For the condition to truly be bloat and not weight gain, your dog's stomach will be swollen and hard or have an unusual shape. If you notice this, call your veterinarian immediately. If it's after hours, you should take him to the emergency vet. Bloat generally occurs when food or gas stretches the dog's stomach.
How do you treat a dog's distended stomach?
To lessen the severity of bloat, a gastropexy is an excellent preventive. A gastropexy will help stop the stomach from twisting if bloat occurs 95% of the time. Many owners of large breeds of dogs routinely opt to have the surgery done when their dogs are young.
What does it mean when your dog's stomach is distended?
Stomach swelling in dogs can also result from the dog eating too much all at once, internal bleeding due to trauma or a ruptured mass, intestinal obstruction, or tumors. Severe roundworm infection in puppies can also cause a swollen abdomen.
How long do dogs live with distended stomach?
Gastric dilation-volvulus, commonly called bloat, is a life-threatening condition that occurs in dogs. Bloat can kill a dog within minutes. It is a true medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment. Even with immediate care, 25 to 40 percent of dogs with bloat do not survive.
What does it mean when my dog's stomach is bloated and hard?
Why Does My Dog's Belly Feel Hard? The most common reasons that your dog's belly feels hard are gastric dilation volvulus, peritonitis, Cushing's syndrome, and ascites. Eating too fast may also cause bloating.
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