My senior Shih Tzu has a bloated belly. Is it constipation or GDV?

Bloat at this age can be caused by many medical reason, for example heart failure, liver failure or cancer. you will need to take Gizmo to the vet ASAP in order to have some tests done (blood test and xray), this should revile the cause of the bloat.

Poor pup! From your description, it sounds like something is seriously wrong. Trouble walking could be caused by arthritis, a neurologic problem like a stroke or herniated disc in the spine, or generalized weakness due to a severe illness of some kind. A bloated abdomen can be caused by GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus, or "bloat"), which is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with air and twists on itself; other possible causes would include congestive heart failure, an abdominal tumor, liver failure, or internal bleeding. These signs are indicative of a severe, possibly life-threatening problem that needs immediate veterinary care, so I would recommend taking your dog to an emergency vet right away. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to help her.

I am very sorry to hear about Gracey. These symptoms are certainly concerning and warrant a visit to Gracey's veterinarian for an examination. We can see constipation in dogs but we don't see it commonly and it usually wouldn't cause enlargement of the abdomen unless it was severe. It is possible she isn't have bowel movements because she hasn't had any intake of food. With a bloated appearance to the stomach we worry about fluid buildup in the belly which can be a result of heart disease, low protein levels (which an be due to kidney or intestinal disease or severe parasitism), bleeding or oozing from a tumor. We can also have enlargement of the belly due to a space occupying mass (such as a tumor). If your dog isn't spayed then another possibility would be a uterine infection (her uterus could be full of pus and causing the bloated look). I would recommend having Gracey seen as soon as possible, if she seems lethargic or has an elevated temperature (over 102.5), has pale gums, or is vomiting then she should be seen tonight at the emergency vet. Some of these conditions can be life threatening if left untreated.

It does not sound like GDV to me. I'm concerned it has to do with Yezler's heart failure. Fluid back up from heart failure can lead to an enlarged stomach due to fluid collecting in that area. I would take him into a vet now to get this checked out. I recommend an echocardiogram and a discussion about medication for his heart disease. Please take him into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

GDV is a condition that most often occurs in large breed, deep-chested dogs and only rarely in small to medium breed dogs. With GDV you will typically see them trying to vomit but nothing comes out. They can breathe heavily, be weak and collapse. I think is it unlikely that Diamond has GDV. She could be bloated and gassy from eating too much or eating something she's not used to having. You could try fasting her overnight and then give her a bland diet of plain boiled chicken and rice in the morning and see if that helps. If she continues to be gassy and bloated and especially if she develops vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or poor appetite, I would take her to your veterinarian for further evaluation.

If Duchess has GDV, she could have passed away by now. A GDV is a medical emergency, and it is fatal without immediate treatment. It is concerning that she has a bloated stomach that has been occurring for a couple of weeks now. I would take her into a vet this weekend to have it checked out. Best of luck.

Poor Betty! The constipation may b the cause of her discomfort or may be a symptom of another condition which is slowing down her bowel or causing dehydration. I recommend a full check p by your vet, they may wish to do an abdominal xray or ultrasound to identify any underlying factors and give an enema if appropriate alongside oral laxatives as long as no obstruction is identified