My dog's stomach looks swollen, but he acts normal. Is it serious?

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!

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!

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.

If your puppy is acting completely normal, then I'd have a fecal sample checked to make sure Sutty doesn't have intestinal parasites. If Sutty is acting sick in any way (lethargic, decreased appetite, vomiting, etc), then a distended abdomen is an emergency and you should go directly to the vet.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! An official diagnosis requires at least 2 view radiographs. However, this 1 view definitely looks consistent with a GDV and warrants a veterinary evaluation as soon as possible. Best of luck!

Hello, sorry to hear about Draco. It sounds like he may be having mild sings of an upset stomach. You can continue to monitor him for any vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, or lethargy. If you note any of these, then he should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Otherwise, you can feed him a bland diet of plain white rice, skinless, and boneless boiled chicken, and low fat cottage cheese. If he has any other signs including panting, persistent vomiting, or retching and if his stomach becomes severely distended very fast, then he should be seen on emergency basis by a veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.