then we will know what type of treatment she needs to hopefully get better. I hope Buttons is able to turn around. Best wishes and take care.

Please take Precious to the vet right away. It sounds like she is in pain based on your description, and it's important that she be seen to figure out why and to get her treated. Dairy products can sometimes cause gastrointestinal upset, which may make her current problem worse, so I wouldn't give any more milk. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

This sounds very concerning and obviously Paris has a painful stomach. Since she is an intact female there is always a chance that she has a uterine infection which would need urgent surgery, ie her uterus would need to be removed. A uterine infection can be lethal. If she is also drinking more water than usual, if there is maybe some discharge from her vulva, this would be pointing to a uterine infection (pyometra). She could also be suffering from serious intestinal parasite infection, pancreatitis, liver disease and ascites. All these conditions are serious and your dog needs to be seen by a veterinary doctor. Unfortunately it is not possible to make a diagnosis just on the basis of "hard stomach". Paris will need a "hands-on exam".

It could be that she has eaten something that doesn't agree with her and has a bit of [stomach upset](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-treat-your-dogs-upset-stomach) or there could be a more serious underlying condition. Check the color of her gums. They should be pink. If they are pale or white, you should seek veterinary attention immediately. Pale gums may indicate an internal bleed or [anemia](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-should-know-about-anemia-in-dogs). If she is a large or deep chested breed , monitor for [bloating](https://www.petcoach.co/article/bloat-gastric-dilatation-and-volvulus-in-dogs) or unsuccessful attempts to vomit. If she is behaving normally otherwise, [monitor her pain at home](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-measure-your-dogs-pain) and consider a short fast followed by a bland diet (if she will eat) for a few days. See your regular veterinarian when they open or go to the nearest veterinary ER if symptoms worsen overnight.

Hi there. This does look a bit odd. Have your veterinarians done any x rays or bloodwork? If Sophie is not spayed and has been sick for a while I would be very concerned with a pyometra (uterine infection) with how distended that abdomen looks. If that's the case-this is an emergency and needs to be looked at right away. I hope this helps!