Causes and treatment of swelling of your dog’s stomach
Stomach swelling in dogs can be a life-threatening emergency, or it can be as simple as your dog eating too much.{{more}}
To keep your canine companion in good health, it helps to know the signs of dog stomach problems and what you can do when they happen.
Because stomach swelling in dogs can be dangerous, never try and diagnose the cause of your dogâs stomach trouble yourself. If your dogâs abdomen looks bloated or unusual, get your pet to a veterinarian immediately, as timing can be critical.
Some causes of stomach swelling in dogs include:
Bloat/Gastric Dilation Volvulus
Called “the mother of all emergencies,â untreated bloat can be fatal to a dog within hours. Also called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), bloat happens when gas or food stretches a dogâs stomach, then the distended stomach rotates, trapping the gas inside, and blocking off the stomachâs blood supply.
Extremely painful, there doesnât seem to be one cause for GDV, though swallowing air plays a part; heavy exercise after a meal can be a trigger, too. A few of the many things that can increase a dogâs bloat risk include:
- Being deep-chested. Breeds like the Great Dane, St Bernard, and Weimaraner are at the greatest risk for bloat; as a matter of fact, dogs weighing over 99 pounds have a 20 per cent bloat risk. Though rare, small dogs can also suffer from the condition.
- Â A family history of bloat
- Â Feeding your dog a dry food with a high cereal content
- Â Eating too quickly
- Â Being older; dogs 7-12 years old are at highest risk
Treating bloat requires immediate emergency care and may include decompressing the stomach, managing shock, and stabilizing the heart, often followed by surgery, once stable. If your dogâs abdomen looks swollen or distended, or if your dog seems uncomfortable, donât wait; rush your pet to a veterinarian immediately.
Preventing bloat is hard, because so many things can play a part in causing it:
- Make sure your dog rests after a full meal; no strenuous exercise on a full stomach.
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