My 14-year-old Shih Tzu is bloated. What should I do for my senior dog?

It's probably not GDV, small breeds like Shih Tzus very rarely develop this condition (i have never seen one). nevertheless she is probably suffering from a serious condition, it might not be as urgent as GDV but it is still pretty urgent and you need to get it treated. try a dog charity in your area of living, they might be able to point you to a free clinic.

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.

All these symptoms point to a possible heart problem. I would be very concerned here and would highly recommend taking Rocco in to your local vet right away for a proper examination. If the abdomen is indeed bloated and it isn't due to gas, then the vet will likely want to run some radiographs (x-rays) of your pet to determine what is making the abdomen enlarged and how to best treat it. Poor guy, he is very young to have heart problems, so I sure hope this is just gas coupled with something like an upper respiratory infection. Both very treatable offenses.

If Abbey is bloated, that is a medical emergency because it will kill her without treatment. She has to see a vet immediately. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

If Milo is resting and otherwise seems comfortable I would not worry about bloat. If you notice Milo seems uncomfortable, is panting or retching, and/or his abdomen seems distended or firm then he may be suffering from bloat. Keep an eye out for these symptoms and if you notice any of them I would recommend taking Milo to your vet immediately. If Milo does not want to eat tonight don't worry, he may just be overfull.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Since Timberblynn is an older girl, I would be worried about the possibility of some type of cancer causing her clinical signs. She may have a mass causing enlargement of one or many of her abdominal organs, such as her liver, and leading to her feeling sick and vomiting. I recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have her seen. Your vet can perform an exam and see if he/she can palpate any masses or organ abnormalities. Your vet may also recommend bloodwork and/or imaging to see any changes in her abdomen. In the meantime, you can try offering her a bland diet suck as boiled chicken and rice, however I feel strongly that she should see your veterinarian. I hope this is helpful!

Your dog should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. It sounds like he may have a heart condition that is causing fluid buildup in his abdomen. This compresses the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Your dog may need to be on a diuretic to help him clear that fluid and ease his breathing. But get him in to be seen right away. Your vet will do an exam, blood work and x-rays to determine the cause and suggest an effective treatment plan.