Abdominal Distension in Dogs

Abdominal distension as such is a symptom, so it isn't characteristic or pathognomonic of any specific disease. Several conditions and/or circumstances can present with abdominal distension in dogs.

Below, at SoyUnPerro, we'll explain what it involves, which conditions can present with this sign, and how to treat them.

What Is Abdominal Distension?

As mentioned, abdominal distension is a symptom or sign. It isn't exclusively characteristic of one disease — it can occur in more than one, together with other symptoms.

As the name suggests, abdominal distension is the expansion of the abdomen, or the abdomen taking on a barrel-like shape. It can occur in any breed, with no predisposition by sex.

It can occur with various diseases across a wide age range, since in puppies it can be due to different causes than in young adults or adults, so the range of severity or prognosis linked to it is also broad.

What Symptoms Can Be Associated With It?

Several symptoms can accompany abdominal distension. This abdominal swelling may or may not come with abdominal pain, and much (though not all) of the conditions linked to abdominal distension will present with digestive tract symptoms. These aren't always the same, and may not all show up at once. So, other symptoms that can go along with it include:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea. Generally, these symptoms are a cause or consequence of intestinal inflammation, so it's typical in these cases to observe abdominal distension, whether or not it comes with pain.
• Ascites or peritonitis. This is the buildup of free fluid in the abdomen. It can be urine, blood, pus, or transudate. The abdomen will look distended, and what's known as a fluid wave can appear. This is felt by tapping the abdomen, which produces a fluctuating, wave-like movement, showing there's fluid inside.

We can have systemic symptoms coming from, for example, tumors or neoplasms that are physically causing our animal's abdomen to be distended. The signs will depend on which organ or organs are affected.

What Conditions Can Cause Abdominal Distension in a Dog?

As mentioned above, this symptom will always represent an underlying condition or disorder, not a disease in itself.

• Gastric dilatation-volvulus. This serious condition involves significant abdominal distension. It's typically found in large and giant breeds. What happens is that after overeating and exercising afterward (either of these two conditions may not need to be present), the stomach twists on itself and fills with air. So, if we have the bad luck of this happening to our pet, we'll see the abdomen distended (left side). This is a serious veterinary emergency.
• Cushing's Syndrome: this disease, involving an abnormal increase in corticosteroids in the body, besides presenting with signs such as hair loss and polydipsia/polyuria, can present with a pot-bellied abdomen. The vet will need to run the appropriate tests to treat this disorder.
• Abdominal neoplasms: the presence of masses or tumors in the abdomen, if their growth is significant, can represent an increase in abdominal size or distension. This is because the abdominal cavity has limited space, and if we have large neoplasms in it, they'll push the organs to the point of being visible from the outside.
• Intestinal parasites (generally worms): this happens especially in puppies, where the chance of a distended abdomen is favored by the presence of nematodes or cestodes.
• Trauma: possible severe trauma such as being hit by a car or falling from a great height can cause, among other symptoms, abdominal distension, for example by rupturing the bladder, preventing urine from accumulating in this organ and causing it to build up in the abdomen instead.

Treatments

Treatment will depend on the underlying condition or disorder. If the distended abdomen is due to gastroenteritis, the cause needs to be found and treated symptomatically with protectants such as omeprazole, a bland diet, probiotics, anti-emetics such as maropitant if there's vomiting, etc.

In cases of gastric dilatation-volvulus, the dog needs to be taken to a vet clinic urgently to decompress the stomach (releasing the trapped air), untwist the organ, and perform surgery to anchor it to the abdominal wall if necessary. The prognosis will be guarded.

Cushing's syndrome, once diagnosed with a stimulation test, can be treated with trilostane, and has a good prognosis.

Neoplasms will depend on how far they've spread and which organ they affect — the vet may be able to surgically remove them and/or treat with chemotherapy/radiotherapy, etc. Prognosis will depend on this too. Digestive parasites will be easy to treat. Depending on the parasite involved, one treatment or another will be used. Their presence will be confirmed by finding eggs under a microscope. Good prognosis in most cases. Trauma will depend on its severity and the organs affected, ranging from moderate to guarded prognosis. Bladder ruptures will require surgery.

So, in conclusion, we can say a distended abdomen can be due to a wide variety of conditions, which will always be linked to it. So, the best thing is to see or contact our trusted vet, so that through a history, general exam, and additional tests, they can determine what's causing it and provide the best solution.