My puppy's belly is swollen and he's not eating. What should I do?

I am very sorry to hear about your dog. She definitely needs to go see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Swelling of the abdomen as you describe can be from many causes including fluid buildup in the abdomen (due to things such as heart disease, liver disease, low protein levels due to kidney loss or intestinal loss or severe intestinal parasitism), tumors in the abdomen as well as tumors that are bleeding or oozing into the abdomen. The vet will palpate your dog's belly and may recommend testing including a fecal test to check for parasites and bacteria, an x-ray to look for fluid and tumors, and bloodwork to check protein and red and white blood cell levels.

Sheena should be evaluated by a veterinarian right away! If her belly is swollen she could be suffering from bloat (stomach full of air), a GDV (where the stomach bloats and turns on itself) or she could have fluid in her belly or uterus (pyometra). All of these conditions are very serious and require immediate veterinary care. I hope Sheena is doing ok! Please let us know if you have more questions.

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.

If your puppy is in a lot of [pain](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-subtle-signs-your-dog-is-in-pain) and is struggling to walk or is having breathing problems, you should take her to your vet without delay. If the belly is swollen but the puppy is not in discomfort, you may monitor her for a few hours to see how she goes. Consider smaller, more frequent [amounts of food ](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-much-to-feed-a-dog-to-meet-his-energy-needs)for the next few days instead of larger meals.

I would recommend having a stool sample performed to rule out intestinal parasites and give a general deworming. I would then recommend blood work on him to see if there is something going on with Muffins organs. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Ouch! Swollen bellies in puppies can be caused by a number of things including allergies, parasites, GI upset, or even something that is causing swelling of the skin or abdomen, or issues with the chest or internal organs. If the swelling continues, it would be best to bring Oscar to the vet to have the area evaluated and treated as needed. If it is causing any discomfort or symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, pain on touch, changes in shape or size, problems breathing, lethargy, etc, then seeking care sooner is best.

Poor Marshall! It definitely sounds like something isn't right. There are many things that can cause a swollen stomach with weight loss and decreased appetite. Some possibilities would include heart disease, liver problems, cancer, or even internal bleeding. Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend taking Marshall to the vet as soon as you are able to. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose what is causing these symptoms, and will recommend treatment options depending on what is found.